May 5-9 Mental Health Week at CLES
Welcome back to another fun filled month at Cold Lake Elementary School. This month we are focusing on Mental Health. May is Mental Health Month and we are focusing on the importance of mental wellbeing. At Cold Lake Elementary School, we will be celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week from May 5-9th.
Activities happening this week at school:
Mindful Monday: Yoga in the Gym for all classes
Terrific Tuesday: Chalk the Walk with positive pictures and messages
Wednesday: Hats on for Mental Health
Thursday: You are one tough cookie: Cookies for all.
Friday: Zentangling
Throughout the week students will be doing activities with their teachers to learn more about how to support a positive mental health.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially for growing minds. At our school, we encourage students to talk about their feelings and support one another. Parents can help by listening, offering comfort, and creating a safe space at home. Simple daily routines, enough sleep, and time to play all support healthy minds. Together, we can build a caring community where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.
Here are five helpful resources parents can use to support positive mental health at home:
- KidsHealth.org (Nemours) – Offers parent-friendly articles on children's emotional development, mental health, and how to talk about feelings.
https://kidshealth.org - "The Invisible String" by Patrice Karst – A comforting picture book that helps children understand connection and love, even when apart or facing tough emotions.
- Child Mind Institute – Provides practical tips and resources for supporting kids’ mental health, including anxiety, behavior, and resilience.
https://childmind.org - "What to Do When You Worry Too Much" by Dawn Huebner – A workbook-style book that teaches kids strategies to manage anxiety in a fun, interactive way.
- Sesame Street in Communities: Mental Health – Offers videos, activities, and articles for younger children to help them understand and talk about feelings.
https://sesamestreetincommunities.org
Activities that can be done at home:
1. Feelings Chart Check-In
Create or print a chart with different facial expressions and feeling words. Each day, ask your child how they feel and why. This helps build emotional vocabulary and encourages open conversation.
2. Gratitude Jar
Each day, write or draw one thing you're thankful for on a small piece of paper and put it in a jar. Read the notes together at the end of the week to focus on the positive.
3. Breathing Buddies
Have your child lie down with a stuffed animal on their belly. Practice slow, deep breaths and watch the stuffed animal rise and fall. This teaches mindfulness and self-regulation.
4. Worry Box or Worry Doll
Create a small box or use a worry doll where your child can “give” their worries at bedtime. This helps them externalize and manage anxious thoughts.
5. Emotion Charades
Take turns acting out different emotions without using words while the other person guesses. It’s a fun way to recognize and understand feelings.
6. Drawing or Coloring Feelings
Invite your child to draw how they feel inside using colors, shapes, or pictures. Ask questions like “What does this color mean to you?” to deepen understanding.
7. Kindness Challenge
Create a weekly challenge with small acts of kindness (e.g., help a sibling, say something nice, share a toy). Talk about how it feels to be kind.
8. Storytime with Social-Emotional Books
Read books that talk about emotions, friendship, or handling challenges (e.g., The Color Monster, Ruby Finds a Worry). Pause and ask questions about how the characters feel.
9. Yoga or Movement Breaks
Do simple yoga poses or stretching together. It helps calm the body and reduce stress while bonding through movement.
10. "Rose, Thorn, and Bud" Reflections
Each night, share one good thing (rose), one hard thing (thorn), and one thing you're looking forward to (bud). This builds emotional reflection and connection.
Connect with Our Student Advocacy Counsellor: Reach Out for Support
Need guidance or wish to discuss well-being? Our Student Advocacy Counsellors are here for you. Contact haley.reed@nlsd.ab.ca or call 780-639-3107.