Nurture & Wellbeing

Throughout the day, we tend to naturally ignore what goes well and focus on what does or what might go wrong. Usually thinking about the negatives and not the positives.

So how can you change this? Well ….. You could start by training your brain to think “What Went Well.” This makes you focus on three things that went well during your day and why they went well. These things don’t have to be big things, in fact the smaller they are the better.

To start with, try noticing something small like doing well on a test. Then think “why” this went well – realised you worked hard. Think about “how this made you feel” – proud of your efforts.

Each day write down three things that went well. Think about why these good things happened and make a note of why they went well. See how your attitudes towards your day will start to change and you feel more positive.

Sometimes it’s hard to think positive when you are used to thinking negative.

I often guide the children to change their way of thinking about different situations. Naturally, we focus on what didn’t go to plan or any errors we made along the way. However, thinking positively helps you see things from a different perspective.

Thinking positively can also;

• Make you confident so you can be yourself.
• Make you feel better so you don’t have to fake anything.
• Give you a positive aura and helps you to make friends.
• Help you help others.
• Give you good feelings about life.
• Help you want to try new things.
• Make you feel good about yourself.

If you feel like you might need to change your way of thinking, try these;

• •Write things down….keep track of the good things you notice in your day.
• •Recognise when you have used your strengths and things you are good at.
• •Accept compliments and give compliments.
• •Take time everyday to think about good things that you enjoy or that have made you smile.
• •Break large goals into smaller goals.
• •Focus on the small goals you have achieved,and reward yourself.
• •Keep things in perspective. Notice when something hasn’t gone your way but also notice when it has.
• •Always think about what you can learn from a challenging situation.

The last couple of years have been incredibly hard for children and young people. Living through Covid has caused feelings of anxiety, fear and hopelessness in too many children.

The Children in Need charity are currently funding 1,308 projects supporting children and young people across the UK with their emotional wellbeing and mental health. Through projects they fund for children and young people in the UK, they have seen a significant positive rise in how children feel.

Why not take a look at some of these activities to help with your wellbeing on their website; https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/changing-lives/mental-health/mental-heath-wellbeing-resource-hub/

This week is Anti-Bullying Week and has the theme Reach Out. The week has kicked off with Odd Socks Day today, where staff and children have worn odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

The theme was chosen to empower children to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes. There’s a serious message behind the fun of wearing odd socks: let’s pull on odd socks to show we’re ALL unique and different, and let’s be kind to each other and respect each other’s individuality.

Bullying affects millions of lives and can leave us feeling hopeless. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If we challenge it, we can change it. And it starts by reaching out. It takes courage, but it can change lives. So, this Anti-Bullying Week, let’s come together and reach out to stop bullying.

Everyone around school has been thinking about their mental health and wellbeing and what they can do to look after it.

As part of World Mental Health Day, lots has been learnt about being mindful and looking after our mental health. Speaking about being present and focusing on the now. Knowing how important it is to talk about things and get help if you are struggling.

Protecting our mental health is easier than you might think. We can all do it every day, and with simple activities that help us feel OK, we’re better able to cope with life.

Why not try some of these;

Get closer to Nature – Nature can have a really calming effect on us. We have been living around other animals and plants for thousands of years. Some people say nature helps them feel calmer, more hopeful and less alone.

Learnt to understand and manage your feelings – Many of us will know when we’re upset but not be sure what we’re feeling. Is it sadness, fear, shame, loneliness, anger or something else? We don’t always know why we’re feeling that way. Some people feel better if they write down how they are feeling.

Talk to someone you trust for support – Many of us have learned to bottle things up inside us and try to ignore painful feelings. It can take a lot of courage to tell someone else about how we’re really feeling or what we’re finding hard, especially if we don’t usually do that kind of thing.

Keep moving – Our bodies and our minds are connected, so looking after ourselves physically also helps us prevent problems with our mental health (it works the other way around, too).

If you feel like you want or need to talk to someone in school, you can always ask to speak to myself (Ms Clarke) or Ms Morgan.

Today is National Poetry Day, a UK-wide celebration of poetry and the theme this year is The Environment.

When I was younger, I used to love reading poems in school or even having a go at writing them myself. It allowed me to explore and make sense of my internal and external worlds, allowing me to play with language in a way that has no boundaries.

Poetry is a powerful tool that doesn’t just come from the words, but also the way they are written down or spoken aloud with expression. It is also great to deviate from that same old classic rhyming pattern and accept that poems do NOT have to rhyme!

You might be wondering what all this has to do with mental health! Like with all art forms, it is the freedom to express our thoughts, feelings, observations and experiences in our own unique way, a means by which we can talk about the things that matter to us.

Why not have a go at writing a poem yourself. Go out and explore the environment, look out the window, what can you hear, see, smell, feel to give you some inspiration.

Ms Clarke and Ms Morgan are both extremely proud how you have all returned back to school. We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday and we thank you very much for the gifts and cards we received.

We are very much looking forward to working with you this year and help you overcome any challenges you occur, remember challanges can be stepping stones not stumbling blocks.

The confidence group wanted to make smaller cards that can fit in their pencil case to give them little reminders to be brave, have confidence and believe in themselves. They used some of the quotes they found from the last session (to create a confidence poster) or made them up themselves. These cards were then laminated and tied together.

Take a look …

The friendship group decided they wanted to create some artwork to show what words they feel best describe what a good friend would be like.

They thought a tree would be a good image to use as it is strong with new leaves growing. Just like they are strong, discovering new personality traits.

Take a look…

Everyone who knows me, knows I love my art, inspirational quotes and Disney. So I’ve been very busy combining all of these to add new artwork to the wellbeing room.

Who is your favourite Disney character? Let me know and I can find a quote to match.

I have also been busy painting images that I use within my self-efficacy and resilience groups.

The Iceberg illusion is a great image to show that people only see the ‘success’ the finished product and not what goes on behind the scenes. Even if the end result doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to be, you still need to be proud of all the efforts and determination it took to get there.

We work on different mindsets a lot in the wellbeing room. Knowing the difference between the two and seeing the impact it can have on ourselves and our work.

Hope you like them 🙂