8 minute read
News & views
by Lisa
With Mental Health Awareness Week this month (10th – 16th May), Life Coach, Grace McMahon has told us parents what to look out for in children. It can be hard to know when our children and young people are struggling with their mental health, and it can be even more confusing for them too. Whether you’ve noticed something different about their behaviour or attitude recently, or they’ve voiced concerns about their thoughts and feelings, it can be hard to know what to do to help and support them. We’ve got some tips to help you help your children and young people feel supported: 1. Be there to listen - our mental health can be really confusing, and even more so for young people and children, so try to really listen to what they have to say. When you are listening, do so without judgement or disbelief to help them feel supported by you in their struggles. 2. Talk openly about feelings - try not to presume whatever is going on for them is causing particular feelings. Use open questions to help them reveal more, for example “how is this making you feel?” rather than “does this make you feel sad?”. This will help them work out how they are feeling for themselves without thinking they need to give ‘the right’ answer. You could even try sharing how you’re feeling to help them know it’s ok to not be ok all the time. 3. Build positive routines together - work together to find things that bring joy, remind you both of happy moments, or even just take their mind of everything else for a moment. Include activities they enjoy, hobbies that bring a moment of peace, things you could do together like cooking dinner, going for walks, maybe even get them excited for some chores! For more information please visit www.beingwellfamily.com M e n ta l Health Awareness W e e k
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10th-16th May 2021
‘To Challenge, Cherish and Inspire’ Situated in Abingdon, the Manor Preparatory School is an independent co-educational day school that welcomes children aged 2-11.
The school has a wonderfully happy, creative atmosphere where every individual is valued and nurtured to reach their potential. The Manor’s most recent ISI Inspection awarded every area of school life the highest possible rating of ‘Excellent’. Inspectors commented that “Pupils approach every day with an overwhelming passion to learn and develop.”
This is in part due to the exceptionally caring and invigorating tone of the school, where laughter is an essential part of the school day. Children’s personal development is further strengthened by staff who act as excellent role models.
The school aims to help simplify the logistics of family life and has created an extensive daily bus service covering Oxfordshire and surrounding areas, as well as fully flexible wraparound care, much of which is free of charge. For further
information please visit their website www.manorprep.org
Lack of sleep impacts emotional resilience and mental health
Our children getting the sleep they need is fundamental to their physical and mental health. It is one of the most important building blocks that their development is built upon - particularly their emotional health, mental wellbeing and their day-to-day mood.
There was a time when we thought sleep issues were a symptom of mental health issues, but we now understand that, for our children, their mental wellbeing and their sleep have an interconnected relationship. Poor sleep impacts on our mental health, and if our children are struggling with their emotional wellbeing this will impact on their sleep.
When it comes to our kids’ sleep cycle, the stage that impacts on their emotional resilience and mental health the most is the REM stage of sleep. It helps to see this stage of sleep as an overnight counselling session, where they will be working through the emotions of the previous day. If our kids are not getting enough sleep then it is often this stage of sleep that is most affected. Any parent can tell when their children have slept well as they are more emotionally resilient, more alert and focused and want to engage with the world.
As parents, we also see our child’s behaviour change when they haven’t met their sleep need in terms of quality and quantity. They struggle to regulate their emotions, getting angry at the slightest thing, being lethargic and not wanting to do anything. Sometimes they can be “bouncing off the walls” as the body makes up the energy deficit from a lack of sleep by producing more stress hormones to give the appearance that they are overly energetic. In fact, research is starting to show that what was previously thought to be ADHD, could in some cases be the symptoms of sleep deprivation.
For more information, please visit www. beingwellfamily.com
Join in with Walk to School Week
Thousands of children across the UK will celebrate the health and wellbeing benefits of walking during National Walk to School Week from 17th to 21st May.
Families will be encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that can come from small steps - from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates. This year’s challenge will focus on the ‘walking superpowers’ that benefit individuals, communities and the planet.
