National Child Day about all kids’ well-being

National Child Day, celebrated Monday, was a day to think about the well-being of children, and what could be done as a society to better their lives.

To drive home this message, the Children’s Health and Developmental Services (CHADS) department of Alberta Health Services put up a children’s mental health safety display at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, putting particular emphasis on reducing the use of electronic devices, television and digital media for young children.

“We want to encourage families to support their kids through natural play — like getting down on the floor and playing with toys, reading books, listening to music, dancing, physical play and getting outside,” said Tricia Miller of CHADS. “We’re finding — and the literature is saying — kids have more exposure to digital media and electronics (today).

“We are encouraged by national pediatric doctors’ groups to curb that because kids’ development is being negatively impacted by their exposure to (electronic devices, television and digital media).”

Getting active and physical is what Mother Teresa School’s new “Don’t Walk in the Hallways” program is all about, explained principal Erika Bodnaruk.

The program, unveiled during Monday’s celebration of National Child Day, uses different shapes, colours and patterns to turn part of the school’s hallway into a hopscotch-like obstacle course that can be re-arranged daily.

“Our ‘Don’t Walk in the Hallways’ program is about physical literacy,” Bodnaruk confirmed. “Well-being means you support the child in a holistic way: The physical, the academic and spiritual.

“I think a day like National Child Day helps promote the well-being of all children. We recognize children are important, and we need to support them in everything we do.”

“Regardless of how we interact with kids in our day-to-day roles, we’re all here to support and nurture them,” agreed Miller. “To provide the loving care they have the right to.”

For more information on National Child Day visit www.unicef.ca/en/our-work/article/celebrate-national-child-day

NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT NEWS PHOTO TIM KALINOWSKI Mother Teresa students Alexis Goffinet, Kieran Wyrostok and Preslee Adriaensen show off their hopscotch skills on the school's "Don't Walk in the Hallways" obstacle course during National Child Day on Monday.

Childrens Health and Development Services (CHADS) staff members Suzanna Omericic, Brad Irvine, Christy Anhorn and Tricia Miller are part of a team at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. The program offers therapeutic services for children with...