This year’s theme is ‘Express Yourself ‘ and we’re encouraging all our young adults at college to explore the different ways we can ‘Express Ourselves’, and the creative ways that we can share our feelings, our thoughts and our ideas.
There are lots of resources on the Children’s Mental Health Week website that you can use with your child at home; including activity ideas, tips for parents and carers, and an online assembly which will be available from Monday 1 February.
Visit https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/ to find out more
Discussion points to have with your child:
What does it mean to express yourself?
“Express yourself” is about finding creative ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through things like art, writing, music, dance and doing things that make you feel good.
Being able to express yourself is not about being the best at something or putting on a performance for others. It is about finding a way to show how you are feeling that can help you feel good about yourself.
Engage in a discussion about what “express yourself” means and what it can look like
To reinforce the discussion, share this video clip by Pond5 showing a number of different ways that you can express yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfbOkWFTRAw
A video about disability and being fabulous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwW6mYdJ7Xc
CHALLENGE:
How can we help and support each other to get creative and express ourselves this Children’s Mental Health Week?
Finding healthy ways to express ourselves creatively is one way of looking after our mental health and wellbeing.
We want to set a Challenge for our students to explore their self-expression and to try something new. They can also share with a friend something creative that helps them.
- Take part in a two-minute creative challenge, or share some examples of a creative challenge of their own. For example, join in with this origami challenge to make a paper duck! For this challenge, each student should have their own piece of paper. Watch and follow these instructions: https://bit.ly/3l3mIW5
- Try this one-minute Squiggle game by The Art Room at Place2Be. You will need your own pen/pencil and paper. Watch the demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozKW1M97JXE&feature=youtu.be
- Express Yourself – dress to impress and send in the pictures
STUDENTS:
Supporting this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week share the things that work for you and how self-expression can support your wellbeing. Share your creative ideas and experiences this week by sending them into college or taking photos so we can display all your awesome work and creativity.