Articles
Creative Minds, Happy Hearts: The Power of Visual Arts in Children’s Wellbeing
Visual art plays a powerful role in supporting the mental, emotional, and social wellbeing of children. From drawing and painting to sculpture and collage, creative expression offers children a safe and engaging way to explore their emotions, develop self-awareness,...
The Power of Gratitude: How Thankfulness Boosts Kids’ Mental Health
A small word can change a life Have you ever seen a child’s face light up when they’re genuinely thanked? Or how their mood shifts when they reflect on something they enjoyed that day? These small moments of thankfulness are powerful—and they’re backed by...
Take a Break: Why Short Pauses Help Young Minds Focus and Thrive
Children and teens today face unprecedented cognitive demands. Whether it’s switching between subjects, navigating digital platforms, managing social pressures, or processing a fast-paced information flow, their days are full—and their brains are often overloaded. In...
Mindfulness Rituals at School: Moments of Calm and Attention
In a world of constant stimulation and intensifying school rhythms, pre-adolescents face increasing challenges in maintaining their attention and managing their stress. Mindfulness practices, adapted to the school context in the form of regular rituals, offer a...
Friendships and Mental Health: Why Social Bonds Matter for Preteens
Friendships play a fundamental role in a child’s emotional and psychological development, particularly between the ages of 9 and 12. During this pre-adolescent phase, peer relationships become increasingly important, influencing self-esteem, social skills, and overall...
Rooted in Wisdom: How Nature-Based Education Nurtures Our Future Minds
by Branislav Kaleta, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Nature-based education goes by many names, but any classroom activity in nature counts. From sitting down and reading Shakespeare in the school garden to lifting logs and counting the different types of bugs...
Promoting Internet Safety: Insights from Internet Safer Day Ireland
Safer Internet Day was celebrated in Ireland on Tuesday 11th February 2025. In today’s fast-paced digital world, internet safety is more critical than ever. As technology continues to evolve, our reliance on the internet for communication, education, entertainment,...
Cultivating Resilience Through Storytelling: When Fiction Inspires Perseverance
Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is an essential skill for the development and well-being of pre-adolescents. Fairytales, with their heroes facing challenges and their initiatory journeys, offer fertile ground for cultivating this precious...
Myths and Facts About Lifestyle Medicine and Wellbeing
Are you frustrated with quick-fix diets and overwhelming wellness trends that promise much but deliver little? What if achieving a healthier life comes down to simple, everyday choices instead of drastic shifts? Explore how lifestyle medicine can enhance your...
The Kind Voice Inside: Teaching Self-Compassion to Preteens
Pre-teens and teenagers often face an internal critic that can feel louder than any external voice. Whether it’s struggling with a tough test, feeling excluded by friends, or comparing themselves to others online, self-doubt can creep in and take root. But what if we...
No Page Left Unturned
by Angel Harper, RCSI In a world where reading and writing are both essential skills and a means for self-expression, it can be a challenge to engage young children with reading difficulties. Dyslexia is one such learning difficulty which impacts roughly 10% of the...
Music and the Developing Brain
by Stephen Campbell For as long as humans have existed, music has been a powerful form of human expression. Music varies in structure and form, but also in how it sounds, the emotions it evokes, and the way in which it is listened to by others. Music's ability to stir...