Helping Parents and Families Create Healthy and Supportive School Environments

The relationship between school staff and families can reinforce student health and learning across multiple settings—at home, in school, in out-of-school programs, and in the community.

Parents and families have a powerful role in supporting children’s learning, health, and well-being at home and at school. When parents are engaged in their children’s school activities and initiatives, children get better grades, choose healthier behaviors, and have better social skills. Students who have parents involved in their school lives also are more likely to avoid unhealthy behaviors and they are less likely to be emotionally distressed.

Positive relationships and coping skills learned at home and at school help children and adolescents develop the skills to recognize and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, appreciate the perspectives of others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

There are things you can do to work with your child’s school to reinforce behaviors that contribute to a healthy and supportive school environment, such as

• Working with school staff to shape a healthy and supportive school environment. Learn more about the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, CDC’s framework for school health.
• Being a part of the decision making in schools and provide support by promoting healthy eating, physical activity, and other healthy behaviors. See Ideas for Parents for more inspiration!