Health Education: Community and Environmental Health – Grade 2

Did you know that when you make healthy choices, you're helping your whole community stay healthy? Your community includes your family, classmates, teachers, neighbors, and everyone else around you. Every healthy choice you make is like a gift to your community! 🎁

Healthy behaviors are the good choices you make every day to take care of your body and mind. These include brushing your teeth 🦷, eating nutritious foods 🥕, getting enough sleep 😴, and exercising regularly 🏃‍♂️. But did you know that these choices also help other people?

When you brush your teeth and practice good hygiene, you prevent germs from spreading to your friends and family. When you eat healthy foods, you show others that taking care of your body is important. When you get enough sleep, you have more energy to be a good friend and helper to others.

One of the most important ways you can help your community is by practicing good hygiene. Hygiene means keeping your body clean and healthy. When you wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, you're washing away tiny germs that could make you and others sick.

Think about all the things you touch throughout the day – door handles, desks, pencils, toys, and playground equipment. Other people touch these same things too! When you have clean hands, you're not leaving germs behind for the next person. This helps keep everyone in your school and community healthier.

Your healthy behaviors create what we call a "ripple effect." Just like when you drop a stone in a pond and see circles of water spread out, your healthy choices spread good health throughout your community. When your friends see you washing your hands before lunch, they might remember to do it too. When your little brother sees you eating vegetables, he might want to try them as well.

As a second-grade student, you can be a health role model for younger children and even remind older students about healthy behaviors. When you consistently make good choices, others notice and often follow your example. You might not realize it, but younger students look up to you and copy what you do.

For example, if you always throw your trash in the garbage can instead of on the ground, you're helping keep your school environment clean and healthy for everyone. If you always walk instead of run in the hallways, you're following safety rules that protect you and others from getting hurt.

Your personal health and your community's health are connected like pieces of a puzzle 🧩. When you take care of yourself, you're also taking care of your community. When you're healthy, you can participate in fun activities with your friends, help your family with chores, and be a positive member of your classroom.

If you get sick because you didn't wash your hands or cover your mouth when coughing, you might spread your illness to others. This could mean your friends miss school, your family members don't feel well, or your teacher gets sick. By staying healthy, you help everyone around you stay healthy too!

There are many simple ways you can help your community stay healthy every day. Washing your hands before eating and after using the bathroom is one of the most important things you can do. Covering your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze helps prevent germs from spreading through the air.

Eating nutritious foods gives you energy to be active and helpful in your community. Getting enough sleep helps you think clearly and make good decisions that benefit everyone around you. Even something as simple as smiling and being kind to others contributes to a healthy community environment!

Remember, being part of a healthy community means we all work together to take care of each other. Your healthy behaviors matter more than you might think, and they help create a happier, healthier place for everyone to live, learn, and play.

Germs are tiny living things that are so small you can't see them without a special microscope! Some germs can make you and others sick, but the good news is that you have the power to stop them from spreading. Learning how to prevent germs from moving from person to person is one of the most important skills you can learn! 🦠

Communicable diseases are illnesses that can spread from one person to another. The word "communicable" means "able to be shared" or "passed along." Common examples include colds, flu, and stomach bugs. These diseases spread when germs move from a sick person to a healthy person.

Germs can travel in different ways. They might float through the air when someone coughs or sneezes, or they might live on surfaces like doorknobs, desks, or toys. When you touch these surfaces and then touch your face, nose, or mouth, the germs can enter your body and make you sick.

Washing your hands is like having a superpower against germs! 🦸‍♀️ When you wash your hands with soap and warm water, you're washing away millions of tiny germs that could make you and others sick. Soap is especially important because it helps break down the germs and wash them away.

You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds – that's about as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice! Make sure to scrub between your fingers, under your nails, and all the way up to your wrists. Don't forget to wash your thumbs too!

The best times to wash your hands are before eating, after using the bathroom, after playing outside, after touching animals, and whenever your hands look or feel dirty. At school, you should also wash your hands before and after lunch, and after activities where you've shared materials with classmates.

When you cough or sneeze, tiny droplets containing germs can fly through the air and land on other people or surfaces. These droplets can travel up to six feet away! That's why it's so important to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

The best way to cover a cough or sneeze is to use your elbow, not your hands. This is called the "vampire cough" because you lift your arm up to your face like a vampire's cape 🧛‍♂️. Using your elbow keeps the germs off your hands, which means you won't spread them to everything you touch afterward.

