At BSB Sanlitun, Children’s Mental Health Week is an important focus each year and it is explored through calm, meaningful and age appropriate classroom experiences. This year’s theme, “This Is My Place”, encouraged children to think about what belonging means and to reflect on the places where they feel safe, happy and valued. Through PSHE lessons and class discussions, Year 2 children shared ideas about belonging and explored how our school and classroom can be a place where everyone feels included.
Throughout the week, Year 2 children took part in a range of wellbeing activities focused on kindness, inclusion and self awareness. Positive affirmations were introduced and practised, with children saying kind and encouraging words to themselves. The children also moved around the classroom writing positive affirmations about one another, then carefully read what their classmates had written about them and chose a favourite affirmation to share with the class. Mindfulness activities were used as morning work to start each day on a positive, calm and happy note. This included mindfulness colouring linked to positive affirmations and “My Happy Place” activities, where children identified what they can see, smell, hear, feel and taste in places where they feel calm and happy.
A strong focus in the Year 2 classroom was learning how our actions can help others feel that they belong. Children discussed and practised simple, meaningful behaviours such as saying hello to someone they do not usually talk to, sharing a toy or a crayon, taking turns in a game and inviting someone to join their group. Each child chose one action they would try, helping them take responsibility for creating a kind, inclusive classroom where everyone feels valued and supported.
By Annelize Engelbrecht
Year 2 Meerkats Class Teacher
