The Healthy Children, Healthy Planet course allows participants an opportunity to discover ways to create meaningful family times and healthful environments for children.
The course is intended to help people understand how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world, and to explore ways to develop a child's connection to nature, and to foster creativity.
The course is not just for parents but anyone who is involved in the life of a child. Identifying pressures and finding antidotes to strengthen our relationships with children are key themes addressed in the discussion course.
Session themes include:
- Cultural Pressures: A powerful fusion of pop culture and peer influence creates a social smog that has a strong influence on today's children, says author and doctor Ron Taffel. How should adults respond to these pressures?
- Family Rituals and Celebrations: Meaningful family time can provide an antidote to cultural pressures of consumption. Explore how ritual can enrich a child's family experience and examine alternatives to elaborate celebrations and gifts.
- Advertising: The average child sees an estimated 20,000 commercials every year. What are the effects on our children, and what steps can adults take to lessen the impact?
- Food and Health: Many schools serve high-fat lunches, soda, and candy are readily available on school grounds. What is the link between diet and learning? How can adults encourage children to include healthy foods in their meals?
- Time and Creativity: Today's children may have schedules that rival the busiest adults. How can adults help children find balance between activities and unstructured time, which is often the source of creativity?
- Technology and the Media: Opinions differ on whether computers hinder or help the natural process of child development. Watching television can displace more valuable experiences. What steps can adults take to create a healthy media environment at home?
- Exploring Nature: Children have an affinity for the natural world and as Rachel Carson says, "an inborn sense of wonder." As children spend more time indoors, they connect less to the wild places in their neighborhood. How can we give children the opportunity to connect with the natural world?
