Scent-Free School

More information is available on the Illness & Medical page.

Information from our School Nurse | Feb./Mar. 2019

Canadian children and adolescents are now spending so much time on screens – video games, smartphones, tablets, computers and television, public health and pediatric experts report that it is negatively impacting their physical, mental and social health.

Recreational Screen time recommendations as outlined by the Canadian guidelines and endorsed by the Canadian Pediatric Society:

• Under 2years – no screen time
• 2 - 4 year olds – 1 Hour daily maximum; less is better
• 5 - 17 year olds – 2 Hour daily maximum; less is better

We have seen a dramatic shift in the way children spend their time, with less time playing outside and more time spent indoors, sedentary and screen-based. A growing body of research is sounding the alarm about the amount of time Canadian children and youth are spending sitting in front of screens, this is negatively associated with their physical, mental and emotional health.

The Ontario Student Health survey reports that students in grades 7 to 12 are spending up to 7 hours a day on screens, more than three and a half times the recommended limit of 2 hours per day. (The survey results would be very similar in Alberta). Spending so much time on smartphones, video games, tablets, computers and televisions significantly affects eating habits, displaces physical activities, limits children’s opportunities to interact with each other, and increases the incidence of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Simultaneously, researchers agree that spending time in nature and being active outdoors is beneficial to children’s physical and mental health, and helps improve their resiliency, academic performance and social skills.

Physicians in Scotland, America and Canada have started prescribing time in nature, which can reduce symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, aggression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), diabetes and high blood pressure, and improve cognition and immune function.

Children and youth aged 5 - 17 years should engage in high levels of physical activity, reduced levels of sedentary behavior - especially screen time - and sufficient sleep each day. 85% of children aged 5-17 do not meet the guidelines for adequate sleep, physical activity and screen time.as outlined by the Canadian Guidelines5 and endorsed by the outlined by the Canadian Physical activity is closely linked to a child’s physiological health, cognitive function and mental health. A team of experts in pediatric neuroscience and exercise science emphasize the positive benefit of aerobic exercise on brain health. For example, physical activity improves cognitive functions such as behavior regulation, attention and planning, and improves mental health. Physical activity in children helps minimize depressive symptoms and feelings of anxiety.

In addition, higher levels of physical activity in children are associated with lower stress and better resilience. Developing healthy exercise habits in childhood and adolescence can set the foundation for a lifetime of good physical and mental health.
The New Year is an optimal time to review and discuss the information with your children.

Cold & Flu Season

February brings a variety of weather conditions so students should be dressing for the weather. Although our winter has been milder, occurrences of flu have been high this year. The following are some flu prevention tips to keep our school community and your families healthy:

Wash your hands frequently

This has shown to be extremely effective in reducing the incidence of transmitting the flu and other viruses. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Here are some other tips to staying healthy:

1. Wash your hands before eating and when they are dirty.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the washroom.
3. Do not cough in your hands. Cough in your elbow or sleeve.
4. Don’t sneeze in your hands. Use a tissue and throw it away as soon as possible.
5. Above all, do not put your finger in your eyes, nose or mouth. These are the entry points for ALL respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases.
6. Eat healthy foods, get regular exercise, and get enough sleep.
7. If you are sick, stay home.
8. Get vaccinated against Influenza.

What can parents do to help?

Parents can review good hygiene practices with their children. This helps to prevent the spread of the influenza virus and other infectious illnesses with their children. Parents are requested to keep their children at home if they are showing any signs of sickness or flu-like symptoms. This helps keep other students and staff healthy. We thank you for your cooperation in keeping everyone as healthy as possible.