Healthy, whole child development and high-quality early learning go hand in hand. From birth through age eight (and beyond), kids are constantly learning by engaging with the world around them and building lifelong skills everywhere they go.
We know that kids learn best when they feel safe and supported, have opportunities for play and physical activity and are powered by nutritious food. Strong adult-student relationships improve social-emotional development and academic achievement. Kids do better in school and have improved behavior if they have healthy school meals and are physically active throughout the day. When caregivers and community are welcomed into the school environment, their engagement builds a bridge between home and school to support learning. This engagement leads to improved academic performance, student attitudes and behavior and teacher morale.
The Healthi Kids Coalition believes that EVERY child should have access to healthy learning environments and opportunities, regardless of where they live, the color of their skin or their family’s socioeconomic status. Our advocacy agenda addresses these inequities in multiple ways, building up kids’ learning environments by ensuring that families are welcomed and engaged, that teachers are supported and well-trained and that kids have the healthy tools and supports they need to learn best. Healthi Kids advocates for change that:
- Supports quality nutrition and regular physical activity.
- Expands access to playful learning and unstructured play opportunities.
- Promotes culturally responsive systems that facilitate access to social-emotional supports.