5 a Day Wellbeing Way – Brought to you by the London Borough of Croydon

The Five Ways to Wellbeing is a researched backed initiative (NEF 2008) designed to offer simple ways to improve our wellbeing everyday. This website provides a toolkit of resources to support 0-12 year olds and beyond, as well as their families and those working with them.

HAF Christmas Activities Guide

This Christmas Activity booklet is designed to support children and young people who access the HAF Programme.

5 A Day Mental Health & Wellbeing Guide – 0-7 years

A digital guide for all to help improve our wellbeing through practical information, guidance and supporting activities. Also suitable for children and young people with SEND and SEMH difficulties.

5 A Day Mental Health & Wellbeing Guide – 7-12 years

A digital guide for all to help improve our wellbeing through practical information, guidance and supporting activities. Also suitable for children and young people with SEND and SEMH difficulties.

5 A Day Mental Health & Wellbeing Guide for Practitioners

Activities, lesson plans, assembly and parent engagement ideas for all those working with 0-12 year olds, those with SEND and SEMH issues of all ages. This will support teaching of PSED and the RHSE curriculum.

5 Ways to Wellbeing Way toolkit

Please find all you need to use alongside the materials we have provided including cut outs, games, exercises, logos and design elements.

Bringing the characters to life

See how the designer brought the childrens character drawings to life and created their world around them.

Staff Wellbeing Bingo

Staff Wellbeing Planner

Use the suggestions on the planner as a starting point to design a school wellbeing action plan that enhances staff wellbeing in the short, medium and long term.

Recommended for younger children to introduce the 5 ways to wellbeing

5 A Day on Wellbeing Way Storybook

A digital version of 5 A Day On Wellbeing Way Storybook with sing along song, including Makaton signs. Play audio version and read along with your storybook or online.

Watch the Makaton Song

The children of Rockmount Primary School perform the Makaton version of the song.

Learn the Makaton Signs

Recommended for older children to explore the 5 ways to wellbeing in greater depth

5 A Day on Wellbeing Way Animated Video

Take a look and find out more about our fab interactive storybook for children under 7

Find out more about our Wellbeing Way Wednesday

Contact via email for more information and support on how to introduce 5 Ways to Wellbeing to children, parents and staff.

Wellbeing Way in the Home and Community

Wellbeing Way at Smitham

Wellbeing Way at St Thomas Becket

See how Rockmount Primary School have been involved with Wellbeing Way

Wellbeing Way is a happy platform in which to discuss deeper concerns and supports by introducing techniques of growth mindset and grounding. It is really effective in small group and one to one sessions as it is double layered- allowing a child to practice focus and concentration whilst also exploring wellbeing.

Wellbeing Way is a fun, child friendly resource to encourage children to think and to talk about their mental health. The children at Smitham have responded well to the five characters and are able to relate their attributes to the areas of their own learning. Teachers now incorporate the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ within their everyday teaching as well as hold individual sessions on each of the five characters. This is a fabulous resource and platform for teachers, children and parents and has been very well received at Smitham Primary School. We look forward to embedding it more and continuing to use the wealth of resources and activities that are on offer.

All children and staff at Smitham enjoyed taking part in Wellbeing Way Wednesday. In particular, they enjoyed joining the online ‘breathing space’ where classes were given the opportunity to connect with other schools from Croydon to take part in some breathing activities. All classes spent time talking about each of the five characters and taking part in activities relating to each one. This was a great day to remind the children of the importance of looking after themselves mentally and physically. Mrs Mein PSHE Lead Smitham Primary School Previously children led a whole school assembly in which they taught everyone useful breathing exercises from the guide. Today lots of classes stopped at 10.05 to join in the live break for a breathing space session - connecting together.‘

The children really enjoyed the hand breathing activity. It really helped bring them back to the moment.

The children were able to link each character to moments and events that occurred throughout the day.

The Wellbeing Way is a really fun way to get children to engage with understanding themselves and their feelings.

The children love thinking back on things they have learned. They have been a lot more mindful of how their bodies feel from breathing or from doing exercise, and they have been ‘connecting’ with children in the class during some activities that they don’t usually, which has been lovely to see.

Even though originally aimed at younger children the simplicity of Wellbeing Way is really effective with older children too. I have successfully used and adapted resources up to Sixth form/ key Stage 5 level. The simple actionable ideas are really useful to anyone going through a challenging time.

My favourite character is Noticing Nina because she actually sees how things can be different and can see things other people might not be able to.

I think Active Akhim is the best. He is very sporty, It is fun being sporty and it makes me feel good.

I was Giving Gilbert today by helping my friend balance on the thin beam in P.E’

I like Lenny the Learner because I love learning new things.

I think I am most like Active Akhim. I find it easier to connect with people when I am being active. If you are playing a sport its easier to make friends because you both love it.

I am like Noticing Nina. I always start off being shy but when I get to know people, I become more alive. Especially with grown-ups – I find it harder to adapt.

My favourite character is Active Akhim because he does lots of sports. Sports make me feel happy and I enjoy them.

Connie Connect gets to know people when she is brave.

If you would like support to introduce 5 Ways to Wellbeing using our Wellbeing Way resources into your school or setting please contact educationwellbeing@croydon.gov.uk

We offer: Staff Training Sessions, Parent Workshops, Staff Wellbeing Workshops, Class/ year group Workshops, Assembly sessions