Education Today Education Today Magazine
In response to teachers’ concerns about the increasing amount of time children are spending online, PGL, the UK’s leading outdoor education provider, has launched a programme of activities giving school pupils tools and techniques to improve their wellbeing and manage their mental health.
The residential activity programme, THRIVE!, has been developed to provide children with a digital detox space which combines traditional PGL outdoor challenges with offline wellbeing activities. The holistic approach includes yoga, mindfulness, meditation and forest bathing to help children build better connections, improve their resilience and learn to relax.
Anthony Jones, Chief Executive Officer at PGL Beyond, comments: “We know from speaking to primary and secondary school teachers that too much time spent on electronic devices, managing anxiety, and pressures from influencers on social media are all having an impact on children’s mental health.
“Whilst schools are providing a huge amount of welfare support for pupils to address wellbeing issues, teachers say there’s a growing need for children to build resilience and develop techniques to cope with online pressures. The THRIVE! Programme helps create time and space outside the classroom to give children tools for resilience and wellbeing.”
The programme focuses on using outdoor spaces to address children’s health and wellbeing needs and has been developed with independent experts who understand the pressures young people face.
Dr Angharad Rudkin, Child Clinical Psychologist, adds: “Children need to be equipped with the tools to manage their worries, from physical exercise to expressing how they feel and listening to their friends.
“We also know that time spent outdoors plays a crucial role in alleviating the growing anxieties that children are experiencing.
“This programme combines the benefits of both approaches: proven health and wellbeing techniques alongside outdoor activities that are structured to grow self-esteem and boost confidence.
“Helping children disconnect from screens and engage in experiences that foster relaxation and emotional wellbeing sets them up for happiness and success both in and out of the classroom.”
THRIVE! is PGL’s fifth programme within the REACH framework, which was first launched in March 2023. The REACH framework has been designed in partnership with teachers to complement the school curriculum with hands-on learning outside of the classroom.
The REACH programmes encompass: Relationships, Experiences, Ability, Character, Health and Wellbeing.
