My Happy Mind at St Patrick's!
Here at St Patrick's we value or our Mental Health and ensure that it is seen as a priority for all. We teach the children how important our Mental Health is and how to look after it.
As of February 2024, St Patrick's has introduced the 'My Happy Mind' scheme of learning which works along side the Zones of Regulation work that the children use during their time here.
My Happy Mind is a programme that teaches every child how to be equipped with skills, strategies and habits in order to be able to manage their own mental health and wellbeing. By introducing this programme, St Patrick's are taking a proactive approach towards children's mental health and wellbeing, which in effect will aim to reduce children reaching crisis points.
My Happy Mind gives the children the opportunity to understand how their brain works and what their brain looks like. Children will learn all about neuroplasticity and that their brain is made up of three parts - the amygdala, prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. The programme helps the children to notice when their brain is working well and helping them to make good decisions. It also teaches children to notice when their brain is not working as well and it is not helping them to make the best decisions. As a result of this, we teach the children 'happy breathing' techniques along with other self-regulation techniques to help their brain.
Our EYFS children are introduced to the different characters throughout the My Happy Mind programme and will get to know them through sharing stories together.
Programme Overview
Each year group will be introduced to TEAM HAP, which represents our brain. TEAM HAP represents the hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Each class has a visit from TEAM HAP for a full day each week.
Each class will work their way through each of the 5 modules throughout the academic year, these are:
- Meet your brain
- Celebrate
- Appreciate
- Relate
- Engage