Supporting 6th Class Student’s Emotional Wellbeing from Primary to Secondary School.

The Voyage is a workshop designed to support children’s emotional wellbeing during their transition from 6th class in primary school into secondary (post-primary) school.

Since 2016 we in Helplink Mental Health have been providing our unique emotional wellbeing workshop for 6th class students called The Voyage; to primary schools in Dublin and Galway.

In 2021, with the support of the Irish Youth Foundation, we adapted this workshop so it is available online nationally. During 2021 we provided The Voyage to over 20 schools from across the country, supporting over 2000 6th class students with the emotional aspects of transitioning from Primary to Secondary School!

The Voyage utilises a combination of Art Therapy and Play Therapy therapeutic approaches and is focused on the student’s Voyage/emotional wellbeing, for the transition from primary to secondary school.

Creative Activities
Art provides a creative way of exploring and understanding life experiences. For centuries, people have used art to express themselves, communicate with each other, process events and tell stories. As humans we have an innate ability to create art and making art can be a fun way to relieve stress and can lead to positive self-expression. Self-esteem and confidence can be boosted when children (and parents!) are given the opportunity to express themselves creatively.

Transitioning from Primary to Secondary school is a time of huge transition for students, coupled with the current COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of schools, you may be experiencing uncertainty and increased apprehension/anxiety. Allowing time in the day to focus on creative expression, be it painting, writing, drawing, working with natural materials or keeping an art journal can help us to artistically express what we are experiencing/feeling.

The following activities can be practised at home again, after the student has completed the workshop in school and require basic art materials that can be accessed in most homes. No artistic ability is necessary to complete the activities.

The focus is to allow a space to express yourself creatively and there is no wrong or right way to do them, they only require a willingness to participate.

The goal is not to create beautiful pieces of art, the aim is to become immersed in the activity itself and allowing yourself to focus in the present moment.