Breathe – Bounce – Believe
Heading back to school can bring up all sorts of feelings for pre-teens, from excitement about seeing friends again to nerves about new routines and challenges. To help make this transition a little smoother, we ran a “Back to School – Breathe, Bounce, Balance” workshop, giving the kids some simple but powerful tools to help them manage their emotions, boost confidence, and step into the new term feeling ready.
Finding Calm with Breath
We kicked things off by talking about big feelings and how tricky they can feel at times. The kids learned a few breathing techniques to help calm down when things get overwhelming. These are quick and easy tools they can use anytime , whether that’s before a test, during a busy school day, or even at home when emotions are running high.
Growing Confidence and Resilience
Next up was our mindset magic section. Through fun scenarios and discussions, the kids practiced spotting those unhelpful thoughts we all get from time to time and learned how to flip them into more positive, encouraging ones. This really helped them see how much strength they already have, and how they can bounce back when things don’t go their way.
Reflection and Self-Care
With some quiet journaling time, the children had a chance to think about their strengths, write down affirmations, and created their own self-care plan. This gave them space to reflect on who they are, what makes them feel good, and how they can look after themselves as they head back into the busyness of school life.
The Power of Gratitude
We also looked at how important gratitude is for wellbeing. Sharing the little things they’re thankful for helped the kids shift focus to the positives — something that can make a big difference when life feels a bit hectic.
Wrapping Up with Creativity
To finish, the children expressed their ideas through art and words, choosing messages that felt most important to them. This gave them something visual and personal to carry forward as a reminder of everything they’d explored.
✨ By the end of the session, the kids left with practical tools to help them breathe through big emotions, bounce back when things get tough, and find balance as they return to school. As parents, you can feel reassured that these strategies will support not only their learning but also their confidence and wellbeing throughout the year.
🌟 Parent Takeaway Tips
Here are a few simple ways you can support these ideas at home:
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Practice breathing together – Try a few calming breaths before bed or in the morning rush to help set the tone for the day.
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Use positive self-talk – Gently encourage your child to reframe unhelpful thoughts (“I can’t do this” → “I’ll give it a try”).
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Celebrate strengths – Point out times when they show resilience, kindness, or effort. Small acknowledgements go a long way.
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Model gratitude – Share what you’re grateful for at dinner or bedtime. Kids love hearing adults join in too.
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Create calm moments – Encourage journaling, doodling, or quiet time as part of their routine when life feels busy.
💬 Interested in finding out more?
If you are an educator who would like to explore how this could work in your school setting, a parent who’d love more ideas to support your child, or even a pre-teen curious to dive deeper into these tools, I wold love to hear from you.
👉 Get in touch and let’s keep the conversation going!
With LOVE Zakia