**Note: This page is for educational inspiration. 'Positive Thinking Day' is an informal awareness day celebrated annually on September 13th. It does not have a single official founding body or website. For broader information on the benefits of positive thinking and mental well-being in children, please consult reputable psychological or educational resources focusing on social-emotional learning.
Understanding Positive Thinking Day in EYFS & KS1
Think happy thoughts! Positive Thinking Day, observed informally on September 13th, is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the power of optimism, resilience, and a 'can-do' attitude. While not tied to a single founding organization, it's a day embraced by many to encourage a positive mindset in our daily lives. It's about understanding that our thoughts can influence our feelings and actions, and that a positive outlook can help us overcome challenges.
For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a vital and empowering theme for exploring emotional well-being, resilience, and growth mindset. It's about teaching children to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and believe in their own abilities. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about self-belief and perseverance both impactful and uplifting.
Why Is Teaching About Positive Thinking & Growth Mindset Important for Young Children?
Integrating lessons about positive thinking and fostering a growth mindset into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) develops their social-emotional development, academic success, and overall happiness. During their early years, children are developing their concept of self and learning how to approach challenges.
Resilience: Positive thinking helps children bounce back from setbacks and develop perseverance.
Problem-Solving: A 'can-do' attitude encourages children to tackle problems rather than giving up.
Self-Esteem: Believing in their ability to learn and grow boosts confidence and self-worth.
Emotional Regulation: Learning to reframe negative thoughts into positive ones helps children manage their emotions more effectively.
Embracing Challenges: Understanding that mistakes are opportunities for learning fosters a love for challenges and continuous improvement. Our 'We love challenge!' resource directly supports this.
Academic Success: Children with a growth mindset are more likely to engage with learning, persist with difficult tasks, and ultimately achieve more.
Engaging Positive Thinking & Growth Mindset Activities for Positive Thinking Day (0-7 Year Olds)
Make Positive Thinking Day a truly empowering and uplifting experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on encouraging optimism, perseverance, and a love for learning and growing! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available.
Here's some inspiration for nurturing a positive mindset in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)
Growth Mindset Discussions: Use our ‘Growth mindset - picture communication poster set’ to talk about what a growth mindset means. Discuss phrases like "I can't do it YET!" instead of "I can't do it."
"We Keep Trying" Activities: Focus on perseverance. Use ‘Growth Mindset - we keep trying - puzzle match’ to illustrate how persistence leads to success.
Celebrate Effort & Progress: Recognise and praise effort, not just outcomes. Use our ‘Growth Mindset - certificate and note sheets - leaves’ and ‘Growth Mindset - certificate and note sheets - flowers’ to acknowledge children's perseverance. The ‘Get Better poster’ reinforces the idea of continuous improvement.
Visual Reminders: Create inspiring displays with our Growth Mindset banners. Our ‘Flowers notes sheets’ can be used for positive messages.
Challenge Area Focus: Set up a dedicated "Challenge Area" using our Challenge Area Displays for Birth to 3, 3 & 4 year old, and Reception. Emphasise that challenges help us grow and learn.
Good and Better Reflection: Use our good and better sheets to help children reflect on their learning journey, acknowledging initial attempts and then identifying how they improved.
Aspiration and Growth: Talk about future possibilities and what children might become. Our 'when...was a baby' booklet and 'when i grow up' sheets can encourage thinking about growth and aspirations.
Positive Affirmations: Teach children simple positive affirmations they can say to themselves, such as "I am strong," "I am clever," "I can do this."
Story Time: Books on Perseverance: Read stories about characters who face challenges and keep trying until they succeed.
These activities offer great inspiration for making Positive Thinking Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, laying strong foundations for emotional well-being, resilience, and a lifelong growth mindset.
To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.
Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘Positive Thinking Day’
Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes
More Early Years Event Pages for September
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 'Positive Thinking Day'. 'Positive Thinking Day' is an informal awareness day celebrated annually on September 13th. It does not have a single official founding body or website. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this day. For broader information on the benefits of positive thinking and mental well-being in children, please consult reputable psychological or educational resources focusing on social-emotional learning.
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