The focus of '5 Ways To Wellbeing' is to encourage the children to build five easy steps into their daily lives to help them take good care of their own mental health. Research tells us that this can make a real positive difference to the mental health and wellbeing of both children and adults alike and can help build confidence and resilience.

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give:

The 5 Ways in action:

Connect with the people around you. Talk and listen to family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.

Be Active: Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Garden. Play a game.

Take Notice: Appreciate the things around you. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment.

Keep Learning: Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Take on a new responsibility at work.

Give: Do something nice for a team mate. Thank someone. Volunteer your time.

Why the 5 Ways work:

Connect: Strengthening relationships with others and feeling close to and valued by others, including at work, is critical to boosting wellbeing.

Be Active: Being physically active, including at work, improves physical health and can improve mood and wellbeing and decrease stress, depression and anxiety.

Take Notice: Paying more attention to the present moment, to thoughts and feelings and to the world around, boosts our wellbeing.

Keep Learning: Being curious and seeking out new experiences at work and in life more generally positively stimulates the brain.

Give: Carrying out acts of kindness, whether small or large, can increase happiness, life satisfaction and general sense of wellbeing.

The 5 Ways To Wellbeing information is freely available for parents on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk. There is a copy of the 5 Ways posters below with some top tips and links to helpful websites. You can also find further information about supporting your child at https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/. We hope that you find this guidance useful.