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This is the story of six children around the world who are experiencing school closures because of the pandemic.

Each story follows a similar pattern of frustration and challenge, finding their hope and spreading their hope to others.

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Fantasy creature Ario helps explain how children can protect themselves, and their friends and family, from the disease. Called My Hero is You, How Kids Can Fight COVID-19!, the book is aimed primarily at six to 11 year olds

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Looking after your Heart, Body and Mind 

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Looking after your Heart, Body and Mind 

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Barnardos has lots of fun activities on their website to keep children engaged, and activities that the family can do together.

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Looking after your Heart, Body and Mind during the Covid-19 Restrictions

Barnardos has quickly adapted to the current Covid-19 pandemic to continue to support children and their families, and we want to provide you and your children with the opportunity to check in with your Heart, Body and Mind regularly throughout this situation.

There are lots of fun activities listed below to keep your children engaged, and activities that the family can do together.  It is important to remain positive and engage with our children every day in a positive way.

It is also important that parents take care of themselves during this time. You will also see our Wellbeing for Parents section below, providing parents with tips on how to check in and be kind to themselves.

Listen to Jenny explain this new holistic Heart, Body, Mind approach to our work in the video below.

Parent Supportline

Barnardos has launched a national telephone support service for parents in response to the challenges they are facing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This service will be staffed by Barnardos project workers who are trained professionals.

Barnardos Parent Supportline

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Barnardos has quickly adapted to the current Covid-19 pandemic to continue to support children and their families, and we want to provide you and your children with the opportunity to check in with your Heart, Body and Mind regularly throughout this situation.   There are lots of fun activities listed below to keep your children engaged, and activities that the family can do together.  It is important to remain positive and engage with our children every day in a positive way.   It is also important that parents take care of themselves during this time.

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Learn about the importance of handwashing using this simple experiment.

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Lots of skills demonstrated here, including throwing, catching, balancing, landing & skipping.

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Beyond the Classroom

Beyond the Classroom resources can be used by teachers to help engage parents in their child's physical literacy journey. Learning undertaken within physical education class can be consolidated and enhanced outside of school. This resource is arranged into 15 sections - one for each of the fundamental movement skills. Children are encouraged to practise what they have learned in the PE lesson at school by completing the corresponding activities at home. Each activity is accompanied by a video clip and contains a warm-up, an opportunity to practise the fundamental movement skill, a home challenge and a task to complete in the child's PE journal. This resource is available in both English and Irish

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What you need...

To register for a Scoilnet Account you will need to have a Teaching Council number and a roll number for your school in Ireland.

If you already have a Scoilnet Account then you can sign in here.

The benefits...

A Scoilnet account will allow you to upload your resources or weblinks to Scoilnet as well as enabling you to share and add resources to a favourites listing. Users who have a Scoilnet Account will also be able to fully access Scoilnet Maps and Census@School from home.

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Official education portal of the Department of Education and Skills in Ireland. Curriculum focused resources and support for primary and post primary teachers.

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Relaxation & Self Regulation Tools for Children

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Relaxation & Self Regulation Tools for Children

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The PDST is funded by the Teacher Education Section (TES) of the Department of Education (DE) and is managed by Dublin West Education Centre.
14 Joyce Way, Park West Business Park, Nangor Road, Dublin 12 Email: info@pdst.ie User Login | Teacher Login | Learning for All | Privacy Policy | Cookie…

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A lovely journal to cultivate love and kindness for oneself.

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imoves.com has loads of FREE fun activities for children. Activities include wellebing & mental health as well as P.E., SESE, Maths & Literacy. Registration is required but it's free!

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Get FREE lifetime access to a selection of these resources... PLUS 14 days complimentary access to ALL our premium content!

Interested in a specific subject area?

We understand that every primary school is different - that's why we've created 'subject specific' memberships to suit you. Click on the links below to discover more!

What is imoves?

Watch this short video to find out more...

A digital platform to help Primary Schools teachers get their children more active with thousands of fun, engaging and educational resources.

✔️ 100's of active blasts - providing perfect brain breaks EVERY DAY!

✔️ A complete PE programme so YOU can deliver lessons with absolute confidence - from dance to gymnastics and games to OAA!

✔️ Support mental wellbeing with our structured programme of activities covering social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

✔️ Boost academic attainment with active lessons in Maths, Science, English and humanities.

✔️ Plus additional bonus content including over 350 easy to share home learning resources for holidays or at weekends!

What's included for schools?

Over 2,500 lessons including...

A sneak peak...

A fun and really popular activity which helps children understand core maths terminology such as equals, more and less.

A no fuss, vigorous, classroom favourite. The perfect antidote to brain fog, increasing energy and engagement.

Part of our gymnastics programme, an example of the shape jump, where children learn correct and safe techniques through expert age appropriate tuition.

Learn Better

Up to 20% Improvement

Just 5 minutes of activity enhances cognitive control for up to 1 hour

Focus Better

Up to 67% Improvement

Active children are better behaved and easier to manage

Feel Better

Increased Mental Resilience

Regular activity improves health, self esteem, confidence and well-being

Trusted by Teachers

Louise jones, Head Teacher

"imoves is really engaging for the children; staff absolutely love using it... We've seen a dramatic difference in children's attitudes to learning and concentration. It's been an amazing tool to upskill teachers."

The Research Has Been Done

Active Children Learn Better

Active Children Focus Better

Active Children Feel Better

Studies show that physical activity can boost children's self-esteem, enhance their mood, and help them develop stronger and more varied friendships.

Teachers LOVE imoves

" It's easy. It's all there for you...

...There are so many different topic areas, that will link into your learning...

...With it all being there, that saves time in itself...

...You don't have to do the thinking yourself. All the planning is there...

