Children’s Mental Health Week

Every year, for the past 11 years, the week is organised and run by the children's mental health charity Place2Be.

This year, Children's Mental Health Week running 3 to 9 February 2025 is focussing on Know Yourself, Grow Yourself. 

We want to encourage children, young people and adults to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means to them. This will help them grow and develop resilience to cope with what life throws at them. Click on the themes for a range of fun activities and resources for families and professionals.

Knowing My Feelings! 

Help children to visualise that every feeling is normal and every feeling is welcome. We can acknowledge and articulate our feelings whether it be joy, sadness, anger or whatever we may be feeling. Why not try this activity to help your child understand their feelings. Write down three emotions you are feeling right now, or that you’ve felt this past week. These could be positive or negative - sad, happy, surprise, disgust, fear, anger or joy. Draw a picture to show these emotions, what does this look like and feel like for you.  emotion-wheels-downloadable-resource-2022-pdf.pdf 

Knowing My Connections!

Connection with other people is really integral to good mental health so it’s important that children know that they can share their feelings with family, friends or other trusted adults rather than keeping them bottled up inside.  Why not play a game or cook a meal with a family member or a friend. Or pair up and sketch a friend, then write three positive adjective to describe that person.

Learn more about trusted adults Talk to Us! (Trusted Adults) | Humber Violence Prevention Partnership 

Knowing My Body

Physical activity releases hormones that can reduce stress and anger. Being outdoors in nature also helps to increase those feel good endorphins so this activity combines both. Take a walk in nature. Mindful walking – pay attention to each step you make. Talk about what you’ve seen and heard.  
 

Knowing My Mind

Being able to calm our minds is a powerful strategy to teach. Strong emotions can sometimes feel overwhelming so breathing exercises and ways to slow our minds down can be really helpful. Practicing yoga can help to strengthen your body and help to connect with how you are feeling.  Click on the links below for free yoga sessions for you and your child.  Cosmic Kids Yoga - YouTube  Livestream – Yoga Bugs 

Knowing my Wishes 

Finally ask your children to think about their hopes, dreams and wishes for the future and write it down. Emotional journalling Set a goal or small challenge to achieve over the next few weeks. Try something new or go somewhere you’ve never been to. 

Find out more at How Are You Feeling?