Finding the golden mean

This was an afternoon event on Friday 25th October 2019 organised by the Centre for Confidence and Well-being and held at Moray House School of Education and Sport.

Event overview

Empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that children and young people are not as resilient as they once were and increasingly suffer from mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.  This event presents the insights from a recent Postcards from Scotland book, the Golden Mean, (edited by Morag Kerr) on young people’s resilience, confidence and well-being.

Speakers at the event will specifically look at:

• The importance of both support and challenge for young people and how best to achieve this

• The dangers and downsides of indulgent and overprotective parenting

• How a focus on ACEs could unwittingly undermine young people’s resilience unless a continual distinction is made between ‘stress’ and ‘toxic stress’

• Why children need both love and independent outdoor play

• How stretching experiences can help young people and staff to gain confidence

• How to create a healthy balance between ‘unconditional positive regard’ and rules and boundaries.

Programme

13.00              Registration, light lunch provided (sandwiches, tea /coffee and biscuits)

13.30              Carol Craig – introduction to the event as well as insights into parenting and ACEs

14.00              Alan McLean – support and challenge

14.20              Sue Palmer – love and play

14.40              Charis Robertson – balancing support and challenge and using ACE concepts in the Hot Chocolate Trust

15.00              Morag Kerr – Bounce Back programme and introduction to  strategies/projects to foster resilience, confidence and well-being

15.15              Break

15.30              Table discussions led by Golden Mean authors on:

                         - Outdoor learning

                         - Systema orchestra

                         - Room 13

                         - Youth homelessness

                         - Whole school approach

16.15              Facilitated whole group discussion

16.45              Close

Contact

If you require any further information, please contact Judy Pilley (Professional Learning Administrator) at professionallearning@ed.ac.uk or 0131 651 6114.