Health Topics

"Health" as a subject has expanded in the past decade, beyond just nutrition and disease prevention. Now modern high school courses include such weighty subjects as sexual consent, verbal abuse, healthy relationships, and medical treatments. At home, with an ASD child, these subjects may need to be adjusted based on the maturity and abilities of the child, but even so, putting them on the front burner from time to time can ensure that we cover a bit more in-depth than we might in everyday life.

Tip: When searching for library books or online, insert the phrase "for kids" or "for teens", such as, "Nutrition for kids".

Typical Health Subjects

Anatomy - Systems of the body (cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, etc). These can be covered at an introductory level for elementary students, or more in-depth for teens. Library books are excellent--books with pictures and explanations. Hands-on projects are great too, even for older kids! Make a play-dough model, rubber bands, wires, string. There are anatomy coloring books. Younger kids can cover the basics, older kids can get into the details.

Nutrition: Learn about carbohydrates, lipids, sugar, mystery chemical ingredients. Teach label reading. Again, library books are great. If you follow a specific diet, such as vegetarian or gluten-free, this is a good time to discuss the reasons with your child. If they are old enough to read labels, go on a field trip to a grocery store or look at restaurant menus. Track food consumption or learn to cook healthy recipes.

Drugs and Alcohol: The best coverage of these topics is commonly found in curriculum or textbooks. There are a few books on Amazon in the "resisting peer pressure" category, but homeschooled kids don't usually find that to be a big issue. A textbook on Amazon (used for cheap) will have a good comprehensive chapter that you can use to fuel your own discussions and perspectives.

Fitness: What are the best ways for your child to maintain strength, flexibility and cardio fitness? ASD kids typically are not into group sports or PE, even if they might be very active otherwise. As kids age, bouncing around the house may switch over to sedentary video games or YouTube. Sensory sensitivities may be a barrier. YouTube, ironically, is a great educational resource. Find a fitness for middle school or teens channel, for some simple exercise routines to work on at home. Or combine anatomy study with fitness discussions.

Relationships: Friends, family, and beyond. ASD kids sometimes appreciate the blunt and factual explanations for what to look for in a friend, or what to avoid. How to resolve conflicts, and how to tell a healthy relationship from an unhealthy one.

Hygiene and Communicable Diseases: Showering and germs may be triggers for some ASD kids, but when the time is right, we can begin explaining the "why's" of disease transmission and cleanliness. This is another subject that is nicely handled in a textbook, for the least triggering coverage. If your older child is up to it, also cover chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, and prevention.

Puberty and Sexual Health: ASD kids become ASD adults, with all the bodily and mental changes that involves. Lots of puberty books are available, even for very young kids, with illustrations. Online videos are available too, for teen relationship issues.

Elementary and Middle School

Oak Meadow "Healthy Living From the Start" K-3: For very young learners, this curriculum has 36 lessons (about once per week) on various health topics appropriate for the age. Available in digital or book format.

Harcourt Health and Fitness Grade 6 - Middle school level textbook with chapters that survey many topics. Many available used on Amazon.

Library/Amazon Books:

• Usborne "You and Your Body" - by Susan Merideth
• Inside the Human Body - by Luann Columbo
• The Body Book - Easy to Make Hands On Models that Teach - by Donald Silver
• Good Enough to Eat: A Kid's Guide to Food and Nutrition - by Lizzy Rockwell
• I am Awesome! A Healthy Workbook for Kids - by Mary Richards (for ages 8 - 14)

High School

Classes:

Outschool.com - Several teachers provide video-chat live classes for Teen Health, Nutrition and Fitness, etc. Class length and subject matter will vary, be sure to read the parent reviews.

Unitarian Universalist "Our Whole Lives" - These are sexual health classes offered by many Unitarian Universalist congregations, and are actually available for Kindergarten up through College/Adult levels. Taught by trained instructors, they focus on relationships as well as basic facts. Secular and LGBTQ friendly. Highly regarded. Contact your local UU group to see if they offer the classes.

Curriculum:

Oak Meadow Integrated Health & Fitness - For high school level, this curriculum covers nutrition, wellness, disease prevention, substance use, sexuality, aging, healing, and alternative therapies, with meaningful projects and activities. Available in digital or book format. Teacher manual available.

Glencoe Health - Student Edition - A traditional high school health textbook with a survey of many topics. Used on Amazon.

Prentice Hall Health - Student Edition - A traditional high school health textbook with a survey of many topics. Used on Amazon.

BYU Independent Study - This secular provider of online credit recovery classes has two semesters of High School health. They are self-paced, with a proctored test at the end.

Practical health management activity ideas:

• Research your own medications, if your ASD child takes any. Look up how they work, side effects, dosages etc. What are alternatives in the same category? What are contraindications?
• Read more about their own mental health issues. Such as the Anxiety Workbook for teens, ADHD Management, or YouTubers with *reliable* information.
• Discuss different types of doctors in the health care system. Who do you see for what? How to talk with a doctor at an appointment?
• Go to the medicine aisle at the drugstore and practice reading labels. Cough and cold medicines, pain medicines, how to find the dosages and directions in tiny print!