Foundations of Wellness

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health literacy is defined as “the
degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health
information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” For children, this translates into
the ability to make healthy choices, to think about and practice health-enhancing skills, to say kind
words, and to learn about feelings and how to express them.

An important foundation of helping children become health literate is teaching them about wellness.
Wellness is more than just being healthy. It is the active process of becoming aware of and making
choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

Striving to achieve optimal wellness decreases stress, reduces the risk of illness, and strengthens social
and emotional health. It is important for students to learn about wellness as a foundational piece
because statistical data shows that these are areas of need by the time students reach high school.
(YRBSS Data: Mental Health, Physical Health, Social Health).

Several different dimensions of wellness have been defined including social, physical, mental,
environmental, academic, spiritual, and occupational. For young children, it is often best to introduce
the idea of enhancing wellness by balancing three of these dimensions: physical, social, and mental.
Those are the three dimensions that will be explored in this lesson.

To illustrate and reinforce balance of the three dimensions of wellness, the lesson includes a visual
triangle. The triangle includes:

• Physical Wellness - Examples include:

 Taking care of your body

 Getting physical activity
 Having good personal hygiene
 Having healthy eating patterns and nutrition intake
 Being safe

• Social Wellness – Examples include:

 Interacting with people around you

 Getting along with others in a variety of settings and online

• Mental/Emotional Wellness – Examples include:

 Liking who you are and accepting yourself

 Expressing and processing emotions
 Coping with the demands of daily life
 Managing stress and pressure
Balance equates to the equal proportion of physical, social, and mental/emotional health on the sides of
the wellness triangle. For example, if they have not slept or eaten breakfast (physical wellness),
students’ ability to manage stress will be impacted (mental/emotional wellness), and interactions with
friends, teachers, and others could be affected (social wellness).

It is important to help students understand that balance can be very difficult to accomplish, but
knowing what wellness is and how to work toward making appropriate choices will help them
throughout their lives.

Note: This may be the first time that students are introduced to the term stress. Stress is how our body
changes in response to changes around us. Stress can be good and helpful, but it can be bad if it stops us
from participating in daily life (hanging out with friends, going to school).

Source : (https://togethercounts.com/)
A. Nutrition and Health in the Early Years

1. Discuss nutrition and health in young children.

Nutrition and health in young children are critical factors that influence their growth,
development, and overall well-being. Adequate nutrition during childhood is essential for supporting
optimal physical and cognitive development, immune function, and disease prevention. Young children
require a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and
minerals to support their rapid growth and development.

2. What is the importance of health and nutrition in the early years?

Health and Nutrition are vital components of early childhood development, influencing physical
growth, cognitive development, immune function, and emotional well-being. Adequate nutrition
supports optimal growth, strengthens the immune system, and establishes lifelong healthy eating
habits. By providing nutritious foods and creating a supportive food environment, caregivers can
promote long-term health and well-being in children. Prioritizing health and nutrition in the early
years sets the stage for lifelong health and success, emphasizing the importance of investing in
children's well-being from the start.

Optimal Growth and Development: Nutrition supports physical and mental growth, helping children
reach their full potential in terms of height, weight, and cognitive abilities.
Immune System Support: A well-balanced diet strengthens the immune system, reducing the risk of
infections and illnesses.
Cognitive Development: Nutrients are crucial for brain development, impacting memory, learning, and
attention abilities.
Establishing Healthy Habits: Early exposure to nutritious foods sets the stage for lifelong healthy eating
habits, reducing the risk of chronic diseases later in life.
Prevention of Health Issues: Good nutrition in childhood can prevent obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and other chronic conditions.
Energy and Vitality: Nutrient-rich foods provide energy for daily activities, play, and exploration,
supporting overall vitality.
Emotional Well-being: Proper nutrition is linked to emotional stability and mental health, reducing the
risk of mood swings and behavioral problems.

3. What is the current trend of children’s health safety and nutrition?

4. What is the relationship between children’s health ,safety, and nutrition?
The relationship between children's health, safety, and nutrition is multifaceted and
interconnected. Proper nutrition is essential for supporting overall health and well-being, as well as
reducing the risk of chronic diseases and nutritional deficiencies. Children who consume a balanced diet
are more likely to have the energy, stamina, and cognitive function needed to engage in physical activity
and maintain a healthy weight. Furthermore, promoting a safe and supportive environment is crucial for
protecting children from injuries, accidents, and exposure to harmful substances, all of which can impact
their health and nutritional status.
5. Discuss the factors that influence children’s health, safety, and nutrition.

Economic well-being factors influencing healthcare of children: Environment plays a critical role when it
comes to the development of children. The college students have to explain how economic factors affect
the physical and psychological stimulation of the growth of the child.

Children who are living in better environmental conditions plus who had nurtured with proper growth
can face any the significant challenges in their upcoming life. However, there are some ecological factors
responsible for the weak growth of children.

It includes unemployment and illiteracy, which contribute to a healthy state of mind towards the
progress of the child. When parents do not have shelter or good food to eat, then their children might
have a negative impression of life. Parents need to teach the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and
growing with ethics.

However, if the children are growing up in poverty, then it can increase the risk of a child facing
negative impacts on life, which ultimately impact brain development with negative thoughts. Even a
poor lifestyle can leave an adverse outcome in terms of education and lifestyle a living

 Educational factors affecting children’s health: Though the growth and development of children
depend on both internal as well as external factors still some aspects can get controlled when it is the
right time. Having a good understanding of what kids or children need at their initial stage of growth can
make them live a developed life.

Education plays a significant role in the overall development of children. It affects the well-being
development as well as the mental thinking process of children. When the students are not able to take
the proper education or their parents cannot afford a good education, then the chances of getting
success decrease. The parents, as well as the national government, need to promote the right to
education for every child. When there would be some schemes related to the promotion of getting an
education then not even parents but also children get inspired to get proper training.

 Health factors: The development of health adds to the overall growth of a child. The excellent
knowledge of eating healthy and nutritionist food is the key to living a proper lifestyle. Many children do
not know the importance of eating healthy. When children have to face health-related problems, then
they get to understand why healthy eating food is essential for health. However, there is not only the
fault of children.

Even the societal factors and other people are the reasons for the lack of knowledge among children
about living a healthy life. When the children know how to live a healthy and fit life, then they can
achieve high success in their further growth.

Exercise is an essential part that comes of the development of a child with healthy food. It does not
mean that children have to involve in high physical activities or significantly disciplined sports. It merely
implies that children have to get prepared for regular school activities so that they can build up their
interest in extracurricular activities.
 Proper exercise on time influences the lifestyle of the child, along with mental and physical
development. Even the students can stay away from the germs or can fight them when they go through
the microbes.

 Community as well as family factors: The family has the most crucial impact in nurturing a kid. The
family members and their treatment of the child determine how a child is developing socially and
psychologically. Whether children get raised by their parents, grandparents, or elder siblings, every child
needs love, care, and proper treatment.

The most positive growth among children has found when their family gives time to them. The family
members can also have meaningful conversations with their children which can help in motivating them
for further development in life.

It is a well-known fact that most of the growth of children is best when they are living with their families.
The students can learn more and more productive when their parents and other people interact with
them, or they make them aware of certain necessary things. Children need a good education, a pleasant
environment, schools, and supportive services to achieve success in their life. When they are not taking
or getting it correctly, then they might lack mental development.