What is Children's Mental Health Week?
Children's Mental Health Week is a time to learn how to take care of our mind and body. It helps us understand our feelings and how to stay happy and healthy.
In 2025, Children's Mental Health Week is the 3rd - 9th February.
There are lots of things that affect our feelings. Learn more about:
- Exercising
- Eating well
- Making friends
- Being creative
Wellbeing
There are lots of different feelings and emotions. Having good mental wellbeing means feeling good most of the time and knowing what to do when you're not feeling good.
How many different feelings can you name?
Dr Radha Modgil Ben and Breagha find out all about different feelings.
Feeling Happy
BBC Teach: Moodboosters
How to deal with feeling lonely
BBC Teach: Moodboosters
Colour in the poster - music from the UK
EYFS: Understanding the World
Healthy Eating
Eating healthily is good for your body and your mental health.
What you eat can affect your mood and how much energy you have.
Do you know how much of each type of food we need? Click on the pictures to find out.
Activity: Food Groups
What is healthy eating?
KS1: Cooking and Nutrition
What do humans need to be healthy?
KS1: Science
Where does food come from?
KS1: Cooking and Nutrition
Exercise
Exercise is also great for making you feel good. Exercise releases endorphins in your body, a chemical which makes you feel happy.
It helps make your body stronger and even helps your concentration at school.
What A beautiful day to be amazingly active! And so many possibilities.
Jasper gently jogs past before Aria races past him.
Jogging or running is great exercise, and you can race your friends. Woah that’s fast, that’s called sprinting!
We see Josh jumping on the spot.
Star jumps are also fun, or hopping on one leg. skipping with a rope. Great idea!
Jasper hops in as the teacher gets ready to skip with a rope and trips on the first try.
Oops!
Teacher trips over the skipping rope.
Good shot.
We see a football being kicked around.
Playing sport is also a good way to stay fit and healthy.
Daisy throws a netball into a net. Josh pops up with a cricket bat and ball before we see Jasper hitting a ball with a hockey stick.
Football, netball, cricket or hockey are all team sports.
But just lobbing or batting a ball can be just as much fun. Especially when you catch it as well.
The teacher is waiting hands out ready to catch but gets bombarded by lots of balls.
Phew, it can be a lot of effort and use a lot of energy to stay active. But it’s always worth it, even if you are totally exhausted. Keep it up!
Stay active with the Supermovers!
KS1 Maths: Telling the Time
BBC Teach: Supermovers
KS1 English: The Spelling Bee with Bertie Bee
BBC Teach: Supermovers
KS1 PSHE: Super Mood Movers - Being happy and safe
BBC Teach: Supermovers
Starting school
Starting school or a new year group can sometimes make us feel a bit unsure. This is normal!
It can also be an exciting time! You'll learn new things, make new friends, and try lots of fun activities.
If you ever feel worried, your teacher is there to help.
My First Day at School. game
EYFS: Understanding the World
Small Town Superheroes game
KS1: English
Karate Cats Maths. game
KS1: Maths
Making friends
Sometimes, making friends can feel difficult.
In school, you will sit next to other children and may work together. This is a great way to get to know other children.
Another great way to make friends is to attend after school clubs such as sports clubs. Your school will be able to tell you more.
Funny friends!
Jasper is holding a ball looking sad
Oh no, have you fallen out with your friend?
We see Josh with a skipping rope.
Aaah! The problem was you wanted to play different games, and you had an argument.
Jasper and Josh turn their back to each other.
It’s ok to disagree with our friends. But we shouldn’t be mean or say hurtful words.
Sometimes we need to be patient, take a break to reflect on what happened and calm down.
Then we can be kind and help each other discuss our problems, to understand how we feel.
Josh holds up a second skipping rope to Jasper who takes the rope.
Friends are thoughtful people you can trust. They cheer us up.
The ball get kicked really hard and flies off and lands near Aria.
Making new friends can be difficult. Let’s introduce ourselves, maybe share our toys.
You might know what it’s like to feel blue and have sympathy for how they might be feeling.
They stop and hold up the skipping rope and the ball to Aria.
And let’s not forget, you can have a friendship group.
One of the parents is about to eat an ice cream when a seagull swoops down and steals it.
Oh dear, I don’t think they’re friends.
Being creative
Everybody feels sad or worried sometimes. This is normal! Being creative can help you feel more positive.
One way people do this is through mindfulness. This is when you focus on the current moment rather than on what is worrying you.
This can include colouring, drawing, painting and even doing gardening.
Colour in Cal and Bunny
EYFS: Expressive Arts and Design
Colour in a rainbow
EYFS: Expressive Arts and Design
Colour in the poster - music from the UK
EYFS: Understanding the World
Tips for parents
Starting primary school, navigating friendships and healthy eating can all be challenging for parents.
BBC Bitesize Parents' Toolkit has a variety of articles and resources written by experts and parents to support parents with school aged children. This includes social media use, raising awareness of home learning and even finding support in other parents.
How to help with the transition from home to school
Parents' Toolkit
How to help your child make friends at school
Parents' Toolkit
Fifteen easy and nutritious lunchbox ideas
Parents' Toolkit
