Health & Wellness

America is celebrating national Farmers Market Week, and so can you! Buy local, stock up on fresh fruits, veggies and more this weekend. Find a local farmer's market, roadside stand, or farm stand near you! 

• Locate a farmers market near you
• 8 tips for making good choices at farmers markets
• INFOGRAPHIC: Pick your produce by the season
• VIDEO: How to clean fruits and vegetables
• 23 tips for buying, storing produce

Find a farmer’s market, roadside stand or farm stand near you

 

Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>

Is technology taking over your life? Research shows that children, ages 8 to 18, spend more time with technology than any activity other than sleeping. Help your family achieve more balance by rediscovering the joys of life beyond smartphones and television screens. Skip the screen and unplug outdoors to celebrate Move It Outside Day (May 1) and Screen-Free Week (April 29-May 5). Consider taking small steps to increase physical activity levels to improve health and well-being all year round.

• 30-day plan to declutter your digital life
• How to create a family screen time plan
• 101 screen-free activities
• 11 ways families can get active 
• Interactive infographic: Screen time vs. lean time
• Pros and cons of binge-watching TV
• Screen time for babies and toddlers more than doubles since the 1990s, study shows
• Why screen time is bad for bedtime
• How binge watching impacts sleep
• New report highlights family struggles with smartphone addiction
• Penn State Health psychologist: To decrease depression and loneliness limit social media use

Screen time before bed can disrupt sleep and nutrition in children

Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>

Stress affects most Americans at one point or another. Much like having a house cluttered with items you don’t really need, it’s easy for emotions, like stress, to pile up. The mounds of stress can stand in your way of feeling calm, clear-headed and in control of your life. Address any stress or exhaustion you may be feeling. Find ways to streamline your thoughts and tame your emotions to help put your best self forward. Consider these strategies to help manage stress and learn how to incorporate practicing self-care. 

• 5 ways to ditch emotional clutter
• 5 tips to tackle stress 
• 6 ways to make self-care a priority
• Penn State Health psychologist: Keep stress at bay, turn "what if’s" into "to-dos" 
• 7 steps to cope with work stress
• Beat work stress with this easy yoga sequence
• Stress management: 4 ways to maximize evenings for easier mornings 
• 2 common stressors for men, 6 ways to take action
• The power of practicing daily mindfulness
• What is mindfulness? 4 ways to help you get started
• Expecting a stressful day? Wrong morning mindset could affect your memory

 

Reduce your emotional clutter

Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>

Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) Resources

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Stop the Spread of GermsPDF Download FlyerPDF Download
• Coronavirus Fact SheetPDF Download
• What to Do if You Are Sick With CoronavirusPDF Download
• Preventing Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Spreading
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

General Preventative Measures

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when sick.
• Cough or sneeze into an elbow or use a tissue and place immediately in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

What we are doing at Parkland School District

• Disinfecting desks, door knobs, school bus seats, phones and all public areas each evening
• Increasing the availability of hand sanitizer (all high use areas already have wall-mounted stations)
• Posting flyers throughout public areas and restrooms about how to (Stop the Prevention of Germs)
• Rotating whole room disinfection machines through school nurse suites and athletic areas

Parkland Resources

• An Ounce of Prevention (English Version)
• An Ounce of Prevention (Chinese Version)
• An Ounce of Prevention (Spanish Version)
• An Ounce of Prevention (Urdu Version)

High blood pressure (also referred to as HBP, or hypertension) is when your blood pressure, the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high.

Facts about high blood pressure

 

Reference: American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure

Does the very mention of potty training fill you with dread? Parents and caregivers play a key role in this training with direction, motivation and reinforcement. It can be stressful for parents and children alike, but don’t fret. Prepare for the potty training process with these practical tips and suggestions that will reassure you during any setbacks or obstacles. 

• 7 signs of potty training readiness

Infographic: What your pee color means