Mental wellness is important for kids and adults alike and that is why Health Promotion Board is recognising this with many initiatives like mental wellness family events. Living in a stressful city like Singapore, parents may unconsciously give pressure to their children.
That is why we believe it is essential to organise a mental wellness day every month or every quarter in your company to engage your colleagues and families. You can also incorporate this as part of your family day event or Bring Your Kids to Work day.
Here are 8 mental wellness family events ideas:
Organise a Nature Walk or Outdoor Adventure:
Organize a family-friendly nature walk or outdoor adventure, such as a hike, bike ride, or picnic in a park. Spending time in nature has been shown to improve mental health and reduce stress.
Here are suggestions if you need help:
- Best cycling routes suitable for families
- Make it a treasure hunt for your kids at Thomson Nature Park
- Fun ride and walk at Jurassic Mile at Changi Airport
Art Jam Session:
Set up an art jam session where families and kids can engage in creative activities that promote self-expression and emotional well-being. This is a great form of art therapy for adults as well as kids.
Provide art supplies and encourage them to create artwork based on their feelings and emotions. For kids, they are naturally inspiring but you can print out suggestions if they need any!
Yoga for Families:
Arrange a family yoga session where parents and children can participate together. Yoga promotes relaxation, flexibility, and mindfulness, helping to improve mental and physical well-being.
These sessions can include guided meditations, breathing exercises, and activities that promote relaxation and connection.
Positive Affirmations Workshops:
Mr Bottle’s Kids Party conducts magic workshops on positive affirmations where families and kids can learn about the power of positive self-talk in a fun way. Using our principles of empowering others as well as positivity, we always remind children to respect and appreciate.
It is using these same ideals, that we achieve many KPIs for schools for their youth-at-risk and children workshops.
I never knew my students could do that. (perform on stage in front of others)
form teacher from a Farrer Park Primary School
We provide materials for creating affirmation cards that they can take home and perform the magic for other people, which in turn helps to spread that positivity. This also help to remind themselves of their own inner strength.
Outdoor Games and Activities:
Plan a day of outdoor games and activities that promote physical activity and social interaction, such as relay races, scavenger hunts, or team-building games. You can incorporate these easily into your family day events.
We run a fun walking tour infused with magic and games and this is great for small groups of 20-30 to participate.
Physical exercise releases endorphins and boosts mood.
Organise Volunteer Opportunities:
Organize family-oriented volunteer opportunities within the workplace or in the local community. Engaging in acts of kindness and giving back can boost mood and create a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Children love animals so you can partner with a local animal shelter to bring families and kids to interact with. Interacting with animals has been shown to reduce stress and promote feelings of happiness.
Interactive Presentations on mental wellness
Invite guest speakers or mental health professionals to give interactive presentations on topics like resilience, positive thinking, or emotional well-being. Include engaging activities or discussions to involve parents and kids in the learning process. Of course, if there are children in a younger age group, we recommend a more interactive session like:
- Magic Show – Mr Bottle has been tasked to create a mental wellness magic show. Look out for it in the coming month.
- Puppet Show – Puppets can create fun discussion or even awkward discussions. This is perfect for some tattoo topics which a skillful puppet master can discuss.
- Storytelling: Arrange a storytelling session where families and kids can listen to or participate in interactive storytelling activities. Incorporate mindfulness exercises into the storytelling experience, encouraging children to engage their senses and focus on the present moment.
If this is part of your kids at work event, you can encourage your colleague to bring their children to their favourite nearby food establishment by having a meaningful lunch break. This is great for parent-child bonding to discuss what they feel about their parents working in the company.
Remember to consider the needs and preferences of the families and children attending the event, and tailor the activities accordingly. Providing a variety of options ensures that everyone can find something enjoyable and beneficial for their mental wellness.
