This term Bayonet (Y7-8) learners have been talking about health and wellbeing.

We've been exploring Te Whare Tapa Wha as a model for hauora/health/wellbeing. 

This has included conversations around hygiene, physical activity, healthy food choices and ways that we enhance our mental, emotional and spiritual self. 

The learners in Bayonet took some time to consider each of the four quadrants, in this model, that contribute to making us 'well - beings'. We shared these with each other and created some images that show how we do this. 

How do you look after the different elements of your wellbeing? This is such a valuable conversation to have as a family. 

TIP: Avoid talking about good/bad or negative/positive emotions. All emotions are there to inform us. Some of them may feel bad or negative but the emotions themselves are signs that we should pay attention to. 

Try these questions to guide you...

* How do you deal with feelings that don't make you feel good?

* How do you try to get balance across the different areas of health?

* What can we do for others when we notice that one of their areas isn't so strong?

* How do you look after your body? (This is a great chance to talk about hygiene - especially any issues directly related to body changes taking place during puberty)

* What does 'spirituality' mean to you and your family? (See below for more info)  

Info from the Health and PE Curriculum area website:

Hauora is a Māori philosophy of health unique to Aotearoa. It comprises:

Taha tinana (the physical dimension)
Physical wellbeing as well as the physical body, its growth, development, and ability to move, and ways of caring for it.

Taha hinengaro (the mental dimension)
Mental and emotional wellbeing including coherent thinking processes, acknowledging and expressing thoughts and feelings, and responding constructively.

Taha whānau (the family dimension)
Social wellbeing exploring family relationships, friendships, and other interpersonal relationships; feelings of belonging, compassion, and caring; and social support.

Taha wairua (the spiritual dimension)
Spiritual wellbeing and the values and beliefs that determine the way people live, the search for meaning and purpose in life, and personal identity and self-awareness. (For some individuals and communities, spiritual wellbeing is linked to a particular religion; for others, it is not.)

Each of these four dimensions of hauora influences and supports the others.