If you do accidentally cough or sneeze into your hands, wash them immediately with soap and water. If soap and water aren't available, you can use hand sanitizer, but washing with soap is always better.

While sharing is usually a good thing, there are some items you should never share because they can spread germs. These include food, drinks, eating utensils (like forks and spoons), water bottles, and personal items like toothbrushes or combs.

When you share food or drinks with someone, you're also sharing any germs that might be in their mouth. Even if your friend looks healthy, they might have germs that could make you sick. It's always better to bring your own snacks and drinks to school and not share them with others.

One of the most important ways to prevent spreading communicable diseases is to stay home when you're sick. This might seem disappointing if you want to see your friends or if there's something fun happening at school, but staying home when you're sick is actually a way of taking care of your whole community.

When you're sick, your body is full of germs that want to spread to other people. By staying home, you're keeping those germs away from your classmates, teachers, and school staff. This helps prevent what we call an "outbreak," which is when many people get sick at the same time.

Germs spread in several ways, and understanding these ways helps you know how to stop them. Some germs spread through the air when people cough, sneeze, or even talk. Other germs spread through touch – when you touch something that has germs on it and then touch your face.

Some germs can live on surfaces for hours or even days! This is why it's important to clean desks, doorknobs, and other surfaces regularly. At school, your teachers and custodians work hard to keep surfaces clean, but you can help by not touching your face with dirty hands and by washing your hands frequently.

Preventing the spread of communicable diseases becomes easier when you make healthy habits part of your daily routine. Practice washing your hands at the same times every day until it becomes automatic. Keep tissues in your pocket or backpack so you're always prepared to cover a cough or sneeze properly.

Remember to avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth, throughout the day. These are the main ways germs enter your body. If you need to touch your face, wash your hands first.

By following these simple practices every day, you're not only protecting yourself from getting sick – you're also protecting your family, friends, classmates, and teachers. You're being a responsible member of your community and helping keep everyone healthy and happy!

Rules are like invisible shields that protect you and everyone around you! 🛡️ Every rule has a special purpose – to keep people safe, healthy, and happy. You might sometimes wonder why there are so many rules, but each one helps prevent accidents, injuries, and problems in your classroom, school, and community.

In your classroom, there are many rules that help keep everyone safe and ready to learn. One of the most important rules is walking instead of running. When you walk in the classroom, you're less likely to trip, fall, or bump into furniture or other students. Running can cause accidents that hurt you or your classmates.

Another important classroom rule is waiting your turn. This rule helps prevent pushing, shoving, and arguments that could lead to someone getting hurt. When everyone knows they'll get their turn, the classroom stays calm and peaceful. Waiting your turn also shows respect for your classmates and teacher.

Raising your hand before speaking is another safety rule, even though it might not seem like it! This rule prevents confusion and arguments, which can create stress and unhappiness. When everyone follows this rule, the classroom becomes a safe space for learning and sharing ideas.

Your school has many rules that work together to create a safe environment for hundreds of students, teachers, and staff members. Walking in the hallways is important because when lots of people are moving through the same space, running can cause collisions and injuries.

Lining up properly helps prevent pushing and ensures that everyone gets where they need to go safely. Fire drill rules teach you what to do in an emergency and help keep everyone safe if there's ever a real emergency. Even rules about where you can and cannot go in the school building help keep you away from areas that might be dangerous.

Playground rules are especially important for your safety. Rules about taking turns on equipment, using playground equipment properly, and playing fairly help prevent injuries and arguments. When everyone follows these rules, recess becomes a fun and safe time for everyone.

Your community has many rules that protect you and your family every day. Traffic laws are some of the most important community rules. Stop signs, traffic lights, and speed limits help prevent car accidents and keep pedestrians safe. When you're walking or riding your bike, these rules help drivers know what to do to keep you safe.

Crosswalk rules teach you to cross streets safely. Looking both ways, waiting for the walk signal, and using designated crossing areas help prevent accidents. Even rules about where you can ride your bike or skateboard help keep you safe from traffic and other hazards.

Water safety rules are crucial for preventing drowning and water-related injuries. Rules about swimming only when a lifeguard is present, not running around pools, and wearing life jackets when boating have saved thousands of lives. These rules might seem like they limit your fun, but they actually help you enjoy water activities safely.

