TIPS FOR FAMILIES
Talking to your child about mental health
Are you a parent or carer who wants to talk to your child about mental health?
The children’s charity Place2Be asked students in different schools what they wanted adults to understand about their wellbeing. This is what the children said they wanted:

1. We don’t need to have ‘one-off conversations about our mental health’ – sometimes a chat on a journey or at bedtime is enough.
2. I need to know it’s okay to talk to you about any and all of my feelings. Please hear what I have to say, without interrupting me.
3. Please listen to me carefully and acknowledge how I am feeling – it might seem silly to you, but what I am going through is important to me.
4. Playing with pets can make me feel better. Same with playing football, basketball or whatever type of sport I am into, can make me feel better.
5. Don’t compare my experiences to your own when you were a child.
6. Sometimes I just need you to listen and hear what I’m saying – I don’t always need answers.
7. Please don’t worry about trying to fix things for me – I often just need to know you are there for me and understand what I am going through.
8. If you are open with me about your feelings, this can help me to be more open about mine.
9. Sometimes I don’t want to talk. Please trust that I will come to you (or another grown-up or someone my own age) when I’m ready.
10. Sometimes a hug is all it takes to make me feel supported.

Here are some tips to help children to support them when they are feeling a bit down.

 

• Ask for help, from a teacher, parent, brother, sister, or other family members, keep telling them until someone listens to you.
• Remember you are not alone-everyone goes through tough times, be kind to yourself-everyone is perfect in their own way.
• Stay calm and take some breaths or find somewhere to sit quietly for 2 minutes.
• Go outside and get some exercise to make yourself feel stronger.
• Spend time with your family and friends (or pets)
• It’s okay to not always be okay.
• Think of your favourite thing and write it down.
• Stay positive and focus on things that make you happy. If you can’t think of anything, maybe a friend can help you.
• Remember you are enough, and you are the only you.
• If you are feeling worried or upset about another child in school, tell an adult. They may be able to help you.

Growth Mindset
At St John's, we are thrilled to introduce you to an invaluable resource that we believe will greatly benefit your child's educational journey: a series of five engaging videos focused on Growth Mindset. In the videos, Mojo and Katie, delve into the various aspects of Growth Mindset, aiming to empower children as they embark on a journey of learning and personal growth within their classrooms.

What is Growth Mindset, you might ask?

It is the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. By fostering a Growth Mindset in our children, we encourage them to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and see effort as a pathway to mastery.

We invite you to explore them together with your child, sparking meaningful conversations and fostering a culture of continuous learning and resilience.

We believe that by instilling a Growth Mindset in our children, we equip them with the mindset and skills necessary to navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience.
 

See links to different videos over on the side tab.