Calmer
classrooms
across Aotearoa

Pause Breathe Smile is a mind health programme that helps tamariki regulate emotions, pay attention and build positive relationships. Students develop resilience, increase self-awareness and improve overall happiness.

Southern Cross

Southern Cross has joined forces with the Pause Breathe Smile Trust to offer a mind health programme to children aged five to 12 in New Zealand. Together we want to equip every child in New Zealand with the tools to achieve positive mind health.

Southern Cross’ involvement makes it possible for Pause Breathe Smile to be made available free of charge to any primary and intermediate school in the country.

Since partnering with Southern Cross in 2020, the Pause Breathe Smile Charitable Trust has reached an additional

Tamariki / Children

48 K+

Kaiako / Educators

9600 K+

Kura / Schools

388 +

The Pause Breathe Smile teacher only day was the best external Professional Development we have ever been engaged in. The facilitator was engaging and incredibly knowledgeable and taught all aspects of the PBS programme in a contextually relevant way. All staff thoroughly enjoyed the PLD and came away with knowledge and skills to use personally and professionally. The PBS PLD was not only relevant to apply within classroom practice but also as part of teacher wellbeing self practice. We are excited to start our Schools PBS journey as we know it will have huge benefits to our diverse student wellbeing needs."

Deputy Principal, Orini School

Train to teach Pause Breathe Smile

Our professional development training provides everything you need to implement a robust, evidence-based wellbeing programme in your kura. Whether your school already has wellbeing initiatives or you’re just starting out, the Pause Breathe Smile programme will meet you where you are to layer, enrich, and embed wellbeing experiences and approaches. By building your capacity, you can build the wellbeing outcomes for your learners. All of the elements of this PLD are provided for FREE for educators through the funding of Southern Cross.

If you are a parent or caregiver who would love to see this programme in your child’s school, please speak directly to them about training. You can also support your children by trying out some of our mindfulness practices which you can find on the At Home page.

Latest research shows long lasting positive effects on wellbeing

For a third year, Mindquip research has found teachers who have trained in and delivered the Pause Breathe Smile programme, continue to report improvements in student wellbeing, behaviours, and attitudes.

Key results:

Teachers were asked to rate the wellbeing, behaviours and characteristics of students before and after implementing the Pause Breathe Smile programme. One year after implementing the programme 21% of aggregate wellbeing scores had moved above the baseline average
The measure of children ‘flourishing’ saw a 13% move above the baseline average by one year, while the measure of those ‘languishing’ saw a 10% decrease below the baseline average in the same period
Increases in positive behaviours and characteristics among students were identified along with decreases in those considered negative. Children were significantly more self-motivated, perseverant, focused, and supportive after one year
Teachers were more inclined to be satisfied or enjoy their work after delivering the Pause Breathe Smile programme.

Read the full report here.

Calmer classrooms across Aotearoa