This question popped into my mind last week as I was driving, the question expanded when I received the card in the picture attached to the blog this week.
Whilst I believed I could help in someway I was not prepared for how putting a sole focus on self-care could bring a child's experience of learning to life. My approach is bespoke to each individual - it requires me to be an octopus at times but it works on bringing a sense of self, acceptance, belonging, confidence, regulation, curiosity, and openness. This kind of healing opens a child up to have the capacity to want to learn. It still may not meet the pace of a curriculum nor the content of it but it ignites self learning and it's super special to witness.
I have to reiterate that there is no one way for everyone and that is why school is so hard for so many children to navigate. Their route is their adventure, and if we travel along with them we will enjoy the process too.
I completed a wellbeing programme for Key Stage Two students and the feedback from Year 5 students this week was so powerful that I am still digesting it. When asked what they enjoyed about the sessions their responses were 'I enjoyed being free, the space always felt warm and inviting, and I loved being able to create my own products'. Parents have said thank you, my child is more confident, and more regulated. One child's parent said that the writing he'd been inspired to do after a game of bananagrams is the first piece of writing on paper he's done this year!
You may wonder, what am I doing in these sessions.
I listen.
I observe.
I use my intuition to make a suggestion.
I notice the response.
I respect the direction the child responds with.
I expand on the direction.
I narrate the experience.
I scent the experience.
I invite the child to think about their experience.
The journey with scent in the form of Aromatherapy is fascinating with citrus fruits and vanilla being the immediate favourites as they are familiar and comforting. They build a foundation and rapport fast! From here we build but initially the rest of my kit is often referred to as yuk, and yes if you've ever worked with children they always manage to mention the word 'poo!'
After one of my breakfast clubs this morning I was walking through the school hall to exit and saw a child I'd worked with sobbing. I walked towards her and she headed straight to me, leaning in for comfort. She expressed having a bad day. We sat on a bench in the hall and I took out a bottle of Sweet Orange. I remembered just how much she enjoyed it last time we met. The smile of knowing and comfort beamed into her cheeks. We then were able to walk back to class with a sparkle that only this essential oil can ignite. What a shift to witness!
Another child had an intense moment of anger, she could feel the explosion arising within her she said how she felt, her awareness of self has grown exponentially. I asked if she would walk over to me and my bag of oils, she did so and I invited her to take three breaths in and out with an open bottle of Peppermint in front of her. That anger dispelled, she walked back to her friends and re-engaged with them in a beautiful way. Two other children looked at me wide-eyed 'what just happened' they said. I shared how Peppermint oil cools, and offers a clarity that is hard to avoid, it's a special oil. They were amazed, considering it to be magical.
I share these experiences almost as a way of reflection. I have seen so much that I am writing more and more. Aromatherapy has its place in the curriculum, and at times we just have to work with it, not overthink it, just be with it, and let it work it's magic!
With gratitude for all those who are open to the wellbeing work I do.
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