Favourite Spaces

Tamariki understand how different places can impact our wellbeing, and can describe a few of their favourite places.

Students will need a copy of our Favourite spaces worksheet.

Taking notice of our surroundings and how they make us feel builds mindfulness and can really boost the way we feel.

This activity helps students understand how different spaces can influence our wellbeing. It also gives them the chance to think about the spaces that make them feel safe, happy and calm.

As a group, discuss the places that make us feel good.

• What is a space they like to spend time in?
• What makes it a nice place to be?
• How do they feel when they spend time in that place?
• What’s their favourite space at school or in their classroom?
• How can we care for our favourite indoor spaces?
• What about our favourite outside places?

Give each student a copy of our Favourite spaces worksheet and ask them to:

• Write down two of their favourite places: one at school, one outside school.
• Draw these places – or a favourite feature. This could be an object, toy, person or even the way they feel there.
• Add some adjectives to describe how they feel when they are there.

Regroup and give tamariki the opportunity to share the places they’ve chosen or something they like about them.

Encourage children to spend time in these spaces whenever they can, and to find other spaces that make them feel safe, happy and calm.

Plan a Wellbeing walkabout or try our Sense of the day activity.

If you think it may be useful for whānau to understand the many benefit of having a favourite space - it may be in a student's home or garden - simply copy and paste the following 'blurb' into an email or your home-learning programme as an introduction.

In the classroom we've been thinking about and creating some favourite spaces - cozy places we can go when we want to relax. Often we will have these special places, but don't share why they're important. No doubt your child will also have a restful, comforting place at home , and it would be great if you could talk to them about this. Part of the reason this is important is because taking notice of our surroundings and how they make us feel builds mindfulness and can really boost our mood.

Sparklers at Home talks more about this and has adapted our classroom activity for home use, also called Favourite Spaces. It would be great if you could give this some time with your child. Favourite Spaces are good for everyone!