Comprehensive Wellness Tips for School-Aged Children

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS

Prepared by the GuideStone Director of Pastoral Wellness, Mark Dance

Go to Church as a Family

Set an example and create a solid foundation for your child by making regular church attendance with a biblically-grounded body of believers a priority. (Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 10:25)

Establish Daily Habits

Establish a rhythm of reading a Bible devotional and praying with your child daily from a young age. Make sure your child has their own physical Bible and encourage a personal daily quiet time. (Proverbs 22:6, Jeremiah 29:13)

Listen Patiently

• Look for opportunities to listen patiently to their questions and concerns. Active listening as a parent becomes more important than structure as your children mature spiritually.
• Avoid parent panic if your child asks difficult questions. (Colossians 3:12-14; Proverbs 15:18)

FINANCIAL WELLNESS

Prepared by the GuideStone Team**

Teach Financial Literacy Early

• Teach the concepts of spending, saving, sharing and giving by labeling separate jars or piggy banks.
• Encourage children to set goals to purchase toys/wants by earning money through chores, helping others, etc.
• Encourage older children to take on a part-time job and work on building financial responsibility.

Prepare for the Future

• Contribute to your child’s college savings account or investment account with your financial objectives and long-term goals in mind.
• Consider opening a Roth IRA even as a minor with parents/guardians as custodians to start the habit of investing for retirement early.
• Begins discussions if your child takes responsibility for any portion of college as he or she gets older. If so, create a plan for what percentage and how they will earn the money.

Check Your Coverage

• Ensure your children have medical coverage and stay on top of their screenings and preventive care to save money in the long run.
• Make sure parents/caregivers are covered by enough life insurance to support young children’s needs from now through college.

PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Prepared by nurses, doctors and other medical professionals at Lockton and Highmark*

Utilize Preventive Health Care

• Make sure your child stays up to date on immunizations and schedule regular preventive appointments.
• Know which preventive care services are covered at 100% by reviewing your Preventive Care Schedule annually.

Prioritize Exercise

• Make physical activity with cardiovascular exercise and strength training elements a priority for long-term health benefits.
• School-aged children should be taught to play sports in safe, supervised areas with proper equipment and rules.

Teach Nutrition

• Teach your child about healthy nutrition and making good food choices.
• School-age children will gain between four and seven pounds each year and continue to have height increases.

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

Prepared by nurses, doctors and other medical professionals at Lockton and Highmark*

Assess and Support Learning Disabilities

• Engage with the early childhood development screenings you have available to you.
• Seek support groups and resources to help with disabilities.

Limit Social Media and Digital Content

• Set limits on your child’s screen time and the type of content they can access for their age.
• Consider age-appropriate timelines for introducing social media and educate your child on social media danger and social media privacy and security practices.

Encourage Healthy Emotional Expression

• Have frequent conversations with your child, ask questions and encourage your child to regularly share their feelings with you.
• Offer your child a sense of belonging and security to help them feel comfortable opening up to you.
• Discuss options for help if your child or someone they know is struggling.

RELATIONAL WELLNESS

Prepared by nurses, doctors and other medical professionals at Lockton and Highmark*

Access Community

Make sure your child has access to community and a support network through church, family and friends.

Look for Extracurricular Activities

Look for opportunities to involve your child in group activities such as clubs, sports and community recreation.

Discuss Social Topics

Talk to your child about topics like bullying and diversity to prepare them for social situations in school and beyond.

VOCATIONAL WELLNESS

Prepared by the GuideStone Team**

Structure the Home Environment

• Help your children develop healthy work/life balance habits by starting with a structured home environment. For example, designate specific windows for Bible time, study time, playtime, exercise, cleaning and sleep.
• Consider setting up repeating calendar events on your phone for each day’s major activities.

Understand Your Child’s Strengths

• Understand which areas your child excels in and is interested in, both in school subjects and your child’s personal interests and hobbies.
• Look for ways to encourage your child in their natural talents and help your child in subjects they may have opportunities to improve.
• Consider age-appropriate personality and vocational tests for your child to use to learn more about themselves and how they can interact with others.

Help with Early Work Experience

• Teach your child how to develop multi-tasking skills and a strong work ethic.
• Help older children land their first job by guiding them through preparing their resumes, practicing interviews and getting letters of recommendation.