STUDENT WELL BEING

WELL BEING ACTIVITIES AND CONVERSATION STARTERS FOR PARENTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

This week I am including a range of activities, that will help build and maintain your child’s well being in the elements of Positive Coping and Problem Solving. These activities are based on the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships teaching and learning materials.

POSITIVE COPING

KINDERGARTEN:

• Come up with five things we can do to feel better when we are sad.

YEARS 1 AND 2:

• Discuss with your child:

* When I feel lonely, I can...

* When I feel angry, I calm myself down by...

* When I feel sad, I can...

* When I feel bored, I can...

• Talk about:

* Things that make me afraid are...

* When I feel afraid, what are some things we do to help us manage our fears

YEARS 3 AND 4:

• Try the Robot to Rag doll technique with a family member. Scrunch up tight and hard like a robot, then slowly let go to turn yourself into a floppy rag doll.
• Talk to a family member and ask them: What is an apology? What does it feel like when someone apologises to you? What are the ingredients of a good apology?

YEARS 5 AND 6:

• Encourage your child to leave a positive note for someone at home to find.
• Choose an activity to do with your child.

* Draw a picture together

* Listen to soothing music

* Give each other a hug

* Do a favourite hobby

Reflect on how it made you feel to do this together.

PROBLEM SOLVING

 KINDERGARTEN:

• Come up with three positive and different ways to solve this problem: You and your family arguing over which show to watch on TV.

YEARS 1 AND 2: 

• Using items that are safe and stackable (e.g. paper cups, playing cards), make a tower as tall as you can. Once your tower is complete, remove one item at a time, trying not to make the tower collapse. Or, if you have Jenga, play it together!
• Talk about this scenario with your child: I had a disagreement with my best friend and felt left out. What are three positive ways one could solve this situation?

YEARS 3 AND 4

• Encourage your child to talk to a family member and ask: Tell me about a small problem you faced? How did you solve the problem? If you were faced with the problem again would you solve it differently?
• With your child decide how big the following problems are. Rank them from 1 (little problem) to 3 (big problem):

* You miss your friends at school.

* You are feeling bored being at home all the time.

YEARS 5 AND 6

• • Discuss this scenario with your child: Your very important homework task is due today but the internet is down. How would you solve this problem?
  • Discuss a repeated problem in your family and make a list of ways to deal with this problem.

MRS LILLIAN DEL GIUDICE

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL