Pupils at Dean Close Preparatory School spent the day developing their leadership skills, cycling proficiency, cookery skills and discussing relationships as part of their ‘Healthy Living Day’.
Healthy Living Day is part of an ongoing Preparatory School Wellbeing Programme to promote personal wellbeing and to equip pupils with key life skills. Throughout the day groups of children, aged 12 and 13, rotated between sessions, these included: leadership skills, cycling skills, yoga or life-saving, cookery and finally discussing sex and relationships.
During the leadership skills session, pupils worked in teams to complete a number of challenges such as blindfolded naughts and crosses, tangled arms and they even made a human bridge. Each activity was designed to test their communication, teamwork and leadership skills as well as having lots of fun!
During cycling proficiency pupils were shown how to check the ‘health’ of their bikes and enjoyed riding around the school grounds, practising their competence at balancing and steering around tricky areas – they even went off piste for a quick visit to Forest School!
Clare Salisbury, Head of PHSCE (Personal Health, Social and Citizenship Education) who oversaw the relationship sessions said, “All of the pupils in today’s sessions are either teenagers or on the brink of turning 13. At this stage in their lives it is so important that they learn how to identify and nurture healthy relationships. School is a great environment for them to explore these sometimes challenging areas, here they can share their concerns or questions in a safe and secure environment, without too much embarrassment.”
After swimming, cooking, cycling and bridge building some gentle Yoga provided a time to take stock and contemplate the day’s activities. Yoga teacher, Oliva Duffin explained, “Yoga is a great way to take a step back from daily busyness. Breathing techniques and positive affirmations such as, ‘I am grounded, I am strong’, can help to create a positive mind-set. Pupils can now try some of the positions they learnt at home; just ten minutes a day can promote calmness, clear thinking and improve suppleness, all of which are useful resources during a busy school day. ”
Pupil, Charlie Currie said, “This is my first Healthy Living Day, I am new to Dean Close. It was a great opportunity to, not only get to know my new classmates and have fun, but to learn some useful skills. Being able to change a tyre by myself on my own bike and make my own healthy snack (flapjack) has certainly helped me to feel more capable and independent, I had a great day!”