Peaceful Kids Program
‘Peaceful Kids’ is a Mindfulness and Positive Psychology based program to lessen anxiety and stress and increase resilience in children from Prep to Year 12. The program gives children the skills, practice and support to utilise coping strategies that lessen the symptoms of anxiety and stress. This program helps children to build their emotional resilience so they are better equipped to deal with the day to day stresses that life brings them. The program also involves parental involvement and commitment to supporting the strategies at home.
‘Peaceful Kids’ is a Mindfulness and Positive Psychology based program to lessen anxiety and stress and increase resilience in children from Prep to Year 12. The program gives children the skills, practice and support to utilise coping strategies that lessen the symptoms of anxiety and stress. This program helps children to build their emotional resilience so they are better equipped to deal with the day to day stresses that life brings them. The program also involves parental involvement and commitment to supporting the strategies at home.
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Life long Coping Skills
Children learn life long coping skills including : A range of Mindfulness Meditations and Strategies Positive Psychology exercises Techniques to lessen worrying A range of practical and expressive coping strategies Problem solving strategies Journalling and expressing worries Facing challenges and fears step by step Preventative strategies to help prevent stress build up Being attuned to their own bodies and minds Understanding and recognising their own feelings Being in the flow and enjoying more of the present moment |
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Children learn
Basic theory on Mindfulness and how it affects the brain and lessens stress and anxiety. The different ways to practice Mindfulness and integrate it into their lives. Their feelings and how this relates to anxiety and stress levels. Understanding the stress response. Understanding triggers for stress and how to calm down when feeling stressed. About the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety and learn how to self regulate. Worrying and how it affects their happiness. Different types of thinking that increase anxiety or lessen anxiety. Creating a balanced lifestyle including lots of chill out time and being in the flow. |
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The Aims of the Program
To minimise the symptoms of anxiety and stress To build emotional resilience To empower children to self-manage their anxiety To teach children Mindfulness exercises they can use for life To build a reservoir of strength to enable children to cope with life more effectively To minimise anxiety symptoms occurring in the future For children to use a range of effective coping strategies Teaches children how to self-calm To develop emotional intelligence skills Teaches children life long skills to manage stress and prevent stress build up Supports children so they know they are not alone with suffering from anxiety |
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Program Structure
Peaceful Kids is an 8 week program for a small group of primary aged or secondary school children held at a school or a private organisation led by a Peaceful Kids trained leader. A group of 4 to 6 children participate each week over an 8 week period. Sessions are for approximately 1 hour each week. Sessions include learning a range of mindfulness strategies and meditations, effective coping strategies and positive psychology exercises. Children learn a new meditation each week and then practice at home on a daily basis. |
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Research
Peaceful Kids is based on evidence based therapy and research from the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR), Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiBCT), Positive Psychology and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The Peaceful Kids program is endorsed by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) Peaceful Kids was researched through the Murdoch University for Beyond Blue - Be You, and has now been approved as an evidence based school program. Research has also been conducted through EACH on both the Peaceful Kids and Peaceful Parents program, and evaluated by Save the Children for their 'Cool for School' Program. |
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Peaceful Teens
Peaceful Teens is very similar to the Peaceful Kids program but adapted to specifcially target teenagers. Through Mindfulness and Positive Psychology strategies, Peaceful Teens helps teenagers to navigate through their difficulties in a supportive group environment. Building on the content covered in the Peaceful Kids program, Peaceful Teens also includes a deeper understanding and application of Mindfulness, grounding techniques, controlling the controllables, riding the waves of strong emotions, adaptive coping strategies, managing unhelpful thinking and self care. The Peaceful Teens program can be facilitated by trained participants who have suitable qualifications and experience with teenagers. More information and training coming in January 2022. |
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