Mick is co-author of a new Positive Psychology programme for Primary Schools called Weaving Well-Being. This is the first Irish designed positive mental health programme of its kind which aims to enhance well-being in children aged from 8-12 years. This affordable programme consists of 10 lessons for each class level and is grounded in evidence-based interventions from the rapidly expanding field of Positive Psychology.
There are a wide range of issues that children face today including anxiety, conflicts between friends and students in school, bullying and peer pressure. These can have a significant impact on their happiness and well-being. Positive Education is an approach to education that cultivates both traditional academic skills and also skills for happiness and well-being. Schools are in a unique position to promote mental health and emotional well-being and to identify young people experiencing emotional distress.
In the video below Mick and Fiona Forman, a Primary School Teacher who is the other co-author of the Weaving Well-Being Programme, provide an overview of the programme and discuss why it was created.
Weaving Well-Being gives children the opportunity to weave positivity into their daily lives through a range of activities in a variety of areas. These areas include identifying and using their authentic character strengths, boosting positive emotions, developing and nurturing positive relationships and connections, building practical resilience skills (including mindfulness) and developing self-efficacy. The lessons are designed to be implemented within the framework of the S.P.H.E (Social, Personal and Health Education) curriculum. The framework map below illustrates the main concepts covered at each class level.
Weaving Well-Being was successfully piloted in a number of Irish schools since 2015. All 5 elements of the programme from second to sixth class were formally launched in April 2017 and can be ordered through our publisher’s website www.otb.ie. We have both an online and a number of face to face programme for teachers which will run throughout the Summer of 2017. The feedback from both programmes in 2016 was extremely positive. To find out more about our Weaving Well-Being programme visit our dedicated website weavingwellbeing.com