Tooled Up Education

Dr Weston Talks with Dr Verity Jones: Climate Change Education, ‘Eco-Anxiety’ and Fast Fashion

Have you ever considered the impact of the climate crisis on young people or really asked how they feel about the constant barrage of bad news that faces them? In this interview, Dr Weston chats with Dr Verity Jones about sustainable futures and education. They talk through optimal ways to discuss issues around climate change with children and young people and outline the things that young people would find helpful. They also discuss the global impact of fast fashion and how our intimate relationship with clothes can be a great way to open up conversations about issues of sustainability. Dr Jones references a vast number of fantastic resources which teaching staff and parents will find useful.

Let’s Connect for Children’s Mental Health Week

Connections with others – friends, family, teachers and even people we chat to in passing, such as neighbours or the person working in the local shop, are vital for our wellbeing. Without these connections, we can feel lonely or isolated, which can make us feel down. Thinking about how we connect with others and other ways to improve our wellbeing are important. Here are a few things that are worth considering.

A Quick Guide to Grief and Bereavement (and Relevant Tooled Up Resources)

Sadly, the vast majority of young people will experience the death of someone significant to them before the age of 16. Losing someone that we love is extremely difficult for the whole family and ensuring that children feel supported when the adults who care for them might be feeling emotionally overwhelmed can be tough. Thankfully, there are many resources available that can help. This quick guide talks you through some useful tips and points you to relevant resources in the Tooled Up library and beyond.

Learning More about Low Mood and Depression with Professor Shirley Reynolds

In this webinar, we are joined by Professor Shirley Reynolds, an expert in teen depression and former podcast guest. She outlines some of the best ways we can protect children’s mental health at an early age, before explaining key things to know about depression in teens and possible treatment pathways. We’ve also included some excellent additional resources and courses if you’d like to learn more.

Resources for Young People Who Are Supporting a Friend with an Eating Disorder

Helping a friend who has an eating disorder can feel daunting and scary. Young people might be unsure what to do, who to tell or what to say. They might feel overwhelmed or even be struggling to look after themselves. With the help of experts Dr Nora Trompeter and Eva Musby, we’ve pulled together five useful resources that might help young people in your family or school, who are supporting a friend with an eating disorder.

My Kindness Passport

Kindness comes in many forms. This activity is designed for use in school, but can equally be used at home. It encourages children to notice all the kind things that they do for others. When they do something kind, they take this book to their teacher (or a family member) to get it stamped. We’ve included plenty of ideas for them to try, but there’s also lots of space for them to write down their own kind acts that we haven’t thought of.

Adolescent Girls’ Friendships: A Summary of the Available Literature with Tanya Manchanda

PhD student, Tanya Manchanda talks us through everything that we need to know about girls’ friendships during adolescence (between the ages of 10 and 24). She focuses on the links between friendships and mental health, how friendships gain more importance during adolescence, their importance to young people’s wellbeing and common friendship issues. She finishes with some tips for nurturing positive relationships that can be used at home or in school.