Simple challenge to improve school children’s wellbeing

School children in the South West are being urged to ditch the luxuries and bling as part of a nation wide wellbeing Challenge.

The Simple Wellbeing Challenge is aiming to boost the fragile self-esteem of pupils at 19 secondary schools in the region, as well as educate them about suitable ways to care for their skin.

The Challenge is trying to get children to forget their gadgets including mobile phones and MP3 players and also see an end to make-up, fake tan and hair extensions.

Psychologist, Emma Kenny, who is spearheading the campaign said: “With the ever increasing access to modern technology and the peer pressure which comes with it, teen self-esteem is at an all time low. On a parallel, wearing make-up and fake tan, and bringing gadgets into school, is at an all time high. I have witnessed first hand the pressures that teenagers face today, from both a physical and psychological perspective, due to these luxuries. When you strip these back to basics, it’s amazing the positive effect that a more simple daily distraction-free routine can have.”

The three-month challenge will form part of the Personal, Social, Health and Economic curriculum and results will be analysed using the Rosenberg Scale.

A pilot programme which ran at  Baines High School in Blackpool, found self-esteem levels increase as much as 90 per cent once the war paint and orange layer was removed.

Once the results have been assessed, Simple will provide measures for teachers and parents to put in place, supporting children’s needs.