We have worked with Start-Rite Shoes for 9 years and are incredibly proud that five years ago we embarked on a process of listening to children and for the brand in its privileged position, to become their mouthpiece. It all started with this film back in 2015, where young children revealed the impact on them, of mobile phones in the home. 

During the summer of 2020, while our high streets, schools and parks were still eerily quiet, on behalf of Start-Rite, we carried out research into the effect of lockdown on primary aged children and we partnered with experts and advisors to bring timely resources, insights and advice to support them. 

As we enter Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we’ve pulled together a collection of the best tips and advice from the panel of esteemed experts we’ve worked with. 

Schools are currently set to return in March 2021 and understandably, many children will face the same concerns as they did, in September 2020. When we surveyed over 500 school-aged children to find out what concerned them most about returning, social distancing, catching-up on school work, no physical contact and getting used to new rules were all central themes. It was clear from the candid results that the ‘new’ school day would be daunting for many youngsters. Watch our film that encapsulated the research here. 

We worked with Dr Julie Smith, a Clinical Psychologist and expert in mental health with 1 million social media followers across Tik Tok and Instagram, to offer her advice on how to ease the transition back to school for both children and parents.

Read Dr Julie's advice and follow her tips here.

Experts claim that through writing children can observe and reflect, it enables better processing of feelings and helps children to navigate change. Exploring and identifying emotions is not only cathartic, but empowering and builds emotional growth - not to mention boosts literacy skills along the way.

In January 2021, we launched Start-Write – a writing initiative aimed at encouraging youngsters to write creatively about their personal lockdown experience. Working with a professional writer, writing tutor, journalist, and mum of three, Heidi Scrimgeour, shared with us her secrets for great writing. Giving tips and advice on how youngsters can use writing to record this extraordinary time in their lives and help make sense of the world. 

Read Heidi's expertise here and check out Start-Rite’s social media channels to read the inspiring entries. You may want a box of tissues to hand…

In 2016 as the Government agenda turned to childhood obesity levels we turned to Martin Haines, Director of Brytespark and his team to develop the first HIIT routines for children. These routines which were devised to engage different age groups would enable children to get active, at home and if they only had five minutes to spare. Our routines 5-4-5 were adapted and shared once more here during Lockdown 1.0 to help children physically and mentally during the sudden enforced period of inactivity. 

With children spending an unprecedented prolonged time at home, last year - in partnership with the Daily Mile – Start-Rite commissioned the Anglia Ruskin University to look at how active children are at home. 

The results revealed less than 10% of primary aged children (5+ years) met the Government guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Furthermore, limited information to support parents around the required intensity or duration of exercise was cause for concern. We know that children who are physically active reap mental health benefits, have been shown to be fitter and carry the benefits of physical activity into later life. But for complex reasons it can be hard for children to do enough physical activity at home.

As a result we created #Find15 a campaign which put this research and guidance into simple context. Demonstrating the achievable and fun ways families can incorporate 15 minutes of self-paced physical activity into daily life. 

Find out more about #Find15 and Start-Rite’s partnership with the Daily Mile here and follow Start-Rite on Facebook where each week there will be a #FitandFunFriday idea to inspire little ones through story-telling and games, to keep moving. 

As an agency we are so proud to have been entrusted by this wonderful brand and to have had the opportunity to deliver many insights and expert partnerships that raise awareness of children’s mental health and wellbeing.