'World Thinking Day' Eleanor Clark National Director RainbowsGB

 

It’s endlessly fascinating to discover what international days are happening around the world and my favourite for February has to be ‘World Thinking Day’.

Every year, on this day, Girl Scouts from across the globe gather to discuss issues that affect young women.

What a wonderful idea. To pause, reflect and share thoughts and views without prejudice.

It is a sign of our times that we have to book in these moments, or they simply do not happen. For busy schools with packed timetables and quotas it must seem like a luxury sometimes.

With figures from Ofsted inspections telling us that schools are reporting an increase in significant mental health issues in their learners since the pandemic, the need for pause and reflection and sharing of emotions isn’t going anywhere.

Children tell us that what they appreciate in their Rainbows programmes is talking and listening to other young people and having their feelings normalised.  Here is a quote from our 2019 research that says it far better “I can say all my feelings out loud; it doesn’t matter what I say….’ (11yrs)

Here’s to many more thinking days in 2022