Mind Body and Wellness

Mind Body and Wellness

MIND-BODY WELLNESS

Physical health and emotional health are intertwined in what's known as the mind-body connection. Mind-Body Wellness consists of eight dimensions that together impact our overall health and well-being. Our emotions, spirituality, experiences, goals, beliefs, and habits all have an impact on our mind-body and overall health. In January we celebrate International Mind-Body Wellness Day and focus on the importance of the connection between the mind, body and all aspects of wellness. Our chemistry and biology impact our mood and emotions, as well as thoughts and beliefs. With all of these factors combined, they play a major role in influencing our emotional and physical health. There are helpful ways to increase mind-body wellness such as physical activity, positive relationships, and asking for support when needed.

Areas of Wellness

A person's well-being is compromised of mutually co-dependent dimensions made up of emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial.


  • Emotional Well-Being: Identifying and responding to personal feelings, practicing empathy with others and being resilient in difficult situations
  • Physical Wellness: This dimension is compromised of all health aspect that includes but is not limited to nutrition, exercise, weight management, and disease prevention.
  • Occupational Well-Being: The wellness that encompasses personal satisfaction in your job or career.
  • Social Well-Being: This dimension is includes the aspects pertaining to social connections, relationships, and personal expression
  • Spiritual Well-Being: This is the dimension that explores the search for purpose and meaning in life. It can correlate to a religious or higher power being, but is not necessarily needed.
  • Intellectual Well-Being: Is accomplished by though provoking mental activities as well as the general brain health
  • Environmental Well-Being: This dimension is designated for natural resources and environmental preservation. It considers how the environment can impact human health and includes eco-friendly consideration, recycling, energy, fuel, and water conservation.
  • Financial Well-Being: Designed around all finances including the knowledge and skills for financial planning and managing expenses.

Building Healthy Habits

Wellbeing for Children: Healthy Habits
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Physical Activity

Exercise and physical activity are essential for everyone, including children. Exercise has been shown to improve mood1, reduce stress, and improve sleep. Playing outside in the fresh air, playing sports, and getting exercise are critical for a child's physical, social, and emotional development.
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Technology Time

While screens are more available to children than ever, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding screens altogether for children younger than 18 to 24 months, except when video chatting with family. The AAP also recommends limiting screen use for preschool children, ages 2 to 5, to just one hour a day of high-quality programming. Setting clear and consistent guidelines from an early age makes it much easier to reinforce these limits with school-age children. Use the timers embedded in the technology to make it easier for children to know when their time is up and consider designating media-free times together (such as during meals and when in the car) as well as media-free locations at home (such as bedrooms).
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Positive Relationships

Developing positive relationships with others is very important for children's well-being. The benefits of time spent with friends and family are numerous. This is how children learn to listen, share, compromise, and develop their conflict resolution skills. Fostering and maintaining strong relationships is critical to mental and emotional health – as a child and as an adult
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Sleep

Sleep is when your child's brain and body rest and recharge for the next day. Ensuring your child gets enough sleep each night is one of the most important practices you can develop as a parent. It is never too late to establish a bedtime routine. You might include a bath, reading a story, or listening to quiet music. Turning off all technology one or two hours before bedtime will allow your child to unwind, relax, and prepare for sleep.
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Resilience

This past year has been a masterclass in resilience for many of us. Resilience helps us get through life's hardships and learn and grow along the way. The ability to learn from mistakes and accept feedback, be persistent, and not give up easily will help maintain positive well-being in children and teach them valuable skills for adulthood. When parents, educators, and caregivers model these qualities themselves, they help show children how to rebound and move past mistakes and problems. The act of “letting go" is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy well-being.

TVUSD has implemented a Wellness Program with the idea that Healthy Kids Learn Better and Providing a Consistent Message to Promote a Healthy School Environment.


Areas that are covered in this wellness program are


  • Access to Free Lunch
  • Access to Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Services
  • Daily Physical and Active Activities
  • Awareness to the Importance of Health and Wellness through "Wellness Week"
  • Continued Communication from school to home about health
  • Classroom Celebrations that are "Food Free"
  • Protects Children with Food Allergies

Resources on Raising Healthy Kids

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The AAP Parenting Website

Powered by Pediatrician. Trusted by Parent. From the Academy of Pediatrics

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx

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C.S Mott Children's Hospital University of Michigan Health

Parenting is an adventure! The Your Child library was designed to provide parents with helpful information on common physical, mental and social health topics.

From behavioral challenges and developmental milestones to preventing injuries and making healthy choices, you’ll find a wide range of U-M pediatrician-approved information you can trust.

https://www.mottchildren.org/your-child

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Center for Effective Parenting

Find valuable parenting resources including links to websites and a variety of resources

https://parenting-ed.org/

Please join us for a Family University presentation on Mind-Body Wellness. All details are below!

Jessica Byrnes
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