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Do any primary schools use any relaxation programmes?

15 replies

fourAMwakeup · 13/09/2014 08:49

My 10yo DS is a busy boy. Outside of school he does lots of activities, mostly sport. He also loves computer games. And of course he gets lots of homework. So there isn't much time to relax and wind down. But in any case, he's not the winding down type. I limit the electronic time, in the hope that he'll sit down and just chill with a book, or a drawing, but that's pretty rare - mostly he will go and bounce on the trampoline, shoot some baskets in the garden, or often just pace around the room "thinking". He's a happy boy, but always on the go. He does read a lot at bedtime, which helps him to wind down at night, but during the day he's usually firing on all pistons.

Sometimes he does have problems sleeping, and sometimes he gets a bit stressed over his homework, so I have been trying to teach him to close his eyes and breath deeply to relax - not very successfully though.

I was thinking of talking to his teacher about this to see if she could help, as I'm sure he's not the only one in his year group who could benefit from a bit of relaxation training. They do brain-gym style activities before lessons, but as far as I know they don't do anything particularly meditative.

I was reading an article about a top independent school that is pioneering a mindfulness programme, and it set me thinking. I wonder if any primary schools do anything similar (and I mean mainstream primaries, not Maharishi schools or other non-mainstream academies, or private schools). Does anyone have any experience they can share?

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/09/2014 16:53

No sorry, but will watch with interest as my DS sounds just like yours Smile

ArabellaRockerfella · 14/09/2014 11:35

We have some Relax Kids CDs at home which my children have loved falling to sleep listening too (we call it the sweet dreams cd), I also bought my teenage daughter one to help her with exam stress and anxiety. As a school teacher I have also used them on the odd occasion with a class.
Maybe se if these might help your son.

fourAMwakeup · 14/09/2014 12:04

Thanks Arabella, I'll give those a try.

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ExcuseMeButtingIn · 14/09/2014 12:07

My dds school run a movement group before school for the more boisterous children. It seems to work well. It's very quiet and gentle and my dd really benefitted from it

noblegiraffe · 14/09/2014 12:21

brain-gym style activities before lessons

I hope just some sort of settling activity as brain gym itself is pseudoscientific bollocks and shouldn't be used or promoted in schools at all, ever.

There are concerns about mindfulness being the latest fad to be shoe-horned into the school curriculum without any evidence as to its effectiveness or potential harm. donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/mindfulness-yet-another-mindless-fad-in.html

fourAMwakeup · 14/09/2014 12:46

Hi noble - yes, they don't use brain gym itself - I've read Ben Goldacre's take on that so I know what you mean. They use Five-a-day and also play traditional concentration games such as fizz-buzz.

I'm very wary of anything pseudo-scientific, but I think the benefits of relaxation are well understood - it the 'mystique' some movements build around the various methods that create the issues. For instance, I quite like doing yoga, but if the teacher starts waffling on about "energy centres" I start to feel cross - which certainly doesn't help me relax Grin.

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TalkinPeace · 14/09/2014 21:29

kids are in school for 1/6 of their time
you are in charge of the othet 5/6 of their time

if you want them to learn to relax, make it so
it is your responsibility, not that of the school

and yes, "brain-gym" is nearly as much bollocks as the "kinaesthitic learner" stuff

teach your kids to be bored
train yourself to realise that true boredom is truly creative

fourAMwakeup · 14/09/2014 21:45

Pleasant as ever TalkinPeace.

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TalkinPeace · 14/09/2014 21:52

four
pleasant and honest : your child's mental state has far more to do with what you do in evenings, weekends and holidays that with any wishy washy stuff the school charge you a fortune for

be strong in yourself, take control, you can have a masive positive influence on your kids by using the understanding you have of their needs

why pay for what you can provide with maternal love?

insanityscratching · 14/09/2014 21:57

Dd's primary practise Tai Chi which helps with focus ,control and mindfulness. They buy in the service for a full day each week and each class has a session during that day.

fourAMwakeup · 14/09/2014 21:59

Talkin - our school has a strong SEAL curriculum, a lot of which might well fall into the category of stuff parents "should" teach at home. Unfortunately, not everyone is fortunate enough to come from the perfect home ... but I expect you know that.

If school doesn't take an interest, we'll work things out for ourselves - but if they do then there will be others who might benefit.

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Rivercam · 14/09/2014 22:02

My first thought was that it's not really up to his teacher to arrange relaxation sessions. Some people relax by being busy. He just may not be the sit-down-and-read type of boy. If he's generally happy, I should't worry.

If get has problems sleeping, perhaps play some gentle music. In his bedtime, make sure he is away from s teens for 30 minutes before bedtime etc.

I kinda agree with Taklkingpeace.

Rivercam · 14/09/2014 22:03

Screens,

fourAMwakeup · 14/09/2014 22:05

I'm not asking the teacher to solve the problem. And I'm not asking Mumsnetters to solve the problem. I'm asking what's "out there" in terms of school relaxation programmes.

So there's no need for anyone's knickers to get into a twist over it Smile.

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Cataline · 14/09/2014 22:08

I use 'YogaPretzels' with my class and they LOVE it. We do 5 minutes every morning. It's just a box with child-friendly yoga poses explained on laminated cards - I got ours from Amazon. I'd thoroughly recommend it

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