TEACHERS at a prep-school prescribed yoga and “the science of relaxation” for pupils, to aid with pupils’ mental health.
Deepdene school also ran lessons teaching pupils of mindfulness, the importance of kindness, and how bodies react to feelings of anxiety.
The day of alternative learning came as part of the school’s Inside Out Day, for National Children’s Mental Health week.
Mrs King, who ran sessions on the science of relaxation, said: “I think it's really important for children to understand why their body reacts in certain ways when they're worried.
“They can then equip themselves with an internal 'keep calm toolbox' for when things get on top of them.”
Each class had a yoga session in the school’s main hall, followed by a mindfulness session in the classrooms, while year 5 and year 6 had further sessions with anti-bullying charity, Bullies Out.
READ MORE: ‘Long way to go on children’s mental health’ – Children’s Commissioner
The sessions aimed to “increase confidence and self-esteem” and “promote positive, respectful relationships.”
It comes as one in five children, aged 10 to 15, in England and Wales experienced some kind of bullying between March 2019 and March 2020.
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