Author: Alice Peel
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One place for change is schools
Right now in Australia, one woman is killed every week by her partner or ex. I am a primary school teacher and one of the co-founders of a mental health social venture, called Grow Your Mind…
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No sandwich left behind
No teacher should have a half eaten lunch. There are only 2 suitable reasons for not being able to finish your sandwich: All other examples: playground drama, friendship fight and/or kids being mean to each other are NOT suitable reasons for a half eaten sandwich and only 3 nibbles of your apple. And yet, sadly…
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Our achilles heel has become our superpower
For 7 years we have been on a content writing mission. We have prided ourselves on creating innovative, playful and research informed lessons and learning activities for you to use with your students. This has included but not limited to: You name it, we have been busy creating and writing it. Our aim has always…
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Mental fitness must start in primary school
My Sifiting Sooty (Reticular Activating System) picked up two fantastic pieces of news this week: In Wootten’s words: “That means if we work hard during childhood to build skills and strategies and ensure kids are feeling supported, connected and safe, we could see eight times fewer people experiencing mental illness later in life.” Let that…
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Changing the story of anxiety in kids
Why are so many kids anxious? I went bushwalking with two of my oldest friends the other day. Thrown in the mix of giggles and chats about life was the question – why are so many kids anxious? Everyone had a slightly different take on the reasons. I stumbled through my response and shared that…
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Consent is a two way street
NEW Grow Your Mind podcast episode – Season 4, Episode 1 with special guest Yumi Stynes! Episode 1, Season 4 opens with a SONG! We could not help ourselves. We were in celebration mode here at Grow Your Mind HQ. In October 2021, the NSW parliament voted to overhaul the state’s curriculum when it came…
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3 things that saved my mental health this year
I love to run. It’s never fast. It’s never stylish. But since I was a child I have delighted in it and I have been addicted to how I have felt during and after a dash outside. In fact, I crave the feeling of it and genuinely get excited the night before a run. Jogging…
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Our approach to capturing our impact: the story of the University of Wollongong
“Stories are data with a soul.” Dr Brené Brown 5 years ago we started Grow Your Mind. Immediately we could see its impact. 12 year old boys, frequently in trouble, were drawing stunning pictures of what it feels like to flourish. 5 year olds were telling us about the brain, their guard dog (the amygdala)…
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Episode 6, Season 3 is here: Lost in the Woods
Star of the Show: All of the animals! Character Strengths: Creativity, Leadership and Honesty. Allow me to set the scene of the final episode for Season 3 of the Grow Your Mind podcast. There is an over enthusiastic librarian. A theft has occurred. A promise between friends is broken. A struggle of what to do…
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Episode 5, Season 3 is here: Ouch this hurts
Star of the show: The Wise Owl (prefrontal cortex) 3 character strengths: Perspective, Self-Regulation and Perseverance. Last year we received an email from a primary school in Sydney’s inner west “Help! How can we support students who miss out on a leadership role in year 6?” Regardless of age we are all familiar with the…
