November is National PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month
National PTA created Healthy Lifestyles Month because research shows that a healthy child can achieve and learn more. PTAs nationwide are encouraged to plan events and activities throughout the month of November to promote health and wellness in their communities.
Healthy Lifestyles Month is a wonderful opportunity for school communities to demonstrate their commitment to ensuring that all students show up each day healthy and ready to learn. Local PTAs participate by conducting programs and events that promote health education, physical activity and parental involvement. This can be something as small as featuring an article in their newsletter or as big as organizing a 5K walk. PTAs also encourage families to increase their physical activity, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, participate in their community's physical activity programs and promote lifelong healthy behaviors.
National PTA's Healthy Lifestyles Month has encouraged PTAs across the country to get creative and develop clever initiatives that make healthy living fun. What will your PTA do to celebrate? Please share Healthy Lifestyles Month ideas and success stories with us. Remember to take pictures and submit any that you have permission to share. We’ll be posting on Facebook throughout Healthy Lifestyles Month. Join the conversation and tell us your story, too! Contact Jeana Parr, Health and Safety Chairperson at healthandsafety@westvirginiapta.org if you are looking for specific ideas or resources.
Ideas for Celebrating Healthy Lifestyles Month
The following are some ways that local PTAs are encouraging families to make healthier choices and supporting access to healthy options at school:
1. Promoting Healthy Behaviors
- Issue a PTA Healthy Lifestyles challenge each school day through the morning announcements (e.g., "Challenge #1: Drink only water or low-fat milk today!")
- Promote the challenge through the school's social media sites.
- Put a yard sign with the daily challenge in front of student drop-off locations.
2. Encouraging Healthy Families
Host a fun event for the whole family that celebrates healthy and delicious foods, encourages families to get up and get moving and provides opportunities to learn from health experts in the community. Examples:
- Healthy Lifestyles Expo (i.e., health fair with activities and games for children)
- Fun Run (i.e., walk, run or bike event around school)
- Healthy Foods From Around the World
3. Supporting Healthy Schools
Talk with school administrators and staff about the school's wellness policy and determine specific ways PTA can support its implementation.
- Plant a community vegetable garden or host a farmer's market.
- Work with a nutritionist to assess the nutrition options at the school and advocate for healthier choices, including Low- or no-sugar drink options, Flavorful and fresh fruits and vegetables, Low-sugar, low-sodium snack options, Portions appropriate for students' ages
- Recruit parent or community volunteers to support active play during the day, such as recess, before school and after-school playground or gym time.
