Wellbeing

Department Advice on Mental Health and Wellbeing over the Holidays

The Department has developed a fact sheet on mental health advice and resources for students and families to access over the school holidays. This includes info on ideas to support positive mental health and wellbeing of students, identify signs students may need mental health support, plus resources and contacts for support.

They've also got this document that outlines a range of activities that can help build and maintain your child’s wellbeing. Most of them are short and require very few materials. The activities cover six key elements that are important to wellbeing. There are also activities that focus on positive thinking and gratitude as well as breathing exercises that promote calm. You can find that here: Wellbeing activities and conversation starters for parents of primary school-aged children

Diversity is beautiful

It was the official Neurodiversity Celebration  week recently. Classes looked at this in some small ways each, and it’s something we will return to later in the year and celebrate further together.

2-3-4 considered the idea that all brains are unique and beautiful. We took the time to each appreciate things our brains help us to do and enjoy. The students came up with some wonderful ideas…from things like sports, maths, keyboard, reading, drawing to making friends, to imagination, to coming up with lots of ideas, to finding the bravery to go to new places that make us nervous. Wow! This kind of appreciation of our own and each other’s different  interests and strengths helps children build self-esteem and get along with each other. Their representations of their thinking on the page are a lovely demonstration of the beauty of diverse brains!

Diversity is beautiful but it can also be hard. It requires us to step outside how we do and see and understand things and confront other perspectives and realities which may challenge our own. It asks us to set aside all our own wants to try and make room for everyone’s needs. We have to negotiate and compromise. For these very same reasons, diversity is worth every challenge. Embracing diversity enriches our experience of life and gives us a deep sense of safety and belonging. This is because, if we live in a community that celebrates and accommodates diversity, we live knowing that no matter what we look like, how our bodies and brains work, what we like or don’t like, we will be seen, listened to and cared about by our community. We feel safe to be our true selves and to try all kinds of things.