All these rules – classroom, school, and community – work together like a team to keep you safe throughout your day. When you follow walking rules at school, you're practicing the same careful behavior that will keep you safe when walking in your neighborhood. When you practice waiting your turn in class, you're learning patience and respect that will help you follow traffic rules and wait for safe crossing signals.

Rules also teach you to think about how your actions affect others. When you follow rules, you're showing that you care about the safety and well-being of everyone around you. This is an important part of being a good community member.

Imagine what would happen if there were no rules anywhere. In your classroom, students might run around, push each other, and talk all at once. Learning would be very difficult, and someone could get hurt. On the playground, bigger kids might take over all the equipment, and arguments might turn into fights.

On the roads, cars might drive as fast as they want in any direction, making it very dangerous for everyone. At swimming pools, people might dive into shallow water or run on wet surfaces, causing serious injuries. Rules help prevent these problems and make life safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

When you follow rules, you're showing respect for yourself, your classmates, your teachers, and your community. You're demonstrating that you understand the importance of safety and that you want to help create a positive environment for everyone.

Following rules also helps you develop self-discipline and responsibility. These are important life skills that will help you throughout your life. When you can follow rules without being reminded, you're showing that you're growing up and becoming more mature.

Sometimes rules change when people find better ways to keep everyone safe. For example, schools might add new playground rules if they notice certain activities are causing injuries. Communities might add new traffic rules if they discover dangerous intersections. These changes show that rules are designed to help people, and they can be improved to work even better.

The best rules are ones that work for everyone in the community. Good rules are fair, easy to understand, and help create a safe, healthy environment. When everyone understands why rules exist and how they help, it becomes easier and more natural to follow them.

Remember, rules aren't meant to stop you from having fun – they're meant to help you have fun safely! When you follow rules, you're helping create a community where everyone can enjoy learning, playing, and living together in safety and happiness.

Your school and community are like a big support team working together to help you stay healthy and strong! 🏫 Every day, there are people and programs around you that make it easier for you to make healthy choices. Let's explore all the wonderful ways your school and community help you and your family live healthier lives.

One of the most important ways your school helps you stay healthy is through the school lunch program. The cafeteria staff and nutrition experts work hard to plan meals that give you the energy and nutrients you need to grow strong and think clearly. School lunches include foods from all the important food groups – proteins, grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy.

Your school lunch might include items like whole grain bread, lean meats, fresh fruits, colorful vegetables, and low-fat milk 🥛. These foods provide vitamins, minerals, and energy that help your body grow and your brain work well. Without these nutritious meals, it would be much harder for you to concentrate in class and have energy for recess and after-school activities.

Many schools also have breakfast programs that help students start their day with healthy foods. Eating a nutritious breakfast helps you think better, remember more, and feel happier throughout the morning. Some schools even have snack programs that provide healthy options between meals.

Community gardens are special places where families can grow their own fresh vegetables and fruits together 🌱. These gardens teach you where food comes from and how to grow nutritious plants. When you participate in a community garden, you learn that carrots grow underground, tomatoes grow on vines, and lettuce grows in leafy bunches.

Growing your own food helps you understand the importance of eating fresh, healthy foods. When you help plant seeds, water plants, and harvest vegetables, you're more likely to try new foods and enjoy eating them. Community gardens also bring families together and create friendships among neighbors who share a love of healthy eating.

Many community gardens also teach composting, which is a way to turn food scraps into healthy soil for growing plants. This teaches you about the cycle of nature and how to reduce waste while creating something useful.

Your community has many programs that help keep the environment clean and healthy, which directly affects your health. Recycling programs help reduce pollution and keep dangerous materials out of the environment. When you recycle paper, plastic, and cans, you're helping create cleaner air and water for everyone.

Some communities have special programs for recycling electronics, batteries, and other items that could harm the environment if thrown away improperly. These programs teach you to be responsible for taking care of the Earth, which is everyone's home.

Clean-up events in parks and neighborhoods help remove litter and dangerous items from areas where children play. When you participate in these events with your family, you're learning to take care of your community and keep it safe for everyone.

School health fairs are exciting events where you can learn about many different aspects of health in fun, interactive ways. At health fairs, you might visit stations where you can check your blood pressure, learn about dental health, practice proper hand washing, or try new healthy foods 🍎.

These events often include demonstrations by doctors, nurses, dentists, and other health professionals who want to teach you about taking care of your body. You might learn how to brush your teeth properly, what foods help your bones grow strong, or how exercise helps your heart stay healthy.

