Teach Primary Issue 18.4

70 | www.teachwire.net -useful for us, too. It’s a great method for helping pupils and teachers alike deal with the stressful situations they face every day. We see many pupils suffering from problems such as social anxiety, separation anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, school-based anxiety and more. I work with children who have mental health problems like these every day, and since the lockdowns caused by COVID-19, mental health problems seem to have increased dramatically. Indeed, a survey carried out by ‘Young Minds’ (a charity that supports children with mental health issues) early in 2021, stated that 67 per cent of respondents aged between 13 and 25 believed that the pandemic will have a long-term negative effect on their mental health. So, what can we do as educators to help children with their mental health? It is my belief that we urgently need more emphasis put onto mental health in primary education in order to give children the tools they need to battle anxiety in later life. This is why practising daily reflections is an important W e are fortunate enough to work in an amazing profession. Yes, we all are all overworked, underpaid, under-resourced and underappreciated, but it is still an incredible job full of tremendous highs and frequent hilarity. In my experience, teachers are overflowing with enthusiasm, but constrained by time. With endless planning, marking, emails, meetings, training and more, there is always just so much to do - all of this while being under the constant shadow of an inspection or new and increasingly bizarre government demands. We might have no glue sticks or whiteboard pens that work, yet still we continue, with smiles on our faces and stress in our veins. So, when somebody suggests that we should take time to introduce daily reflections into our classroom, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask, “When?” A better question, though, might perhaps be, “What are the benefits?” By taking the time to pause and reflect upon topics such as gratitude, forgiveness of self and of others, anger, perseverance, self-awareness and more, we can encourage children to look at life more positively and to live in the here and now. This helps children to examine their own feelings and gives them the tools to know how to respond to each of these emotions, which can be oh-so first step, or at least a step further forward with what you are already doing. Many primary schools do already offer fantastic support to all children to promote positive mental health, but taking time to reflect daily on important messages could be an important addition. But what are daily reflections? Well, you might begin with asking a question such as: • What does kindness look like? • Why are people kind to each other? • What do you do that is kind to others? • How can we be kind to ourselves? • When can we be kind to others? This might then prompt a discussion, led by you but also directed by the responses of the children. You could guide pupils by explaining that kindness can be lots of different things. For example, pupils can be kind in school by giving someone a compliment, using good manners or letting someone go in front of them in the line. You can also mention doing things at home, such as making someone else’s bed or making a gift for someone, and doing good things outside, such as playing with someone THOUGHT Pause for Daily reflections can have a transformative effect on children’s mental health, says Adam Bushnell “We can encourage children to look at life more positively and to live in the here and now”