St John's Primary School Newsletter

The Resilience Project-GRATITUDE

Snapshot 2: Gratitude

 

Working on gratitude helps us to be thankful and appreciate what we have in our lives, rather than focusing on what we don’t have or what we want. When we practise being grateful, we start to scan the world to look for positives – this only takes 21 days! Practising gratitude every day increases our levels of energy, and helps us to feel happier and more focused, determined and optimistic. It even helps us have better sleep, lowers levels of anxiety and depression and we are less likely to get sick. So many benefits – let’s all try to be grateful for the things and people in our lives every day!

Whole Family Activity:

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

  • As a family create a scavenger hunt list of things that make you happy or you are grateful for, you can make your own list or use the examples below:
  • Something that makes you happy
  • Something you love to smell
  • Something you enjoy looking at
  • Something that is your favourite colour
  • Something you like in nature
  • Something that is useful for you
  • Each member of the family uses the list and has to find as many things as they can.
  • You can hunt for things inside or outside, or both. You can hunt for real things, or you can also do this using magazines or pictures from the internet.
  • After a set amount of time hunting, come back together, have a look at what each person collected and let them explain why they are grateful for each item.

Family Habit Builder:

Every night at dinner, have each person talk about their favourite thing about that day.

 

 

 

 

 

Part 5: Summary

 

In the final part of The Resilience Project's digital series, Martin shares an important message about creating environments where our kids can ask for help.

65% of adolescents do not seek help for mental illness.

In this presentation, Martin shares a personal experience about a traumatic event that happened to him as a child. He explains how he overcame adversity and built resilience by asking for support, particularly from his family.

Note: This video contains a story of sexual abuse that may be triggering. Please consider this before watching. For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.

View Part 5 of the series here:

Part 5 - Summary: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-martin/

Thank you for participating in this Parent and Carer Digital Program series.

You can re-watch the videos and access activities and resources anytime via the Parent & Carer Hub.

You can also stay up to date with The Resilience Project news and events by signing up to their Newsletter.

 

 

Part 4: Mindfulness

 

Today’s presentation from The Resilience Project is all about Mindfulness.

Mindfulness is our ability to be present at any given moment. We practise this by using intentional awareness and concentrating on what you are doing when you are doing it.

Thousands of studies into Mindfulness indicate that with regular practise, Mindfulness can lead to benefits such as; reduced stress, reduced rumination, increased memory, increased cognitive function and physical health benefits through improved immunity.

View Part 4 of the series here:

Part 4 - Mindfulness: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-martin/

Mindfulness can be practised through meditation, yoga, flow-states and daily activities such as cooking.

Source: UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science, American Psychological Association

For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.

 

 

 

Part 3: Empathy and Kindness

 

This next presentation from The Resilience Project is all about Empathy and Kindness.

 

Empathy is our ability to put ourselves in the shoes of others to feel and see what they do. We practice this through being kind and compassionate towards other people.

Brain imaging data shows that being kind to others registers in the brain as more like eating chocolate than like fulfilling an obligation to do what’s right (e.g. eating brussel sprouts)!

Research shows that practicing empathy, such as performing acts of kindness, taps into our brain’s ‘mirror neurons’, builds compassion and our behaviour becomes more social and community-based.

 

View Part 3 of the series here

Part 3 - Empathy: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-martin/

Here’s an activity to practise empathy and kindness:

  1. Reflect on someone in your life who could benefit from an act of kindness today. It could be a friend who would love some affirmation about their work, your pet who deserves an extra treat, or a family member who would love a phone call or text message.
  2. Make a plan for who you are going to gift an act of kindness to, and what you are going to do.
  3. If you want to add accountability to your plan, share it with someone else and encourage them to do the same thing.
  4. Follow up with each other in a few days' time, to ask how it went!

 

Part 2: Gratitude

 

This week’s presentation from The Resilience Project focuses on Gratitude.

 

Gratitude is paying attention to the things that we have right now, and not worrying about what we don’t have. We practise this by noticing the positives that exist around us.

Research shows that practicing gratitude rewires our brains to overcome the negativity bias (which can lead to anxiety and depression) and see the world for what we are thankful for. It is also shown to broaden thinking, and increase physical health through improved sleep and attitude to exercise.

 

View Part 2 of the series here:

Part 2 - Gratitude: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-martin/

There are many ways in which you can practise gratitude, including starting a gratitude journal. You can simply use a notebook to list three things that went well for you each day, 

 

Source: Psychology Today

For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.

 

 

Part 1: Introducing The Resilience Project – Parent and Carer video series

 

Throughout 2024,we will be working closely with The Resilience Project to support the wellbeing of our school community.

 

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs and provides evidence-based, practical strategies to build resilience.

Our Partnership Program consists of online presentations and weekly lessons for students, professional development for staff, and Parent & Carer Hub (inc. digital presentations) for our parent and carer community.

 

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing the Parent & Carer Hub with you. The videos are 5-10 minutes long and will walk through the key pillars of resilience: Gratitude, Empathy & Mindfulness. You’ll hear stories and be introduced to activities to show how these strategies can support our kids' learning and development, and also support you as parents and carers.

 

This program is an important part of our school’s effort to look after the mental health of our community.

 

View the first presentation of the series here:

Part 1: Meet Martin and learn about The Resilience Project https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-martin/

We will be in touch fortnightly to share the remainder of the program, including research and wellbeing activities to integrate into day to day life.

For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page..