May gives us a powerful opportunity to talk about children’s wellbeing in a practical and hopeful way. Pink Shirt Day is our national anti-bullying movement centred on the message “Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying”, while our National Mental Health Awareness Week is used to share simple tools that help New Zealanders boost wellbeing.
For parents, whānau, educators and youth organisations, these May themes fit naturally together. When we reduce pressure, create more breathing room, spend time outdoors, step back from devices and speak to each other with care, we help children feel safer, calmer and more connected.
This is where every day wellbeing begins: not in perfection, but in small habits repeated often.
What is Mental Health Awareness Month, and why does it matter for children?
Mental Health Awareness Month (typically celebrated during May overseas) helps us move wellbeing out of the “only when something is wrong” category and into everyday life. For children, that matters because emotional wellbeing is built through routine experiences: feeling included, getting enough rest, moving their bodies, being listened to, and having safe people to talk to. The Mental Health Foundation describes Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 October, 2026) as a campaign focused on simple tips and tools that improve wellbeing.
That message is especially helpful for families and schools. It reminds us that little habits can make a real difference before stress builds up.
What is Pink Shirt Day, and how does it connect to mental health?
Pink Shirt Day in Aotearoa is about celebrating diversity and helping schools, workplaces and communities become safe, welcoming and inclusive for all.
This matters for children’s wellbeing because the way people are spoken to, included, or excluded affects confidence, belonging and emotional safety. When adults actively model kindness, and encourage children to speak respectfully, they help create the conditions where mental health can thrive.
Why do less pressure and less overplanning support children’s wellbeing?
Children need structure, but they also need space. When every moment is rushed, or performance-focused, children can struggle to regulate emotions and fully recharge. A healthier rhythm includes a margin – time to play, rest, chat, notice nature and simply be.
Mental wellbeing often grows in ordinary moments: walking to school, helping to make dinner, sitting outside and sharing a laugh, or having a quiet check-in before bed. These moments reduce pressure and increase connection, which is exactly the kind of balance many families and schools are trying to build in May.
How do screen breaks, outdoor time and real connection help children?
New Zealand research has linked frequent and extended screen use with risks to children’s wellbeing and mental functioning, while guidance in Aotearoa continues to encourage healthier screen behaviours and more balanced use. The University of Auckland and The Education Hub NZ both highlight the value of reducing extended device use and building healthier routines around screens.
That does not mean screens are always bad. It means children benefit when digital use is balanced with movement, face-to-face conversation, outdoor play, rest and boredom. Time outside, shared family rituals, and simple moments of presence all support regulation, belonging and emotional reset.
What everyday steps can we take to support children’s wellbeing?
- Build calm moments into each day, leaving room for rest and play.
- Limit time on devices as much as possible – encourage indoor or outdoor play instead.
- Spend a little time outdoors each day, even if it is just a short walk or sitting in the sun.
- Help children notice small good things, not in a forced way, but in an honest one.
- Speak to each other with care and talk openly about how words can build people up or bring them down.
At Your Happy Place, we believe mental wellbeing should feel simple, practical and achievable.
That is why we created the Positive Mindset Challenge, New Zealand’s easiest mental wellbeing programme, designed to help families, schools and communities build healthier habits through small daily actions that support calm, connection and resilience.
For more information about the app and programme, please visit
