CHILDREN had fun dancing, skipping, drawing, talking and eating fruit kebabs.

Schools belonging to Winsford Education Partnership teamed up to celebrate mental health and wellbeing by organising special activities.

Youngsters wore brightly coloured clothes to help them to feel bright and cheerful.

Pupils at primary schools across the town raised thousands of pounds for the charity YoungMinds by donating 50p or £1 each.

Martine Gum, head teacher of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, which collected £246 for the mental health charity, said: "We practised our gross motor skills by dancing to 'Happy' with our yellow streamers.

Northwich Guardian:

Pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School dance to 'Happy' with yellow streamers

"We read 'The Colour Monster' and talked about lots of different feelings. We drew things that made us happy and encouraged children to speak about a time that they felt sad."

Children at Over Hall Community School all wore something yellow. They played on bikes and scooters, held a skipping workshop and made fruit kebabs.

One pupil said: "I enjoyed tasting the new fruits. When tasting the kiwi my face looked like I'd sucked a lemon."

Pupils at Darnhall Primary School discussed what mental health is and why it is so important to support each other.

Northwich Guardian:

Darnhall pupils wore yellow and drew pictures of their superheroes

Head teacher Sarah Tomlinson said: "Mental health and wellbeing is high in our school priority. Not only does this benefit every single child, but all staff too.

"Considering the year we have had thus far, looking after our minds and wellbeing is as important as ever."

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Pupils at High Street Community Primary took part in various mindfulness activities including drawing and yoga.

Northwich Guardian:

Pupils at High Street Community Primary explored various mindfulness activities

Staff at the Grange Community Nursery and Primary School have trained staff in emotional literacy support, mental health first aid, mini me yoga and collective trauma training.

Northwich Guardian:

Becky Ward, centre, mental health first aider at The Grange, with pupils

Sara Albiston, head of school, said: "We are so proud of the important work that we carry out to equip our children with the strategies to deal with anxiety and trauma.

"We believe in each individual child and know that they can absolutely achieve anything that they aspire to."

Emma Snowdon, head teacher at Over St John Primary School, said: "All the children were asked to come dressed in something yellow. Immediately this impacted on our mental health as it makes us feel good and the school was filled with bright sunshine yellow.

"We carried out a variety of activities to help pupils understand how to look after their mental health.

"Some children thought about things that fill their hearts with happiness and made art work to remind them of these things and how they can think about these things if they are feeling sad or worried."

Children at St Chad's CE Primary School enjoyed activities ranging from yoga and mindfulness colouring to art work and bubbles.

Northwich Guardian:

Children at St Chad's had fun playing with colourful bubbles

Head teacher Natalie Hughes said: "We had a great day thinking about how important our mental health is."

Children at Willow Wood Community Nursery and Primary came to school in a range of bright colours.

Head teacher Martin Bell said: "Each year group wore a different colour to symbolise one of the five ways to wellbeing - connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.

"Children also produced individual pieces of art that will form a large whole school art work that symbolises children's mental health during the pandemic."

Pupils at Wharton CE Primary School watched video diaries from Unicef of children around the world talk about a day in their life in lockdown.

Head teacher Natalie Tomlinson said: "They then shared their own experiences and wrote diary entries of a day in their lockdown. The whole school also drew round their hand and decorated it. We talked about this being a high five to themselves for being brave and resilient by not coming to school and not seeing family and friends for such a long time."