I need your wellbeing ideas

[Bobbiepin]

I'm not being unreasonable but I do need your help.

I'm a teacher with a year 10 tutor group. We have a virtual wellbeing session planned into our timetable now but the "work" that is provided isn't helpful. I'm running an extra teams meeting just for my tutor group as they are struggling with their mental wellbeing.

They've asked for some suggestions of what they can do, within lockdown limits away from any sort of screen to help boost their mental health. The school is in a high area of unemployment and high free school meals, pupil premium so nothing that requires much expense.

Please suggest some ideas. Last week I shared a tried and tested cookie recipe but can't be buying ingredients every week!

@mekitgubakuds

YABU for posting this in the AIBU section. There is a chat section, education, coronavirus, mental health... lots of topic areas that it could be legitimately put into, why have you posted in AIBU?

Oh find a new hobby.

Have a look at the Anna Freud site. Lots of really good ideas and the science behind them too.

Getting outdoors! Last night's episode of Winterwatch was all about nature for wellbeing. It'll be on iplayer, have a look.

The childline website has a lot of ideas in their ‘calm zone’

Mindfulness and meditation

@mekitgubakuds

YABU for posting this in the AIBU section. There is a chat section, education, coronavirus, mental health... lots of topic areas that it could be legitimately put into, why have you posted in AIBU?

To piss you off.

Thank you for the suggestions, I will speak to them in a minute and see what's gonna engage and benefit them the most. I have some more reading to do too.

I'm sure you'd be happy for your pupils to write their English work in their maths book just because they couldn't be arsed to find their English book too. My answer to your AIBU post is, YABU.

YABU for posting this in the AIBU section. There is a chat section, education, coronavirus, mental health... lots of topic areas that it could be legitimately put into, why have you posted in AIBU?

Just why? This is a lovely thread with ideas that might help people. Why do you need to be an online bitch. Perhaps try some of the ideas..

The reason why is because I come on to the AIBU topic because I enjoy the discussions, and recently it's full of people posting things that are not AIBU relevant. Why post in AIBU?? The irony being that when I reply with an answer stating YABU (being that's the question in AIBU right?) I'm told to fuck off an called a bitch

Just post in the right topic area, it's not hard. It's not just me, there have been several threads on this recently.. people expressing how annoying it is that the AIBU section is being used by lazy people who can't be arsed to put their questions in the correct topic.

There's an active thread on the subject right now... correctly happening in the Chat section!!!

Loads of great ideas on here, i fibd yoga, journalling & gratitude really helpful. I didn't see it suggested how about audible stories stories.audible.com/discovery they all free of charge through lockdown.

You are doing a great job, I hope in future my ds has such a caring teacher.

See my job as a tutor is to successfully challenge my students' preconceived ideas about what is "right". Sometimes that's debating whether Donald Trump deserves the Nobel peace prize, sometimes that's debating the impact of puberty blockers for trans kids, and sometimes it's about choosing when to respond to something you don't like on the internet. I'm proud that my 14 year olds are mastering this better than you. That's the last I'll say on the matter, you knock yourself out if you're not finished though.

YABU

Scavenger hunt is a good idea, we've been doing them with running club. It sounds a bit childish but actually makes you think about where you're going to run or walk and makes you more aware of what's around you, I've noticed things on my doorstep that I would normally have gone right past. You can do colours, things beginning with letters of the alphabet, initial letters to spell a word or just random items they're likely to find in their environment e.g. a church, school, double yellow lines, a social distancing sign etc.

You sound like a lovely form tutor.

My dd is in year 11, and she is quite proactive about managing her wellbeing. The things she finds most helpful are:

Talking to friends (actually talking as opposed to texting)
Exercise - not sporty but regularly running 5ks through lockdown
Meditation - we have a headspace subscription but some of it is free
Gratitude journal - she writes in it twice a day
Baking - finding new recipes on the internet and trying them out
Reading or listening to audio books
Getting outside into the fresh air, especially our local woods
Listening to upbeat music

Oh, and getting plenty of sleep

Positive affirmations for self esteem. Write 5 things you like about yourself or your 5 good points. Put somewhere you see it every day because writing it down gives it more weight & seeing & reading it helps rewire your brain not to go to the negative all the time. People with good mental health have high self esteem.

Oh I am on at them daily about sleep. I love the affirmations idea, might try that myself too. I think I'll give that to them on Monday morning and ask to see them Friday afternoon.

Yesterday they asked to just talk. We did some buzzfeed quizzes together and some online games. It was a lovely distraction and genuinely the best part of my day.

Yoga
Adult colouring books
Teach yourself to draw website
Cleaning/organising their bedrooms (sounds strange but I've just had a big clean up and sort out. Very therapeutic).
Start a virtual book club.
They could all become penpals. You can buy lovely paper and envelope sets online.
Learn calligraphy
Learn to sew
Make a family tree
Paint
Start a positivity journal (write in it everything you want to do/wish for, write inspiring quotes in it/everything you're thankful for
Read a book in a genre you've never read before. Seriously, Google 'genres.' You won't have heard of half of them
Create their own wordsearch or crossword and email them to friends