Student Wellbeing

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

You knit me together in my mother’s womb,  I am fearfully and wonderfully made!  Your works are wonderful! Psalm 139: 13- 14 (NIV)

It has been a real privilege to work within the role of Wellbeing Counsellor this year, with the children of Brooklyn Park, offering a space for children to express themselves and explore new possibilities, or acknowledging the tricky things and how this has impacted them. Establishing a place of safety and connection is vital for us all. 

Feeling connected is paramount for good mental health. As parents, we provide a haven for our children through a warm, responsive relationship, which promotes safety and trust. From this perspective, children and young people perceive their relationships and their sense of belonging within their school friendships, and family relationships. Out of these healthy relationships, children develop empathy as they observe the things going on around them. 

Empathy is a powerful tool for children and young people, by which they understand the world around them from the other’s perspective. Together, empathy and belonging create a synergy in building resilience, and in combination with the development of social and emotional skills, children and young people can grow in their capacity to respond to life’s challenges.  

Each of us, being created as unique individuals, each with a gift to offer, will respond to life challenges differently. The gift is not limited to academic or sporting achievements, although this does contribute to their individual person, of course, rather this speaks more to a child’s very being- their integrity, their kindness to others, and feeling safe by operating within their own limits. 

School holidays give space to recharge and refresh, as well as the opportunity to grow and develop a little more. It’s a time to celebrate and reflect as we finish one year and embark on another. It’s a time to explore, to play and to learn within the context of home and family, whatever shape that takes! Connection in school holidays can mean having a time every night to talk about the highlights of the day, some one- on- one time with your child or young person to learn more about them, and to encourage them in their interests, creating opportunities for bonding in friendships outside of school activity. These moments strengthen the bond of safety to walk more confidently into the next year, to belong and be understood. This is a parent’s greatest gift! 

Sometimes, as the school holidays end, children can feel nervous about returning to school. Anticipating change can be used as a ‘superpower’ where the springboard is from a warm and responsive relationship, enabling courage to emerge from a safe space to talk about the things that concern them, so that these things can remain within perspective. Remembering, that children see things more concretely, and what the adult may perceive as a drama may not be the same for the child and vice versa. Listening is key, and providing space for this to occur is essential. Sometimes this can look like doing a creative activity together and at other times it could involve play by shooting hoops together. 

Most of all, soak up the sun and enjoy these precious moments, and remember that God has uniquely and creatively made us all, He knows us full well!  

Blessings, 

Mel Batchelor

Wellbeing Student Counsellor, ELC - Year 6