3 Ideas for Red Ribbon Week 2023
Red Ribbon Week is October 23-31, and this year’s theme is “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug-Free.” Because elementary school is the foundation for middle and high school, celebrating Red Ribbon Week is a proactive approach to instilling healthy choices and encouraging kids to be responsible and informed as they grow older and enter those upper grades of their education.
Red Ribbon Week can help raise awareness of the negative effects of drugs early on and will hopefully help younger students learn the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Introducing the negative effects of drug use early can help children recognize risky situations they may face later in life and give them the knowledge and power to say no.
Teaching kids to “be kind to their minds and live drug-free” is key to their well-being and future success. Today, I want to share three ways you can incorporate this year’s theme into your school counseling program.
Red Ribbon Week 2023
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One way to incorporate this year’s theme is by teaching about the brain and body. Children need to know how the misuse of drugs can negatively affect their ability to learn, think, and make good decisions.
It’s also important that they understand that all drugs aren’t bad. Some are prescribed by medical professionals. Medicine can be very helpful when taken under a doctor’s care or over the counter when they aren’t feeling well.
You can use age-appropriate videos or illustrations to help young children get a clear understanding of how excessive drug use can affect the brain and the body.
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The second way you can incorporate the Red Ribbon Week theme is by promoting mindfulness and stress management. Many people who misuse drugs are likely carrying something heavy in their lives that they’ve had a difficult time dealing with or managing. Teaching kids at an early age about mindfulness and managing stress can frontload them with ways to handle pitfalls they may encounter as they grow older.
It’s so important for kids to learn ways to manage anxiety, stress, and other emotions that impact them negatively without turning to drugs. Teaching kids to be where their feet are and how to practice mindfulness can be very empowering and helpful. You can teach them breathing exercises or even incorporate some simple yoga. Encourage your students to practice the skills they learn when they are stressed out or feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
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Another idea is to promote creative and healthy activities. Red Ribbon Week is a good time to talk about their interests and things they like doing that bring them joy like sports, art, music, dance, or scouts. When children engage in activities they truly love and enjoy, they will make connections with others that are positive, build their self-esteem, and find outlets for their energy and emotions that are healthy.
It may not hurt to survey your students, even if it’s just by a show of hands, to find out their extra-curricular activities. Doing this will help you learn who doesn’t have a healthy outlet and allow you to follow up and stay more attuned to those specific students.
Here’s a short video you can use from Mindfulness Maya that talks about Red Ribbon Week and also features how to do belly breathing. It’s perfect for promoting mindfulness and stress management.
Even when Red Ribbon Week has come and gone, these are things you can continue to do in your program. Additionally, because school counselors regularly provide a window of open communication to all students, you will continue to create a safe and open environment where children can feel comfortable discussing their feelings, concerns, and questions.
Use Red Ribbon Week as a time to remind students that they can come to you with anything and that you’ll listen without judgment. If a class discussion brings up any sensitive things they need to talk about, they will know that your door is open. As always, remind them that what is “said here stays here” unless they are being hurt or may be hurt in the future.
How are you celebrating Red Ribbon Week this year?
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One Comment
Lowanda J
You hit the nail on the head with your suggestions! I actually was going to recommend Mindfulness Maya and there it was at the end! Great minds think alike!