Wellness Programs for Kids

The overall well-being of your child is influenced by innumerable factors comprising his environment and lifestyle. Inspiring healthy choices in your child starts with making beneficial decisions for yourself and your family life. Your child has the opportunity to gain exposure to wellness principles through programs implemented by his school, yoga classes specifically for kids, cooking classes and music programs.

  1. School Wellness Programs

    • Since a new regulation pertaining to the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act was passed by Congress in 2004, schools participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture food program -- providing meals to students -- are required by law to implement a wellness policy to benefit students and ensure proper nutrition and health. School wellness policies are required to fulfill a specific eight-step implementation and analysis process that includes communication with parents and community members and monitoring the effectiveness of the plan. According to Jennie McCary, a registered dietitian with a master's degree in nutrition, schools should offer nutrition education, healthy food options and regular physical education programs to support student wellness.

    Yoga for Kids

    • If you are looking for an approach to your child's wellness outside of school, consider enrolling him in a local yoga class. Many yoga studios offer classes for children and teens, encouraging participation in this form of self-care that has been around for centuries. Practicing yoga can support physical, mental and emotional wellness for your child. Yoga provides a noncompetitive outlet that allows your child to adopt skills such as concentration, self-respect, body awareness, relaxation, balance and flexibility. Most yoga classes for younger children incorporate poses that replicate the posture, movements and natural state of animals and components of the environment. You can also practice yoga at home with your child, creating a bridge between the studio and family life.

    Healthy Ways to Cook

    • Finding a local cooking class for your child is another constructive method for employing wellness strategies in daily life. Children's cooking classes are generally available for children ages 6 and up. A child gains exposure to positive concepts such as proper nutrition, where food comes from, simple and essential cooking skills, mastery of cooking techniques, teamwork and the satisfaction of a job well completed that can be enjoyed by himself and his peers. A wellness approach through cooking classes incorporates lessons on self-sufficiency, contributing to the group, following instructions and scientific exploration -- all valuable to the developmental well-being of your child. The Children's Aid Society in New York offers a specialized program called Go!Chefs for children ages 6 and up, teaching valuable and nutritional cooking techniques. Research children's cooking programs in your own area to find a beneficial outlet for your child.

    Music Programs

    • Dr. Kathi J. Kemper, director of the Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, emphasizes the value of musical influence in the mental and emotional well-being of children. Music therapy is a common technique utilized to aid in stress reduction, memory and attention development, sleep support and mood enhancement. When your child participates in a wellness program specific to music education, his brain development is supported, his spatial intelligence is enhanced, his creative thinking and problem-solving skills are promoted, he gains exposure to different cultures and he learns the value of teamwork and self-discipline.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Giving Your Teen Space
       Raising a teenager is difficult for the best of parents, just as being a teenager is difficult for all teens, regardless of how easy a childhood they had. But these are the years when parenting needs to be done delicately. Watching your teen dr
    • Government Grants for a Family with a Disabled Child
      The federal government provides various grant opportunities for a wide variety of conditions. Families with disabled children may be eligible for certain grant funds depending upon income level and need. Applying for government grants can be confusin
    • Teaching a 9-Year-Old to Help With Laundry
      Teaching your child household skills helps your family run smoothly and gives him independent living skills, according to Patricia Sprinkle, author of “Children Who Do Too Little,” in a LifeWay article. Laundry is a simple skill for most