Mental Health Awareness Week | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with Mental Health Awareness Week. For official information, themes, and resources, please visit the Mental Health Foundation website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk.

Monday 11th - Sunday 17th May 2026

May (dates vary annually)

• 🤔 What is Mental Health Awareness Week?

  Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual UK campaign led by the Mental Health Foundation.

  It focuses on helping people understand that:

  • mental health matters at every age

  • everyone experiences a range of feelings

  • support, connection and understanding are important

  The week encourages open, supportive conversations about emotions, wellbeing and self-care.

• 🧠 Understanding Mental Health Awareness Week in EYFS & KS1

  This week provides a meaningful opportunity to explore:

  • emotions and feelings

  • relationships and connection

  • wellbeing and self-care

  • communication and expression

  This theme can support:

  EYFS:

  • PSED (self-regulation, relationships, confidence)

  • Communication & Language (naming and expressing feelings)

  • Understanding the World (self-awareness and others)

  • Expressive Arts & Design (creative expression of emotions)

  KS1 (National Curriculum):

  • PSHE (mental well-being, relationships, self-awareness)

  • English (speaking, listening, expressing feelings)

  • PE (physical activity linked to well-being)

• 🌱 A Developmentally Appropriate Approach in the Early Years

  In high-quality EYFS practice, themes such as mental health are supported through:

  • relationships

  • interaction

  • everyday moments

  • emotionally responsive environments

  The ideas below are:

  • optional

  • adaptable

  • intended to support adult thinking

  👉 Find out more about developmentally appropriate practice in EYFS by exploring our ‘Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite’.

  Pathways available for:

  ↪ Babies | birth-18 months

  ↪ Toddlers | 18-36 months

  ↪ Preschool | 3-4 years

  ↪ Reception | 4-5 years

  ↪ Childminder | Mixed-Age Care

• 💛 Why Mental Health & Wellbeing Matter for Young Children

  Supporting emotional wellbeing helps children to:

  😊 Develop Emotional Literacy

  Children begin to recognise and express their feelings.

  🧠 Build Self-Regulation

  They learn how to be supported through big emotions.

  🤝 Develop Empathy

  Children begin to notice and respond to others’ feelings.

  🌱 Build Resilience

  They experience being supported through challenge and change.

  💬 Strengthen Communication

  Children learn that their feelings can be shared and understood.

🌿 EYFS: Provision & Child-Led Ideas

These ideas are not activities to be planned or completed. They are ways to support emotional wellbeing through everyday practice.

• 👶 Babies (0–18 months)

  Emotional wellbeing is rooted in secure relationships and responsive care.

  Babies may:

  • communicate feelings through crying, movement and facial expression

  • seek comfort, closeness and reassurance

  • respond to tone, rhythm and familiar adults

  Adults can:

  • respond promptly and sensitively

  • provide consistent care routines

  • use calm voice, eye contact and gentle touch

  • support co-regulation through holding, rocking and soothing

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Babies (0–18 Months)’ hub page.

• 🚶 Toddlers (18–36 months)

  Toddlers are beginning to experience and express strong emotions.

  Children may:

  • show big feelings (frustration, joy, distress)

  • need support to regulate

  • express emotions through movement, play and behaviour

  Adults can:

  • stay calm and present

  • name emotions simply (“You’re upset”)

  • support co-regulation rather than expecting self-control

  • allow repetition and physical expression (movement, sensory play)

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Toddlers (18–36 Months)’ hub page.

• 🧒 Preschool (3–4 years)

  Children begin to talk more about feelings and make connections.

  Children may:

  • talk about emotions and experiences

  • explore feelings through role-play and storytelling

  • begin to understand others’ feelings

  Adults can:

  • extend emotional vocabulary

  • support conversations about feelings

  • model empathy and problem-solving

  • provide opportunities for imaginative and social play

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Preschool (3–4 Years)’ hub page.

