Connect and the 6 ways to wellbeing

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What makes the Connect PSHE curriculum really unique is that the termly themes are derived from the psychological wellbeing literature, and specifically the work of Dr Geetanjali Basarkod.  Dr Basarkod developed the ‘Six Ways to Wellbeing’ along with her PhD supervisors Professor Joseph Ciarrochi and Dr Baljinder Sahdra.  Dr Basarkod’s PhD thesis expanded on the work of the New Economics Foundation by empirically showing that psychologically healthy people tend to engage in 6 behaviours, and our curriculum is built around them.  They are:

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1. Exercise 

Exercising makes you feel good and regular physical activity tends to be associated with a greater sense of wellbeing and lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. 

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2. Self-Care 

Teaching children about self-care is important and this can be done by looking at healthy eating and the importance of a good night’s sleep. Practising self-care has a positive impact on our self-esteem and is particularly important given the current climate.

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3. Give To Others

Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy and spending time and resources helping our fellow human beings promotes happiness. In fact, studies have shown that performing an act of kindness once a week over a six-week period is associated with an increase in wellbeing.

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4. Connect With Others

There is strong evidence to indicate that healthy social relationships are critical for promoting wellbeing and that feeling close to and being valued by other people is a fundamental human need. A strong connection with the people around you is incredibly important and can act as a buffer against mental illness.

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5. Challenge Yourself 

For children, learning plays an important role in social and cognitive development. Learning is a continuous process and is all about enriching our minds and changing the way we see the world and ourselves. It improves our behaviour and the way we think by expanding and challenging our understanding.

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6. Embrace The Moment

Being aware of the world around you and what you are feeling together with the ability to reflect on your experiences is key. Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present has a positive effect on wellbeing and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm your life priorities.

At Connect we believe that a combination of all of these behaviours will help to enhance children’s mental health and wellbeing and through our Connect curriculum, provide children with coping mechanisms and help them build resilience to help face the ever-changing world and the challenges it brings. 

Connect PSHE