...it improves behaviour when they come back into the classroom, because they are a bit more calmer"

"imoves brings out a lot of imagination for children, which obviously moves on into their writing, which we've seen...

... a really good resource for immersing into topics and things across the curriculum...

...the planning is really detailed - structured from the warm up to the main activity to the cool down...

...its important that its connected to the work that they are doing as well, which we can easily do with imoves"

"you can cater it towards any topic that you are doing, it's really creative, and the children get a lot out of it...

...we start the day most days with the daily challenges, or we might have them after lunch...

...its a really great way to get the children energised...

...its easy to pick up a lesson plan, to have a read through it, all the resources are there for you...

...I love seeing the children enjoy something"

Your kids will be more ready to learn, motivated and happier as they enjoy engaging lessons across the curriculum resulting in a more productive classroom every day!

You will have access to all our professionally produced resources and the expert support you need to get kids more active, every day, across every part of the curriculum with absolute confidence.

imoves will save you time, reduce stress, improve behaviours, enhance learning outcomes, and make your classroom a brighter happier environment.

Our Brighter, Healthier, Happier Children

imoves active education ltd t/a imoves. 109 Rustlings Road, Sheffield, S11 7AB

We are registered in England & Wales under registration number 07234665. Our VAT number is 990 2257 12.

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PE, Active Learning, Mental Wellbeing resources for Primary Schools

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Resources for Primary Schools - includes PE and Dance scheme of work, brain breaks, mental wellbeing activities, and active math's, literacy, phonics, science & humanities lesson plans. Fun learning environment where children are focused & ready to learn. Everything a teacher needs to get kids active across curriculum.

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Axel Scheffler, award-winning illustrator of The Gruffalo series, has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it.
Professor Luke O’Neill, head of immunology at Trinity College Dublin said, ‘This book is a fantastic resource for children, and explains the Coronavirus in a colourful and calming way. Adults will learn a thing or two, too!’.

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Axel Scheffler, award-winning illustrator of The Gruffalo series, has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Coronavirus: A Book for Children was first published by Nosy Crow in the UK, and now Gill Books is delighted to publish an Irish-specific version. The book has had expert input from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, teachers, and a child psychologist.

Professor Luke O'Neill, head of immunology at Trinity College Dublin said, 'This book is a fantastic resource for children, and explains the Coronavirus in a colourful and calming way. Adults will learn a thing or two, too!'.

The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds:

* What is the coronavirus?
* How do you catch the coronavirus?
* What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
* Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
* Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
* Why are some places we normally go to closed?
* What can I do to help?
* What's going to happen next?

At the back of the book there is a list of trusted resources for children, along with further reading for parents, guardians and carers.

Nicki Howard, Director of Gill Books, said:
'The last few months have been an extremely challenging time for everyone in Irish society. When it comes to our children, we find ourselves trying to convey calm when we mightn't feel it and to give answers where we mightn't have them. That's why when we saw this gorgeous, educational, and timely book from Nosy Crow, we were immediately keen to offer the same informational and reassuring resource to the children of Ireland.'

Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo, said:
"I asked myself what I could do as a children's illustrator to inform, as well as entertain, my readers here and abroad. So I was glad when my publisher, Nosy Crow, asked me to illustrate this question-and-answer book about the coronavirus. I think it is extremely important for children and families to have access to good and reliable information in this unprecedented crisis, and I hope that the popularity of the books I've done with Julia Donaldson will ensure that this digital book will reach many children who are now slightly older, but might still remember our picture books."

To view and download the PDF of Coronavirus - A Book for Children, please click here.

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Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it.

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Did you know Neil Armstrong had Irish roots in county Fermanagh? Or that St. Brendan of Kerry sailed the seas looking for the Garden of Eden?

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Did you know Neil Armstrong had Irish roots in county Fermanagh? Or that St. Brendan of Kerry sailed the seas looking for the Garden of Eden?

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Discover a whole new world with EPIC museum's Explorer Pack

The Irish Emigration Museum has also created an Easter Rising Pack

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Some websites with videos and activities to get you moving!

Daily Workouts with Cork GAA player Orlagh Farmer

Skipping Skills

FAI Soccer Grassroots

Learn to Cycle

Moovlee Yoga

Kids HIIT Workout

Dance Class with Oti Mabuse

10 Minute Shake Ups

Indoor Soccer Drills

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The government are currently running the In This Together Campaign. Please click on the attached link for advice and tips on looking after your mental wellbeing, staying active and staying connected. There are ideas and activities for all ages.

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For people in their 20s and 30s, there is a greater risk of becoming overweight or obese because of changes in eating patterns and lifestyles. This means that these ages are an important time to prevent excess weight gain, and to protect your health now and in the future.

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For people in their 20s and 30s, there is a greater risk of becoming overweight or obese because of changes in eating patterns and lifestyles. This means that these ages are an important time to prevent excess weight gain, and to protect your health now and in the future.

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Here are some fun activities to try out when confined indoors on a rainy day :-)

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Active Schools Week has now become Active Home Week. You can find lots of ideas for activities and challenges on the active school website.

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The Design and Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) has launched Get Ireland Making. There are step-by-step interactive workshops and short video tutorials broadcast on DCCI’s YouTube channel

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Look for ladybirds in your garden and take part in a UCC study.

The UCC study is looking for people to send them photos /sightings of ladybirds
Click on the poster below to enlarge!

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The Great Isolation Booklet for Grown Ups

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The Great Isolation Booklet for Grown Ups

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The teachers behind the Great Isolation Booklet for Kids have created a version for teens and adults!
They are raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland(€2 is suggested per download)

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This booklet has some fun activities in it to keep you busy!  Click here to download

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In these uncertain times with self-isolation within families and social distancing from the wider community, I've put together a really practical and helpful stay at home survival guide for parents to use while their children are at home. I hope you find it helpful, spread it far and wide with others.

