Health and wellbeing includes experiences and outcomes for personal and social development, understanding of health, physical education and physical activity, and contributions from home economics.
It also includes approaches and activities such as physical activity and nutrition, planned by pre-school settings, schools or colleges to promote the health and wellbeing of their learners and the wider community.
Children and young people need to experience what it feels like to develop, enjoy and live a healthy lifestyle.
They also need to learn ways of dealing with the many new and challenging situations they will experience throughout their lives.
A healthy lifestyle supports physical, social and emotional wellbeing, and underpins successful learning.
Concerns about the health, diet and activity levels of Scotland’s children and young people, social inclusion and inequalities in health emphasise the importance of a focus on health and wellbeing throughout education, starting in the early years.
Learning through health and wellbeing enables children and young people to:
- experience positive aspects of healthy living and activity for themselves
- develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, abilities and attitudes necessary for their physical, emotional and social wellbeing now and in their future lives
- make informed decisions in order to improve their physical, emotional and social wellbeing
- apply their physical, emotional and social skills to pursue a healthy lifestyle
- make a successful move to the next stage of education or work
- for some, open up opportunities to excel in sport or to pursue careers in health and leisure industries.
