Words by Amy Packham
A seven-lesson course in positive psychology for children has been shown to give children sustained levels of improved wellbeing.
Tell me more.
An independent pilot study into the effectiveness of Teachappy’s award-winning Seeds of Happiness course shows that children taking part experience sustained levels of improved wellbeing and improved attitudes towards learning compared to controls.
The course was developed by Adrian Bethune, founder of Teachappy, who has been teaching happiness and wellbeing to primary school children and teachers since 2010.
The online course, which was awarded the Teach Primary 5 star award for Wellbeing in 2021, delivers a 7-lesson curriculum which introduces children and their teachers to the science of wellbeing.
The course aims to positively change their habits and behaviours inside and outside of school. Based on the ideas explored within Adrian Bethune’s book, Wellbeing in the Primary Classroom, the Seeds of Happiness breaks down the theory of positive psychology and provides tools and resources for teachers to deliver to their children in the classroom environment.
So what was the study?
The aim of it was two-fold: to investigate the effectiveness of the Seeds of Happiness course in improving the wellbeing of primary children, and to assess whether any impact was sustained past the completion of the course.
A primary school in the Midlands was selected to take part. The two-form entry school had never delivered The Seeds of Happiness curriculum before. The two adjacent Key Stage 2 classes were selected for the study with one participating in the curriculum (the intervention group) and the other not (the control group).
And what did it find?
The study found children's participation resulted in improved wellbeing – and these levels were sustained over at least half the term following the end of the course.
But it also found that the course had a positive impact on emotions, as well as attitudes towards learning. These included enjoyment, excitement and happiness.
Teachappy is a limited company, but Adrian donates between 10-15% of his profits to Chance UK. “So,” he adds, “when you do the course, you’re improving the wellbeing of children but you’re also helping us to contribute to the charities we believe in.”
Find out more about Teachappy and how it supports children here. You can also learn more about Chance UK, the charity supporting disadvantaged children, and donate here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Quality Education and Good Health and Wellbeing.
