Children's Mental Health Week 2021
Children’s Mental Health Week ran from February 1st to the 7th.
Our wellbeing and that of our youth has never been more important. We ensured to make this a top priority and continue to do so through weekly activities aimed to set some seeds of optimism and hope.
Here is a little summary of what we got up to in the infant room this year:
Mindful Monday:
The aim of Monday was to ground, land, arrive and just be; whatever state that may be varies greatly from one child, adult to the next and that is the wondrous nature of the human condition. We engaged in some grounding and calming mindful moments. We started the day off with some Bear Breaths followed by a gentle and soothing ‘Mindless to Mindful Flow’. To break up the day we enjoyed some movement through a dance activity and finished up with some play-the best way to end a day if you ask me. The children got very creative and set up a shop at home. I can assure you that we have very promising blossoming entrepreneurs in the infant class.
Think Kind Thoughts Tuesday:
The aim of Tuesday was to foster and encourage children in thinking kind thoughts, generating an ability to be self-compassionate through use of loving and affirming self statements.
We started our day with a beautiful guided meditation for kids by the wonderful Cosmic Kids. It was entitled ‘Friendly Wishes’ and formed a loving-kindness meditation whereby we sent kind and loving wishes to ourselves and to others: “We imagine our loving thoughts as ripples on a lake's surface. When we think kind thoughts, they find their way out into the world and make it a better place.” Written and presented by Jaime from Cosmic Kids.
What kind thoughts could you have in your lovely minds today?
Wellness Wednesday:
Wednesday encouraged us to use our fabulous five senses. We began with a flow entitled ‘Weather the Storm’, we then stepped outside to connect our senses to the world around us. We used our senses to check the weather: What can you feel? What can you smell? What can you see? What can you hear? Afterwards we drew our responses.
We can use our 5 senses at ANY time; they are an incredible resource to us especially helping in moments of un-ease or distress, tune in to them and let your body calm and listen for the responses.
On Wednesday’s we Yoga; we have completed lots of wonderful Yoga adventures since January and we will continue to do so J
Think about it Thursday: Find Joy
Today’s aim was to Find Joy! We watched a lovely video inspiring us to think about what makes us feel joy. What is life without moments of joy? So we went on a mission to find something that makes us feel joy. The children shared beautiful responses in terms of finding joy; they varied from folding clothes to sharing a smile and playing with the dog. How lovely? J
Feel Good Friday:
To conclude the week we aimed to generate a feeling of good within. We commenced the day with a breathing activity aimed at generating kindness and self compassion. Next we listened to the beautiful story of ‘Elmer’ by David McKee; Elmer is a different kind of elephant and that's what makes him so special. The children engaged in some mindful colouring and gave Elmer all his colours back. On Friday we like to help others feel good too so we like to do some Random Acts of Kindness also; the children are really getting the hang of this and enjoy it so much!
Thank you to all the parents and children who co-operated so wonderfully with this and for contributing to making it such a success. Hopefully we will continue to build self-supportive lifelong habits as we further nurture our Mental Health and look after our lovely minds.
Thanks for reading,
Best wishes,
M. Duggan.
Our wellbeing and that of our youth has never been more important. We ensured to make this a top priority and continue to do so through weekly activities aimed to set some seeds of optimism and hope.
Here is a little summary of what we got up to in the infant room this year:
Mindful Monday:
The aim of Monday was to ground, land, arrive and just be; whatever state that may be varies greatly from one child, adult to the next and that is the wondrous nature of the human condition. We engaged in some grounding and calming mindful moments. We started the day off with some Bear Breaths followed by a gentle and soothing ‘Mindless to Mindful Flow’. To break up the day we enjoyed some movement through a dance activity and finished up with some play-the best way to end a day if you ask me. The children got very creative and set up a shop at home. I can assure you that we have very promising blossoming entrepreneurs in the infant class.
Think Kind Thoughts Tuesday:
The aim of Tuesday was to foster and encourage children in thinking kind thoughts, generating an ability to be self-compassionate through use of loving and affirming self statements.
We started our day with a beautiful guided meditation for kids by the wonderful Cosmic Kids. It was entitled ‘Friendly Wishes’ and formed a loving-kindness meditation whereby we sent kind and loving wishes to ourselves and to others: “We imagine our loving thoughts as ripples on a lake's surface. When we think kind thoughts, they find their way out into the world and make it a better place.” Written and presented by Jaime from Cosmic Kids.
What kind thoughts could you have in your lovely minds today?
Wellness Wednesday:
Wednesday encouraged us to use our fabulous five senses. We began with a flow entitled ‘Weather the Storm’, we then stepped outside to connect our senses to the world around us. We used our senses to check the weather: What can you feel? What can you smell? What can you see? What can you hear? Afterwards we drew our responses.
We can use our 5 senses at ANY time; they are an incredible resource to us especially helping in moments of un-ease or distress, tune in to them and let your body calm and listen for the responses.
On Wednesday’s we Yoga; we have completed lots of wonderful Yoga adventures since January and we will continue to do so J
Think about it Thursday: Find Joy
Today’s aim was to Find Joy! We watched a lovely video inspiring us to think about what makes us feel joy. What is life without moments of joy? So we went on a mission to find something that makes us feel joy. The children shared beautiful responses in terms of finding joy; they varied from folding clothes to sharing a smile and playing with the dog. How lovely? J
Feel Good Friday:
To conclude the week we aimed to generate a feeling of good within. We commenced the day with a breathing activity aimed at generating kindness and self compassion. Next we listened to the beautiful story of ‘Elmer’ by David McKee; Elmer is a different kind of elephant and that's what makes him so special. The children engaged in some mindful colouring and gave Elmer all his colours back. On Friday we like to help others feel good too so we like to do some Random Acts of Kindness also; the children are really getting the hang of this and enjoy it so much!
Thank you to all the parents and children who co-operated so wonderfully with this and for contributing to making it such a success. Hopefully we will continue to build self-supportive lifelong habits as we further nurture our Mental Health and look after our lovely minds.
Thanks for reading,
Best wishes,
M. Duggan.
