With fidget spinners and JoJo Bows dominating classrooms, Simon Creasey explores the psychology behind some of the biggest school crazes. Trends have always swept through schools, from marbles to Pokémon, they come from nowhere and don’t seem to stick around for a particularly long time. Creasey explains that to understand this we must first understand … Continued
Research suggests that an improved integration of emotional intelligence within schools could have a significant impact on mental health, academic progress, and social skills for children. Reporting for the Metro, Emily Reynolds calls upon a new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago, UBC and Loyola University, which states that lessons in emotional intelligence could provide young … Continued
Rising mental health issues are causing almost half of schools in England to see a rise in depression and self-harm amongst children. Incidents of self-harm among children and young people are affecting more than 10,000 schools, as research issued today shows a 45% increase across schools in England. The Key – an organisation providing leadership … Continued
The developmental benefits associated with children and young people’s engagement with art are vastly documented. Ranging from improved creativity and motor skills, to a greater sense of focus and enhanced academic performance, the arts can be fundamental to a child’s experience of both life and learning. Art is also an effective mechanism to help children … Continued
Teachers from every school in the country will be given mental health training as part of a new Government initiative aiming to help staff identify issues in their classrooms. Practical advice will be given, helping teachers to recognise and appropriately handle such complex matters as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and self-harm. The program has emerged … Continued
As budget cuts see weekly music lessons scrapped from an Essex school, what does the future of music education look like in the UK? Famously, plenty of schools in Finland lay the foundations for practising music very early on in a child’s schooling. Teachers provide pupils with instruments and they are encouraged to continue playing alongside their … Continued
The inclusion of diverse characters, narratives and themes in children’s books is fundamental to personal development. Children can either find stories that mirror their own experiences or immerse themselves within totally different cultures. Lauren Child, the next Waterstones Children’s Laureate, stresses her concern regarding the lack of diversity in the industry. This has been brought … Continued
How can support be provided within funding constraints? With more attention than ever surrounding child and adolescent mental health, we need to establish new ways of working with young people. Health professionals note that there is a lack of funding, meaning that long waiting lists and insufficient measures are putting a great number of children and … Continued
This week is Mental Health Awareness week, during which an emphasis is put on the reasons why so many people are experiencing mental health problems. It is predicted that by 2030, depression will be the leading cause of illness globally; we cannot underestimate the impact this will have. From our early childhood experiences to our … Continued
Our Forging New Connections conferences are rapidly approaching and we’re offering the chance for two lucky winners to attend for free. The prize will include two places at our Keynote Only event, featuring a keynote speech from international speaker and childhood trauma expert, Jane Evans. Jane has more than 20 years’ experience of working with families … Continued
