Join PlayBoard’s online information sessions on new children’s mental health programme
PlayBoard NI, organisation for the development and promotion of play, is delivering a free programme aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of children aged four to nine years through the power of play. Playful Minds will be available in primary schools, community groups, and school-age childcare settings within the Belfast City Council area.
Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, Playful Minds will help children explore their emotions, develop healthy coping skills, and have fun through playful activities.
PlayBoard is hosting two online information sessions for those interested in learning more about the programme and how to get involved. The sessions will take place on Wednesday 5 March at 10:30am and 3:30pm.
Alan Herron, CEO of PlayBoard NI, commented: “We’re delighted that support from the National Lottery Community Fund is enabling us to deliver our Playful Minds programme to children in the Belfast area. We know that play is a powerful tool for children’s healthy growth and development. Our fun and innovative programme will offer play sessions for children, as well as sessions for practitioners and parents, to highlight the importance of play in supporting positive mental health, building resilience, and fostering healthy, happy children.
“We encourage those working with children aged four to nine years to attend one of our free, half-hour information sessions to learn more about the programme and the positive impact for your setting.”
Discussing workshops previously delivered by PlayBoard, Bronagh McVeigh, Principal of Saint Vincent De Paul Primary School, Ligoniel said: “We were lucky enough to have PlayBoard deliver sessions to a Primary 5/6 group. Our teachers and classroom assistants were trained by the staff from PlayBoard before the sessions began. As a principal, I was delighted to build capacity in my staff. This was a free resource for my school which is not something we get often.
The sessions focused on play within Key Stage 2 which is not traditionally where play is a focus. In addition to this, the play sessions were delivered following the disrupted school years after the pandemic. I feel our children had missed out on a lot during these years. Our Primary 5 and 6 pupils really benefitted from the sessions with PlayBoard. We even noticed an improvement in some pupils’ punctuality and attendance on those particular days.
The PlayBoard staff are so creative and the resources they prepared for our children were not resources we would regularly have access to in school. The play equipment changed every session keeping our pupils engaged, focused and excited. We are excited and truly grateful for future opportunities to engage with PlayBoard through the Playful Minds programme.”
For more on PlayBoard’s Playful Minds programme, visit www.playboard.org/resources/playful-minds
