In celebration of Children’s Mental Health Week (3rd-9th February), pupils at a Tameside primary school were buzzing with mindful activities, self-exploration and creativity.
Thanks to a special collaboration between Jigsaw’s Neighbourhood Engagement Officer Gemma Batchelor and Mindfulness Practitioner Jessica Wilkinson from ‘The Sea Within’, children at Fairfield Road in Droylsden took part in a series of sessions focussed on mindfulness, yoga and meditative art.
This year’s theme, “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself” encourages young people to embrace self-awareness and develop resilience through personal growth – and Jess brought her expertise to the classroom for pupils and teachers alike, with grounding mindfulness exercises.
The sessions explored a variety of techniques from calming breathing exercises and meditation, through to expressive dance, and mindful art, all aimed at helping the children understand their emotions and connect with nature, themselves, and each other.
Each session took inspiration from nature, allowing the pupils to use natural objects and their imagination to discover their own ‘place of peace’—a perfect fit for our ongoing commitment to promoting mental health and well-being.
Stephanie Burns, Mental Health Lead at the school said: “Jess’ sessions have been absolutely wonderful—the children have got so much out of them. It was such a joy to see them completely immersed, relaxing, wriggling their bodies in time to the music, lying on their bellies, tapping their feet, and truly engaging with the experience.”
She thanked Gemma for organising the sessions saying: “This amazing opportunity has had such a positive impact. Not only has it helped the children to express themselves through music, but it has also allowed us to recognise their anxieties. Some children have even opened up to their teachers about their feelings—something that may never have happened without this intervention.”
