Creating a culture of self-care through design.
Mental health, and the fostering of such - especially in youth - has become of increasing importance, which is amazing (and not a moment too late).
With this in mind, it begs the questions ‘how do we best nurture a student’s mental health, and what can we do from an environmental perspective?’.
Particularly after Covid and its consequential Stay-at-Home orders, there has been a monumental change in the way students perceive learning and the classroom.
But let’s face it, even before Covid, school can often be an overwhelming and intimidating space for some.
To help us mitigate the resulting overwhelm, we can introduce designated spaces to act as a Cool-Down Zone, ‘Cosy Corner’ or in the case of St. Paul’s C of E, a Nurture Room.
St Paul’s C of E boasts a ‘Nurture Room’ featuring muted tones and a treescape wall graphic to elicit a sense of calm.
A space for quiet contemplation.
By creating a safe space for students to turn to when ‘big feelings’ are present, we allow them the opportunity to feel comfortable and confident in surroundings that support and enable their ability to manage feelings and emotions in an area specifically nominated to cater to those needs.
In St Paul’s C of E, we used a combination of wall graphics printed on wallpaper, and shape cut wall boards in muted tones often affiliated with serenity.
Each of the wall boards displays one of the schools’ values and a corresponding motif which embodies the value; majority of which perfectly align with the principles behind a ‘Nurture Corner’:
Listening
Love
Respect
Speaking
Trust
Courage
We really value the consideration given to a space which could have been used for any number of things, but was instead used to create this safe haven for students to find peace.
The overall goal of a cool down zone is to provide pupils with a space in which they feel safe recognising and regulating their emotions in a healthy way. These corners don’t need to be complicated and can be developed and promoted in a variety of ways.
As adults, we understand the power of stepping away from situations to take a deep breath, gather ourselves, and gain some perspective.
The introduction of an area where it is safe to do so within the school environment can help students practice identifying feelings and emotions to better manage stress, self-regulate and control their impulses.
Having a space designed to support them emotionally and physically helps them feel safe and comfortable, allowing them to let down their guard to process different, and often difficult, feelings.
Breathing room.
The Media Collective are passionate about making sure school is a place that students want to be.
By introducing spaces that encourage and empower students to practice self care, we believe that school becomes a place where they feel valued, heard and understood.
A safe haven where you are providing a vital service and helping them establish healthy coping practices which will have far reaching benefits now, and later on in life.
If you feel as though this is an installation your school would benefit from, we would love to speak with you about how we can best use the space you have available to design a suitable area that supports the smooth sailing of your students as they navigate their rough passages.
To discuss your options, we welcome you to make the most of our FREE consultation service.