Stay clam, playful and optimistic. We can do this together!

For many people this is the first time we've had our children all at home together for such long periods of time, without holidays and travel involved. The weeks and months ahead may therefore feel really daunting, even overwhelming.

I can understand that feeling too, but I think it helps to be calm and remind ourselves we can TOTALLY DO THIS and we are perfectly suited to the task ahead. Yes, it will require a period of settling and adjustment to new routines and preparation will be your friend here.

Let me help you get started with this simple guide and don't forget, you will also find me sharing DAILY PLAY and LEARNING IDEAS over on my Imagination Tree Instagram feed (where I often chat to camera behind the scenes and show you how-tos and set up videos too.) Also, I am going to open up the doors to my private membership site for parents PlayLab EARLY so that new members can hop on board and have weekly advice, videos, training and materials from me directly. This will be a great stress reliever as I will do lots of the work for you! Hop on over here to sign up to register your interest now, ready for when the doors open in the next couple of weeks!
Ok, let's start our Stay at Home Survival Guide!
Firstly, take the pressure off yourself. You do not need to be perfect at organising timetables, fun activities and teaching material. It will absolutely be ok if some things slip for a while. YOU know your child the best and WILL be able to provide well for them during this period, including their educational development. Their teachers will give some guidance and there are plenty of ideas online for a lifetime of learning ideas. Kids are amazingly adaptable, including being able to catch up again with their learning. This is not forever!

If in doubt, keep it PLAYFUL, fun and as active as possible as this is the proven best way to learn and retain new information. This could look like running around the house to hunt for hidden phonemes/ sight words against a timer, instead of studying boring worksheets, for example. This will also help keep them moving as much as possible which is very important when going out is no longer an option.

STOCK UP

I DO suggest stocking up as early as possible on loads of basic sensory play materials and learning resources.

Everything in this list will be useful in making play dough, slime, cloud dough, salt dough, dyed rice/ pasta, scented sensory play materials, sensory writing trays and LOADS of creative art activities. This combination pretty much covers all bases! Find the recipes themselves in the archives here and in my Sensory Invitations to Play Cards.

These are inexpensive but really useful to have handy in the cupboards for the days when you want to pull your hair out with frustration! If in doubt, ditch everything and get messy!

This list of learning materials will obviously depend on the age and stage of your own children, but it covers a good range from approx preschooler to older Primary school. These are versatile resources that can be combined in a variety of ways to make all kinds of DIY learning through play games and activities. You'll find the ideas themselves in the archives here (scroll down) and over on my daily instagram updates. PlayLab members will get them delivered directly on the membership site too.

MAKE A PLAN

Planning ahead will also be your friend here. Make a loose schedule for the weekdays and then be sure to plan in sensory play time and open-ended too. This will help everyone feel calmer and aid relaxation as the pressure will be off you to think on your feet. Here is a suggested week-day plan for children of school age. It might look very different in your home and some days you may skip everything for a day climbing trees or having a Harry Potter movie watching marathon instead maybe!

I can't say exactly how long each session would be as that would depend on your breakfast and dinner times, but I'd imagine around 30 mins per activity in the morning, with 10-15 minute breaks. And then longer stretches during free play and creative/ science projects in the afternoons. Read aloud time works really well straight after lunch while they're still at the table, for about half an hour. This can also be an audiobook, of course!

Plan for long periods of open-ended play, quiet time and creativity. Kids are brilliant at play, so provide them the tools/ space/ time and let them get on with it! The sooner they get used to this, the better this part of the day will be.

GET OUTSIDE

The best thing we can do with them is get them out into nature (unless they are showing symptoms of course.)

Find wide open spaces in the countryside such as nature trails, empty beaches or the woods and let them run wild climbing trees, building dens and burning off as much energy as possible.

GET MOVING

Even if you can't get outside or go further than your own garden/ yard, its possibly to get creative with your movement games.

Have a mini Olympics, make obstacle courses inside and out, jump on the trampoline, have disco dance parties, make up silly walks, play computer dance games etc!

Watch some kiddie yoga online, do stretches or family HITT workouts.

UTILISE SCREEN TIME

Screen time is not the enemy, it's a useful tool!

I suggest planning it into your daily schedule for times when you need a quiet period for your own planning/ admin/ online shopping/ work etc. You need some space from each other to keep the routine (and peace) flowing well.

Also, watching movies can be turned into an educational activity by asking them to rate them afterwards and complete movie review sheets! Watch nature and science documentaries, create projects based on the topics learned. Shows like Horrible Histories are a great springboard for fun projects.

SENSORY PLAY

This is really important as it helps keeps kids calm and focused. It's a great stress and anxiety reliever too, which will be very beneficial with the daily news updates and worries.

Stock up on sensory ingredients and dedicate a time of day to this. You can also move sensory play to the bath or garden for better containment if you're worried about mess.

Use the checklist above and then find my Sensory Invitations to Play cards full of recipes to help! (These are currently 25% off to try and help make them as accessible as possible to everyone.)

READING & WRITING

Audiobooks will be fantastic during this time, as will read aloud time together. Try reading in a makeshift fort, in the dark with torches, while they're in the bath or outside.

Find new books and review them for other kids online.

Write a book diary, make bookmarks, make a library role play area at home, read TO each other, read poetry and use all these experiences to inspire some writing too.

School aged kids can be fantastically independent in their writing projects. You just need to offer some inspiration with open-ended prompts such as: write a story/ comic/ quiz book/ poem/ book review/ information-based project etc.

Keep it purposeful and fun, it does not need to look like "school". Writing real letters to family members and friends that you can't see in person will be both fun and meaningful.

