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The article on youth vaping from the CDC explains that youth vape for various reasons, including nicotine, curiosity, flavors, and social influences. The article highlights the health risks that are associated with vaping, such as nicotine addictions and exposure to harmful substances. This article is useful for teaching health in elementary schools because the information can be used to teach children about the dangers of vaping and the importance of making healthy choices. It is essential for teachers to know about this topic to effectively educate and protect their students from potential health risks related to vaping.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15) Why youth vape. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/why-youth-vape.html

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Learn the many reasons youth might vape, including social and structural factors.

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The article on grief from the Child Mind Institute discusses how children experience grief in many different ways, often alternating between emotional distress and normal activities. The article suggests that caregivers should offer clear, age-appropriate explanations about death and provide opportunities for creative emotional expression. This article is useful for teaching health in elementary schools because it helps teachers introduce coping strategies when discussing this topic. It is necessary for teachers to know how to support students who are grieving to foster an emotionally safe and nurturing classroom.

Rachel Ehmke (2023, October 30). Helping children deal with grief. https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-deal-grief/

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Most young children are aware of death, even if they don't understand it. Death is a common theme in cartoons and television, and some of your child's friends may have already lost a loved one. But experiencing grief firsthand is a different and often confusing process for kids. As a parent, you can't protect a child from the pain of loss, but you can help them feel safe. And by allowing and encouraging them to express their feelings, you can help your child build healthy coping skills that will serve them well in the future.

Kids grieve differently

After losing a loved one, a child may go from crying one minute to playing the next. Their changeable moods do not mean that they aren't sad or that they've finished grieving; children cope differently than adults, and playing can be a defense mechanism to prevent a child from becoming overwhelmed. It is also normal to feel depressed, guilty, anxious, or angry at the person who has died or at someone else entirely.

Very young children may regress and start wetting the bed again or slip back into baby talk.

Encourage a grieving child to express feelings

It's good for kids to express whatever emotions they are feeling. There are many good children's books about death, and reading these books together can be a great way to start a conversation with your child. Since many children aren't able to express their emotions through words, other helpful outlets include drawing pictures, building a scrapbook, looking at photo albums, or telling stories.

Be developmentally appropriate

It is hard to know how a child will react to death or even if they can grasp the concept. Don't volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer their questions. Very young children often don't realize that death is permanent, and they may think that a dead loved one will come back if they do their chores and eat their vegetables. As psychiatrist Gail Saltz, MD, explains, "Children understand that death is bad, and they don't like separation, but the concept of 'forever' is just not present."

Older, school-age children understand the permanence of death, but they may still have many questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly. It's okay if you can't answer everything; being available to your child is what matters.

When discussing death, never use euphemisms. Kids are extremely literal, and hearing that a loved one "went to sleep" can be scary. Besides making your child afraid of bedtime, euphemisms interfere with their opportunity to develop healthy coping skills that they will need in the future.

Whether or not to attend the funeral is a personal decision that depends entirely on you and your child. Funerals can be helpful in providing closure, but some children simply aren't ready for such an intense experience. Never force a child to attend a funeral. If your child wants to go, make sure that you prepare them for what they will see. Explain that funerals are very sad occasions, and some people will probably be crying. If there will be a casket, you should prepare them for that, too.

Keep in mind that even the best-prepared child might get upset, and their behavior can be unpredictable. "Kids will not behave in a way that you might want or expect," Dr. Saltz notes. "If you decide that a funeral is not the best way, there are other ways to have a goodbye." Planting a tree, sharing stories, or releasing balloons can all be good alternatives for providing closure to a child.

Discussing an afterlife

The idea of an afterlife can be very helpful to a grieving child, observes Dr. Saltz. If you have religious beliefs about the afterlife, now is the time to share them. But even if you aren't religious, you can still comfort your child with the concept that a person continues to live on in the hearts and minds of others. You can also build a scrapbook or plant something that represents the person you have lost.

Don't ignore your own grief

Children will often imitate the grieving behavior of their parents. It is important to show your emotions as it reassures children that feeling sad or upset is okay. However, reacting explosively or uncontrollably teaches your child unhealthy ways of dealing with grief.

Children find great comfort in routines, so if you need some time alone, try to find relatives or friends who can help keep your child's life as normal as possible Although it is important to grieve over the death of a loved one, it is also important for your child to understand that life does go on.

Some specific situations

For many children, the death of a pet will be their first exposure to death. The bonds that children build with their pets are very strong, and the death of a family pet can be intensely upsetting. Don't minimize its importance or immediately replace the dead pet with a new animal. Instead, give your child time to grieve for their dog or cat. This is an opportunity to teach them about death and how to deal with grieving in a healthy and emotionally supportive way.

The death of a grandparent is also a common experience for young children, and it may bring up many questions, such as, "Will my mom be next?" It is important to tell your child that you will probably live for a long time.

After the death of a parent, children will naturally worry about the death of the remaining parent or other caretakers. Reassure a child that they are loved and will always be cared for. It is a good idea to rely on family members during this time to help provide additional nurturing and care. Dr. Saltz also recommends therapy in the case of a significant death, such as the death of a parent or sibling. "Therapy provides another outlet for talking when a child may feel like they can't talk with other family members because they are grieving as well."

