We do a Family Health and Safety Night. Right now it's very basic, but I hope to get on the committee next year and give it a little more direction. I would like to see more emphasis put on how HAVING FUN is GOOD for you! Right now the emphasis (in our school) is on the preachy side, and I think that turns people off--who needs to be told they're lazy and on the verge of stroking out??
We have several physical activity stations set up (jump rope, hula hoops jumpin jacks etc). We have the kids do the activity for one minute then check their pulse rate. (I would then like to have a calorie conversion to show the kids how just getting yourself a little more active every day can really pay off). I'd also like to have something to show the kids how sitting in front of the TV or computer too much is a poor health choice -- statistics on obesity are one thing, but that sort of goes over most kids' heads.After they complete the stations they get a certificate of completion. We also have a "Healthy Snack Table" and water station, one of our DARE officers runs a child ID/Fingerprint station, and a table with informational publications (which the CDC, NIH and other various government offices provide free of charge, or for a minimal cost).
I think this sort of thing has a ton of possibilities--I just wish we had a more supportive board to get things done!
National has some terrific topics like bullying prevention, air pollution, and even skin cancer at their health and safety link. There are some downloadables that you don't have to be a PTA member to get. www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/healthsafety/index.asp
One of our schools did a health fair and bicycle rodeo and did classes on bicycle safety at the school. Two of my units run a parent organized art program where the volunteers go into the classes to teach about art. Spotlighting a specific artist and then incorporating activities, example- Faith Ringhold- Displayed her sunflower's quilt painting and told of her life story (in brief) then read her book, discussed Van Gogh in brief since he is the inspiration for the painting and is even included. Finally, each child made a "quilt square" out of construction paper and decorated it with torn pieces of paper to make sunflowers. They were all then put together to make a giant quilt.
PTA or not, your parent group can get a Building Successful Partnerships presentation to promote parental and community involvement.
There is Door's Open After School Week on October 11-15 (or anytime) to promote after school programs.
All I can think of right now.
Childhood obesity is a huge topic in this nation, well obesity in general is too. While at the PTO conference in Chicago, I learned of a team of nutritionist that would come do a healthy nutrition seminar for free. We are totally interested in that. Our schools participate in turn off TV week but our PTO doesn't have any involvment with that.
Some of our parents have discussed a "How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex" seminar for next year. With all you hear about kids starting to have intimate contacts at much younger ages(had one parent tell me that half the girls in her daughter's 8th grade class have had sex!)it seems so very important to give kids the basic knowledge and self respect to be able to abstain. Some parents(most parents) don't know where to even begin. We were also prompted by the county attorney who told us that our county has the highest rate of STD and meth use in the state. We're looking at a drug education night too. I never dreamed I'd have to talk to my elementary school age children about such serious things.
Our PTA sponsored Healthy Snack Day, every two months. We would provide a healthy snack (popcorn, veggie & dip, etc.)and give it to every teacher for their class to enjoy.
We have had local firemen and police officers came into our school to talk about fire safety, strangers, and bike safety. Contact your local station to see what programs they have available.
Our FRC takes care of most of these concerns. I was surfing the other day and found this site www.imprintall.com/crimeprevention/products.htm.
This is a site where you can get info about McGruff the Crime Dog and order products.
We sponsor our DARE Program along with our SBDM. This year we had a young officer teaching it and I think he found a way for us to save some money through a grant he knew about.
I think it's www.ideazone.com
that has info on anit-bullying, I am not sure though.
Red Ribbon Week is a big deal around here. The FRC Ladies dress as ghosts of some sort and proclaim they were the victims of drugs. It is too cute. During Dental Week one is a tooth fairy and they give out toothpaste and toothbrushes. They sometimes have a small assembly and get local hygenist to speak.
Our local Extension Office obtained a grant for nutrition support. They had some ladies to come over and talk to the kids classes and make recipes. My oldest really liked this one because he loves to eat and they were all healthy snacks.