Older kids could set up private YouTube channels and share ideas there with their friends online!

Make use of the myriad of great resources online. Let THEM be the teaching tool and guide you need.

CREATIVITY

Keep the art supplies freely available and they will surprise you with their creative ideas! Save recycling and encourage them to make towns/ junk models. homes for their toys/ pretend gadgets etc.

Painting, drawing, sewing, paper mache, salt-dough and clay modelling are all great on-going projects.

Watch YouTube for tutorials on learning new skills eg crochet, sewing, tie-dye, weaving etc.

Play music, put on shows, dress up, create costumes from newspaper, do face painting, do talent shows, learn stop motion animation- the list can be endless!

A cardboard box is endless fun for all ages- just be creative with what you add!

Creativity involves lego, photography, cooking, trying smoothie recipes, having bake-off contests, creating projects for other kids.

Create loads of art then finally put together an exhibition! Take photos and share with family members via WhatsApp or online.

So many possible ideas- ask your children what they love to do the most!

FREE PLAY

This is by far the best thing your children can do, especially when in balance with some learning time. Give them some dedicated space for play and schedule it into the day.

Make resources available and include plenty of loose parts for play as these are open-ended and can be used in a myriad of ways.

You could do learning all morning then creative projects, free play and screen time in the afternoons for example. This model would work well and be really easy to achieve.

You could theme the weeks so that there is a different focus eg talent show to work on one week of afternoons, science fair to prepare the following week etc.

Get the whole family involved in some of these big games and challenges- it will be a great stress reliever and lots of fun!

SCIENCE

Grow beans, make lava lamps, make fizzing potions, play with water beads, make slime etc.

Search Pinterest for so many ways to investigate using household materials!

Design and make your own science fair at home!

I have plenty of ideas in the Imagination Tree archives to keep you busy for a long time! Here's a quick list of links to the deeper archives:
PLAYFUL LITERACY IDEAS here. PLAYFUL MATHS IDEAS here. SENSORY PLAY RECIPES here. SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS here.
Finally, keep in contact with others through phone calls and FaceTime. Encourage each other and share great ideas and tips that you find online. Let's keep communicating and laughing through it all and we can get through this together, even when physically apart. I am hoping your elderly loved ones are kept safe.

If this Stay at Home Survival Guide has been useful for you, please consider passing it on to others as this helps me as well as them. Thank you! x

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Stay at Home Survival Guide - The Imagination Tree

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In these uncertain times with self-isolation within families and social distancing from the wider community, I've put together a really practical and helpful stay at home survival guide for parents to use while their children are at home. I hope you find it helpful, spread it far and wide with others.

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A free well-being journal for kids

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This resource was compiled by the Cork Sports Partnership team in conjunction with a number of partner organisations to support you to keep active at home. The following link will provide you and your families with a variety of options to keep active and healthy for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.

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Welcome to Cork Sports Partnership's 'Keep Cork Active' resource.

This resource was compiled by the Cork Sports Partnership team in conjunction with a number of partner organisations to support you to keep active at home. The following pages and links will provide you and your families with a variety of options to keep active and healthy for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.

Many thanks to all our collaborating partners for submitting different ideas and activities to Keep Cork Active.

Viewing Options:
1. Click here >>> to download the 'Keep Cork Active' booklet or browse through the interactive booklet below to view online. 2. Use the links and colour coded tabs below to browse our website which is full of interactive content waiting to be explored.
Section Categories (Click buttons below for details)

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Welcome to Cork Sports Partnership's 'Keep Cork Active' resource. This resource was compiled by the Cork Sports Partnership team in conjunction with a number of partner organisations to support you to keep active at home. The following pages and links will provide you and your families with a variety of options to keep active and healthy for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.

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Check out RTE Junior Radio. You can listen live or listen back to podcasts for Mindful Moments and Yoga. It has lots of educational content too!

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Listen to live and catch-up radio, and browse RTÉ Radio schedules and podcast catalogue

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We're not be able to go to the swimming pool so Swim Ireland have produced a fun activity pack to keep you busy in the meantime! Some nice colouring pages and wordsearch.

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NEPS Advice & Resources for keeping Children and Young People well during Covid-19

The Department of Education and Skills’ NEPS psychologists have developed advice and some resources for young people to manage and stay well when schools are closed.

Advice to young people while schools are closed

Plan for the Day

Blank Plan for the Day

Relaxation techniques (text)

Relaxation techniques (podcast)

NEPS psychologists have developed guidance for parents supporting children to create new routines at home.  Having a Plan for the Day is key for children/young people to manage and stay well at this time.

Guide for Parents Supporting Children with Routines

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"Corona, Corona, Corona"
Meet Sylvie Bloom... and her guinea pig, Rua!
Sylvie, like so many children across the globe is confused and even a little bit worried. Sylvie's life has been turned upside down because of the coronavirus. Watch her find out what it is, how she can help and how she is passing the time at home with her family. Sylvie learns that, like her friends all around the world she is being a super hero!

Produced Dog Day Media / Written by Writing for Tiny and Tiny Health
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=ukCOWPNAkQc

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Lack of routine during lockdown has appeared to have disrupted our eating habits as well as everything else! We can still try our best to keep up our healthy habits at home by eating a variety of fruit and vegetables and by drinking plenty of water and milk. We would love to see photos of your healthy snacks and meals at home! Send them to us at keepingbusy@conventprimaryschoolmallow.ie and we will show off your healthy habits to everyone on our Convent Primary School App :-)
https://www.safefood.eu/Healthy-Eating.aspx

https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/how-to-help-your-children-develop-healthy-habits-166.html

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Guidelines from the Department of Education on supporting children at home during this time.

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Guidelines from the Department of Education on supporting children at home during this time.

