Children’s physical and mental health are impacted by keystone behaviors including eating, physical activity, and sleep. Schools represent a critical venue for health promotion, and school-based mental health professionals possess the knowledge and skills to implement prevention and intervention strategies while also guarding against unhealthy weight control behaviors. This chapter discusses strategies for promoting physical activity and healthy eating in schools, as well as approaches for promoting sufficient sleep. There is an emphasis on universal (i.e., Tier 1) strategies with some attention devoted to targeted (i.e., Tier 2) approaches. Two important themes in this chapter include (a) the importance of systems level changes that appropriately recognize that factors outside children’s control impact their ability to engage in healthy behaviors and (b) the value of family–school partnerships to promote physical activity, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep.
for my research assistantship and for being such a kind and patient mentor. I am thankful to my classmates across the school and counseling psychology programs for all of the ways that they supported my development as a clinician, researcher, and scholar.
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