Children’s Mental Health Week

Posted: 6th February 2023

This week marks Children’s Mental Health Week. It is an occasion to shine a light on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. This is the ninth year of the awareness week, and through the collective experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an issue which has taken on even greater importance.

An Important Issue

In 2020, an NHS survey revealed that 1 in 6 children have a diagnosable mental health problem. Also, in the last three years, the likelihood of young people having a mental health problem has increased by 50%, according to the Children’s Society.

Let’s Connect

Children’s Mental Health Week takes place 6-12 February and this year’s theme is Let’s Connect.

Human beings thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing, and our survival. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.

Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections for all, during Children’s Mental Health Week – and beyond.

For Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, we’re encouraging people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding, and meaningful ways.

👆Here are some tips to help families explore the theme of Let’s Connect at home 👆

Nurturing Healthy Development

Here at Gymboree Play & Music we’re very aware of the social and emotional benefits of play. For example, our Theatre Arts classes for 3–5 year olds develop confidence, self-expression and concentration for overall wellbeing. Also, in our Babies class, for 0-8 month olds, expert teachers lead carers and parents through nurturing exercises and activities that stimulate baby’s healthy brain development.

So, you can be sure that healthy cognitive development and wellbeing runs right through our programmes from Baby to Toddler and Preschooler.

Children’s Mental Health Week is hosted by Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity.

child development, classes, Covid 19, wellbeing

Reviews

Both of my children (3.5 years and 11 months) go to Gymboree Play & Music and love it. My toddler goes to their drop-off Lego class which she raves about. It's very creative, working not only on Lego skills but also painting, drawing etc. My infant son loves his Gymboree Play & Music Crawlers class - particularly loves crawling all over their props, through the tunnels, etc. Great way to get the infant crawling over obstacles! Gymboree Play & Music is part of our weekly schedule for both kids and we look forward to participating every week. Invaluable!

Natalia, Hampstead

Gymboree Play & Music was a lovely and positive experience for my son Leo. We started when he was 9 months and he is now 3 years old, I wish we had started sooner.
He loves the songs (which is part of our daily singing at home), the freedom to explore and he was happy there. He looks forward to class every week and once class is over he will tell everyone about Gymbo and what he did.
For me, I liked that it taught him how to get down safely from a height, how to learn to use his body, and touching on different topics every 2 weeks. It gave me confidence in other environments to trust that he has the ability that he learned from Gymboree Play & Music and to trust him.

Sheena, Sevenoaks

I’ve been taking both my newborn and toddler to Gymboree Play & Music for a couple of months now and both boys are really loving the classes and open gym sessions. It’s a great way to meet other mums, entertain toddlers at witching hour(!) and get ideas for sensory play with babies. Sophie and Cat are fantastic and have so much energy and loads of different ideas for the classes, plus make sure the activities it’s help children meet their development milestones as well. Highly recommend this if you’re thinking about joining!! Thanks so much Sophie, Cat and the wider team :-)

Pippa, Tunbridge Wells