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Lack of routine is proving difficult for all of us at the moment. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), have issued a guide on supporting children and young people with daily routines while schools are closed. Lots of useful advice attached (2 links)
https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/information-for-schools-preschools-and-third-level-institutions-on-the-coronavirus.html#15

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How full is your bucket?

Every moment matters. Each of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it's empty, we feel awful. Yet most children (and many adults) don't realize the importance of having a full bucket throughout the day. In How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids, Felix begins to see how every interaction in a day either fills or empties his bucket. Felix then realizes that everything he says or does to other people fills or empties their buckets as well. Follow along with Felix as he learns how easy it can be to fill the buckets of his classmates, teachers and family members. Before the day is over, you'll see how Felix learns to be a great bucket filler, and in the process, discovers that filling someone else's bucket also fills his own.
Watch the story being read aloud here- https://youtu.be/A5R6-2m_qHk

The Huge Bag of Worries written by Virginia Ironside is a brilliant book exploring emotions and wellbeing. Worry follows Jenny in a big blue bag, it's around wherever she goes, even when relaxing and watching TV! Will Jenny get the help she needs to rid of the worry?

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There’s a lot of good art tutorial channels online.
Here are a selection..

Drawing Pop Art
PopArtDoodle each video is around 3 minutes
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCQdwKCBkNNLKC1SEnNXzb1g/playlists

FaceDrawer:https://m.youtube.com/user/facedrawer/playlists

FaceDrawer can help them create their own cartoon characters.

Katie Jobling art tutorials covering everything from roses to waterfalls
https://m.youtube.com/user/facedrawer/playlists

Art for Kids Hub videos that make drawing fun https://m.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub/playlists

Angela Anderson covers everything from fun kid paintings to farmhouse inspired artwork
https://m.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub/playlists

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating gorgeous works of art using nothing more than pen and pencil,AlfonsoDunn is your guy. https://m.youtube.com/user/LighterNoteProd/playlists

Circle Line Art School:

If you’re looking for something a bit more advanced for older kids,  covers everything from perspective to how to draw optical illusions.  https://m.youtube.com/user/circlelinemedia/playlists

Vamos Art:-

If you’re looking for a challenge Drawing3DArt will definitely provide it!
.https://m.youtube.com/user/poendrawing/playlists

Art a la Carte
https://m.youtube.com/user/TheARTalaCARTE/playlists create calligraphy with crayons or how to make your own stickers, Art a la Carte has got you covered

My-How-To Draw
https://m.youtube.com/user/myhowtodrawvids/playlists

Learn to draw everything from Justin Bieber to Peppa Pig

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Kids workouts - PE channels to get you moving!

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Kids workouts - PE channels to get you moving!

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This homeschool website from the US has some good links to online workouts for children!
https://homeschoolhideout.com/homeschool-pe-channels-to-get-you-moving/

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These uncertain, worrying times really do make us take stock of all we have to be grateful for! Practising Gratitude means being thankful for everything good that happens in your life and taking time to express your appreciation of others. If we express gratitude correctly, it can actually lead to a strong sense of wellbeing. Keeping a note of what you are grateful for will ensure you are making positive thinking and thankfulness a daily habit. Showing gratitude focuses on positive emotions, helping to balance out the negative. Gratitude can help us to build better relationships and lead to better actions. Children and adults may use the attached file or may choose to write in their own personal diary or notebook.

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Colouring is meditative, creative and fun.  It is the perfect escape when you want to relax for a while.  There is an assortment of wonderful pages for you to choose from on this website.

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How does this resource excite and engage children's learning?

This lovely set of coloring sheets feature a selection of different images all related to this topic. Great for a variety of activities, you can use them to reinforce fine motor skills, as inspiration for independent writing, or just for fun! Try putting the finished pictures up on display, or send them home for the parents.

Why do children need mindfulness?

Mindfulness can promote the ability to focus and concentrate, making it useful for children. Mindful exercises can make children more aware of our thoughts and feelings so that instead of being overwhelmed by them, they are better able to manage them. This means it can help children to regulate their emotions and manage their stress more effectively

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This lovely set of coloring sheets feature a selection of different images all related to this topic. Great for a variety of activities, you can use them to reinforce fine motor skills, as inspiration for independent writing, or just for fun! Try putting the finished pictures up on display, or send them home for the parents.

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This activity turns an average, everyday walk into an exciting new adventure.

Tell your kids that you will be going on a safari: their goal is to notice as many birds, bugs, creepy-crawlies, and any other animals as they can. Anything that walks, crawls, swims, or flies is of interest, and they’ll need to focus all of their senses to find them!

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Some lovely simple action ideas here! It's at times like these that we realise the importance of the little things and the big difference that they can make!

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Meditation, yoga and dance activities. It helps children to get moving with short interactive activities. GoNoodle is designed to challenge children to get moving. It inspires children to be active and mindful with a wide range of activities that appeal to the  child's age, skills, interests and abilities.

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KIDZ BOP Kids: "KIDZ BOP Shuffle"

Can you move to the left, to the right, get down & do your dance? Then you're ready to do the KIDZ BOP Shuffle!

Learn more about GoNoodle by visiting our or reading our , , and .

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KIDZ BOP Kids: "KIDZ BOP Shuffle" Can you move to the left, to the right, get down & do your dance? Then you're ready to do the KIDZ BOP Shuffle! Learn more about GoNoodle by visiting our or reading our , , and .

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Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, increase focus and aid a more restful sleep Headspace and Headspace Kids app are available on free trial at the moment. Headspace Kids explores the themes of Calm, Focus, Kindness, Sleep and Wake Up.

