Healthy Living

Healthy living

We encourage a healthy lifestyle in Dosbarth Tywi as we feel it supports children’s mental health as well as their physical health. Please can children bring a healthy snack to school, a water bottle that can be refilled to ensure pupils have plenty of water throughout the day. Also we are constantly working had to ensure we have healthy  lunch boxes.

Did you know ?

Information taken from https://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/home/kids-fact-sheets.aspx 

Get Active Each Day

Everyone – not just kids – should be active every day, in as many ways as possible. Not being active can cause an energy imbalance – that’s when you take in more energy than you actually use.  It can have a big effect on your health and how you feel.

Why be active?

• To help your body grow properly, giving you strong bones, muscles, lungs and heart.
• To have good flexibility, balance and coordination, so you can move well.
• To meet up with your friends and make new ones.
• To learn how to run, throw, jump, catch and kick, which are part of lots of sports.
• To improve your fitness.
• To help you stay healthy and not get sick.
• To feel happy and full of energy.
• To help you keep at a healthy weight.
• To help you feel relaxed and confident.
• To help you sleep better.
• To improve your posture.
• To learn new skills and challenge yourself.
• To have fun! 

Choose Water as a Drink

How much to drink?

The recommended daily amount of fluids is:

• 5 glasses (1 litre) for 5 to 8 year olds
• 7 glasses (1.5 litres) for 9 to12 year olds
• 8 to 10 glasses (2 litres) for 13+ years 

You should drink more water when you’re exercising or on a hot day. We often don’t feel thirsty even when our bodies need fluid, so it’s a good idea to drink water regularly throughout the day.

 Hints to help you drink more water

• Pack a water bottle whenever you go out.
• In summer, put a frozen water bottle in your lunch box.
• Keep a bottle of cold water in the fridge in summer and drink warm water in winter.
• Water down juices, sports drinks and cordials.
• Use smaller glasses when drinking sugary drinks.

Watching TV, surfing the web and playing computer games or small handheld devices can be good fun – and even educational! But spending too much time sitting still each day can be bad for your health.  It’s important to balance screen time with active play time so your body can grow strong, fit and healthy.

Switch off the Screen and Get Active

Effects of too much screen time

• Your posture can get worse.
• Your eyesight can deteriorate.
• You can strain your wrist, thumb and elbow.
• You can have problems with your sleep.
• Your social skills can suffer.
• Your body can store more energy than it uses.

Tips

• Work out a TV viewing schedule with your Mum, Dad or carer that strikes the right balance between screen time and active time each day.
• Try not to spend too much time on the computer during the daytime – you could be having fun playing outside!
• If your favourite TV shows are on during the day, set the recorder and watch them later.
• Write a list of active things you can do instead of playing on the computer.  If you get bored, pick something on your list to do.
• Think of presents for your birthday and Christmas that help get you active – balls, bats, totem tennis, hoola hoop, frisbee, kite, skipping rope or a trampoline!