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The Happiness Box to support children’s emotional resilience in school
Creation of happiness boxes is one of the strategies outlined in an innovative on-line Teacher Professional learning Programme, which was launched by the Education Authority (EA) on 5th November 2020.
The programme is designed to help teachers develop support for pupils in the Covid-19 context, the Programme combines on-line webinars with school-based collaborative inquiry, to help develop a range of supportive responses for pupils.
The programme is delivered in partnership with Professor Barry Carpenter CBE, Professor of Mental Health in Education, Oxford University, who explained how his happiness box strategy can help an anxious child self-regulate.
‘The Happiness Box is a visible and tangible way of creating, before the child’s eyes, what inner strength may actually look like. It enables them to practise and rehearse strategies that help them cope with their emotions, resolve inner conflict, and bring them to a calm emotional state,’ said Professor Carpenter.
There are 154 schools taking part in the learning programme, which involves two teachers representing each school participating in three webinars, led by Professor Carpenter, between November 2020 and January 2021, and then undertake follow up activities within their school.
Shane Comer from Education Authority said: ‘We are delighted with the uptake for this excellent and innovative programme which once again highlights the commitment demonstrated by our teachers to creating caring and productive environments for children and young people.’