Many health fairs also include information for parents about community health resources, vaccination programs, and healthy living tips. This helps your whole family learn about staying healthy together.

Your school and community provide many opportunities for you to be physically active, which is essential for good health. At school, you have physical education classes, recess, and maybe after-school sports programs. These activities help you develop strong muscles, healthy hearts, and good coordination.

Community recreation centers often offer swimming programs, sports leagues, and fitness classes designed for children. Parks provide playgrounds, walking trails, and open spaces where you can run, play, and exercise. Some communities even have bike paths that make it safe and fun to ride bicycles with your family.

These programs are especially important because they make physical activity fun and social. When you exercise with friends and family, you're more likely to enjoy it and want to continue being active throughout your life.

Your school and community work together to prevent injuries and keep you safe. Schools have safety programs that teach you about fire safety, stranger danger, and what to do in emergencies. Fire drills, lockdown drills, and other safety practices help you know what to do if something dangerous happens.

Community safety programs might include bicycle safety courses, swimming lessons, and first aid training. Some communities offer free or low-cost safety equipment like bicycle helmets, car seats, and smoke detectors to help families stay safe.

Traffic safety programs near schools help make sure you can walk or bike to school safely. These might include crossing guards, reduced speed limits, and special crosswalks that help drivers see children more easily.

Your school and community help connect families with healthcare services and information. School nurses provide basic medical care and health education. They can help with minor injuries, check for health problems, and provide information about staying healthy.

Community health centers offer medical and dental care for families who need it. Some communities have mobile health clinics that travel to different neighborhoods to provide healthcare services. These programs help ensure that all children have access to the healthcare they need to stay healthy.

Many communities also provide information about health topics through websites, newsletters, and community meetings. This helps families learn about new health information and resources available in their area.

When all these programs and influences work together, they create what we call a "culture of health" in your community. This means that healthy choices become normal and easy to make. When healthy food is available at school, when there are safe places to play and exercise, and when everyone around you values health, it becomes natural for you to make healthy choices too.

This culture of health helps you develop healthy habits that will last your whole life. The lessons you learn now about eating well, exercising regularly, and taking care of your environment will help you stay healthy as you grow up and become an adult who can help create healthy communities for future children.

Your community is full of people who care about keeping you safe and healthy! 🏘️ Every day, there are many programs, people, and systems working together to prevent injuries and accidents that could hurt children. Understanding how these safety networks work helps you appreciate all the ways your community protects you and shows you how you can help keep others safe too.

Community health fairs are like big celebrations of health and safety! These events bring together doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and other safety experts who want to teach you and your family about staying safe. At these fairs, you can learn about many different types of safety in fun, hands-on ways.

At a health fair, you might visit a station where firefighters teach you how to stop, drop, and roll if your clothes catch fire. Police officers might show you how to cross streets safely and what to do if you get lost. Doctors and nurses might demonstrate how to wash cuts properly or what to do if someone gets hurt.

These fairs often include interactive activities like safety obstacle courses, where you can practice emergency skills, or demonstrations of safety equipment like smoke detectors and bicycle helmets. The goal is to make learning about safety fun and memorable, so you'll remember these important lessons when you need them.

Immunizations, also called vaccinations, are one of the most important ways communities prevent serious injuries and illnesses in children. These are special medicines that help your body learn to fight off dangerous diseases before you get sick 💉.

Your community has immunization programs that make sure all children can get the vaccines they need to stay healthy. These programs are usually run by health departments, schools, and healthcare providers working together. Some communities even have special vaccination events where families can bring their children to get caught up on their immunizations.

Immunizations prevent diseases that used to make many children very sick or even cause death. Diseases like polio, measles, and whooping cough are now very rare because most children receive vaccinations that protect them. When most people in a community are vaccinated, it creates what doctors call "herd immunity," which means even people who can't get vaccinated are protected because the disease can't spread easily.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of injury-related death in children, but your community has many programs designed to prevent these tragedies. Swimming programs don't just teach you how to swim – they teach you how to be safe around water in all situations 🏊‍♀️.

Community swimming programs often start with basic water safety skills like floating, treading water, and getting out of the pool safely. You learn never to swim alone, always to have an adult watching, and what to do if someone is in trouble in the water. Advanced programs might teach you how to help someone who is drowning, but always with adult supervision.

