“Smiling Mind has given our students practical tools to settle, focus and learn, and it’s easy for teachers to sustain. It’s a small routine with a big impact.” – Viktoria Lance, Principal, Borden Primary School
At Borden Primary School, we know that children learn best when they feel calm, settled and ready to learn. Like many schools, we see firsthand how worries, big emotions and everyday challenges can affect a child’s confidence, wellbeing and ability to engage in learning.
When children feel overwhelmed, unsettled or distracted by big emotions, it can be difficult for them to engage in learning, build confidence and reach their full potential. Like many regional and remote schools, we support students with diverse needs while having limited access to specialist wellbeing services.
We wanted a practical way to help our students build the skills they need to thrive, not just academically, but in life.
That’s what led us to Smiling Mind.
We introduced short, guided mindfulness practices and weekly lessons from Smiling Mind’s Primary School Program as part of our everyday school routine. What began as a simple wellbeing initiative quickly became something much more meaningful.
Over time, we noticed our classrooms becoming calmer. Students were settling more quickly after breaks. They were finding it easier to focus on learning and increasingly drawing on the strategies they had practised when faced with challenges or big emotions. Perhaps most importantly, students were building skills they could carry with them beyond the classroom: self-awareness, emotional regulation and confidence.
As educators, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing children develop the confidence and capability to navigate challenges for themselves.
In regional communities like ours, access to specialist support can be limited. That’s why programs like Smiling Mind are so important. They provide schools with practical, evidence-informed tools that can be embedded into everyday learning and reach every child, regardless of where they live.
Today, mental fitness is part of everyday life at Borden Primary School. And every day, we see the difference it can make.
*From the perspective of Viktoria Lance, Principal
