Outline of what well-being means, the implications for poor or good wellbeing, how well-being in young people can be created and developed and how Relax Kids can support this.

What is wellbeing?

When we talk about young people’s “well-being”, we are looking at the quality of a young person’s life, in terms of how they feel and function in a number of areas. This includes their cognitive, emotional, social, physical and spiritual health. It is about their sense of happiness, comfort, security and welfare, and their resilience: their ability to adapt and cope in the face of adversity.

By encouraging young people to think about and develop their sense of well-being, we are empowering them to grow, flourish and thrive. It is not enough to think about well-being as the absence of illness or to focus on positive coping strategies when things aren’t going so well; we also need to look at how we enable young people to succeed: to value and respect themselves, as well as to be valued and respected by others.

The Foresight Report (2008) defines well-being as ‘a dynamic state, in which the individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others, and contribute to their community. It is enhanced when an individual is able to fulfil their personal and social goals and achieve a sense of purpose in society’.

It is a positive step that the new OFSTED framework (2019) now includes personal development, behaviour, welfare and mental health. More specifically, the framework references the essential components of emotional well-being, such as relationships, self-discipline, self-confidence, communication skills, positive mindset and attitudes. The framework makes mention of pupils’ being able to develop their resilience, confidence and independence, helping them know how to keep physically and mentally healthy.

How is well-being created and developed?

There are a number of ways in which we, as well-being practitioners, can help to create and develop a sense of well-being in young people. Whilst it is important to remember that a child’s well-being largely depends on their relationship with their parents/carers, and their home environment, many other factors can contribute, and supporting strategies can be put in place by schools, extra-curricular clubs, and other places where young people may spend time.

• Building relationships

Developing positive relationships with others is very important for children’s well-being. Making friends and getting on with others helps young people to feel positive about themselves and others. The benefits from time spent with friends and family is that they learn to share, compromise and listen, as well as develop conflict resolution skills.

Fostering these relationships as a child will also help them maintain positive  and healthy relationships in their adolescent and adult life.

• Play

It is important to develop opportunities for children to explore and play in a safe and secure environment. Giving children opportunities to be in small or large groups helps to promote their confidence. Affirming them as individuals, acknowledging them and giving them opportunity to enjoy sharing, communicating and having a shared sense of fun all help to develop their well-being.

• Mobility

Allowing young people to explore movement and increase their mobility supports their physical development as well as their overall well-being. Linking the language of movement to young people alongside their actions helps them to develop it and to become more aware of their bodies and feelings.

• Learning

Young people learn most effectively through first-hand experience and health and well-being is no exception to this. It is important to offer young people the opportunity to extend their knowledge and understanding of the world, stimulating their curiosity. This can be done through games, discussion, stories and other activities. Providing time to support explicit understanding of how physical activities, food and drink, sleep, hygiene, safety etc are vital to life, helps young people appreciate the roles these play in their lives, rather than simply doing them mindlessly.

• Creativity

With the opportunity to express themselves creatively, through dance, movement, music, puppets, paintings and stories, children can expand their experiences and knowledge of well-being and health. The use of storytelling and imaginative play, using a variety of senses, can have a significant impact on their learning.

• Sleep

Encouraging good sleep hygiene is an important element in maintaining good mental health and overall well-being. It benefits children enormously to learn how to “switch off” their brains, using relaxation, quiet music, reading and visualisations.

• Developing resilience

The ability to let go, to learn from mistakes, accept feedback, be persistent and determined, all help to maintain a sense of positive well-being. Allowing young people the opportunities to make mistakes in a nurturing, supportive environment, and teaching them about positive mindset can significantly improve their well-being.

How does Relax Kids help young people become Well-Being Warriors?

We help young people become more resilient and develop their emotional intelligence, thus improve their emotions. By giving children a toolbox of relaxation and mindful exercises from a young age, they will grow up to be Well-being Warriors with good mental health.

Looking at the areas outlined, we hope you can see how the 7 steps of our Relax kids programme all work together to support young people’s wellbeing. The sessions have been designed to address several of the areas that contribute to young people’s overall well-being.

Areas focusing on topics such as:

• Self-esteem
• Growth Mindset
• Resilience
• Gratitude
• Physical Health
• Emotional Regulation
• Positive Thinking
• Stress Management
• Anger Management
• Healthy Living 
• Self-Care 
• Happiness

Sessions can be delivered in communities, nurseries, schools and organisations that work with young people, either as a block or one-off, 1:1 or small groups, or as workshop: e.g. Self-Esteem workshop with a creative twist. 

At the end of each session, each child is sent home with a handout of activities tips and exercises, allowing them the opportunity to talk with their parents/carers about what they have done in their Relax Kids class, and spark further discussion as a family, helping them (re)connect.