April 2025- Self-Awareness
Welcome to Spring!! May this spring break bring you the relaxation you deserve!
This month we are focusing on self-awareness. You might have heard the term before, but do you know what it means? Self-awareness is defined by the conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives and desires. Let's talk about it, and how it can help in school, with friends and even in the future.
Self-awareness is basically knowing who you are; your thoughts, emotions and behaviors. It means being in tune with your feelings, understanding why you feel the way you do and recognizing how your actions can impact others. It's like looking at yourself in the mirror, not just at your face, but at what's going on inside.
So why does self-awareness matter? It helps you understand your strengths and areas where you can grow. It can boost your confidence and make you more resilient when life throws challenges your way. When you know yourself, you make better choices and cope with stress more effectively.
But how do we build self-awareness? It takes practice, here are some tips:
1. Check in with yourself regularly. Ask yourself, how do I really feel about this.
2. Keep a journal. Write down your thoughts and feelings.
3. Practice mindfulness. Take a few minutes every day to take deep breaths; this will make you more aware of your thoughts and how you're feeling. Try to acknowledge where you feel it in your body.
Let's try an example. You are worried about a big exam coming up, and instead of snapping at your friend who just made a joke, you remind yourself, "I am just feeling anxious about this exam, not actually upset about the joke." Self-awareness allows you to manage the emotion rather than letting it control you.
At Glendon school we will be focusing on self-reflection, and positive self-talk and how they can help our mental health. Positive self-talk can boost self-confidence, self-control, self-esteem, and influence impulse decisions. When kids are in situations where they question themselves, or put themselves down, they can end up struggling even more. When we are aware of our thoughts, feelings, strengths and weaknesses, it builds our character and our self-awareness. Spending time alone can help with focusing on ourselves.
More ideas to help with self-awareness:
- Walking in nature
- Drawing/coloring
- Body mapping
- Exercise
Here is an activity sheet for you and your child to complete together.
For more resources, check out the Self-Awareness page of the NLPS website.
If you would like me to connect with your child or your family, you can contact me at the school at 780-635-3881 or natalie.heffner@nlsd.ab.ca