Mental Health and Wellbeing News

Dear Parents/Carers,

Following on from our last newsletter and the Social and Emotional Learning Competencies the next area to look at is Social Awareness.

Social awareness refers to the ability to understand the perspective of others and empathise. In the early years of life, students are naturally more egocentric and more inclined to think about themselves and their own needs. Understanding the perspectives of others and developing a sense of empathy are considered fundamental building blocks for the positive development and mental health of students.

Below are some of the strategies that will be incorporated within the classrooms and they can be used at home.

• Use literature, poetry, film and real‑life accounts to help your children understand the feelings of those who feel different, or lonely, or what it feels like to experience difficult events. Ask if they have ever felt the same way.
• Encourage self‑reflective questioning—such as, ‘What would I have done in that situation?’ This is a metacognitive technique that allows children to evaluate actions, promotes self‑reflection, and develops their use of self‑talk.

In the next newsletter we will look at the benefits and impacts of self-talk. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Deb Owens

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader