Younger children preparing for an entrance exam, their 11+ or any other test or assessment may feel worried about preparing for the day. It might help to print out this simple activity, which reminds them of the things they need to consider and nudges them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast, and remember some strategies to help them feel calm on the day itself.
Tests and exams are a fact of life for all children. As parents, our goal should be to teach them that exams are not to be feared or perceived as stressful or traumatic. We should encourage them to view tests as a normal part of school life, which they should approach as proactively and positively as possible. This short video can be shared with your child to help them understand more about effective revision strategies.
Dr Weston shares four simple tips for primary-aged children which will boost their body and brain, helping them to feel more motivated and alert each day. She explains, in simple terms, why getting a good night’s sleep, exercising, eating a great breakfast and trying new experiences are all things which help us to function well and feel good. One to share with your children!
This game for children up to the age of 12 focuses on ‘relational bullying’, where young people are unkind to each other in various insidious ways, such as spreading rumours, eye rolling or exclusion. It nudges children to identify these unkind behaviours and then consider how they might make others feel. It also prompts them to think about their values around being kind to others and identify how friends should treat one another.
This activity is aimed at children at the lower end of primary school who will soon be moving to a new year group. It gently nudges them to consider how this change makes them feel and to think of all the things that they are excited about, as well as anything that might make them feel a bit wobbly. It features places for them to draw their new teacher and friends and spaces for them to list out the things they love about their current class, the things they are looking forward to and any worries they have. It is a great starting place for ongoing conversations about this transition.
This activity is aimed at young people who will soon be moving up to Year 7. It nudges them to consider how change makes them feel and think of all the things that they are excited about as well as anything that might make them feel a bit wobbly. It is similar to our activity called ‘How Do I feel About Change’ but has additional sections on seeking further information and making new friends.
If your child is in the older years of primary/prep school and is embarking on a transition – perhaps to a new setting, or maybe just a new year group, it’s a good idea to nudge them to consider upcoming changes, focusing on all the exciting things about them but also noticing anything that makes them feel a bit wobbly. That way they can work out how to make themselves feel better!
For many children, going away on a school trip is a really exciting experience. For others, it can be a big source of anxiety. This activity encourages children to consider what they are looking forward to and also anything that’s making them feel a bit wobbly, and provides an opportunity for parents and school staff to work with them and come up with a plan of what might make them feel better about it.
There are important distinctions between the concepts of secrets and surprises which it’s crucial for children to understand to stay safe. This simple activity can help them to distinguish between the two.
Inspired by the work of Professor Marc Brackett, author of “Permission to Feel” and Professor at Yale University, we have created this visual resource to support young children in developing emotional literacy. It explains, in simple language, what it means to be an ’emotion scientist’, nudges young children to think about different words to describe their emotions and helps about things that bring them joy. Great for use either in the classroom or at home.
