De STEMpel

Project ZenZone

How Primary School De STEMpel focuses on well-being and learning

Stress not only impairs our well-being, but also our ability to learn. This is becoming increasingly clear thanks to insights from neuroscience. Children, whose brains are still in development, learn through interaction with each other and, especially, with adults, how to regulate their emotions and behavior. In this process, teachers play a crucial role as co-regulators. It's a responsibility that demands much, but also offers opportunities to contribute to a healthy and resilient school climate.

At Primary School De STEMpel in Bruges, they understand this like no one else. They not only focus on awareness but also take concrete steps to reduce stress for both children and teachers. For instance, they have built a physical Zen-Zone where children can relax. To provide a strong foundation for the project, they organized workshops for teachers and in classrooms on the themes of relaxation and regulation.

My Role in the Project

I was asked to help shape this project with clear objectives:

For the students: Learning to recognize when they need the Zen-Zone (overactivation) and discovering how they can regulate themselves.
For the teachers: Offering tools that enable them to regulate themselves and also support their students in this (co-regulation).

Together, we developed a program consisting of three phases:

1. Workshop on Self-Regulation for Teachers

Teachers play a key role in co-regulating children. That's why it's essential that they recognize signs of overactivation in their own nervous system and know how to ground and calm themselves. This enables them to better support children in regulating their emotions. During this workshop, we focused on:

Insights into the autonomic nervous system and stress responses in both adults and children.
Practical tools and resources, such as the Relaxation Box, which both teachers and students can use to relax and self-regulate.

The teachers were also given homework: to further explore and try out the Relaxation Box. Their findings were then incorporated into the classroom workshops.

2. TRE® Series for Teachers

To further support teachers in managing stress and prevent issues such as burnout, we introduced them to TRE® (Tension Releasing Exercises). This is a globally recognised method to release deep (muscle) tension caused by stress and trauma.

In a series of sessions, we also worked on self-regulation within the TRE® process. Teachers learned how to apply these exercises independently. Although it was sometimes a challenge to find time for it at home, the teachers themselves suggested organising TRE® sessions at school. This not only provides a valuable moment of relaxation but also strengthens team spirit.

3. Workshops in the Classrooms.

With sufficient knowledge of the autonomic nervous system and stress responses, we worked together with teachers and their students. In the classrooms, we explored:

What does it feel like to be nervous?
Why does our body sometimes react as if a lion is chasing us?
What feels like a threat to me, and how do I respond to it?
What helps me calm down, and why is that important?

The tools from the Relaxation Box, selected by the teachers, were central. Together with the students, we explored polyvagal theory, linking autonomic states to music, movement, images, and colors. Older students (3rd to 6th grade) even drew their own polyvagal ladder.

The children were very good at recognizing the feeling of being "nervous," and some already knew how to calm themselves down. They also discovered that, for example, music has a significant influence on how you feel, that stress hormones are produced very quickly, and that relaxation hormones (the "parachute") are slower and can be also activated by specific tools and resources from the Relaxation Box. They realised that not all relaxation techniques work equally well for everyone. It will be wonderful to explore this further in the classroom, the Zen-Zone, and at home!

Zen-Zone and a Sustainable Follow-up

The Zen-Zone is more than just a project; it's a step toward a school environment where well-being and learning go hand in hand.

With the Zen-Zone, Primary School De STEMpel now offers even more opportunities to support both children and teachers in finding peace and balance. A beautiful example of how (neuro)science, body-oriented work, and school practice can complement and enhance each other!

Would you like to work on stress reduction, well-being, and resilience at your school or organisation?

I'm happy to assist you with tailor-made workshops, programs, or inspirational sessions where we combine body-oriented methods and scientific insights. Together, we'll create a healthy learning environment where everyone can grow and thrive.
Contact me for more information or to schedule a free introductory meeting!

Get in touch