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Teaching has always been demanding, but the current numbers are sobering: 78% of teachers say they feel stressed, and 79% report that their work is harming their mental health. That's not just statistics, it's day-to-day reality in classrooms.
Part of the challenge is the lack of adequate support systems. Too often, teachers are left to manage their own stress. The School of Play Curriculum was built as a whole-school well-being initiative to give teachers and students a shared framework for thriving. But if your school hasn't taken that step yet, there's still a way forward.
Micro-moments of play offer teachers quick, practical tools to reset in the middle of the day without waiting for broader systems to catch up. This week, we're exploring ways teachers can use it to counter exhaustion and classroom stress in real time. Let's dive in!
Giveaway
Well-being doesn't have to mean overhauling your lifestyle or adding more to an already full schedule. The biggest impact comes from the smallest, most repeatable actions.
This week, we're giving you the Happiness Booster Daily Routine Checklist—a ready-to-use guide to weave micro-moments of joy into your morning, daytime, and evening.
It's simple and sustainable to help you stay ahead of stress by incorporating minor resets before burnout takes hold.
Download your free checklist and give yourself an easy way to protect your well-being daily, one small step at a time!
Daily Mission Cards
Lunchtime can feel like a blur. You grab a bite, check emails, maybe rush through some marking, then it's done. What if you use that time to recharge instead?
Here’s how: grab a dice, sit with a colleague, and roll. For sixty seconds, play a competition to see who lands the most sixes. You’ll laugh, connect, and reset before the afternoon lessons even begin.
You don’t need a big break to feel better. A quick moment of play works just as well. Try it at your lunch table today and see how different the rest of your day feels!
Grab the Creative Play and Movement Mission Cards and keep a stack of ready-to-go activities like this one at your fingertips!
Jump Spin Shot
If you’ve ever sat through a long staff briefing or morning assembly and felt the collective slump in the room, a quick reset to get bodies moving and brains firing could be what's missing.
The Jump, Spin, Shot is always a favourite in our workshops. Pairs stand back-to-back, jump, spin, and hold up fingers. The race? Be the first to multiply the fingers. Quick and fast, it always gets people laughing.
In just two minutes, the whole room feels lighter. Perfect for breaking up meetings or just shaking off fatigue.
Sign up here to explore 1000+ activities and more popular energisers!
Staying On Top Of Your Game with Dale Sidebottom
Study shows that even the most promising well-being initiatives lose momentum because they don’t translate into daily practice. That’s the missing link this session will close.
I will personally show you how small, sustainable habits can be embedded into the rhythm of your teaching day. You won’t just hear about them, you’ll live them through games, teamwork, and moments of shared fun.
The goal isn’t another layer of work, but practical strategies you can actually implement, ones that fuel your own well-being while making your teaching more joyful and connected.
Watch this webinar here, because the truth is simple: you must be well to teach well.
Parents on Their Feet, Families More Connected
We had the absolute pleasure of delivering a parent workshop at Brighton Beach Primary School, and what a night it was! 60 parents gave up their evening to be part of a session all about strengthening family connections.
From the very first minute, it was clear this wasn’t your standard “parent information night.” Parents were up, moving, laughing, and learning by doing. The energy in the room was incredible, and the feedback even better: “This is not what we expected, but we loved it!”
With parents coming not only from Brighton Beach PS but also from nearby schools and kindergartens, the ripple effect of this event was huge.
Big thanks to Brighton Beach PS for hosting us. This is the kind of community energy that reminds us why we do what we do.
Join us on this global journey of joy and connection! If you want to bring The School of Play to your community, fill out the form here ➡
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