I'm running the Junior Great North Run to help other children who suffer from anxiety says 5-year-old Theo

Five-year-old Theo Surtees is running the Junior Great North Run to raise money for Relax Kids.

Transcript

00:00What was Theo's situation when he first came to the school?

00:13When Theo first arrived in school he presented with some very big feelings that he found hard to manage.

00:19So he could be very angry or upset and he found that difficult to calm down from and then to access his learning.

00:25And what difference have you noticed since he started working with relaxed kids?

00:29Now he comes in calmer. He knows what to do if he has big feelings.

00:33He could go and use all the strategies that he's learned with Margaret and he comes in much more ready to learn.

00:38And Margaret what are some of those strategies that you use with the kids?

00:41We make things like calm jars that are full of glitter that the children can shake.

00:46When they're feeling angry they shake it and then while they wait for the glitter to settle they do some breathing exercises.

00:52We do lots of breathing exercises. We breathe like the tides moving in and out.

00:56We breathe as if we're blowing clouds across the sky.

00:59We do lots of different techniques that help us to be calm.

01:02We do stretches so we might stretch like a tree or we might stretch like a flower opening.

01:08We do positive talking because we believe in positive affirmations making children feel positive and confident about themselves.

01:17And it all helps to build their resilience and to make them calmer children.

01:22And Theo how do you now feel when you come into school?

01:25Are you a lot more relaxed? Are you a lot calmer?

01:29I'm happy.

01:31And what's your favourite activity that you do with Margaret?

01:35Yeah.

01:37What do you see inside?

01:39Stretching.

01:40Is it the massage yeah?

01:42Yeah.

01:43You like doing the massage on yourself don't you yeah?

01:45And what are you going to be doing to raise money for our lax kids?

01:48I'm the junior north one. The kids north one.

01:52Are you looking forward to it?

01:53Yeah.

01:54Been in training?

01:55Yeah.

01:56What do you do for your training?

01:57Have you been running around the field?

01:58So I have a big like forest there's a path so one all around the path.

02:08Yeah one back home.