News
May 7th is Child & Youth Mental Health Day
Child & Youth Mental Health Day, hosted by FamilySmart, is a day for families, schools, communities and businesses to come together and connect with kids about their mental health. This year’s message is ‘
I care about you’
which is more important than ever. On May 7th take to social media to share a picture of a time or place when you felt cared for, or showed caring
. Don't forget to hashtag your posts with #may7icare.
Find out more.
DASH’s Healthy at Home Resource Collection
DASH (Dedicated Action for School Health) is assembling a collection of carefully curated resources to support teachers, children, and families in staying healthy at home. These resources fall under the categories
Eat & Grow
,
Move & Play
,
Mental Health
and
Staff Well-being,
and are directly linked to the BC Physical and Health Education curriculum. Visit the DASH website every day for a new resource, or subscribe to the DASH newsletter for a weekly review of what has been added.
Find out more.
Articles
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching through Coronavirus
Experts from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network in the United States have shared their trauma-informed recommendations about how educators can support students as they navigate teaching from a distance. Their suggestions include concrete steps to support a sense of safety, connectedness, and hope in children, as well as, practical activities for promoting self-regulation.
Find out more.
Safety Tips When Cooking with Kids
Cooking together is a great way for families to stay connected while everyone is spending more time at home. Barb Finley, who has been teaching kids how to cook through Project CHEF (Cook Healthy Edible Food) for the past 13 years, shares some tips on how to safely introduce kids to the kitchen, while keeping it fun for everyone.
Find out more.
Reso
urces
Build Your Best Day
ParticipACTION’s Build Your Best Day is a great way to teach kids and youth about Canada’s 24-hour Movement Guidelines. The interactive website inspires users to choose activities from four categories which are all required for a healthy 24-hours,
sweat
,
step
,
sit
and
sleep
. The creative, and sometimes silly suggestions for activities keep it light and enjoyable for kids.
Find out more.
Kid’s Help Phone
The Kid’s Help Phone aims to ensure young people in Canada do not feel alone as we face challenging times during the COVID-19 pandemic. Counsellors are available by phone or text 24/7. As a caring adult, you can support the mental well-being of children and youth by connecting them to the Kid's Help Phone toll-free number, 1-800-668-6868, or the
website
to learn more.
Announcements
The Better Together Kitchen Hacks Challenge
Want a fun incentive to cook with kids at home? Better Together is hosting a Kitchen Hacks Challenge, inviting families across BC to share a short video explaining how you make family meals happen in your home. The competition supports BC Food Banks and offers the chance to win cash prizes. The submission deadline is May 22, 2020.
Find out more.
May 10th is Global Move for Health Day
Celebrate Move for Health Day, an annual global initiative started by the World Health Organization (WHO). This year, many in-person events will have to be cancelled but there are so many enjoyable ways for students to stay active, even while social distancing. If you're looking for ideas to share with your class or your own kids, visit the PHE Canada Home Learning Centre and find an activity for every grade level.
Find out more.
