School Health

Information Resources

By Evelyn Cunico, MA, MS/LIS
Posted September 13, 2019

Introduction

Your child spends more time at school than anywhere else except home, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Schools can teach children about health and promote healthy behaviors.

Healthy behaviors at school often lead to healthy behaviors at home and in adulthood, according to the NLM.

Following are a few healthy behaviors that often begin with school health.

Healthy Eating

Most U.S. children attend school for six hours a day and consume as much as half of their daily calories at school, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meals offered by schools can teach good nutrition and dietary balance.

Physical Exercise

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Second Edition recommend that children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years do 60 minutes or more of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Physical education classes give children a chance to exercise and to form the daily habit of physical movement for a healthy body and mind.

Self-confidence

Self-confidence comes from trying new things, such as speaking more often in class or trying for an after-school activity, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health. School offers the opportunity to build self-confidence, the belief that you will be fine, even in the face of obstacles.

For more information, please see the following Selected Information Resources.

Disclaimer: The information in this blog should not replace the medical advice of your doctor. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other health condition without first consulting with your medical doctor or other healthcare provider.

Selected Information Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Healthy Schools. Physical Activity Facts.
Summary Note: Lists health benefits of physical activity and health consequences of physical inactivity among children and adolescents. Includes discussion of relationship between physical activity and academic achievement. Includes statistics on physical activity behavior of youth.
(Accessed 2019 September 11)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School Meals.
Summary Note: Questions and Answers about the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Includes information on financial support for School Meal Programs.
(Accessed 2019 September 11)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School Starts Soon – Is Your Child Fully Vaccinated?
Summary Note: Section entitled, Growing Up with Vaccines: What Should Parents Know advises that your child may need a certificate of immunization to enroll in school. Links to a Vaccine Guide.
(Accessed 2019 August 27)

Federal Trade Commission. Consumer Information. Answering Questions about Underage Drinking.
Summary Note: Questions and Answers factsheet suggests what you can say to people who think that teen drinking is not a serious problem. Focus is on the positive influence of parenting on children from teen years into college.
(Accessed 2019 September 11)

National Institutes of Health. NIH News in Health. See, Hear, Speak: Are Kids’ Senses Ready for School?
Summary Note: Monthly NIH Newsletter. Special Issue: Parenting. Learn how to recognize signs of eye, ear, or language problems. Discusses how early detection may give children a better learning experience.
(Accessed 2019 August 26)

National Institutes of Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. Bullying and Cyberbullying.
Summary Note: Defines types of bullying. Includes information for parents about cyberbullying. Discusses who is at risk for being bullied and who is at risk for being a bully. Suggests ways that parents can help children to deal with bullies. Discusses how bullying affects health and well-being.
(Accessed 2019 August 27)

National Institutes of Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. School Health.
Summary Note: MedlinePlus Topic Page on School Health includes more than 50 resources related to school health. Includes information on health screenings at school and your child’s back-to-school health checklist.
(Accessed 2019 August 26)

National Institutes of Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. Smoking and Youth.
Summary Note: MedlinePlus Topic Page on Teen Smoking. Includes sections on Prevention, Research Statistics, Children, and Teenagers. Includes a link to a Patient Handout on Talking to Your Child about Smoking.
(Accessed 2019 September 11)

Nemours. Children’s Health System. Helping Your Child Adjust and Cope.
Summary Note: Reliable information resources help you as parents find out how to help your child deal with common situations, such as bullying and self-esteem, death and grief, and drugs and alcohol.
(Accessed 2019 September 12)

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. USA dot gov. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Second Edition.
Summary Note: The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Second Edition provides evidence-based guidance to help Americans maintain or improve their health through physical activity.
(Accessed 2019 September 12)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office on Women’s Health. Girls Health. Self-esteem and Self-confidence.
Summary Note: Offers girls reliable, useful information on health and well-being. Defines self-esteem and self-confidence. Deals with health issues that girls will face as they become young women. Provides tips on handling relationships with family and friends, at school and at home.
(Accessed 2019 September 12)