91�ȱ�

91�ȱ� Teach > Moodboosters

Gethin Jones, Laura Hopkinson and surprise guest Joe Wicks MBE joined Pudsey and primary schools from across the UK on 91�ȱ� Children in Need day 2022 for a live-streamed event to launch Moodboosters.

Schools joined in with easy-to-follow moves and fun activities from the new initiative, which aims to get primary school-age children moving and learning about their mental health and wellbeing.

Joe Wicks says he’s thrilled to support Moodboosters because getting our bodies moving is key to positive mental wellbeing.

He said: “It’s so important to exercise and take part in activities that will not only benefit you physically, but will make you feel good and help you be the best you can be.”

The Body Coach, who took time out from his Children in Need walking challenge to surprise children at the event and online, added: “Hopefully the Moodboosters initiative will help children and young people feel empowered to increase their positive mental wellbeing through fun and simple activities that can be done in classrooms or at home.”

The event saw broadcaster Gethin Jones host the session of fun and learning. He said: “Supporting children and young people with their mental wellbeing is vital to their overall development. Moodboosters gives young people the opportunity to take part in a range of online activities at school with their peers where they can enjoy moving their bodies to have fun and feel more positive.”

You can take a look back at the live-streamed event and join in with the activities at any time in your classroom or at home at:

Highlights included children sharing their rock star moves in ‘Let’s Rock’, which encourages children to form an air instrument rock band. and ‘Wave of Thanks’, in which waving gestures are used to share gratitude.

“Teachers have said ‘we really want to bring this in everyday… can we put it on the timetable?'"

Lee Ashton, Headteacher of Primrose Hill School who hosted the live-stream, said: “I came into the hall after the event had finished and the energy from our pupils was palpable - they were very excited and motivated by what had taken place. Moodboosters fits in nicely with the work that we’re already doing on mental wellbeing and wellness, and it’s nice to have something that we can share nationally so we have a common language with other schools.”

He added: “Teachers have said ‘we really want to bring this in everyday… can we put it on the timetable?’ so we’re now looking at how we can accommodate the activities in our timetable. We’d like to use the videos early in the day to encourage children to get here on time and to be wide awake and ready to learn.”

Schools inspired by the live event can try the video versions on the new Moodboosters website which provides primary school teachers and parents with short, simple and fun videos, featuring well-known faces including Oti Mabuse and Dr Ranj, to support the PSHE curriculum for 5-11 year-olds.

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