Explore the importance of good nutrition, fitness, and self-care in helping kids grow strong and resilient on Child Health Day!
Monday, October 4th is Child Health Day. Each year, this day provides the opportunity for grownups and kids alike to learn more about what they need for a lifetime of good physical, mental and emotional health.
It’s not justregular doctors visits that keep us fit and strong. There are so many ways to stay healthy together — like eating nutritious, delicious foods;practicing mindfulness and doingemotional check-ins; and daily physical activity, from yoga to dance to hitting the gym.Doing these things together as a family helps make lasting, positive memories around personal health. And it’s fun!
To start making your own healthy habit routines and learn more about the science of how our bodies react to exercise, why sleep is so important, and what foods give us energy and boost our brain-power, check out the videos, activities and games below!
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Creating Healthy Habits
KidVision | Exercise for Kids
Grades PreK-2
Miss Penny and the KidVision Kids went to Club One Athletics to learn about exercising for kids. We began with a stretch, went on to a warm up, then we exercised like animals, and finished with an obstacle course. Start healthy habits early and come to the gym with us!
PBS KIDS | Healthy Habits Playlist
Grades PreK-3
Want to help your kids work on their healthy habits throughout the season? PBS KIDS has the perfect playlist of videos designed to help your kids learn effective germ-fighting and handwashing techniques!
Pressing Pause: How Mindfulness Helps Kids
Grades PreK-5
All children have times when they become overwhelmed, overloaded, or overstimulated. Mindfulness is a method of pressing the “pause button,” allowing kids to regroup and re-enter a situation with greater calm. Learn more with four tips you can use with your kids.
Sleep | Science Trek
Grades K-5
Sleep rejuvenates our body and helps clean out our brain. But what is sleep? This video gallery discusses the different stages of sleep, provides tips on how to get a better nights sleep, and what happens when you don’t get enough sleep.
Breathing and Stretching
Grades 2-6
Join us to learn about different breathing and stretching techniques. Following along with their instructor, children take ocean breaths and move their arms in various motions to follow along with their breath in order to calm and center themselves.
Get Moving With a Personal Trainer! | Spot on Science
Grades 3-8
Turns out we aren’t active enough and it gets worse the older we get. To find a little more motivation for moving, Margaret speaks with Gina Shaffer, a certified personal trainer, to learn more ways to stay active.
Stressin’ Out! | Spot on Science
Grades 3-8
Stressing out over an upcoming test or a big game at school? Dr. Lisa Rameriz explains how stress can actually be a good thing and what to do when it turns toxic.
How Exercise Can Improve Your Memory | BrainCraft
Grades 6-12
In this episode of BrainCraft, we look at the health benefits to your brain of doing regular exercise.
Games, Activities & More
Healthy Habits Charts
Grades PreK-3
Help your child keep a record of healthy habits they practice, and the nutritious snacks they eat, with these Healthy Habit Charts.
Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids
Grades PreK-3
How do you encourage your kids to eat healthy? Here are four ideas to help them develop good snacking habits.
11 Simple Self-Care Habits for Kids
Grades PreK-3
Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s a basic need of being human! By teaching your child simple acts of self-care and including nurturing routines into your family life, you can show that taking care of ourselves, and each other, is important.
Practice Mindfulness With Belly Breathing
Grades PreK-4
During stressful or intense emotional moments, children may not have the coping skills to calm themselves. Diaphragmatic breathing, also known as belly breathing, is a calming exercise that both children and parents can practice to relax and feel grounded, and one that children as young as three can practice.
Nutrition: What Your Body Needs
Grades 3-8
In this blended lesson supporting literacy skills, students watch videos that explore why some foods are healthy and others unhealthy, they outline the process our body uses to break down foods into forms it can use, and they explain the role nutrition can play in managing diseases, including diabetes.
Powering Your Body with Exercise
Grades 5-8
In this blended, interactive lesson supporting literacy skills, students examine the changes that occur within the body in response to physical activity. Students develop their literacy skills as they explore personal health and the role of exercise.
Keep Your Body in Motion
Grades 6-12
Learn the difference between strength, endurance, and power in this self paced lesson for students to enjoy on their own. Find out how body fat impacts both fitness and health.