Time per task: 10-20 minutes
The second of the five ways to wellbeing is ‘Be active’. What does this mean?
The New Economics Foundation says:
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Setting the scene
These games that can be done as a group, or individually, in the playground or at home. The games can be standalone reflective exercises or short bursts of activity as energisers, session breaks, or rewards.
To begin, invite the children to sit quietly with their eyes closed; still and talk. Encourage them to think carefully about how each part of their body feels: start with physical sensations in the head and face and slowly move through the body. Then think carefully about the emotions they can feel. This does not require a discussion.
When you spend time playing the games below, help refocus the children on the physical sensations in their bodies and then how they feel emotionally. What has changed?
- How did they feel during the activity?
- If they felt nervous, what helped them overcome that?
- Why were they excited or happy etc?
- How do they feel now?