Many communities also have special programs for teaching parents and caregivers about water safety. These programs teach adults how to supervise children around water, how to recognize when someone is drowning (which often doesn't look like it does in movies), and how to perform CPR if needed.

Water safety education extends beyond swimming pools to include safety around lakes, rivers, oceans, and even bathtubs. You learn about different types of water hazards and how to stay safe in each situation.

Your community works hard to make sure children have access to safety equipment that can prevent serious injuries. Bicycle helmet programs provide free or low-cost helmets to families who need them. These programs often include education about how to properly fit and wear helmets, because a helmet that doesn't fit correctly can't protect you properly.

Car seat safety programs help parents learn how to install and use car seats correctly. Many car accidents happen because car seats aren't installed properly, so these programs can literally save lives. Some communities have special events where parents can have their car seats checked by experts and learn how to use them correctly.

Some communities also provide safety equipment like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and cabinet locks to help make homes safer for children. These programs recognize that not all families can afford safety equipment, but every child deserves to be safe.

Your community carefully designs and maintains playgrounds to prevent injuries while still allowing children to have fun and exercise. Playground safety includes choosing appropriate equipment for different age groups, using safe surface materials that cushion falls, and regularly inspecting equipment for damage or wear.

School safety programs work to prevent injuries in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and during transportation. These programs include training for teachers and staff about recognizing and preventing safety hazards, emergency response procedures, and creating safe learning environments.

Bus safety programs teach children how to behave safely on school buses and when getting on and off buses. These programs are especially important because bus stops and bus loading areas can be dangerous if children don't follow safety rules.

Your community has sophisticated emergency response systems designed to help children quickly if they do get hurt. This includes 911 systems that can quickly send ambulances, fire trucks, or police when needed. Emergency rooms in hospitals have special areas and staff trained to treat children.

Many communities also have poison control centers that can provide immediate help if a child accidentally eats or drinks something dangerous. These centers are staffed by experts who can give instructions over the phone about what to do in poison emergencies.

Schools and childcare centers have emergency plans that include procedures for medical emergencies, natural disasters, and other dangerous situations. Staff members are trained in first aid and CPR so they can help children immediately if something happens.

Your community works to create physical environments that are naturally safer for children. This includes designing streets with sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic signals that help children cross safely. Speed limits in school zones are set lower to give drivers more time to see and avoid children.

Parks and recreational areas are designed with safety in mind, including good lighting, clear sight lines, and separation of different activities to prevent collisions. Community centers and other buildings where children spend time are required to meet special safety standards.

Even things like pool fencing requirements and playground surface standards are part of your community's effort to prevent injuries. These might seem like small details, but they can prevent serious accidents.

All of these programs and systems work together to create a "culture of safety" in your community. This means that everyone – from government officials to parents to children themselves – understands that safety is everyone's responsibility. When safety becomes a shared value, communities become much safer places for children to live, learn, and play.

This culture of safety also teaches children to think about safety in their daily decisions and to look out for the safety of others. When you see a younger child doing something unsafe, you can help them learn safer ways to play. When you follow safety rules yourself, you're setting a good example for others.

Remember, all of these community efforts to prevent injuries work best when you and your family participate and follow safety guidelines. Your community provides the tools and knowledge, but you help keep yourself and others safe by using what you learn and making smart choices every day.

Being a good friend means caring about your friends' health and safety just as much as you care about your own! 👫 When you help your friends make healthy choices, you're being what we call a "health advocate." This means you use your voice and actions to encourage others to take care of themselves and stay safe.

Supporting your peers means being there for your friends and classmates when they need encouragement to make good choices. This doesn't mean telling them what to do or being bossy – it means being a caring friend who helps others feel confident about making healthy decisions.

When you support your peers, you might remind a friend to wash their hands before lunch, encourage a classmate to try a new healthy food, or help someone who is feeling sad or scared. Supporting others means being kind, helpful, and understanding.

The buddy system is a special way of staying safe by working together with a friend or partner. When you use the buddy system, you and your buddy look out for each other and help each other make safe choices. This system works because two people can notice things that one person might miss.

At school, you might use the buddy system when walking to different parts of the building, during field trips, or when working on projects. Your buddy can remind you to follow safety rules, and you can do the same for them. If one of you gets hurt or feels unsafe, the other can get help from a teacher or adult.

