Teaching tamariki to identify and deal with their emotions through painting workshops is poles apart from working in animal control and veterinary services.
But Monique Walker is relishing the career change that allows her to fill a gap in wellbeing education that exists in New Zealand schools.
The mother of three boys runs one-hour step-by-step guided art workshops with students in years one to eight, and has worked with about 10 schools in Manurewa.
Promoting wellbeing through creativity, Monique incorporates listening to music and singing into the sessions and makes space for the group to talk about how they have been feeling.
“While we are painting, I teach the students easy-to remember coping mechanisms for when they are struggling with their emotions.”
Each session concludes with breathing exercises and a refresher on the coping tools the students have learned.
Monique says the workshops provide numerous benefits, including stress relief, enhanced creativity, and the opportunity for self-expression. Engaging in painting can also foster mindfulness and increase focus.
She first began working in schools running workshops centred around her children’s book, Arlo and the Orca, a story about a young boy who is struggling to understand his grief after the passing of his grandfather.
Monique lost her father to suicide in 2009, and she decided to use her passion for art and writing to create the story when her oldest son began asking questions about his own grandfather.
After talking to people about the book, she realised her lived experience of losing her dad could help other families.
Monique began taking the book, available on the Kowhai Heart Books website, into schools, using it to share her story with the children and help them to identify and process three significant emotions – anger, sadness and fear.
The idea for a follow-up wellness painting session came about when she was working with a group of adults in a Sip and Stroke painting class. One woman expressed how she had been feeling very stressed, but during the session, she’d been so focused on painting she hadn’t even thought about the issue she was dealing with.
“I thought, why don’t I incorporate this into the schools?”
Monique spends up to two weeks in each school, running three sessions a day, ensuring all the students can take part in this wellness-based activity.
In term two, the theme for the sessions was Matariki and this term, the children are painting Ruru, the owl, in honour of Māori Language Week. Monique tells the children that even in the darkest days, Ruru can see the light, reminding them that there is always hope in life.
“We really need some sort of wellness offering in our schools. Many of these children don’t need therapists, they just need to know that having emotions is ok.”
“You don’t always need a counsellor to talk about your feelings, you just need someone you can relate to, and to know that you are not alone. And sometimes children may not feel comfortable to speak with their parents about their feelings and emotions.”
She hopes the programme will prevent the students from having problems later, especially when they reach the rollercoaster teenage years.
“I wish we’d had something like this when we were in school, showing us ways to cope with our emotions.”
Monique says if she senses a child in one of the sessions may need extra support, she talks to the teacher and offers resources or suggestions of services that can provide help for the family.
Wiri Licensing Trust has been able to help facilitate Monique’s work by supporting an application to Trillian Trust for funding for the programme and materials.
“Supporting initiatives that improve the mental health of young people is something our organisation holds close to its heart,” says Trust General Manager Kim Green.
“We are proud to have helped make these workshop possible. We all need practical tools to understand and manage our emotions and Monique’s workshops provide those in bucket loads.”
Kim experienced one of the painting workshops earlier this year, joining a class at Leabank Primary School.
“I was impressed with how engaged the children were. Monique does a great job of creating a safe space for tamariki to express themselves, using art as the vehicle. You could see everyone involved relax, lean into the process, and enjoy the activity.
“I was surprised by how many students were willing to try the breathing and emotional regulation exercises. Monique introduced them in a gentle, non-confronting manner and every child gave it go. And they all remained calm and focused, not an easy task in a very busy classroom!”
Kim says it’s important for the community to find different ways to connect and support young people. For some, a creative, wellbeing-focused approach will resonate in a way that traditional teaching styles don’t.
“I saw firsthand how the workshop had a positive impact on the headspace the children were in, and this can only help with learning throughout the rest of the day and beyond.”
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations that are doing great work in our hood to understand how we can better support you – email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
