Learning from home – Mental Health Week!

Our tips this Mental Health Awareness Week

When was the last time you took a deep breath, unwound and relaxed?

We know this is an unsettling and stressful time for families, and therefore it’s more important than ever that we take some time in our week to focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing. There are a number of activities that you can do with your families to benefit your physical and mental wellbeing, and at Enjoy Education, we’ve been practising what we preach; this week, we’ve spent time cooking, making art, and exercising in the fresh air! This recipe is a particular favourite of ours to use up cupboard staples.

Children’s mental health and well-being is as important as their academics, and spending time focusing on these aspects will help them develop as happy, healthy and proactive learners. This is at the core of our home-schooling philosophy, and we have a wealth of experience supporting students who might have struggled with this in the past. We work with a number of specialist advisors and tutors in this area too, and we are always available to talk to any parents feeling concerned about their child. Please contact Felicia, our Head of Home-schooling, if you’d find this helpful.

Here are a few different things you can try at home to help your well-being too…

DANCE!

You don’t have to be a professional to love to dance! Why not combine your favourite songs with an opportunity for a rush of energy (and a few laughs too) and throw some dance breaks into your day. Here’s a link to Pharrell Williams – Happy to get you dancing!

TAKE A NATURE WALK

A long walk can be a fantastic way to unwind. If you’re in a city, see how many ‘Support our NHS’ rainbows you can see in windows, or if you’re in the countryside, why not count the different animals you spot?

CREATE A ‘CALM DOWN’ JAR

Throw some warm water, glitter glue, and glitter into a jar, and have your children shake it up. Seeing the glitter slowly floating to the bottom can be an incredibly soothing thing to watch, and children can use it after a difficult or stressful moment, combining the action with some deep breathing, or another mindfulness exercise.

TRY A YOGA CLASS

Yoga is an activity that’s great for your well-being. Spend time with your family whilst connecting your mind to your body, and managing stress. Online classes like Yoga with Adrienne is a fantastic way to start your journey, and if you get a taste for it, we have some Yoga teachers already working with some of our families, who would love to support you!

FASHION A STRESS BALL

Stress balls can be extremely useful to help manage those worrisome moments. Fill a balloon with flour, rice, or playdough with a small funnel, knot the end, and double wrap the ball with another balloon for security. This is also a great tool for nervous children.

LINK TO LIFE:

Why not buy a small herb plant – your favourite: basil, thyme, rosemary… – next time you’re food shopping? Growing plants can be a positive and mindful activity for children: watching them grow, watering them, and checking they’re healthy, is satisfying and constructive. They could even write notes, or take pictures of them, to track their progress.