• 🎓 Reception (4–5 years)

  Children are developing greater awareness of emotions and strategies.

  Children may:

  • reflect on how they feel

  • begin to use simple strategies to regulate

  • understand that others may feel differently

  Adults can:

  • support discussion and reflection

  • introduce simple calming strategies (breathing, quiet spaces)

  • guide children in resolving conflicts

  • connect feelings to actions and outcomes

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Reception (4–5 Years)’ hub page.

• 🧠 Key Principle Across EYFS

  Emotional wellbeing is developed through:

  • secure relationships

  • consistent routines

  • responsive adults

  • meaningful interaction

🌱 Environment Enhancements & Invitations (EYFS)

These are optional enhancements that may be added to provision if they align with children’s emotional needs and experiences.

• 🧸 Creating Emotionally Safe Environments

  You might enhance provision by:

  • creating calm, predictable spaces where children feel secure

  • offering quiet areas for rest, reflection or retreat

  • ensuring environments feel warm, welcoming and familiar

  • supporting children to move freely between active and calm spaces

  Resources that may support this include:

  • “Sleeping Area” signs and calm space visuals

• 🗣️ Language, Interaction & Emotional Development

  You might enhance provision by:

  • modelling simple, consistent language for feelings (e.g. “happy”, “sad”, “worried”)

  • narrating children’s experiences and emotions

  • responding sensitively to children’s cues and communication

  • supporting back-and-forth interaction and shared attention

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Emotion Cards (e.g. “I Am Feeling…” Emoji Cards)

  • “Why Is Teddy Sad?” / “Why Is Teddy Happy?” packs

• 💛 Supporting Emotional Regulation

  You might enhance provision by:

  • maintaining consistent routines and expectations

  • supporting co-regulation through calm adult presence

  • allowing children time and space to process emotions

  • modelling simple strategies such as pausing, breathing or seeking comfort

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Mood Booster Cards

  • “Healthy Minds” Poster

• 🌿 Sensory & Calming Experiences

  You might enhance provision by:

  • providing access to sensory materials (e.g. soft textures, water, sand, natural objects)

  • offering opportunities for repetitive, calming play

  • allowing children to engage in soothing, self-directed experiences

  Resources:

  • Water

  • Outdoor/Nature-based provision (e.g. Forest School, Beach School, Wildlife)

• 🤝 Connection, Relationships & Belonging

  You might enhance provision by:

  • creating opportunities for shared play and interaction

  • modelling kindness, empathy and respectful communication

  • supporting children to build relationships with peers and adults

  Resources that may support this include:

  • “Let’s Connect” Activity Prompts

  • “Let’s Show Kindness” resources

• 🎵 Creative & Expressive Opportunities

  You might enhance provision by:

  • offering open-ended materials for drawing, mark-making or music

  • allowing children to express feelings through movement, sound or art

  • responding to children’s choices rather than directing outcomes

  Resources that may support this include:

  • “This Music Makes Me Feel…” resources

  • Mark-making and expressive arts materials

• ✨ Key Reminder

  Emotional wellbeing develops through:

  • secure relationships

  • responsive adults

  • consistent routines

  • meaningful interaction

📘 KS1 Learning Activities for Mental Health Awareness Week

In Key Stage 1, this theme can support more structured exploration of emotions, wellbeing and self-awareness.

• 😊 Understanding & Expressing Emotions

  Children can:

  • identify and name different feelings

  • discuss what makes them feel certain ways

  • explore emotional responses

  You may use our:

  • ‘Healthy Minds’ Poster

  • ‘Emotion of the Day’ Display

  • ‘I Am Feeling… Emoji Cards’

  • ‘Why Is Teddy Sad?’ / ‘Why Is Teddy Happy?’ Packs

  • ‘What Happens When You Feel…’ Prompt Cards

• 🌿 Mindfulness & Calm Strategies

  Children can:

  • practise simple calming techniques

  • explore quiet reflection

  • notice how their body feels

  You may use our:

  • Mindfulness Activity Prompt Poster & Cards

  • Mindfulness Walk Posters & Cards

  • Mindfulness Scavenger Hunts (Beach / Woodland)

  You might also include:

  • quiet observation activities (e.g. birdwatching, minibeast searching)

• 🏃 Movement, Connection & Wellbeing

  Children can:

  • explore how movement affects mood

  • engage in group activities

  • build positive connections

  You may use our:

  • Mood Booster Activity Cards

  • ‘Let’s Get Moving’ resources

  • movement cards (e.g. Dinosaurs, Fairies, Jack and the Beanstalk)

  • ‘Let’s Connect’ and ‘Let’s Show Kindness’ prompts

• 🎨 Creative & Sensory Expression

  Children can:

  • express emotions through art, music or movement

  • reflect on how experiences make them feel

  • explore sensory responses

  You may use our:

  • ‘This Music Makes Me Feel…’ resources

  • Emotion-based mark-making sheets

• 🌍 Explore More Resources | EYFS Enhanced Provision & KS1 Activities

  You may wish to explore:

  • Mental Health

  • Emotions and Feelings

  • Kindness and Friendship

  • Families

  • All About Me

  • Music and Sound

  • Stay Healthy

  • Wildlife

• 🧠 Using Special Dates Thoughtfully

  A helpful question:

  “Does this support children to feel safe, understood and connected?”

  If it supports:

  • emotional wellbeing

  • relationships

  • expression

  → it is meaningful

• 🧠 In Summary

  Mental Health Awareness Week supports children to:

  • understand and express feelings

  • build emotional security

  • develop empathy and connection

  • experience wellbeing through relationships

  In the EYFS, this is most effective when it is:

  • relationship-led

  • responsive

  • embedded in everyday care and interaction

  In KS1, it can be:

  • explored through discussion

  • supported through structured activities

  • developed through reflection and shared experiences

• 🔓 How to Access Resources

  We offer a range of resources to support practitioners across EYFS and KS1, including printable materials and in-depth curriculum and pedagogy guidance.

  🟢 Free Membership

  You can access a selection of free resources by creating a free account.

  This includes:

  • selected printable resources

  • sample materials

  • weekly support emails for those who opt-in

  👉 [Create a free account]

  🟡 Premium Membership (Printables)

  Our Premium Membership provides access to our full library of printable teaching and provision resources.

  This includes:

  • themed resources (e.g. Gardening, Emotions, Seasons)

  • continuous provision materials

  • activity cards, displays and printable packs

  These resources can be used flexibly to support:

  • provision enhancements

  • small group work

  • classroom organisation

  👉 [View Premium Membership]

  🟣 Professional Membership (Curriculum & Pedagogy)

  Our Professional Membership provides access to our full Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite (Birth–5).

  ~ In addition to Premium Printable Provision access.~

  This includes:

  • age-specific pathways (Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, Reception)

  • planning guidance and templates

  • observation and assessment support

  • SEND and inclusion guidance

  • inspection-ready documentation

  These documents are designed to support:

  • confident decision-making

  • consistent practice across teams

  • clear articulation of EYFS pedagogy

  (KS1 curriculum coming soon!)

  👉 Visit EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite

  👉 [View Professional Membership]

  🧠 Choosing What Works for You

  You do not need to use everything at once.

  Many practitioners:

  • start with free resources

  • build their printable provision over time

  • use pedagogy documents to support team understanding and leadership

  Choose what best fits your setting, role and stage of development.

👉 To explore more early years events, visit our Special Dates Calendar.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’

Please visit our ‘Mental Health’ page for an extensive catalogue of resources.

Please visit our ‘Mental Health’ page for an extensive catalogue of resources.

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for May

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'Mental Health Awareness Week'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the Mental Health Foundation, which hosts this event. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and resources, please visit the Mental Health Foundation website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk.