The Heaviest Backpack | Primary
Introducing our new campaign, The Heaviest Backpack, this Mental Health Awareness Week
BBC Children in Need are launching ‘The Heaviest Backpack’. The heaviest backpack is a metaphor for the psychological burden many children carry every day. Whether it’s anxiety or problems at home, it can weigh them down and follow them everywhere.
This campaign holds this metaphor at its heart; its designed to spark conversations about children’s mental health and shine a light on the work that BBC Children in Need does to support young people across the UK.
Jonathan Bundy, Youth and Community Worker at Valleys Kids, a project is supportSome of the kids we see walk around with the weight of the world on their shoulders.
The Heaviest Backpack for Schools
The campaign aims to raise awareness and deliver resources to help parents, teachers and other trusted adults relieve some of the burden for these children, and open up a nationwide conversation around children’s mental health.
The resources and videos on this page are designed to encourage conversations about mental health and wellbeing for Primary school children.
Joe Wicks’ Activities for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Check out what happened when Joe Wicks visited a primary school to share with them his favourite activities designed to encourage conversations about mental health.
Joe Wicks Shares His Past Mental Health Struggles
Famous faces and young people open up to share their past mental health struggles and discuss how positive relationships helped them as part of our Heaviest Backpack campaign.
Everyday Magic Activity Gallery
We think of activities and conversations that children share with trusted adults as “everyday magic”. These moments of connection help children to feel seen and loved – and can give them opportunities to open up and talk. Check out these suggestions for fun ways to create your own everyday magic and make life a little lighter!
