A University of Winchester expert in physical education and children's wellbeing has worked alongside the charity stormbreak, BBC Education and BBC Children in Need to develop resources for a new BBC initiative.
Moodboosters hopes to inspire primary school age children around the UK to get moving and develop the skills and tools to learn about their mental health and wellbeing. Celebrities from across the BBC and beyond, including Dr Ranj Singh, Amy Dowden, Ade Adepitan MBE and Oti Mabuse, lead videos to inspire children to boost their mood and feel good. Moodboosters was launched on Friday 18 November 2022, to coincide with this year's BBC Children in Need appeal show.
Dr Vicky Randall, Senior Fellow in the University's Institute of Education, said: "It has been a privilege to work with the stormbreak team on this fantastic initiative. We hear a lot from our school and student colleagues, of the many challenges that children and young people are facing with their mental health. The Moodbooster resources provide trusted adults with inclusive movement-based activities that support children's mental health. They are great fun to take part in and have been a lot of fun to create too!"
Dr Martin Yelling, stormbreak CEO, said: "The last few years have not been easy for children. Across the UK there has been an increase in mental health issues and challenges facing children and young people. They need help, care and kindness and so do the trusted adults that support them. The BBC Moodboosters initiative couldn't be better timed for primary schools, teachers, and children to find out more about how to make the most of movement to support mental wellbeing.
"Working collaboratively with BBC Education to create the BBC Moodboosters resources has been a privilege for the team at stormbreak. Kate Bone, Dr Vicky Randall, Victoria Stamp and I have enjoyed developing the BBC Moodboosters activities and hope that primary schools across the country and the children that attend them will be happier and healthier through taking part."
The Moodboosters classroom activities are based on the stormbreak approach. They are a suite of short, interactive videos that can be used by primary school staff to help classes move, whilst supporting their mental health and wellbeing.
Through simple and fun activities, featuring famous faces, Moodboosters activities explore themes such as coping with feelings, respecting ourselves and others, and connecting with friends and family, under four different themes:
For more information and to access all the Moodbooster resources, visit: www.bbc.co.uk/moodboosters
Teachers interested in supporting their school, children and staff further with stormbreak professional development, using a whole school approach to embedding mentally healthy movement for every child to improve wellbeing, should visit: www.stormbreak.org.uk or email hello@stormbreak.org.uk.
Photo on Press Centre landing page courtesy BBC Education.
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