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Your Headspace Mindfulness & Meditation Experts

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We want children to be healthy & happy now & for the rest of their lives. Teach meditation for kids with Headspace, using easy exercises designed for young minds.

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We are certainly witnessing an historic time at present! Why not create a Time Capsule?! Something to look back at in many years to come when all of this has become part of history!

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A special way to celebrate a birthday or the beginning of your little one's school year is with a time capsule. It's the perfect opportunity to capture memories that you'll cherish forever. Not only is a time capsule great to remember the past, it's a fun project for kids! Help them store their memories for years to come by following our guide below.

What is a Time Capsule?

A time capsule is a container that holds present day items, such as photos, newspapers (if you still receive those), letters and more. It's typically hidden away for your future self or someone of your choosing to open. This is perfect as a gift to yourself or a gift for your child for future years. Have another family member hide the box, so you aren't tempted to open it! Want to hide it for a year? Five? Ten? There's no time limit! The rules are all up to you. Shoeboxes are great for indoor safekeeping, while weather-resistant boxes are best for the outdoors.

How to Make Your Time Capsule

1. Choose Your Container

In order to make your time capsule, first you'll have to choose a container in which to store it. Choosing your container depends on how long you are planning on keeping it hidden. This is a great opportunity for your little ones to get involved. Have them pick out the box or help them decorate the box before it's filled.

2. Determine Where You'll Store It

For indoor storage, a shoe box, wooden box, large plastic storage container or even a mason jar will work. If you want to DIY something from the kitchen, consider using a cookie tin or egg carton for your time capsule. You might want to gather all of your time capsule items together first to determine the amount of storage space you'll need. You can hide your box in a storage closet behind other items. An attic, basement or garage are also great locations. You want to hide your time capsule somewhere where others will not find it!

For outdoor safekeeping, consider a weatherproof, non-biodegradable container such as an old metal coffee can, popcorn can or a box made of stainless steel. Make sure this is secured before hiding or storing your box outside. Bury your time capsule in a garden under dirt where little to no rain hits, or in an outdoor garage. You could also ask a friend or family member to hold on to the container, just don't tell your little one who has it!

3. Decorate Your Time Capsule

Next, decorate your container. We have included a few sizes of labels you can use for your time capsule, with a fill-in-the-blank section for your child's name and date of opening. Print, cut out and glue on the top or center of the container.

Time Capsule Ideas

A meaningful time capsule should be both personalized and fun! If the time capsule is to celebrate a birthday, include items from your child's birthday like photos and cards. You could also include a notebook with thoughts over the year, or information about your child's height and weight to compare later. If your child is older, you can place graduation diplomas or certificates from sporting events in the capsule. The options are endless!

Here are a few more ideas on items you can include in your time capsule, along with printable prompts to include as well. These can be written from you or a loved one that you can stick in the time capsule, or have your child write a note to themselves to reflect on later.

DIY Time Capsule Ideas:

Their favorite fashion trends from a magazine

A newspaper published on their birthday

Certificates/ribbons from sports games

School papers/art projects

Photos from the past year/years

Party items such as confetti

A book with a special note

Now that you've gotten your box full of memorabilia, it's time to add personalized messages. We have included a few printables you can place in the time capsule to share your love with your child. A Note to Me, from Me can be a future note to your child that they write themselves. My Favorites and Goals for the Year will also be written by your little ones. If your child is too small to write them on their own, write down their answers for them. A Message for a Wiser, Older You can be from their parents, grandparents or another important adult in their life.

A Note to Me, from Me

Encourage your little one to write a note to their future selves. Ask them to offer a piece of wisdom to their future self, and suggest that they write something they expect for the future.

A Message for a Wiser, Older You

This can be a note to the child from you. You can write things you love about them, the hopes you have for them and the values you hope they possess. This is ideal for an older child in their pre-teen/teen years.

My Favorites

Have your child write down their favorites of the year, like favorite color and book. This is a fun way to compare what was trending and what they liked in previous years. When you unearth the time capsule, ask them if anything stayed the same!

Goals for the Year

This printable is perfect if you are creating the time capsule for New Year's! Have them write down their goals for the year ahead, and then the next five and 10 years. Depending on when they open their time capsule, they can see how much they've accomplished. Plus it's a great motivator to get things done.

One year or many years from now, your child will open their time capsule and glimpse a frozen moment of good times with loved ones. This personally-designed time capsule preserves a moment in time, with special memories, dreams and aspirations for your child's future. This special project is inexpensive, takes little effort and is a gift that can be treasured for years to come! Want to make your time capsule extra special? Check out our personalized keepsake for indoor safekeeping.

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How to Make a Time Capsule + Ideas For Kids - Personal Creations Blog

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A special way to celebrate a birthday or the beginning of your little one's school year is with a time capsule. It's the perfect opportunity to capture memories that you'll cherish forever. Not only is a time capsule great to remember the past, it's a fun project for kids!

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Glitter Jars, also known as Calm Down Jars are great for children (and adults!) to use as a Mindfulness Practice. They are great fun to make and you can be as creative as you like!

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Kids, especially struggling ones, tend to act out their difficulties rather than share them in words. We adults are often only marginally better. When words are unavailable, it helps to find other ways to demonstrate the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

A snow globe or glitter jar is one of the most powerful visual metaphors for that connection; it illustrates how mindfulness -the cultivation of stillness in the face of swirling chaos of life-affects us. At first I used to do this practice only with young kids, but I've since found that even teens enjoy it.

How to Make a Glitter Jar

You can use a mason jar, a spice jar, or even a plastic water bottle for this practice. Be sure to use glitter that sinks rather than floats. Adding some glycerin to the water slows down the fall of the glitter.

If you'd prefer to avoid using glitter, you can make a more eco-friendly version by using different-colored beads, a mix of food coloring and oil, or even pieces of LEGO you already have around the house.