Free Family Walk to School Kits and interactive wall charts and stickers can be downloaded. Schools can obtain Walk to School classroom packs to help teach children about the benefits of being active,with daily reward stickers and special rewards badges at the end of the week for those who travelled actively every day.
More info:www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-to-school
A study by psychologists at the University of Manchester has scientifically defined for the first time the elements that constitute a good bedtime routine for children ages 2 to 8.
They found that a combination of activities, from the obvious teeth brushing and bedtime story were essential, but that it also helped to talk with children.
Funded by the Medical Research Council, the study identifies the following key elements: • Brushing teeth before bed • Going to bed at the same time each night • Reading/having a story • Avoiding food/drinks before bed • Avoiding electronic devices before bed • Interactive activities (conversation, playing, cuddling, singing) • Bath/shower.
Take part as #Litterheroes in the Great British Spring Clean #MillionMileMission from 28th May to 13th June to clear litter from our streets, parks and beaches.
In the past 12 months our outdoor spaces and places have mattered to us more than ever before, demonstrating that what is good for our environment is good for our mental and physical health too. So Keep Britain Tidy invites you to show some love for those special places that helped us through lockdown.
You can pledge how many hours and minutes of litter-picking you will undertake during the Great British Spring Clean on the Keep Britain Tidy website. You can pledge as an individual or as a group, which at the moment is you plus one other person, a family group or bubble, or a school.
For all advice and information you need and Covid-19 guidelines, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org
PAID WORK BY MUMS: no impact on child behaviour
Having a mother who works full or part time in the first six years of their child’s life has no negative impact on a child’s behaviour, according to new research by the University of Cologne.
The study found, in fact, that children whose mothers have spent more years in full time and part time employment actually exhibited fewer behaviour problems at around eight years old.
The study which looked at mothers and children in Scotland also found that children from disadvantaged household were also not at greater risk of behavioural problems.
Factors that do impact on child behaviour were found to be economic resources, family structure, maternal health, child development and neighbourhood characteristics.
More info: www.ingentaconnect.com
COVID: young now more interested in science career
New research suggests children have been particularly engaged by scientific discoveries over the last year.
According to a survey commissioned by Thales, a French aerospace company, the pandemic has inspired more than a third (35%) of children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
A survey of more than 2,000 parents of children ages 5 to 16 across the UK found that 50% of youngsters cited NHS frontline staff, the scientists behind the Covid-19 vaccine rollout (31%) and the Mars Rover landing (24%) as events that have most inspired them. More info: www.thalesgroup.com
It's time to Shine at Perform this summer
Perform classes are back in person this summer term and there’s no better time for your child to try a class. Packed with self-esteem boosting activities, these weekly classes will help children get back to doing the things they love most. With a focus on developing confidence, communication, coordination and concentration, Perform uses a mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s potential.
The termly curriculum ensures plenty of fun, friendship and laughter, with drama games, catchy songs and funky dances. Class material is specially designed by Perform, with apps, downloads and videos for the children to enjoy at home. Small classes - run by two professional actors – ensures plenty of individual attention, plus each child receives a progress report every 10 weeks. Classes are available for ages 4-7 and 7-12 with a new creative theme each term.
To book a no-obligation FREE trial at Oxford (Wednesdays); Abingdon (Saturdays and Thursdays); Didcot (Fridays); and Wallingford (Saturdays) visit www.perform.org.uk/try T: 020 7255 9120 enquiries@perform.org.uk
Honour the Heroes of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Stamps
For over 50 years the Royal Mail have featured famous people from British History and their achievements on a set of stamps. During the coronavirus pandemic many people have done some incredible things, with frontline and key workers helping us through a difficult time. To celebrate these people, the Royal Mail are inviting school-age children to design a stamp based on their heroes. A panel of judges will choose 8 winning designs and these will be presented to Her Majesty The Queen before being printed and issued. Entries close 28th May. More info at
www.stampcompetition.ichild.co.uk/
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