**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with World Mental Health Day. World Mental Health Day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. It is observed annually on October 10th and was first celebrated in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. For official information and to learn more about mental health support, please consult reputable health organisations or charities dedicated to mental well-being.
Understanding World Mental Health Day in EYFS & KS1
Let's look after our minds! 🧠 World Mental Health Day is an international day dedicated to global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. It's observed annually on October 10th and was first celebrated in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. The day aims to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health. It's a day to acknowledge that our minds need care just like our bodies do.
For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a profoundly important and sensitive theme for exploring emotions, well-being, self-care, and how to support others. It's about giving children the tools to understand their feelings, teaching them healthy ways to cope, and fostering an environment where it's safe to talk about how they feel. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about emotional literacy and mental well-being both compassionate and empowering.
Why Is Teaching About Mental Health & Emotions Important for Young Children?
Integrating lessons about mental health and emotions into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is incredibly important for fostering their social-emotional development, resilience, and overall well-being. Building emotional literacy from a young age equips children with vital life skills.
Emotional Literacy: Learning to identify, name, and understand different emotions (both positive and challenging) is a foundational skill for mental health. Our Emotions - 'emotion of the day' - display (large) and Emotions - 'what happens when you feel...' - prompt cards help with this.
Self-Regulation: Understanding how emotions impact us and learning coping strategies (like deep breaths or talking) helps children manage their feelings.
Empathy & Social Skills: Recognising emotions in others allows children to connect, be kind, and develop stronger friendships. Our Let's Connect - with each other - Activity prompt poster and Let's Connect - with each other - activity prompt cards support social connections.
Resilience: Building a "healthy mind" helps children bounce back from setbacks and adapt to change. Our Mental Health - 'healthy minds' poster and Mental Health - 'healthy minds' display pack promote this.
Open Communication: Creating a safe space to talk about feelings reduces stigma and encourages children to seek help when needed.
Holistic Well-being: Highlighting activities that boost mood (exercise, nature, kindness) contributes to overall health.
Engaging Mental Health & Well-being Activities for World Mental Health Day (0-7 Year Olds)
Make World Mental Health Day a truly supportive and understanding experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on nurturing emotional intelligence, promoting self-care, and building a compassionate community! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available on our dedicated Mental Health and Emotions and Feelings pages.
Here's some inspiration for promoting healthy minds 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.)
Emotion Exploration: Use our various emoji resources to help children identify and express feelings: Emotion cards - emojis (free sample), Emotions - 'I am feeling...' - emoji cards, Emotions - 'I am feeling...' - emoji colouring. Explore specific emotions with Emotions - 'Why is Teddy sad?' activity pack and Emotions - 'Why is Teddy happy?' activity pack.
Feelings Station: Set up a designated "Feelings Station" using All About Me - feelings station display where children can indicate how they are feeling, encouraging open communication.
Mood Boosters: Introduce simple activities that can boost mood. Use our Mental Health - mood booster activity cards as a starting point. Get the children moving with Let's - get moving - activity prompt poster and cards (linking to Exercise and Sport and PE games). Spend time in nature with Mindfulness scavenger hunt sheets for Beach and Woodland Wildlife. Also check out our general Gardening and Forest School resources).
Mindfulness Moments: Practice short mindfulness exercises. Use our Mindfulness walks poster and cards.
Kindness Spreading: Emphasise how being kind to others makes us all feel good. Use Let's show kindness - Activity prompt poster and cards.
Talking About Worries & Anger: Provide age-appropriate ways to discuss challenging emotions. Our When I feel worried - prompt templates and When I feel angry - prompt templates are valuable tools.
Sleep & Rest: Discuss the importance of sleep for a healthy mind. Use Mental Health - 'amount of sleep' poster.
Creative Expression of Emotions: Encourage children to express feelings through drawing, mark-making, or connecting emotions to music and stories.
Emotions - 'This music makes me feel...' - mark making, cards, playdough mat and banner.
Emotions - 'This story makes me feel...' - mark making.
Community Helpers & Support: Discuss how different people help us stay healthy and happy, including doctors and nurses (linking to Medicine: Doctors and Nurses and People who help us). Use Doctors Surgery role-play pack and Poorly Teddy posters - labelled.
Self-Care & Basic Health: Link mental health to physical health through discussions on hydration: Heat health - 'drink some water' visual communication aid, Food page, and Teeth and Oral health.
These activities offer great inspiration for making World Mental Health Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering emotional literacy, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to mental well-being.
To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.
Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘World Mental Health Day’
Please visit our ‘Mental Health’ page for an extensive catalogue of resources.
Please visit our ‘Mental Health’ page for an extensive catalogue of resources.
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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!
SEARCH ‘LITTLE OWLS Resources’ USING THE FOLLOWING MENU BUTTONS…
Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'World Mental Health Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this day. For official information and to learn more about mental health support, please consult reputable health organisations or charities dedicated to mental well-being, such as the World Federation for Mental Health's website at https://wfmh.global/.
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