A project of the Afterschool Alliance

Health and Well-Being

The well-being of our young people is top of mind today. Recent studies describe the rise in young people across the country experiencing anxiety, depression, anger, fear, loneliness, stress, hostility, and aggression. Use Lights On Afterschool to showcase how programs support physical and mental well-being, or focus your event on promoting well-being!

Afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs have an important role in supporting both physical and mental health. Your Lights On Afterschool event can raise awareness about the importance of providing programs where kids learn healthful habits for life.

Take Time for Well-Being

  • Host a mindfulness or meditation exercise for students, parents, and/or staff.
     
  • The Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network's Behavioral Health Toolkit provides resources to support students' mental and behavioral health. This guide provides a deeper understanding of various challenges affecting youth today, including bullying and self-harm, as well as ways to identify and help youth cope with these issues. Check out the "Brain Break Activities" feature for ideas to help you focus on mental well-being during Lights On Afterschool.
     
  • Show why afterschool programs keep kids safe. Talk to program participants about substance misuse and prevention. Combine your Lights On Afterschool event with Red Ribbon Week, focusing on education and advocacy around substance use.
     
  • Mizzen Education is a free digital learning platform designed by, with, and for the out-of-school time community, designed to empower youth-serving professionals to create incredible learning experiences for children and youth. Mizzen features fun, enriching, high-quality STEM and STEAM activities created by trusted partners such as The Nature Conservancy, Learn Fresh, the National Wildlife Federation, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the California Academy of Sciences, PowerUp Fitness, and NASA. All activities are searchable by topic, grade level, and theme. The platform is free to our community thanks to support from the Mott Foundation and other funders. Create an account.

  • Taking up knitting or crocheting afterschool helps youth unwind, build focus and self-esteem, and feel a sense of accomplishment — simple habits that go a long way for mental well-being. Our partners at Local Crafts have provided resources on how to get those special projects started.
    • Learn to Cast On: Long Tail Cast On
    Learn the Knit Stitch
    Learn to Crochet
  • Find inspiration from this WINGS for KIDS webinar, which offers tips and techniques for involving young learners (grades K-5) in activities that focus on well-being. 
     
  • Alliance for a Healthier Generation offers activity ideas, webinars, and toolkits to help promote health and well-being in students. 
    • Encourage your students to create vision boards or check out their Self-Care Toolkit. 

Get Moving and Healthy

  • Host a dance party or issue a physical activity challenge, logging a certain amount of physical activity over the course of the week.
     
  • Focus on nutrition. Teach students about healthy eating habits by preparing nutritious snacks.
     
  • Calling all gamers: National Afterschool Association's Guide for Creating Outstanding Games has a ton of fun and creative ways to get students moving. Use the guide to organize an indoor snowball fight, silent speedball, or dance games. With customizable activities for all skill levels, games featured include supply lists, instructions on how to play, general rules, and even variations to account for age groups and levels of difficulty. 
     
  • Alliance for a Healthier Generation offers activity ideas, webinars, and toolkits to help promote health and well-being in students. 
    • Watch their webinar on "Hosting a Healthy Family Cooking Event at Your School" for a fun Lights On event idea, or get outdoors and play Nature-Based BINGO. 
Find more event ideas in our searchable database