Kiddipedia
In our post-pandemic world, the well-being of our children has taken on even greater importance. As parents, we all want the very best for our kids. We want them to grow up happy, healthy and prepared to tackle life’s challenges confidently. But amidst the demands and complexities of modern life, it’s natural sometimes to feel unsure or ill-equipped when it comes to supporting our children. We know it’s essential, but the question remains: How can we effectively support our children’s mental health?
It’s a common concern that many parents share. We understand that you want your children to thrive, but figuring out the best ways to nurture their well-being can feel overwhelming. Rest assured; you’re not alone in this journey. Together, we can explore strategies and discover valuable resources to empower our children and cultivate their emotional resilience.
To delve into the importance of enhancing wellness, we connect with Naomi Green, Co-founder of Tiger Tribe. Through our conversation, we explore their various approaches and activities to cultivate positive states of mind and support children’s well-being, along with additional insight from leading experts.
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Creating Wellbeing Habits to Nurture Good Mental Health
By providing opportunities for kids to try out different wellbeing practices, parents can support their children to develop a toolkit of skills to help with their mental health both now and in the future. Wellbeing practices are many and varied and can include mindfulness elements such as breathing techniques and tuning into your senses, gratitude, journaling, and calming practices like colouring, drawing or jigsaw puzzles.“Our approach here at Tiger Tribe is to nurture kids in their journey to developing skills that help with wellbeing, but we also believe in presenting these practices in a way that kids genuinely enjoy and have fun with. We’ve created a series of activities and tools that are designed to be self-directed and for kids to enjoy doing – as we believe many kids respond best to play-based learning.” says Naomi.
Australian child psychologists and experts echo the significance of prioritising children’s well-being in the aftermath of the pandemic. Karen Donnelly – Psychologist/Director/Vice President – Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi), with over more than 20 years of experience, emphasises that the pandemic has disrupted children’s lives and heightened their stress and anxiety levels. She explains, “Children have experienced significant changes and uncertainties, which can have long-lasting effects on their mental health. It’s vital that we provide them with the necessary support and tools to navigate these challenges.”
It is concerning to see the prevalence of mental health issues among older children and adolescents, with approximately one in four young people experiencing a mental disorder by the age of 18. This emphasises the importance of early identification and targeted support during their transition into adolescence. By proactively addressing the mental health needs of young children, we help them navigate challenges and pave the way for a positive mental health journey. Practising gratitude, for instance, can cultivate a positive mindset and foster resilience. According to a study by Rober Emmons, the worlds leading scientific expert on gratitude, practising gratitude also helps strengthen social connections by nurturing a sense of generosity and compassion towards others, fostering a spirit of forgiveness, actively engaging in social interactions, and diminishing feelings of loneliness and isolation, enhancing overall well-being. The ‘Pocket Gratitude Journal’ offered by Tiger Tribe can be a valuable tool to facilitate this process. As Naomi explains, “This compact journal is designed to help children develop a daily practice of reflection, encouraging them to recognise and appreciate the positive aspects of their lives. By engaging with the journal, kids can cultivate a sense of appreciation, foster a positive outlook, and create a well-being habit that extends beyond the pages of this book”
Educating pre-tweens about the significance of self-care and mental well-being is crucial, as research shows that a significant number of primary school children face mental health difficulties. By prioritising children’s overall well-being and providing the necessary support, we lay the foundation for their future mental health and well-being, enabling them to lead happy, balanced lives.
Dr Julie Hollitt from the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc, a renowned child psychologist, emphasises that practices focusing on good mental health help children develop emotional regulation skills and reduce stress. She states, “Mindfulness exercises promote self-awareness and teach children how to manage their emotions effectively. By practising mindfulness, children can cultivate a sense of calm and resilience, which is particularly crucial in today’s fast-paced and demanding world.”
Renae Kolia, also from the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc and a child and adolescent psychologist and owner of Think Feel Grow, adds that research indicates that embracing the present moment and mindfulness supports well-being. “By teaching children and adolescents mindfulness or present moment skills, we are supporting them to learn how to respond flexibly to their inner and outer world. When we teach them to notice their thoughts, feelings and sensations and to notice what is happening around them, they can then learn a variety of helpful ways of responding and coping. Through mindfulness, they learn to compassionately acknowledge their experiences and to shift their attention to the present moment when it is important or needed.”
These insights from Australian experts highlight the importance of incorporating mindfulness exercises into children’s routines to promote their well-being and emotional growth.
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Tiger Tribe’s Wellbeing Range
Tiger Tribe understands that nurturing children’s mental health from an early age is really important. That’s why they have carefully curated a remarkable Well-being range specifically designed for 8-11-year-olds. These sets are intentionally designed to capture kids’ interest and create an enjoyable experience that they actively choose to engage with. The range has several items, which each focus on different approaches to Well-being, including Mindfulness, Gratitude, journaling and calming creative techniques such as Doodling. Naomi mentions, “Our pages talk directly to the child, engaging them in fun and educational activities that develop a toolkit of skills to help promote good mental health .”
Through these engaging, fun and self-directed (but guided) activities, kids develop skills to help with well-being. When developing the ‘Mindfully Me’ activity set, Naomi explains the guiding principle in creating the content “Mindfulness doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming; instead, it can be an enjoyable and accessible practice for children. Kids respond better to experience rather than theory so that an activity-based approach can be fun and enjoyable”.
Let’s deep dive further to their range:
Pocket Gratitude Journal
The Pocket Gratitude Journal by Tiger Tribe encourages children to express gratitude, which has been shown by research to improve physical and mental health while significantly boosting overall well-being. With this compact journal, children can cultivate a sense of appreciation and positivity in their daily lives.
Mindfully Me – Breathe. Relax. Create
Discover a sense of calm with Mindfully Me – Breathe. Relax. Create. This guided activity set for tweens promotes mindfulness, emotional regulation, focus, and being present. Through breathwork, crafts, and engaging the five senses, tweens can cultivate relaxation and mindfulness.
This is Me- Dream. Reflect. Inspire
Designed with beautiful illustrations, this guided journal empowers tweens to explore their feelings, thoughts, and actions in a secure, lockable space. The activities promote positivity and self-awareness and enhance writing and communication skills. It aids in processing thoughts, offering a chance to slow down, unplug, and build self-esteem.
Fun with Friends- Connect. Play. Create
Fun with Friends – Connect. Create. Play is a comprehensive guidebook and activity set tailored for early tweens. It encourages them to explore the importance of friendship through self-reflection exercises and engaging activities to enjoy with friends. Additionally, the book offers valuable insights and tips on resolving conflicts when they arise, fostering positive social interactions and communication skills.
Mindful Doodling – Peaceful Patterns
Discover a world of relaxation and focus through engaging in meditative drawing activities. With simple yet visually captivating instructions, Mindful Doodling – Peaceful Patterns guides children in creating intricate lines, dots, swirls, and squiggles, unlocking their creative potential.
Mindful Doodling – Night Lines
Mindful Doodling – Night Lines, is similar to Mindful Doodling – Peaceful Patterns with a different visual appeal. Kids can create neon doodles with step-by-step instructions and vibrant gel pens on black paper templates.
As we navigate the challenges of our post-pandemic world, it is crucial that we prioritise our children’s mental health. Incorporating the Tiger Tribe Wellbeing range into our daily routines can help to support our children’s mental health and empower them to navigate the world with resilience and optimism.
To view their complete range, visit:
https://tigertribe.com.au/collections/wellbeing
References
https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/overview/mental-illness
Media brought to you by Tiger Tribe
