The Academy of Parents hosted psychologist Gyöngyi László, who, thinking about our project theme, gave a presentation on how health and the environment influence our children’s psychological development. We learned important information about the close relationship between these two concepts. It was explained how the norms of the micro-environment and socialisation environment(s) around an individual are influenced by the micro-environment, why it is important for parents within the family to protect not only their children but also their own health, how they can be influenced for good or ill by the patterns they transmit, which shape the habits of their children and have a primary, lifelong effect. Several studies have provided examples of research findings on what health and a healthy environment mean to 11-15 year olds, and what concepts they associate with them. We learned that, although it is usually difficult to get adolescents to engage in activities with their families, mainly outdoors and involving physical activity, these are in fact important and enjoyable for everyone. And the production of happy hormones is not only important for our well-being, but also helps to strengthen our immune system, which makes us more resistant to external environmental stresses. After the presentation, the parents who attended asked many more questions on and off the topic. Once again we spent a useful time together and hopefully by taking the advice we will be able to achieve greater harmony in our families. -Sándor Kovács Sándor Szentes 1 and Márta Őzéné Törőcsik Szentes 2, mentors
