Wellbeing
Galilee's Wellbeing Toolkit
This week in our Wellbeing Toolkit we share a fun activity to enhance our childrens’ resilience through a strengths-based activity. Research suggests that focusing on strengths can enhance children's resilience and coping skills. By helping them to identify and leverage their strengths, educators and parents can empower children to overcome challenges and thrive in the face of adversity. This fun project can support your child to identify and celebrate their unique talents and qualities in a creative and visual way.
Here's how you can facilitate this activity:
Materials Needed:
- Poster board or large piece of paper
- Magazines, newspapers, or printed images
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Markers or coloured pencils
Instructions:
Introduction: Begin by explaining to your child the concept of strengths and talents. Discuss how everyone has unique qualities that make them special and valuable.
Brainstorming Session: Encourage your child to brainstorm a list of their strengths and positive qualities. This could include things they are good at, characteristics they admire in themselves, or compliments they have received from others.
Gather Visual Materials: Provide your child with magazines, newspapers, or printed images. Have them search for pictures, words, or phrases that represent their strengths and talents. These could be related to activities they enjoy, goals they have achieved, or qualities they aspire to embody.
Create the Collage: Using the materials they have gathered, invite your child to create a collage on the poster board or large piece of paper. Encourage them to arrange the images and words in a way that reflects their unique strengths and talents. They can also add drawings or decorations to personalise their collage further.
Reflect and Discuss: Once the collage is complete, take some time to reflect on it together. Ask your child to explain why they chose certain images or words and how they relate to their strengths. Encourage them to share stories or examples that demonstrate each strength in action.
Display the Collage: Find a prominent place to display the finished collage, such as on a bedroom wall or refrigerator. This serves as a visual reminder of your child's strengths and talents, boosting their confidence and self-esteem.
Celebrate and Reinforce: Celebrate your child's strengths and talents by praising their efforts and accomplishments. Encourage them to continue developing and using their strengths in various aspects of their life.
Follow-Up Activities: To reinforce the concept of strengths, consider engaging in follow-up activities such as role-playing scenarios where your child can utilise their strengths or setting goals that align with their identified talents.
By creating a strengths collage together, you can help your children recognise and appreciate their unique qualities, fostering a positive self-image and a sense of empowerment.
Happy collage…ing!
Julie and Paddy
Paddy Edwards and Julie Ferguson