Research shows that health and education are connected. Children, whose physical, mental, social and emotional health is supported both at school and at home, are more likely to achieve their fullest potential.
As parents, you have a key role in supporting your children to form lifestyle habits that will build the foundation for them to live healthy, fulfilling and productive lives. In this section, you will find tips to help your child feel more connected, eat healthy and be physically active.
A Sense of Belonging or Feeling Connected to School
At Home
- Help your children with homework, and try to make sure they have the tools—school supplies, a quiet place — they need to do their homework.
- Encourage your children to help out at home, at school and in the community, such as helping with chores, running errands, volunteering or tutoring younger students after school.
- Encourage your children to participate in school activities, such as organized sports, clubs or special events.
At School
- Encourage your school to support healthy eating by registering with the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program, or help your school set up a school food garden, farm to school program or salad bar.
- Meet regularly with your children's teachers to discuss their grades, behaviour and accomplishments.
- Offer to share unique aspects of your culture with your child's class.
- Get involved with your children's school; volunteer, go on school field trips, participate in school and community events.
- Encourage your child's school to adopt an anti-bullying policy, if they don't have one in place.
Fast Fact
Enhancing student connectedness to school can promote positive mental health and well-being as well as improve educational outcomes among youth.
Students feel connected to school when they:
- Feel they are part of the school;
- Are happy and like school;
- Feel safe at school;
- Participate in school activities;
- Feel that teachers are fair and care about them; and
- Get along with other students (MacKay, 2009)
