Wellbeing

BodyKind

This August, Lilydale Heights will join hundreds of others around Australia to promote positive body image in support of BodyKind August.     BodyKind August is an annual awareness initiative of Butterfly Foundation, Australia’s national charity for eating disorders and body image. It encourages young people, their families and communities to:

 • Be kind to their own body; in how they speak about, nourish, nurture and move their body 

 • Be kind to other people’s bodies, online and face to face; and 

• Celebrate and respect the differences and diversity in bodies 

BodyKind understands it’s not always easy to like, love, feel comfortable or appreciate our bodies, so instead encourages everyone to be kinder to their own and all bodies. Butterfly has provided resources for schools, families and sporting clubs that are strength-based and evidence informed. 

At Lilydale Heights, we promote BodyKindness in a variety of ways – providing nourishing food at the Wellbeing Office, promoting BodyKind language amongst staff and students, providing opportunities for healthy and enjoyable movement in PE, Sport and through wellbeing groups and lunchtime activities, as well explicitly addressing body image in classes such as Year 7 Health.     Studies continue to report that the way young people feel about their bodies is affecting their physical health and mental wellbeing. BodyKind August not only supports our school to raise awareness about body image but is also helping families to do the same. 

For further information and to access resources for parents of teens, visit:  www.butterfly.org.au/ bodykindaugust, or sign up for their free webinar for parents: Raising BodyKind Teens, taking place Thursday, August 6th from 7-8:30 p.m.

Talking to teens about vaping: a parent's guide

Are you ready to talk to your teen about vaping? VicHealth, in partnership with The Behaviours Change Collective, has developed a guide that can help you have a meaningful, non-threatening conversation with your teen about vaping.

Check out the free guide at Vaping conversation guide for parents | VicHealth

Your Phone Goes Everywhere… So Do the Germs! 

Most of us take our phones everywhere; to school, work, sport, public transport and home. We use them while eating, after touching shared surfaces and sometimes even when we're feeling unwell. While we often think about washing our hands, we don't always think about cleaning the devices we use every day. Research shows that phones, tablets and computer keyboards can collect a surprising number of germs over time.   This winter, consider adding technology cleaning to your wellness routine. Regularly cleaning phones, tablets, laptops, and keyboards can help reduce the spread of germs, especially during cold and flu season. Combined with regular handwashing, healthy eating, staying active and getting enough sleep, it is a simple way to help protect yourself and those around you. 

For practical advice on preventing illness, visit: 10 tips to fight the flu | healthdirect 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING SERVICES/CONTACTS - 

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