Wellbeing activities: being kind to yourself

Explore our wellbeing activities and exercises for primary and secondary school students, children, and teenagers and help young people be kind to themselves.

Blue Monday mental health advice
Age:
7-18
Type:
Activities
Subjects:
PSHE
Topics:
Kindness, Home learning resources

Children and young people experience feelings of anxiety, stress, and loneliness. Whether it's caused by what's going on in the world like the Coronavirus pandemic or something they experience personally, it's important that they feel supported and able to manage them.

These activities are designed to teach about anxiety, mental health, happiness, and emotional wellbeing in schools. These resources will help learners to be kind to themselves and look after their wellbeing to build resilience and coping mechanisms.

 

Adult wellbeing support

These wellbeing activities are suitable for KS2 and KS3 primary and secondary school aged students, 7 to 18. If you're over the age of 19 try our wellbeing activities for adults. Here you can explore ideas and advice to help manage your own wellbeing, cope with difficulties, and build life skills.

> Wellbeing activities for adults

 

Learning objectives 

Our wellbeing ideas for teachers and activities for schools will help learners:

  • build resilience, empathy, and kindness  
  • reflect on the importance of wellbeing  
  • learn some coping techniques to support with loneliness and anxiety  
  • develop self-awareness and empower themselves to help with their own wellbeing 
  • think about other people’s needs and experiences. 

Resource overview 

There are different wellbeing activities for primary and secondary learners and two different document downloads – being kind to yourself and web of connections.  

1. Wellbeing and feelings: starter activity  

Encourage learners to think about wellbeing and what makes them happy, comfortable and healthy. They can record how they’re feeling during the day using different emojis for happy, sad, angry, tired etc. They will also learn some ways to cope through breathing techniques.  

2. Circles of control: video activity  

Use the video to help learners think about what they can and can’t control. It is important to remember that we cannot solve everything. The ‘I can’ activity helps learners think about all the things they can do.  

Don't miss out

Sign up to our mailing list and receive new teaching resources, newsworthy resource packages, and information about educational offline and online products straight to your inbox.

Sign up


3. Web of connections: video activity  

Learners think about who they have a connection with and how engaging with them can help improve their wellbeing.  

4. Extension wellbeing activities  

Reach out and think about other people by helping learners to recognise their feelings. Why is it important to understand other people?  

This resource was developed by the British Red Cross in July 2020.

Help communities cope in a crisis

In 2021, we educated over 850,000 children, young people and adults. Your donation will help us reach those who need it most through our free digital resources and workshops building lifesaving first aid and wellbeing skills.

Support Community Education

Volunteer leading workshop