Doncaster children get to dance like no-one is watching to improve mental health

Pupils in the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage were invited to go outside during last week’s ‘snow day’ and tell their teacher and parents what they could see, smell, hear, touch and taste.

This bespoke senses activity was carefully designed to help even the youngest pupils notice their surroundings and connect with the natural environment – known to have a positive effect on mood and wellbeing.

And following this year’s theme – to express yourself - they were encouraged to draw something that made them feel really happy and excited - and to have positive conversations about their picture with the adults at home.

The youngest members of the school didn’t stop there, taking part in a Walk and Talk activity each morning to promote physical exercise and speech and language development.

Staff and pupils – aged just three to five-years-old - have clocked up an impressive 3.1 miles, while learning the skills of talking positively about themselves.

To end the week, the children have been set the challenge of dancing like nobody is watching - with photos or videos of their active, happy faces to be sent into school.

Headteacher Lindsay Dickinson said: “Here at Denaby Main we truly believe we are never too young to learn about our mental health.

"Our incredible EYFS team - Miss Beeley, Mrs Woodward and Miss Finney - is committed to finding fun and accessible ways to teach even our youngest pupils skills to notice and address their feelings.

"Not only will that help them cope during the pandemic, they are also developing the essential tools they will need for a healthy life.”

Place2Be launched the first ever Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.

This year’s theme of Express Yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity.

This could be through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.