December Interactive (Advent) Calendar (5 Ways to Wellbeing Theme)

**Get into a fun December routine with this interactive daily calendar **

Click on a window to reveal a task/instruction/idea. This alternative Advent Calendar starts on 1st December and has 5 windows each week, going up to 19th December, the last day of term in many places.

It does not have any overtly religious overtones, so can be used in a non CE school - it is simply a December Calendar, however it is very festive -themed and clearly links to Christmas.

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are evidence-based ways, that, if incorporated into daily life are shown to have a positive effect on wellbeing - they are:

1. Keep Learning
2. Be Active
3. GIve
4. Take Notice
5. Connect

Behind each window is an idea about how to meet one of these ways - a different way for each week day. This calendar would be perfect in a school who had already incorporated the 5 Ways to Wellbeing into their Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) ethos or for a teacher to use just as a bit of fun and a little more meaningful than just a chocolate - heart-warming stuff.

It also contributes towards PHSE (statutory) objectives in England:

Pupils should know: the benefits of physical exercise, time outdoors, community participation, voluntary and service-based activity on mental wellbeing and happiness
Simple self-care techniques, including the importance of rest, time spent with friends and family and the benefits of hobbies and interests.

I am sorry not to offer this for free, as it does not seem in keeping with Christmas, but I will use the author proceeds to donate to a partner school in Sierra Leone, which is very much in keeping with the spirit of Christmas.

Recommendations for use:

Check each window to ensure you feel the action is suitable for your setting - if not, edit to an appropriate alternative by dragging the image away, editing the box and returning the image.

Display as part of perhaps an early morning routine - post register. Choose one child to reveal the instruction by approaching the white board - that child can either choose to follow the instruction or nominate a volunteer to follow the instruction - before choosing a child each morning, you can follow up how the previous child got on with their activity if it was not an immediate one - they can carry it forward or nominate someone else to complete it if they did not do it.

Alternatively, complete as a whole class - teacher reveals the number, has a discussion about how the instruction could be helpful or nice and sets everyone with the task of completing the action (or nominates several volunteers).

I hope you have lots of fun using this.