When children are well-rested, well-nourished, emotionally supported and physically fit, they are more ready to learn. The goal of PTA’s health and safety programming is to be a resource for PTA leaders so that they can partner with their school to create safe environments that encourage healthy, safe choices and social and emotional support for all students. Below is a summary of the many different toolkits you can use to support Health & Safety.
Connect for Respect. Bullying can happen anywhere that young people gather, including online, via text and on social networks. Connect for Respect encourages local PTAs across the country to engage student leaders in the solution
Healthy Lifestyles. Help address childhood obesityby promoting nutrition and physical activity. Access the School Meals Toolkit, Improving Energy Balance Toolkit and other family-centered tools including community challenges from Fire up Your Feet, Fuel Up to Play 60, and Togethercounts.
National PTA offers grants to local PTAs so they can partner with their schools to provide families with nutrition and physical activity education.
DID YOU KNOW: Nutritious free meals are available for children and teens 18 and younger at many locations throughout the nation throughout the summer while school is out of session. Visit the USDA website to find a site near you. Loudoun County residents may see locations on the LCPS School Nutrition Services website.
Action for Healthy Kids. Helps mobilize school professions, families and communities to take actions that lead to healthy eating, physical activity and healthier schools through the Every Kid Healthy Equation of combining school wellness action plans, with health programs and family-community partnerships.
Healthy Habits Program. Educate students and families about health and hygiene both in the classroom and at home. A cornerstone of the Healthy Habits Program is Healthy Habits Week, which is a nationwide educational effort that takes place every year during the third week of September to teach healthy habits to kids.
Connect For Respect: Research shows that one of the most effective ways to prevent bullying behavior is to create a positive school climate. School climate encompasses everything that contributes to a student's experience with a school—from the physical building to policies, staff and peer culture. Use the Connect for Respect (C4R) Toolkit to guide your PTA/PTSA in engaging students in improving the school climate and reducing bullying.
Violence Prevention: Position statement, tools and resources to help prevent and reduce violence and make students’ schools and communities safer for all.
Injury Prevention and Sports Safety: Tools from the National PTA to help precent injuries from falls, burns, sports and bike/skateboard accidents. Six activity lesson plans (children in K-5 and their families) addressing poisoning, playground, fire and bike safety. A Leader Toolkit is included and a Family Tip Sheet.
Teen Driver Safety: Tips from the National PTA to address Driver Safety.