Fill the jar to the top with water. Have your children pick three colors of glitter: one to represent thoughts, one to represent feelings, and one to represent behaviors (or "urges to do things"). Drop a few pinches of each color glitter into the water, which represents their mind, and maybe a few drops of food coloring. Seal the jar with its lid or duct tape.

With each event they name, swirl and turn the jar, demonstrating how it becomes difficult to keep track and see clearly what our thoughts, feelings, and urges are.

Ask the children what kinds of things will make the glitter in the jar swirl. Encourage answers that reflect distressing events (fights with siblings, losing in sports) and positive ones (getting a good grade, making a new friend), events in the foreground (sick siblings) and events in the background (scary stories on the news). With each event they name, swirl and turn the jar, demonstrating how it becomes difficult to keep track and see clearly what our thoughts, feelings, and urges are.

How to Use a Glitter Jar for Mindfulness

There are many variations of this practice, depending on what you want to emphasize. My colleague Jan Mooney, who often works with groups of kids, uses a giant jar that all the kids can add glitter to. Each color represents different feelings the kids have. Other variations include using a few plastic beads to represent behaviors and watching until the behaviors separate from thoughts and feelings. Kids can also try to focus on just one color, or one piece of glitter until it settles, or all of them.

Your script can go something like this:

The jar is like our mind, and each color of glitter represents something different in our mind.

Let's put in red for thoughts, gold for feelings, and silver for urges to do things. (Pour in a little bit of glitter with each comment.)

Now we seal up the jar. (Put the lid on the jar and seal it.) Then we start our day.

We wake up, and things are pretty settled. We can see that clearly. (Show how all the glitter has settled on the bottom of the jar.)

But pretty soon, things start swirling around. Maybe we are running late (swirl the jar). Our big sister eats the last pancake for breakfast, and it leads to a fight (shake the jar). We hear scary things on the news in the car ride to school (swirl the jar). We get to school and find out we aced the test (shake the jar).

Now it's only a few minutes into the school day, and we can't see clearly because all of our thoughts and feelings and urges are getting in the way.

So what is the one thing we can do to get the glitter to settle and see clearly again?

Be still! And what happens when we are still? We can see clearly again.

There is also no way to rush being still. We can't push all the glitter down to the bottom. We just have to watch and wait. No amount of effort will make it settle sooner.

When things become clear, we'll know the wise next thing to do. In fact, that's one definition of wisdom: seeing things as they are and choosing how to act.

While we wait, does the glitter go away? No, it stays at the bottom. Our thoughts and feelings and urges are still in our minds, but they are no longer in our way, clouding our vision.

A finished glitter jar can serve as a visual timer for other practices, such as breathing practices. For example, you can shake the jar and say: "Let's do some mindful breaths until the glitter settles."

We actually don't want to get rid of the thoughts and feelings and urges. We just want them out of the way so they don't prevent us from seeing clearly.

Some families use the jar as a "calm-down jar," to mark and measure calm-down time. Ideally, the entire family can use the calm-down jar together when there is a conflict: "We are all upset with lots of thoughts and feelings rights now. So let's all take a break until the glitter in the calm-down jar has settled and then start talking again."

There are even a few glitter jar and snow-globe smartphone apps, which one kid I work with just loves.

One particularly sharp student of mine pointed out that you could just take a filter and make the jar clear again. He had a point, and it wasn't until I was driving home that I came up with the response: "We actually don't want to get rid of the thoughts and feelings and urges. We just want them out of the way so they don't prevent us from seeing clearly."

This article was adapted from Dr. Christopher Willard's book Growing Up Mindful .

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The glitter jar represents the mind settling. It's a great afternoon activity that your kids can keep coming back to as a mindfulness practice.

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Things can be a bit overwhelming for both adults and children at the moment. Stop to take a minute or two to breathe, re-focus and recharge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu0YEii4FkQ

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Free Workout from Joe Wicks, The Body Coach

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Free Workout from Joe Wicks, The Body Coach

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Joe Wicks is live on YouTube every morning at 9am providing a high energy workout for kids of all ages. A great positive start to the day!

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Welcome to the Body Coach TV where I post weekly home workouts to help you get, stronger, healthier and happier.

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Now that we're all spending so much more time at home, what better time than to get busy in the kitchen?! As well as cooking up a storm, children also get an opportunity to use skills learned in school relating to Procedural Writing/Reading, as well as skills relating to Measures in Maths
https://www.odlums.ie/category/odlums-recipes/baking-with-kids/

https://www.bordbia.ie/lifestyle/recipes/pancake-recipes/

https://www.bordbia.ie/lifestyle/recipes/fruit-recipes/

https://www.safefood.eu/Recipes/101-Square-Meals-(PDF).aspx

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safefood recipes for quick and healthy snacks including baked potato, scrambled eggs and pancakes

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Loads to choose from here: Stories, Mindfulness, Yoga, Relaxation & Dance.
Exercises can be filtered by length (under 10 mins, under 15 mins and over 15 mins), energy level (calm, focus, active) and category .

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Watch & Stream Free Kids Yoga Videos | Cosmic Kids

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Watch and stream kids yoga videos in a safe space on our website. Cosmic Kids’ most popular adventures can be found here as well as on our app.

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A lovely little 'time out' here for any child that may be anxious, worried or just needs to unwind and relax!

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Thursday 18 October, 2018

Peace Out Series 2 is out!

Peace Out - our guided relaxation and visualisation series for kids - is a favourite with homeschoolers and teachers using it for transitions in the classroom. There are also loads of parents using them at home too especially for bedtime.
Download the new series as MP3s!
The new series is 11 new guided relaxations, available as video and MP3s. In the new series of videos, we open on Jaime speaking into the mic saying hello and getting us ready for the relaxation before fading to a calming image when Jaime invites kids to close their eyes. All 11 videos are already up on the Cosmic Kids App and we will be releasing them steadily to YouTube over late 2018 and into 2019.

