‘You can choose!’ #Elsasupport

This game is all about choices. You will need 2 dices ​​​to play.

Roll the first dice to get the horizontal row and roll the second dice for the vertical column.

Find the question and then ask it.

Choices

This may  help you to prepare children for making choices. A good strategy with children who do not want to do what you ask them to do is to give them a choice. Both choices would be what you want them to do. It gives control to the child but of course the adult is really making the decisions.

Tidying up - would you like to tidy the Lego or the jigsaws?

Bedtime - would you like me to read you a story at bedtime or play a game?

Clothes - would you like to wear this blue top or the red top?

Giving choices can take away conflict and arguments.  practice in a fun way with this game.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness week will take place from Monday 18th to Sunday 24th May 2020.  The theme for 2020 is 'kindness'. 

There are many ways to show kindness to yourself, your friends and your neighbours.  Especially during the coronavirus outbreak it is more important than ever. Lots of us are feeling worried and there has been a lot of focus on people's physical health, but it's also important to remember the impact on our mental health too.  Little gestures can mean so much to everyone.

Check in - due to social distancing we are unable to meet up, but you can use social media.  Have a video call or start a group chat.  Everyone will benefit and it doesn't have to be for a long time either.

Listen - just listening to some one can help.  No one expects you to be able to fix things but to just give someone (inc you) a listening ear and showing kindness will let them know your are there for them.

Things you can do to show kindness:

Make someone a cup of tea.

Compliment people.

Send someone a letter.

Bake a cake for a neighbour.

Smile or speak kindly to your neighbour.

Sort out clothes / toys / books you no longer use and pack them up ready for the charity shop, once the restrictions have been lifted.

Take a neighbours dog for a walk, on your daily exercise.

Do someone a favour, when you're out shopping see if a neighbour needs anything.

Text a friend and tell them why they are a good friend to you.

Make you and your family an afternoon tea. A few simple sandwiches, a couple of tasty cakes and a lovely hot cup of tea.  You'll have a lovely afternoon getting together and having a chat.  Take some photos and put them in your #lockdown2020 memory book.

Some websites that are there to support you.....don't forget we are here too

www.time-to-change-org.uk

www.nhs.uk

www.mind.org.uk

https://youngminds.org.uk

www.rethink.org

www.mentalhealth.org.uk

10 Growth Mindset Conversation Starters

Conversation starters you could ask your friends, family or children.

1. What's one new thing you learned today.
2. Did you make any mistakes today? What did you  learn about how to improve next time?
3. What did you do today that made you think really hard?
4. Can you think of something new you tried today?
5. Were you faced with any problems today?
6. Did you work towards a goal today?
7. Did you feel frustrated today? How did you manage your feelings?
8. Did you use your skills to help anyone else today?
9. What did you do today that you used to think was too hard?
10. What goal can you work on tomorrow? 

There is no right way to feel.  Give yourself permission to feel as you do.  All of our feelings: joyful, pleasant, heavy, painful, they all have a purpose, a message for us.  Feelings all have an energetic charge that needs expression or some kind of release.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness practices can help us to increase our ability to regulate emotions, decrease stress, anxiety and depression. It can also help us to focus our attention, as well as to observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment.  Practising mindfulness can also help with cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties.

It really is worth a try.

Go at your own pace and don't put any pressure on yourself.

There are a few websites below to help you to start, or search some for yourself.  Have a go with your child/children at the childrens yoga, they all absolutely love yoga in school:)

Remember.....Treat yourself the same way as you would treat a good friend ;)

Communication

Hello......I hope you are all keeping safe and well.  We have all been finding alternative ways to stay in contact with our family and friends.  Communication is very important and a key skill for our children.  It's like any other skill, the more practice we have the better we become.  Good communication with our children involves listening well and talking in ways to encourage your child/children to listen to you.  Talking and listening to children does a lot of important things.  It improves your bond with them, and encourages them to listen to you. It also helps them to form relationships and build their self-esteem and self-confidence. 

You can set aside some time to spend with your child/children, this could be during family meal times.  You can use these questions below to have a little fun and get to know your child/children and yourself a bit better. Build on your child/childrens answers.  Remember you are a good role model and your child/children will learn how to communicate by watching you......have fun with it.

1. What do you look forward to when you get up?
2. If you could do anything right now, what would it be?
3. What makes you feel brave?
4. You're at the beach, what's the first thing you are going to do?
5. What does it feel like when I hug you?
6. What makes you feel loved?
7. How do you show people you love them?
8. What are your favourite natural sounds?
9. If you could have your favourite food for dinner, what would it be?
10. How do you think animals communicate?
11. What memory makes you happy?
12. What makes you so awesome?
13. If you had a pet dragon, what would you name it?
14. What is your favourite story?
15. If you could change your name, what would you change it do?
16. What is the favourite game you and your friends play?
17. What one thing would you change in the world?
18. What makes you a good friend?
19. Would you prefer to eat cake or ice-cream?
20. What three words describe you?

Why not make up some of your own questions to ask. You'll be amazed how much you will learn about each other and how much you'll laugh together.

If you can, post on Seesaw so I can see how you get on. Have fun!   

Mrs Ives

Keeping a Routine

It is very important that children and adults keep to a routine during this uncertain time. Routines can help us to focus, feel motivated, help us to sleep well and support our emotional and mental health. Try to keep to a consistent time to wake up, have meals, complete work and exercise. In school, pupils respond very well to routine. Children like to know what is coming next in the day and when their break times are etc. Having a daily routine helps us to have structure and consistency which helps us to achieve what we want to during the day.

Keeping a routine now will help children when we return to school and will help them to continue their work routine at home.