Health & Wellbeing

Cultivating Health & Wellbeing Supports Learning

OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 Project

The OECD Learning Compass 2030, a product of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Future of Education and Skills 2030 project, is an evolving learning framework that sets out an aspirational vision for the future of education with a focus on individual and collective well-being. The compass framework connects well to IB PYP standards and practices through its offering of a broad vision of the types of competencies students will need to thrive in 2030 and beyond.  Check out the well-being section.


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Wellness Activities Blog

Check out this blog that was created by three University of British Columbia teacher education students in an effort to enhance connections between educators and school communities, particularly due to the impact that COVID-19 has had on learning and education. The blog is a collection of playful learning ideas for school-aged children. The learning ideas focus on social, emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being. 

Integrating Wellbeing

Runtime: 3:25 - Feb 15, 2022
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Young Adults are Struggling with their Mental Health. Is more Childhood Independence the Answer?

Wonder why children — yours, ours, everyone’s — often seem easily flummoxed, discouraged, and young for their age? Or passive? Or just plain anxious? This blockbuster report by Holly Korbey on the KQED website is a grand tour of modern childhood and what needs to be fixed.

In a new study currently under review, Georgetown University psychologist Yulia Chentsova Dutton looked at whether American college students’ threshold for what is considered risky was comparable to their global peers. 

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Chentsova Dutton and her team interviewed students from Turkey, Russia, Canada and the United States, asking them to describe a risky or dangerous experience they had in the last month. Both Turkish and Russian students described witnessing events that involved actual risk: violent fights on public transportation; hazardous driving conditions caused by drunk drivers; women being aggressively followed on the street. 

But American students were far more likely to cite as dangerous things that most adults do every day, like being alone outside or riding alone in an Uber.

The American students’ risk threshold was comparatively “quite low,” according to Chentsova Dutton. Students who reported they gained independence later in childhood — going to the grocery store or riding public transportation alone, for example — viewed their university campus as more dangerous; those same students also had fewer positive emotions when describing risky situations. 

Chentsova Dutton hypothesizes that when students have fewer opportunities to practice autonomy, they have less faith in themselves that they can figure out a risky situation. “My suspicion is that low autonomy seems to translate into low efficacy,” she said. “Low efficacy and a combination of stress is associated with distress,” like anxiety and depression. Learn more by reading  the report.

Also see the Play & Independence: Let Grow Website that is mentioned in the report.

Source: KQED Website

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Social Media and Youth Mental Health

This PDF is an advisory by the U.S. Surgeon General on the topic of Social Media and Youth Mental Health (Direct Download). It provides an overview of the current evidence on the positive and negative impacts of social media on children and adolescents, as well as the primary areas of concern for mental health and well-being. The document offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, technology companies, parents, caregivers, young people, and researchers to address the potential harms of social media use and promote mental health. 

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Key Findings:

Recommendations:

Please note that these are just a few key findings and recommendations from the PDF. The full document contains more detailed information and additional recommendations.

What Is an Emotionally-Healthy Childhood?

Run Time: 9:00 
We know how many adult problems come down to issues from childhood - but what exactly is that wondrous, hugely desirable thing, an emotionally-healthy childhood? This film identifies the central themes of the sort of childhood that can leave us balanced, happy and sane.

How to Save Our Children From Cynicism

Run Time: 10:16 -  Dec 1, 2024
Concerned about the impact of media on students, high school teacher Graeme Mitchell created a program to combat the growing sense of hopelessness in today’s digital age. The initiative, focused on evidence-based optimism, equips students with tools to process overwhelming information and take meaningful action.
Teachers dedicated half of their class time to stories of progress and resilience, with extraordinary results. “It feels like we’ve hit a refresh button,” one teacher noted. For educators, it’s a powerful idea worth exploring!

Is Social Media the Leading Cause to Teen Depression?

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The incidence of adolescent depression has markedly increased by twofold since 2011, accompanied by a rise in feelings of isolation and a decline in overall life satisfaction among teenagers. This concerning trend is closely linked to the substantial uptick in smartphone and social media usage over the past decade. This prompts the question: What is our role as educators in facilitating safe interactions with social media for the students under our guidance?
** Subscribe to Tom Barrett's thought provoking weekly Dialogic Learning Weekly  newsletter.

Sanctuaries of Silence and Suggested Activitis

Run Time: 7:15 - May 8, 2018
You are encouraged to view Sanctuaries of Silence with your students. The video focuses on listening to sound in our environment and comes with student conversation cards which encourage students to think about the human sounds, mechanized sounds, and nature sounds they hear. The takeaway concept is the disappearance of nature sounds on Earth. This connects very well SDG goal 15: Life on Land

Conversation Cards

How to Use the cards to deepen your students’ learning…
  • As pre-film warm-ups to introduce the topics and themes
  • As catalysts for post-film discussions
  • As writing prompts for personal reflections or essays
  • To spark ideas for action or class projects

How Not to Be Hard on Yourself Poster

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Source: Impact Wales

Talking to Children About a Loved One Moving to a Nursing Home

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It’s not always easy to explain to children why a cherished family member is moving into a nursing home. However, this challenging conversation can be an opportunity to help your child understand aging, empathy, and family responsibility. Nursing Home Abuse Justice has compiled information that may be able to help guide you.
Some ways you can explain the concept of a nursing home to your child:
  • Help with everyday living.
  • Taking part in fun activities.
  • Making new friends. 
  • Cleaning and housework are taken care of. 
  • Having healthy food already made. 

How to talk and Support a Child About a Loved One with Cancer 

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This website is recommended by Kaitlyn Carlock, Advocacy Associate of Mesothelioma Hope. Talking to Children About Cancer  is an excellent resource about child cancer support for anyone, but especially parents. It's aim is to provide resources that will support a child's needs during this difficult time. Taking the time to teach a child healthy coping mechanisms and answer any questions they may have about cancer can help them get through this new and challenging experience. 
Learn About
  • How to Tell a Child That a Family Member Has Cancer
  • Talking About a Cancer Diagnosis
  • Talking About a Cancer Treatment
  • Talking About Cancer Prognosis
  • Resources to Help You Support a Child

Mesothelioma Cancer Information

A list of websites detailing Mesothelioma, including its causes and treatment optionsClick/Tap to Continue

Mesothelioma represents a rare yet highly aggressive form of cancer originating in the mesothelium, a specialized membrane enveloping select organs within the body. Exposure to asbestos stands as the primary risk factor for developing this malignancy. Without intervention, the average life expectancy post-diagnosis merely spans a few months. While treatment may prolong survival in specific cases, mesothelioma remains largely incurable, with sustained remission being exceedingly rare.

Cerebral Palsy Special Education

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Here are a few helpful resources about Cerebral Palsy:
The Cerebral Palsy Guide website is a valuable resource for educators and parents who are seeking information on how to support children with cerebral palsy.
Ensuring the academic success of children with cerebral palsy involves specialized education options, including both public and private schools, as well as supplementary resources. Early intervention, starting as early as toddlerhood, plays a crucial role in their overall development.
By offering insights and resources, the Cerebral Palsy Guide website assists teachers and parents in comprehending and addressing the academic and lifelong needs of children with cerebral palsy, thereby fostering their success.
** Thank you to Amie K. [Patient Help Advocate] for suggesting this useful site.
** You may also be interested in the special edu cation resources found on the Birth Injury Justice Center. There you will find resources that inform about: Birth Injuries, Cerebral Palsy and Erb's Palsy

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