What does the concept of “Health” mean to you? The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.”
It is helpful to think of humans being health in seven different ways of well-being, that each present daily opportunities to support each aspect of health!
- Physical Health: Going for a bike ride, a walk, playing during recess, playing a sport, etc
- Mental Health: Practicing regulating your emotions, taking deep breaths, being sure to engage in colouring or artwork
- Social Health: Encouraging healthy friendships, family time, activities outside of school, being involved in a community, etc.
- Emotional Health: talking about feelings with family and friends, offering a safe space, keeping a daily journal, etc.
- Intellectual Health: doing your schoolwork, learning a second language, exercising creativity, etc.
- Spiritual Health: Spending time outdoors, spending time in self-reflection, religious activities at home and in a community if applicable
- Environmental Health: Teaching sustainable practices (Turn off tap when brushing your teeth, turn off lights when leaving a room, throwing out garbage appropriately, recycling, using reusable materials), gardening, etc.
I’m sure that you can think of specific examples for each category of health listed above in your own life. These can be experienced and observed. For our purposes, the real question is this: Can you observe whether or not dogs are healthy or unhealthy?