Many of these activities will have an accompanying demonstration video which you will be able to find on the Unlocking Potential Youtube Channel and on the site below. We hope you enjoy receiving our Weekly Well-being activities and find them useful!
Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to create your very own fortune teller. Once you know how to make them, you can fill them with anything you like. Ours is thinking about the feelings and experiences you had during lockdown. We know that both your BIG and small feelings matter.
This week we thought we would set you a real challenge. This Wordsearch is tricky and if you need some help then make sure to ask. All the words are things that might remind you of life in Lockdown.
Download our June COVID timeline below!
The last instalment of our special memories book is here! It has spaces for your child to draw and write about their special memories from Primary school. Head back to Week 8, 9 and 10 to download the first four pages of the book if you missed them.
** Click the Memories Book button below for the next page **
Click on the transitions button below for the final instalment of our 6-week transitions programme. Your child can do this on their own or with your help.
Acknowledge the ending of their primary school journey
The last few months have been something that none of us have ever experienced before. The coming months and what lies ahead is still uncertain, but we do have time to focus on the new experiences that will be emerging for our children, particularly leaving primary school and starting secondary school. There may be a sense of loss, sadness, and frustration as the last few months have resulted in SATS being cancelled, missing friends, and no end of year 6 celebrations. Here are a few things that you can do to try and mark the occasion: Organise a mini online meet up with a few of your child’s friends, help them create a primary school memory/scrapbook, have a mini graduation celebration with your friends and family.
Be ready to listen & practice routines
Some children take secondary school in their stride, but it is natural to experience some difficulty, and some will initially have a few more struggles as they learn to adapt. If this is your first child leaving primary, then secondary school will be a relatively new experience for you too. They may have worries such as making friends, getting lost, being late, and homework demands. Help your child to manage these in bite sized chunks, giving them practical solutions to help reduce any anxiety that they may have. Help them practice their routine and become more organised. Encourage them to practice putting their clothes out the night before, this will be a good rehearsal for when they need to get their school uniform ready. Consider practicing the run to school, if your child is going by bus, go with them during the holiday break to do a test run of the route. Maybe they can try the route with a couple of friends that they may be travelling with in September.
Take some time to familiarise yourself with the secondary schools’ expectations
It will take some time for you to adjust to new school culture and expectations and to support your son or daughter in these changes too. Talk to your child about change and reassure them that it is normal to feel unsure or nervous in new circumstances. Let them know that many difficulties they face will be temporary and as the term progresses, they will gradually adapt and feel more comfortable with the differences in school routines and expectations. The teachers will be there to support them and ultimately make their transition smooth. There are some practical things that you can do, such as encouraging them to look at the school website with you and help fill out some of the paperwork that got sent to you (some of the paperwork may actually be for them to read and sign, such as a behavioural contract).
Promote friendships
Forming new friendships is one of the key worries for children and parents alike. Some children may be going to secondary school with a lot of friends or only a few friends. However, as secondary schools tend to be so much bigger, there is no guarantee that they will be in classes with their friends. Having support from friends or fellow classmates can help your child feel more secure in their secondary school surroundings. Encourage your young person to be open to forming friendships with all sorts of kids; to be accepting of others who may be different to them; to take social risks by joining in activities even though they may feel uncomfortable; and to be friendly, approachable and positive.
Remember to look after yourself and have some downtime
No one knows for sure how exactly classrooms will look in September. Try not to worry about all of the tiny details for your children. Although you can prepare for a lot in life, there will be somethings that you cannot control or influence. It is important to schedule in some relaxation time to help take any pressure off.