Treating serious problems

If you notice that your child seems unusually upset and unable to cope with grief and loss, they may have something called adjustment disorder. Adjustment disorder is a serious and distressing condition that some children develop after experiencing a painful or disruptive event. It is a good idea to consult your child's doctor if you feel that your child isn't recovering from a loss in a healthy way.

How can I help a child grieve the loss of a parent?

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Helping Children Deal With Grief - Child Mind Institute

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Tips for families dealing with grief, from what parents should say to how they can help kids express their emotions in a healthy way.

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The article on child abuse and neglect from the CDC highlights how common both these issues are and their potential to cause lasting physical, emotional, and psychological damage. The article emphasizes the importance of recognizing different forms of abuse, which include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, along with neglect. This article is useful for teaching health in elementary schools because it provides useful information to teach children about personal safety, recognizing unsafe situations, and seeking help from trusted adults. It is necessary for teachers to know about this topic to identify signs of abuse and neglect with their students, while also providing a safe and supportive environment for them.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 16). About child abuse and neglect. https://www.cdc.gov/child-abuse-neglect/about/index.html

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This page defines child abuse and neglect, presents the latest data, and describes associated outcom

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The article on bullying from CNN Health explains the worldwide issue of bullying in U.S. schools, which is affecting 1 in 5 students. The article emphasizes the importance of involving parents, educators, and students in anti-bullying efforts, including teaching children coping skills and encouraging them to report incidents. This information is beneficial when teaching health to students by teaching them about empathy, emotional regulation, and the effects of bullying, both online and offline. It is necessary for teachers to understand the issues of this topic to create a safe learning environment where students feel supported and are motivated to prevent or address bullying.

Michelle Icard, CNN (2023, January 16). Stopping bullying in schools: What parents can do to help victims and stop bullies. https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/16/health/stopping-bullying-in-schools-wellness/index.html

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Bullying at school: What parents can do to help victims and stop bullies | CNN

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There's a crisis of bullying in US schools, and the solution is learning what to do before it happens.

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The article on childhood obesity from U.S. News explains how increasing physical activity in the classroom can help reduce childhood obesity. The article suggests that small changes, like adding quick exercise breaks and active lessons, can manage student's obesity and improve their overall health. This article is useful for teaching health in elementary schools because it offers quick, engaging ways to add physical activity to classroom routines, helping students develop better health habits. It is crucial for teachers to know about this topic because when they are adding adding physical activity into their classrooms, they are not only improving their students overall health, but they are benefiting their education.

HealthDay. (2024, February 27). One way to reduce child obesity: Get kids moving more in class. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-02-27/one-way-to-reduce-child-obesity-get-kids-moving-more-in-class

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One Way to Reduce Child Obesity: Get Kids Moving More in Class

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US News is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings. Track elected officials, research health conditions, and find news you can use in politics, business, health, and education.

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The article on childhood trauma from Penn State Health explains how childhood trauma can have long-lasting impacts on both physical and mental health, leading to issues like substance use and chronic diseases. The article stresses the need to recognize signs of trauma in children and create supportive spaces that encourage healing and resilience. This information is important for teaching health to elementary students because understanding trauma helps teachers create a positive classroom environment. It is necessary for teachers to understand this topic to support children who are affected by trauma, and to help them develop coping skills, which is essential for their overall health and success.

Penn State Health. (2023, October 25). How childhood trauma can affect health for a lifetime. https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2023/10/how-childhood-trauma-can-affect-health-for-a-lifetime/

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How childhood trauma can affect health for a lifetime

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Those who experience four or more adverse experiences during childhood are at significantly higher risk of developing chronic health problems and serious mental illness.

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The article on sun safety from the CDC provides guidelines for school programs to prevent skin cancer by promoting sun safety practices among students. The article discusses the importance of educating students about the risks of UV exposure and encouraging protective measures such as wearing sunscreen, hats, and protective clothing. This information is important when teaching health to elementary students by teaching them about the importance of sun safety and how to protect their skin from harmful UV rays. It is crucial for teachers to know about this topic to help reduce the risk of skin cancer in their students and promote lifelong sun safety habits.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, July 1). Guidelines for school programs to prevent skin cancer. https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer/php/guidelines-for-school-programs/index.html

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Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer

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A comprehensive approach for schools to prevent skin cancer.

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Safety and Preventing Unintentional Injury 

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Safety and Preventing Unintentional Injury 

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The article on concussions from Harvard Health Publishing explains that concussions are one of the most common brain injuries, and about two million children every year are affected by concussions. The article mentioned how concussions in children can result from various activities like a forceful push from behind, or from a collision when playing sports, while also emphasizing the the importance of recognizing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and confusion. This information is important when teaching health to elementary students by teaching children about the importance of safety during physical activities and how to recognize and report concussion symptoms. It is crucial for teachers to know about this topic to ensure the well-being of their students and to respond appropriately if they ever get a concussion.

Claire McCarthy (2024, April 12). Concussion in children: What to know and do.https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/concussion-in-children-what-to-know-and-do-202404123032

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Concussion in children: What to know and do - Harvard Health

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Concussion is one of the most common injuries to the brain, affecting about two million children and teens every year. Understanding signs, symptoms, questions to ask, and how concussion car…