Life-Based Learning
Delivering subject content for children aged 5 to 11 through 9 life themes
Category: Mental Health
The Summer of Play campaign promotes children’s wellbeing and development
As pressure continues to build on the government over its post-Covid education recovery programme — to ensure that it is not just adequately funded but also sufficiently ambitious in its aims, scope and timescale — a campaign is underway to encourage as many people… Continue Reading “The Summer of Play campaign promotes children’s wellbeing and development”
The BBC’s Plant Britain scheme is a great way to promote nature education
Ahead of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow in November, Glasgow City Region has announced a plan to plant 18m trees — 10 for every resident — over the coming decade, part of a new urban ‘forest’ to tackle climate change. The announcement… Continue Reading “The BBC’s Plant Britain scheme is a great way to promote nature education”
Why we must do more to promote reading for pleasure
Hurray! At last, some good news about the impact of lockdown on children! Apparently, they have not only been reading more during lockdown but also tackling more challenging texts as well. Alas, the positive headlines masked what is actually a rather less encouraging situation.… Continue Reading “Why we must do more to promote reading for pleasure”
Free play is an important ingredient in the learning mix
Concerns about the damage to children’s wellbeing caused by a relentless focus on academic achievement and an unforgiving accountability-by-results culture — a 2019 survey of primary school heads included the comment “For those children in year 6 […] it’s intense, it’s grotty. It’s just… Continue Reading “Free play is an important ingredient in the learning mix”
All young children should be receiving free swimming lessons
Former Olympic swimming gold medallist Duncan Goodhew has been in the news this week urging parents to prioritise swimming lessons for their children now that swimming pools are able to reopen. His intervention is a timely reminder of the importance that swimming plays not… Continue Reading “All young children should be receiving free swimming lessons”
Children need to be able to safely enjoy and learn through play
Play has huge benefits for children and families. We have repeatedly highlighted on the Forum website its benefits for children’s intellectual, emotional, social and physical development. It helps maintain physical and mental health. It develops self-awareness and social interaction skills. It also promotes key… Continue Reading “Children need to be able to safely enjoy and learn through play”
Being involved in positive change can boost children’s mental health
A bold and imaginative approach to boosting children’s post-lockdown mental health and wellbeing would include a coordinated effort — involving parents and schools, young people’s organisations like Scouts and Guides, and community-driven initiatives — to offer every young person encouragement and, more importantly, easy-to-access… Continue Reading “Being involved in positive change can boost children’s mental health”
Unlocking the benefits for children of play and outdoor learning
England has today moved to the next phase in the easing of the national lockdown, and the UK’s devolved nations are also in the process of gradually easing their restrictions. Now that spring has arrived, the evenings are getting longer and (hopefully) the weather… Continue Reading “Unlocking the benefits for children of play and outdoor learning”
Urgent letter to PM highlights the need for outdoor education
Adventurers, explorers and people involved in sport, including figures such as Clive Woodward, have joined with leaders of outdoor centres, schools and charities, and others concerned with children’s wellbeing in signing a letter to the prime minister this week, urging him to allow outdoor… Continue Reading “Urgent letter to PM highlights the need for outdoor education”
‘Active recovery’ needs to be much more than just a short-term fix
The children’s charity Youth Sport Trust is calling for the government to make the remainder of the current school year an ‘active recovery term’ for young people, with a renewed focus on sport, physical activity and physical education, and time outdoors. We wholeheartedly agree… Continue Reading “‘Active recovery’ needs to be much more than just a short-term fix”