Children’s Mental Health Week – Express Yourself

It is national Children’s Mental Health Week and the theme is Express Yourself.

As you will be aware from Mrs Dodds’ bulletin on Friday, it is national Children’s Mental Health Week and the theme is Express Yourself. The week is run by children’s mental health charity Place2Be to focus on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.

With schools partially closed and lots of uncertainty, children and young people’s mental health has never been more important. Around three children in every primary school class have a mental health problem, and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement; others may be coming to terms with additional family problems or changes to their living situation. Some children and young people have enjoyed being off school, while others will have really struggled – with the coronavirus outbreak keeping them at home and away from friends.

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At Froebelian, we place the highest value on our pupils’ mental health. Each class teacher and teaching assistant will be encouraging the children to embrace this week and to prioritise their own mental health, as they always do. Mental health is important every day and every week but this week enables us all to make it a particular focus.  Place2Be has created activities and resources to help children (and adults) to explore the different ways that they can share their thoughts, feelings and ideas.

They include activity ideas and advice for parents which will be available from today, Monday 1 February. When children are able to find creative ways to share their feelings, thoughts or ideas it can help them feel good about themselves and who they are.

Children can do this through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film, and doing activities that they enjoy. It’s really important to remember that being able to express yourself is not about being the best at something or putting on a performance for others. It is about finding a way to show who you are, and how you see the world, that can help you feel good about yourself.

Please try to find some time to explore the websites below and hopefully you will find some helpful tips, ideas and activities for both you and your child(ren) to put mental health where it needs to be – at the top of your to-do list.

www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk
Every Mind Matters | One You (www.nhs.uk)

If you ever feel that your child would benefit from some extra support from school, due to concerns about their mental health, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher or you can contact me directly via my email address: s.stratford@froebelian.co.uk

Have a safe and restful week and remember to be kind to yourselves. You are all doing the best you can in very challenging circumstances.
Kind regards,
Mrs Stratford