Military-style exercises help UK children's resilience

Hula hoops, camoufl mats and body tyres don't sound like typical items deployed to fight coronavirus. But y're useful props as British army veteran Mike Hamilton prepares to lead children in a military-style game designed to boost ir resilience and mental health at a time of particular stress.

children's mission is to pick up 'virus' - a small ball - with wooden blocks, race to a trash can, and drop ball inside before pretending to wash ir hands.It's one of many games devised by Hamilton, who served with bomb disposal teams in Afghanistan and Iraq, and w runs a company called Commando Joe's.

"In military, you are trained to deal with adversity and y throw things at you all time, and it's trying to build your resilience up so that when something goes wrong that you can deal with that," he says. "Our team are trying to support teachers in this uncertain time with same thing."

company sends former soldiers to British schools to guide exercises in teamwork, dealing with adversity and staying calm under pressure. firm, which is partly funded by government, works with hundreds of schools.

One of m is Seymour Road Academy in Manchester, where Hamilton is helping pupils deal with any anxiety caused by virus. In Britain, schools never completely closed during virus lockdown. Some have remained open for students whose parents still had to work outside home in key professions, as well as for children under social care.

familiar routine may be reassuring, but it's an unsettling time for many of se children. Playgrounds and classrooms typically bustling with hundreds of youngsters are w hushed and quiet.

Sienna-Leigh Murphy, whose parents are separated, attends school while her mor goes to work as a nurse.

"I feel happy because she looks after people and makes sure y don't die or anything," Sienna-Leigh says.

"I do miss going to places that are really fun with my friends like park or something. And I really miss my dad."

Sophie Murfin, executive headteacher at Wise Owl Trust - which operates includes three schools in Manchester including Seymour Road Academy - says key is giving children a friendly and positive environment. "It's about ensuring children's worries are alleviated by giving m different activities to complete in a fun and engaging way," she tes.

Eight-year-old Sonny Turner, who took part in "catch virus" game, said it gave him a confidence boost. "It makes me feel confident about t feeling coronavirus is going to get me," Turner says.

(Im credit: Representative Im)