Here's one to watch now on YouTube - the Bye Bye Boat:

Our goals with these guided relaxations for kids:

- Creates a routine which kids look forward to - Jaime's intro is familiar and repeats phrases across all Peace Outs. It's all about getting yourself comfortable and feeling calm.
- Helps the kids themselves to learn how they want to approach calm - We want to encourage the kids to take responsibility for their calmness. Aside from needing some quiet to listen, there are no rules about how we do relaxation, just suggestions. Jaime invites the kids to close their eyes if and when they like, just explaining that it really helps as this means you can (for example) be in your own little bubble. She also offers different ways of lying/sitting so the kids can decide what they need to be comfortable enough to make the most of the relaxation.
- Asks the kids to reflect on how they feel at the end - Jaime does this in all of this series of Peace, so we notice how different we feel compared to the beginning. This is important to recognise and value. What does calm feel like compared to high energy? A good learning goal!
- We create context and stories that kids love - bunnies, dragons, stars and many other situations act as the context for explorations of hope, sensation, reflection, love and kindness. This is a lovely space for kids to hang out in - and adults for that matter 🙂

You can download the 11 MP3s in the series here.
Get 2 weeks free on the app - and see all these and more without commercials or links.
If you're ok with ads, Subscribe to our YouTube channel and you'll be notified when we upload these to YouTube.

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Peace Out - our Guided Relaxations for Kids! - Cosmic Kids Yoga

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Peace Out Series 2 is out! Peace Out - our guided relaxation and visualisation series for kids - is a favourite with homeschoolers and teachers using it for transitions in the classroom. There are also loads of parents using them at home too especially for bedtime. Download the new series as MP3s!

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Check out this link & scroll down to the end where you can find lots of fun ways to practise your GAA skills at home!

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The GAA 5 Star initiative aims to support and recognise Primary Schools that provide pupils with 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous Gaelic Games activity per week in a manner that ensures the children will experience fun, friendship, fairness and ultimately improve their fitness. Recognition as a "GAA 5 Star Centre" is awarded to Primary Schools that undertake to deliver a programme of Gaelic Games activity that is age-appropriate and meets the developmental needs of children within the school. In order to receive recognition as a "GAA 5 Star Centre" a Primary School must provide for the flexible delivery of the following activities over the course of a school-year:

Who will deliver the activities at a GAA 5 Star Centre?

The activities will ideally be delivered by the Teacher/s in the school. Recognising that Teachers have different levels of competence and confidence when it comes to the organisation of Gaelic Games, the GAA's full-time Games Development personnel will act in a support capacity and will provide assistance, training and up-skilling to Teachers.

Why has the GAA 5 Star Centre been developed?

The GAA 5 Star Centre is a key initiative of the GAA's Play to Stay WeLL (Wellbeing & Lifelong Learning) Programme. The 5 Star Centre has been developed by the GAA's National Games Development Department for two reasons.

Firstly, the GAA 5 Star Centre is a means of encouraging and rewarding schools that provide pupils with 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per week. This is important as it is currently estimated that 18% of Primary School pupils receive 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day and 1 in 9 Irish children are now classified as overweight (CSPPA, 2010).

Secondly, the GAA 5 Star Centre is a means of recognising the pivotal role that Primary Schools and Primary School Teachers have played in the promotion and development of Gaelic Games and Irish Cultural Heritage since the foundation of the GAA in 1884. Teachers have been hugely influential in the development of intrinsic motivation among primary school children and in providing them with the sense of competence, confidence and resilience, which benefits from and contributes to the development of effort and growth mind-set. This contributes in no small way to lifelong engagement with the promotion of community and sporting wellbeing.

How can your School become a GAA 5 Star Centre?

A Primary School can apply online to become a GAA 5 Star Centre. Applications for registration as a GAA 5 Star Centre will be accepted until July 31st for the following school year. Applications will be a two-step process to include online registration and a planning meeting with a member full-time Games Development personnel.

What benefits does a GAA 5 Star Centre receive?

Becoming a GAA 5 Star Centre is optional. However, Primary Schools that do register as a GAA 5 Star Centre on an annual basis will benefit as follows

The School will be listed as an accredited GAA 5 Star Centre on the GAA website and will receive a GAA 5 Star Flag for display in the School;

The planning and preparation for the delivery of the GAA 5 Star Centre will contribute to the usage of Croke Park Hours as per DES Circular 0042/2016;

The School will receive discounted access to the Teacher Summer Courses, GAA Coach Education Courses and the GAA Games Development Coaching Conference;

The School will be entered into an annual draw to win one of a number of prizes with an overall value of €20,000 including:

Equipment vouchers;

class trips to Croke Park for a Museum & Stadium Tour;

GAA Fun & Run equipment packs;

sets of leisure gear for the Teachers in the School;

a school-visit from a GAA 5 Star Centre Ambassador (current Inter-County player);

Sports Days in the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown.

After three year's consecutive participation as a GAA 5 Star Centre, the School will be listed as a recipient of the GAA WeLL-Mark (WeLL: Well-being & Lifelong Learning). The WeLL-Mark serves to recognise those Schools that are actively promoting Wellbeing & Lifelong Learning through Gaelic Games on a self-sufficient and sustainable basis. Recipient Schools will be invited to a Gala Awards Ceremony.

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The GAA 5 Star initiative aims to support and recognise Primary Schools that provide pupils with 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous Gaelic Games activity per week in a manner that ensures the children will experience fun, friendship, fairness and ultimately improve their fitness.