The EMBRACE Future Toolkit: 90 Educational Sessions Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Well-Being
How can educators help children discuss mental health and well-being in ways that are practical, engaging, and appropriate for their age?
The EMBRACE Toolkit provides a structured collection of educational sessions designed to support the well-being of children and teenagers aged 6-18. Its activities help young people explore physical health, learning, emotions, values, relationships and social situations while developing resilience, self-awareness, empathy and communication skills.
Available in English and Romanian, the EMBRACE Toolkit can be used by teachers, educators and other professionals working with children and teenagers in formal and non-formal educational settings.
Five Dimensions of Well-Being
The Toolkit is organised into five modules that address five dimensions of children’s mental health and well-being.
Module 1 – Physical health, the foundation of well-being
The first module explores how physical health affects children’s energy, development and general well-being. Its sessions address balanced nutrition, personal hygiene, healthy routines, and the relationship between activity and rest.
Module 2 – Cognitive well-being
The second module helps children understand how the brain works and how information is processed. It introduces learning styles, attention, memory and motivation while encouraging children to view success and failure as parts of the learning process. Activities support confidence, curiosity and a positive approach to learning.
Module 3 – I’m okay with my emotions
This module focuses on recognising, expressing and managing emotions. Children explore different feelings, how emotions may appear, and strategies for coping when those feelings become intense. The sessions support emotional regulation, self-control, resilience and self-awareness.
Module 4 – Inner well-being
The fourth module explores the values and beliefs that influence behaviour and decision-making. Children engage with topics including inner values, fairness, inclusion, empathy, dignity, children’s rights, equality and respect for diversity. Its activities encourage responsible choices and a stronger understanding of how personal values affect other people.
Module 5 – I’m socially well
The final module develops healthy social interaction and relationship-building skills. Children explore communication, cooperation, group participation, empathy and personal boundaries. They also learn to recognise unhealthy or unsafe social situations and consider how respectful relationships can be established and maintained.
Three Age Levels & 90 Sessions
Each of the five modules contains three sessions adapted to three educational levels:
- Primary school: 6-10 years old
- Middle school: 11-14 years old
- High school: 15-18 years old
This creates 45 age-adapted sessions in each language. With complete English and Romanian versions available, the Toolkit contains 90 sessions altogether.
The age-based structure allows the same dimensions of well-being to be addressed at different stages of children’s development. Younger children can explore a topic through accessible stories and guided activities. Older students can engage with more complex situations involving identity, school pressures, relationships, decision-making and self-advocacy.
Learning with the EMBRACE Squad
Activities throughout the Toolkit feature the EMBRACE Squad, a cast of characters developed for the project’s different age groups.
Primary-school children meet Wise the Owl alongside Nutty, Sparky, Flutter, Dusty and Bytu. Middle-school activities feature Maya, Leo and their inner guides, Maya+ and Leo+. High-school students are accompanied by Ana, Alex and their inner guides, Ana+ and Alex+.
Rather than assigning characters by gender, EMBRACE Future encourages children and teenagers to connect with characters whose experiences, challenges, and strengths resonate with them.
Animated Videos
Each module is also supported by at least one animated video for every age group. These stories place the module topics in situations children and teenagers may recognise, including healthy habits, curiosity, strong emotions, peer pressure, empathy, inclusion, belonging, stress and assertive communication.
The animated format can help educators introduce sensitive or complex topics before continuing with discussion, reflection and classroom activities.
Accessing the EMBRACE Toolkit
The complete Toolkit will also be available through ICARUS as a collection of 15 e-learning courses in English, allowing educators and other users to access its learning materials online.
Access the EMBRACE Toolkit on ICARUS: https://icarus.education/embrace-future/
Further EMBRACE resources include:
Meet the EMBRACE Squad: https://embrace-future.eu/the-embrace-characters/
Watch the EMBRACE classroom animations:
https://embrace-future.eu/classroom-animation-videos/
EMBRACE YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EmbraceFutureCerv
The EMBRACE project was implemented by a European consortium composed of Fundatia Serviciilor Sociale Bethany (FSSB), Fundatia de Sprijin Comunitar (FSC), Asociatia “Bună Ziua, Copii din România” (BZRO), Federatia Organizatiilor Neguvernamentale pentru Copil (FONPC), and Evolutionary Archetypes Consulting SL (EAC).
Funding Agency: EACEA – European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Learn more about EMBRACE: embrace-future.eu
Project: 101190161 — EMBRACE — CERV-2024-CHILD
Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
