Be Brave Be Well: Children's Mental Health Week
Happy children are children who learn better. The wellbeing of all our children at Eversfield is fundamental for us to develop a mentally healthy school.
Children should not have to face mental health problems alone. Of those with lifetime mental health problems, 50% first experience symptoms by the age of 14. That’s why this week, across the whole school, we have been supporting Children’s Mental Health Week.
There have been daily activities highlighting the importance of being mentally healthy, helping children identify and talk about worries, and offering coping strategies for our children to consider if they are ever feeling stressed.
Mindfulness Monday saw children taking time out to pay attention to the present moment, learning to take thoughts away from worries of the past or future.
Talking Tuesday got children thinking about the way they speak to each other, allowing them to show kindness more readily, and helping them feel empowered in situations where they may have accepted unkindness or irritation before.
Wellbeing Wednesday focused on physical health with a huge number of the children opting to take part in the 'daily mile' challenge at lunchtime. Followed by a comforting afternoon snooze for many in nursery and kindergarten!
Thinking Thursday was a day for the children to reflect. They shared with friends their thoughts on the good things in life, and worries were dumped in a 'worry box', ripped to shreds, fed to a worry monster or made in to a plane to fly away.
Feelings Friday was a day to think about how different emotions make us feel, and how to express and share those feelings more readily with each other.
It was wonderful to see how the children embraced each day and activity. We have encouraged them all to be 'brave'. Brave enough to find positive ways to deal with things that might be difficult, overcoming physical and mental challenges and the importance of looking after themselves physically and mentally.