Puppets explore mental health issues

The importance of mental well-being has been in the spotlight at Flinders Park Primary School through a national initiative to build a positive school community for young students.

In the lead-up to Mental Health Week, a series of puppet shows exploring themes such as friendship, bravery and humour have run in the junior primary classrooms once a week through the %KidsMatter Bounce Back Program, which aims to build empathy, resilience and self-esteem in their students.

Year 1 teacher Wendy Sheridan, who writes and performs the puppet shows, said a new concept was introduced each week through the show and then reinforced by teachers in their classrooms.

Flinders Park deputy principal Steve Fielding said the program had given the school a framework to focus on the well-being of the students.

“We know that when children feel like they belong at school, we see positive results in the classroom,” he said.