Mental Health - Flipping our lids!

After looking at why it is crucial to look after our Mental Health we wanted to see if we were able to identify our triggers in the hopes that by recognising them we can prevent our brains from 'flipping out' Everyone's brains can 'flip out' at times but we can try our best to keep our brain in harmony during more stressful times. 

We displayed these posters around the school sharing the message that

'It is ok to not be ok' 

Mental Health - Strategy 3

In year 4 we practiced another calming strategy today to help keep our brains working to the very best they can. 

- Gratitude journal

Our brains find it easier to think of all the bad things about our day and it can take some practice thinking about the good things! Therefore, taking time to write a gratitude journal can get us into the mindset of thinking of all those good things that have happened in our day and made us smile. 

Mental Health - Strategy 2

In year 4 we practiced another calming strategy today to help keep our brains working to the very best they can. 

- 5 things you see, hear and feel. 

You can do this wherever you are. All you have to do is take note of 5 things you can see, hear, and feel and this can help focus your mind on the present and help regain focus and control. 

Mental Health - How can we look after our brains?

In year 4 we have been discussing how sometimes our brains feel like they will explode! We have to remember too much and it can be truly overwhelming. We wanted to ensure we were caring for our brains in the best way possible. Firstly, we looked at how our brains have an upstairs and a downstairs, when they both work together as a team we can find it easier to handle challenging tasks in lessons or we might find it easier to focus on what we need to do. But when the upstairs and the downstairs do not work well together it can mean that all tasks and activities can be even harder to complete or manage. As a team, we came up with some strategies that we can use to help our brains work well together and to offer ourselves some kindness when things are a little overwhelming. These strategies included:

- Box breathing  

This can help us focus our minds on our own selves and being able to calm down our overwhelming feelings. 

 

Morning affirmation

A little morning affirmation to brighten your Monday from Barbados class 

Mental Health Week

Well done to Ali in Scotland Class for producing a handy guide of tips in his spare time at home!

His Poster reads:

'Today is children's mental health week!
What is mental health week?
Mental health week is about your mood, whether you're feeling good or bad.

Worry not, worry less.
It's ok to be sad.

If you are feeling depressed, sad or even mad, there are lots of ways to feel better.
1. Try playing with your pet if you have one or play with someone else.
2. Talk to someone you trust -adult, friend or family.
3. Eat healthy and do exercise. If you don't already know, exercise can help the body.

It's okay to be sad, mad or even scared. You can get help just by following an easy step. There are lots of ways to make not only your friends feel better, they can make you feel better. There's always something to help!'

Well done Ali and thanks for the tips!

Mental Heath Awareness Week in Year One

This week the children in Year One have been learning what mental health means and how it is important to keep our minds healthy as well as our bodies.  We discussed what we could do if we are feeling sad, anxious or angry.  We also talked about believing in ourselves and realised that we are all amazing in our own way.  Here is some of the work produced by the children:

Mental Health Week in Italy Class

This week in Italy Class, we used the week's theme of 'Finding Your Brave' to learn how to work through our worries and anxiety. We did a variety of activities which included:

• A mindfulness colouring session to help us relax our minds.
• We completed an 'I am an amazing person' sheet, so that the children could share with the class why they are amazing. 
• The children wrote a recipe for 'A jar of courage'. 
• We read Wilma Jean the Worry Machine together and the children were asked whether they felt like they had anything in common with Wilma! We discovered we had lots of 'What If...' questions and worries buzzing around heads - of both children and adults!
• After the story, we made worry boxes for the children to keep the worries that were bothering them in. The worries can stay in the box until the children are ready to deal with them.

Mental Health Awareness in Reception

To help celebrate mental health awareness week Reception have been reflecting on "Finding their brave". We have been recalling times when we have felt brave and how this has made us feel.

Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes and is different for everyone. Bravery can be about sharing worries and asking for help, trying something new or pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. Finding your Brave can build your confidence, self-esteem and make you feel good about yourself.

Here are some examples of when the children have found "their brave".......

Daisy-Rose

Dora

Domas

Samir

Isla

 Kashan

Emilia

Alexa

Here is a link to the story we watched as part of our circle time about "how to be brave".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2593x-H3xQ

Mental Health awareness week

During mental health awareness week KS2 had an assembly to discuss what 'finding our brave' is really about.
Here are some of the keys messages that the children thought of:

• Being brave during tough times doesn’t mean holding it all in, not crying or pretending you are OK.
• Being brave during tough times doesn’t mean holding it all in, not crying or pretending you are OK.
• Being brave can also mean you have a go at something new. This could be joining a new sports club or learning a new skill.
• Being brave can also mean saying ‘no’ to something that isn’t good for our physical or mental health.
• It can also mean stepping outside of your comfort zone and challenging yourself.

The children have been reflecting upon this phrase all week and have produced some fantastic work in classes to support this very important event. 

 

Mental Health Awareness Week in Year 2

During mental health awareness week year 2 have been thinking about how  we can help themselves have a healthy mind. They have been thinking of ways to cope with different emotions.

Here are some of the children's posters.

To help our mind be healthy we can...

Eleni in Egypt.

Sophia in Egypt.

Eva in Egypt.

Isabella in Madagascar likes healing others.

Bella in Madagascar.

Lenny in Madagascar.

Michelle in Kenya.

Michael N in Kenya.

Zachary in Egypt.

Fareeda in Egypt.