Course Aims
- To identify ways of managing stress as well as recognising and implementing coping skills to alleviate stress
- To empower children to take responsibility for their mental and emotional well-being; to increase awareness of their internal states, to regulate their own emotions and to use appropriate coping tools to reduce anxiety and stress
- To equip children with proprioceptive activities, mindful movement and breathing exercises to build up their ‘Well-Being Well’
- To promote Mindfulness, Kindfulness and practice self-compassion with a view to improving well-being.
- To learn how to reframe negative thoughts and to implement Cognitive Behaviour Techniques in everyday life
- To recognise and foster the importance of a calm, positive and relaxed environment & learning environment
- To learn how to integrate drama, literacy, PE, Circle Time and ICT to reduce anxiety and promote calming tools
- To introduce Goal Setting and Time Management techniques to children and improve on personal practice.
- To create an awareness of the importance of nutrition and physical exercise for well-being, stress and anxiety management.
Who is it for?
This course was designed for Primary School Teachers. It would also be helpful for Special Needs Assistants, Childcare Practitioners and Parents.
Certification
This course is a Professionally Certified Course as part of our CPD Village. This course has been adapted from the EPV Summer Course for Teachers approved by the Department of Education and Skills. For EPV Certificate Summer Course for Teachers >
Duration
2 Month anytime access.
Course Modules
What is stress? What is anxiety? Exploration of emotions. Neuroscience of stress on the brain and nervous system. Importance and relevance of relaxation & calming strategies – teacher & child. Practical application in the classroom, CBT work & reframing.
Practicing Kindfulness towards self and others. Self-compassion tools for stress, inner critic, negative thoughts. Coping Skills – CBT. Practical strategies to cope with anxiety. Kindfulness in the Classroom. Empathy. Fostering a calm positive climate for success. Guided meditations & visualisations.
Mindfulness practices: Come to Your Senses. Relaxation strategies: Body Scan, PMR, Mindful Movement. Connecting to breath. Different kinds of breath-work, Developing attitude of gratitude, using affirmations.
Wellbeing Well & how to fill well. Revise practical strategies & coping skills. Goal setting. Role models. Support systems. Elements for good ‘wellbeing; nutrition, exercise, adequate sleep, outdoors etc. Resilience, positive thinking, affirmations.
More mindful movement. Connecting more into the body: exercises, stretches, activities to help focus etc. Awareness of surroundings. Respecting other people’s personal space etc. Assertiveness skills. Reframe inner critic. Kindfulness & Self Compassion. Deepening breath work. Calming strategies.
About Ciara Lynch
Ciara has worked as a Primary School Teacher for over 12 years and has experience of teaching a variety of classes. In recent years Ciara has worked primarily in a Learning Support/Resource capacity. Her qualifications in Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, as well as Play Therapy have made her better equipped to work with children experiencing a variety of emotional, mental and behavioural difficulties.
Ciara is also trained as a Sensory and Proprioceptive activities facilitator and a Mindfulness Practitioner. She has an avid interest in yoga and mindful movement as a means of reducing anxiety and stress and increasing self-care and cultivating positive self-image.
