Social Distancing Heroes

 What do you do to social distance and keep others safe?

Listen to this song. Do you do anything similar to them? Do you do something different?

Maybe you could create your own actions to go with the song!

When You Can't Do What You Do, You Do What You Can

 Sometimes we can not do what we want because things are happening, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Bon Jovi, a classic rock singer, have composed a song about that and about the strength we need to adapt to new situations. 

Is there anything you would like to do but you can't? What can you do instead?

"Lenny and Lily Return to School": What would you say to them?

 This is a story about Lily and Lenny, two friends that are going back to school.

The story has no words, for you to create your own based on the pictures.

Why don’t you explore the story with the help of a trusted adult looking at the questions below the story?

DISCUSSION

·        Identify some of the feelings you think Lenny, Lily and the other children in the story may have.

·        Do you also have any of them ? Why?

·        What are the feelings Lily has? Why do you think she has them?

·        What are the feelings Lenny has? Why do you think he has them?

·        How does Lily act with other children? How does Lenny act? Why do you think there is a difference?

ROLE PLAY

Choose one page. Pick a character and ask somebody else to be the other character. Have a conversation pretending you are that character.

You can also use  toys, each one representing a character in the picture,  and make up a conversation.

WRITING

Write an email to Lenny and Lily telling them how school is going for you. Give ideas about what they could do to feel better about their problems.

Story Time about the Current Restrictions - Things are Changing on the Savanna

This story was written for you about the changes that are happening because of the health crisis. It explores the following objectives. 

·      Meeting friends again.

·      Difficulties going back to being with others.

·      “The Protection Phase” restrictions, like social distancing.

·      Feelings of isolation and connection.

·      Difficult feeling during the lockdown. 

·      Sharing feelings with a trusted adult

·      Keeping in contact

After reading the story here are some question's that you can discuss with a friend or someone in you family. 

o How do you feel when you meet your friends after a long time? Maybe both of you have changed a bit and have started liking different things. How does that feel?

o Because of social distancing, we cannot hug or high-five anymore however, there are other forms to show love and friendship without touching. How do you do it

o Did you have any difficult feelings during the lockdown?

o What things do you like doing that you cannot do when you have to come to school?

RAINBOW BREATHING

Try practising rainbow breathing 

Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Breath in the colour you like. The colour fills you up when you breath in. Then hold it while the colour wraps difficult feelings and turns a colour you do not like. Then breath out that other colour.

Malachi's Mindfulness, Waking Up My Sense's

Hello everyone, my name is Malachi I am nine years old. I live in Lambeth and I decided to do some of the five senses activities when I went out for my daily exercise today. I used my mums’ phone to capture things that brought my senses to life. I noticed so many different things that I had not seen or noticed before. I saw a lot of signs around about the virus and how to keep safe. 

I enjoyed looking at the tall green clock and tried hard to listen  if I could hear the hands ticking. I also noticed the beautiful colourful flowers which smelt so lovely. I saw children’s drawings on the pavement and wanted to add my own drawing to the art work. 

As I rode my bike I heard dogs barking birds singing and the sound of cars as I zoomed down the hill feeling the wind on my face as I looked at all the different shades of green on the  tress on either side of me. I enjoyed waking up my senses it made me feel alert and full of energy. Why don't you give it a go. 

Challenge: Can you count all the sense I used? 

Mindfulness Five Senses Check In

Right now, we might all have moments of feeling confused and worried about the future. How about trying a few activities to help you to stay present and connected to yourself and the environment? 

These five games and activities can be done at home or when you go out for a daily walk. You can do it alone, but during this time of being separate from others, maybe find someone else to share them with. 

Name five things that you can see

Name four things you can hear 

Name three things that you can feel

Name two things that you can smell 

Name one thing that you can taste

Play a game of 'I spy' to wake up your senses and help you notice what is around you. Try using you other senses to play ‘I hear’ and ‘I smell’. 

Find five different objects, they could be from inside your house or perhaps you can find them during a walk. Really take time to look and feel them. Describe the texture and what you notice about the object. 

Play a game of 'I see. I know. I wonder...' take it in turns, to say one thing you see right there and then, one thing you know and then share one thing you wonder. Example, 'I see my hand typing. I know it is nearly bath time. I wonder how many people in the world might eat pasta today?

See if you can observe something new about something you might see or eat every day like an apple. 

Mental Health Awareness Week

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week from 18-24 May 2020. The theme is 'Kindness Matters'. Do you know that being kind to others can be beneficial to your own mental health? Watch the video below to find out how. 

One thing that we have seen all over the world since the Corona Virus outbreak is that Kindness is winning in uncertain times. People are coming together to sing on balconies in Italy, others are setting up groups to offer support to the elderly or vulnerable -like collecting shopping or calling them for a chat. 

Acts of kindness are gifts that we can give to ourselves and to friends, family and our community. 

Think of things that you like doing that spark joy in you. It might be riding your bike, drawing or eating dinner with your family. Try and do at least one act of kindness for yourself today and think about someone that you would like to give a gift of kindness too.  

Here are some ideas 

Call a friend who you haven’t spoken to for a while 

Post a card or letter to someone you are out of touch with 

Make a drink for someone you live with 

Video call someone to say hello 

Send someone a handwritten thank you note

Tell your family how much you love and appreciate them 

Help with household chores 

Smile at someone  

Arrange a time for a virtual movie night with family or friends 

Create a new dance with a friend on video chat 

Save your pocket money and donate it to charity 

Maybe you can think of your own acts of kindness. Tell us what you did and we will share it on the blog.