Welcome to Day 3 of Scottish Children’s Health Week 2022. Today, our theme is #BeCalm Sometimes we can all struggle to manage our emotions. As part of our Self-Management Service Programmes, we talk a lot about the importance of relaxation and how to manage stress through different techniques and tips. So, let’s look together at how we can all #BeCalm.
For children and young people with health conditions, appointments, transitions, meeting new staff teams, and operations are just a few things that can cause stress, anxieties, and worries. Beth Davidson, Co-ordinator for the Children’s Health and Wellbeing Service, said: “Threaded throughout our Self-Management Service Programmes are calming techniques and coping strategies to help children and young people feel better able to manage their physical health and mental wellbeing. We talk about living with worries, how we see ourselves, thinking about the future, self-advocacy, and wellbeing tips. Exploring our worries and unravelling the meaning behind them through crafts, discussion or stories, allows us to face our future worries calmly, knowing that we have a toolbox of things we can use when we are feeling anxious or afraid.”
Learning to understand yourself and how to stay calm during periods of unease can significantly help to regulate your emotions and help your overall wellbeing. This links to the EACH Charter Article 4, which states the right of children and their caregiver being informed in a manner appropriate to their age and understanding, with steps being taken to mitigate physical and emotional stress. In our activity book for Wednesday, you’ll see lots of listed calming techniques you can try at home – from star breathing🌟, creating routine🌙, and helping children to understand through storytelling📖.
Relax Kids, an organisation that helps children become more resilient, were our partner for #BeCalm Wednesday. Together, with help from our friends over at Relax Kids we have created a video on how to make your very own Worry Doll (or Worry Bear, in Bears case!). A Worry Doll is a special doll which you can place under your pillow when you sleep to remove your worries. They are lots of fun to make! Why not join Big Bear and Little Bear on their crafty adventure and learn how you can face your worries by talking openly about them with those that you trust.
If you are interested in our Self-Management Service, please find out more, email sms@childrenshealthscotland.org or fill in the referral form here. SMS has both face-to-face programmes which take place in Edinburgh and online programmes which can be joined from anywhere across Scotland.
Ready for more PLAY? Head over to our SCHW 2022 Activity Book to find a full week’s worth of fun and play.
You can also watch with your children, our Children’s Health Scotland Ambassador, Rory Crawford, reading one of our favourite books ‘Ruby’s Worry’ across our social media and website.