The buddy system also works for making healthy choices. If your buddy forgets to wash their hands, you can gently remind them. If you're tempted to do something unsafe, your buddy can help you remember why it's important to make good choices.

You can help your friends make healthy eating choices by being a positive example and offering encouragement. When you eat nutritious foods and show that you enjoy them, your friends might be more interested in trying them too. You can share information about foods you like and why they're good for you.

If a friend is curious about trying a new fruit or vegetable, you can encourage them and maybe even share a small bite (if your teacher says it's okay and if you're not sick). When friends see that healthy foods can be tasty and fun, they're more likely to choose them.

You can also help friends make good choices by not pressuring them to eat unhealthy foods. If someone brings a nutritious lunch, you can compliment them and tell them it looks good. This kind of positive support helps create an environment where healthy choices are celebrated.

One of the most important ways you can support your friends is by helping them remember to practice good hygiene. If you notice a friend forgot to wash their hands after using the bathroom, you can kindly remind them. You might say something like, "Let's go wash our hands before we eat lunch!" 🧼

You can also help friends by reminding them to cover their coughs and sneezes, especially if they seem to be getting sick. Teaching friends the "vampire cough" (coughing into their elbow) can be fun and helps everyone stay healthy.

If you see a friend doing something unsafe, like running in the hallway or not wearing their helmet while riding a bike, you can gently remind them about the safety rules. The key is to be helpful, not bossy or mean.

Sometimes friends might be having trouble making healthy choices because they're sad, worried, or dealing with problems at home. As a good friend, you can offer support by listening, being kind, and helping them feel better about themselves.

If a friend seems sad or upset, you can ask if they want to talk about what's bothering them. Sometimes just having someone listen can help a person feel better. You can also invite them to play with you or do something fun together that might cheer them up.

If a friend is being bullied or treated meanly by others, you can support them by being their friend and by telling a trusted adult what's happening. Standing up for friends who are being treated unfairly is an important part of being a health advocate.

While you can do many things to help your friends, there are some situations where you need to ask a trusted adult for help. Trusted adults include your parents, teachers, school counselors, nurses, and other adults who care about keeping you safe 👨‍🏫.

You should ask for help from a trusted adult if:

• A friend is hurt and needs medical attention
• A friend is being bullied or threatened by others
• A friend is doing something very dangerous that could hurt them badly
• A friend tells you about something scary or unsafe happening to them
• A friend seems very sad or talks about wanting to hurt themselves
• You're not sure what to do in a situation involving your friend's safety

Remember, asking for help from adults doesn't mean you're tattling or being mean to your friend. It means you care so much about your friend's safety that you want to make sure they get the help they need.

When you want to help a friend make better health choices, it's important to talk to them in a kind and respectful way. Here are some tips for having these conversations:

• Use "I" statements like "I noticed..." or "I'm concerned because..."
• Be specific about what you're worried about
• Offer to help or do things together
• Listen to what your friend has to say
• Don't be judgmental or mean
• Respect their feelings, even if you disagree

For example, instead of saying "You're being gross by not washing your hands," you could say "I noticed we didn't wash our hands yet. Let's go do that together before we eat!"

When you and your friends all work together to support each other's health choices, you create what we call a "supportive friend group." In this kind of group, everyone feels comfortable making healthy choices because they know their friends will support them.

You can help create this kind of group by:

• Celebrating when friends make healthy choices
• Offering encouragement when someone is trying to change a habit
• Including everyone in healthy activities
• Standing up for friends who are being teased about their choices
• Being a good example yourself

One of the best things about supporting your friends is that you can learn from each other. Your friends might know about healthy foods you haven't tried, fun ways to exercise, or strategies for dealing with stress or worry. When you share knowledge and experiences, everyone benefits.

You might learn that one friend's family has a special way of making vegetables taste delicious, or that another friend knows a great game to play during recess. Sharing these kinds of ideas helps everyone in your friend group make better health choices.

Supporting your friends' health choices doesn't have to be serious or boring – it can be fun! You can create games around healthy habits, like seeing who can remember to wash their hands the most times in a day, or trying new healthy foods together and rating them.

You can also make up songs or chants about healthy behaviors, create art projects about nutrition or safety, or organize fun physical activities during recess. When health becomes something you enjoy together, it's easier for everyone to make good choices.

Remember, being a health advocate and supportive friend is one of the most important things you can do. By caring about your friends' health and safety, you're helping create a school and community where everyone can thrive and be their best selves.