Week 3 Discussion - Essay Example

Infusing Health Education into the Curriculum Promoting children’s health With the increasing population of children joining school at different levels, they join with different health-related issues. Some children face these health issues after joining school. These health issues faced by students make successful learning a bit difficult or impossible. A good number of students participate in behaviors that are too dangerous for their health. Most of the serious health problems affect in the current society affect the school-going population.

An emphasis is always consistent with the goals for school reform. The main policy and planning documents will influence schools for many years to acknowledge that good health is fundamental in academic success. Schools need to take an active role in developing as well as promoting the physical, emotional, mental, and social health of students. There is also need to engage students in meaningful work. Since health is so relevant to students, undertaking tasks that are related to promoting their health can be used in capturing students’ interest and enhance development of skills and knowledge in other curriculum areas.

By working closely with the community and families, schools have a chance to positively influence the health of students. In the past, many schools were against allocating their resources to health programs since benefits of these programs seemed insufficient. Today, however, benefits of these programs are clear. Studies have shown that introducing school-based health programs have many positive changes in the health-related behaviors of students (Meeks et al., 2011). Friendship and peer relationships The curriculum should demonstrate students’ ability to well with a wide range of both at school and out of school.

It should encourage students to behave in positive ways towards others. It is will be of great importance for one to distinguish between a person’s own feelings about the behaviors or opinions and the need to respect the rights of others (Meeks et al., 2011). Food choices The curriculum needs to emphasize on different nutritional needs during different stages of life. For example, it needs to emphasize on different nutrition during infancy, early childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The effects of nutrition on appearance, behavior and mental performance should be highlighted in the curriculum (Meeks et al., 2011). Work citedMeeks, L. et al. (2011).

Comprehensive school health education: Totally awesome strategies for teaching health. (8th edition).New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.