Education, Health

There are only 2 things you need in this world

Hayley Simmons

The 2 things you need to get whatever you want out of the world are: Education and Health Sounds a bit boring, but bear with me for a moment. Without education, we do not have the ability or self-agency to have control over our health. Without health, our ability to achieve all we want from ourselves (regardless of our education) is severely compromised. There are so many issues emanating from these 2 statements that I could not possibly cover in 1 blog post. For example, ‘Education’ is a very broad term these days. More than ever before, we can access … Continue reading There are only 2 things you need in this world

Children, Education, Health

Why Physical Education is the most important subject of all

Hayley Simmons

If you want your child to have a head-start and go far in life, involvement in and enjoyment of Physical Education studies should be a priority. Think I’m crazy? Humour me for a minute and read on. I declare a bias up front. I loved PE in school and studied it up until Year 12, going on to do a degree in Human Movement (sport and exercise science). I’ve always thought the sporty types had an advantage. That confidence they ooze (whether it be extroverted or quiet confidence) developed within the white lines, transfers into work and life. I recently … Continue reading Why Physical Education is the most important subject of all

Career, Education4 Comments

Six pieces of advice for early-career professionals

Hayley Simmons

I have often reflected over the past 10 years or so, about what I have learned in the workplace and the vast chasm that often occurs between school/undergraduate studies and the real world of work. I want today’s students to be more prepared than I was. That’s not to say I haven’t flourished in the workplace, I thank my quick learning, my keen observation skills and my flexibility in enabling me to fill the gap. I also suspect that today’s school leavers are much savvier than I was due to the dawn of the digital age, which makes people more … Continue reading Six pieces of advice for early-career professionals

Body image; children1 Comment

A chip off the ol’ block

Hayley Simmons

Recently I came across Alison Slater Tate’s article on the Huffington Post about the transmission of body image issues from mother to daughter (sounds like a disease, right? Yes it is). To quote her: “”She looks just like you,” her admirers say, their eyes bouncing from her face to mine. I smile because this makes me so proud, but I fight the urge to wince. I agree; she does look like me”. Why does Allison wince? Because she is worried that her daughter looking like her will lead to the same body image issues that gripped her childhood and adolescence. By … Continue reading A chip off the ol’ block

Body image; children, Children, Health1 Comment

Talking to kids about food

Hayley Simmons

These days more than ever, we have to be careful about what we allow our children to eat. This is because of: The amount of processed food on the market (ready to eat or stir through sauce jars, sachets and other ‘stuff’ in packets) and a concern about what effect additives and preservatives could have on our bodies long-term Our time-poor society, which can lead us to reach for these packaged foods for convenience Our concern with diseases such as diabetes, overweight and obesity Not only do we have to police what our kids eat because it’s a more complicated world, we need to teach … Continue reading Talking to kids about food

Dance, Health1 Comment

A dancer’s body should look like…..

Hayley Simmons

A dancers body should look like a human body! Dance is a risky area for the development of self-image issues. However, this means that there is an opportunity for dance coaches out there, to make a difference and influence development of a healthy body image. Through my studies I was fortunate to learn about effective ways to instruct pupils, so that they developed a healthy self-image as well as their sporting skills. Unfortunately I have not seen this trickle down to grass roots coaching (well, not systematically through coaching courses and the like), but hope that it will soon be … Continue reading A dancer’s body should look like…..

Body image, Body image; children

When 7 year olds check their reflection for more than just boogies

Hayley Simmons

A friend recently accompanied her child’s Year 2 class to swimming lessons at the local aquatic centre. The lessons had finished and the boys had been in the bathrooms awhile so she went to hurry them up. What she saw made her laugh – there they all were, lined up in front of the mirror, styling their hair with water from the sink. Some were slicking, others were spiking. When she told me this story, I was actually horrified. The ‘metrosexual’ movement has been well-established in teen and adult males for some time….but SEVEN YEAR OLDS??!! As a 7 year-old … Continue reading When 7 year olds check their reflection for more than just boogies