Dr Archana Mishra, Principal, Navrachana Vidyani Vidyalaya, Vadodara
The Happiness Lab at our school, designed by a group of dedicated psychology students and their mentor, the Senior School Counsellor, is an innovative program aimed at generating happiness among students. The structure of the Happiness Lab has been meticulously planned to provide convenience and user-friendliness, ensuring that students can easily engage in activities that promote their well-being.
The entrance to the Happiness Lab greets students with a customized happy clock etched on the door. This interactive element invites students to rate their level of joy upon entering the room. By acknowledging and quantifying their emotions, students develop self-awareness and actively participate in their happiness journey.
A life-sized emotion graph awaits students as they proceed further into the Happiness Lab. This graph enables students to track their emotional condition and suggests specific stations of the lab to improve their mood. The graph’s comprehensibility and ease of use make it a valuable tool for students to navigate their emotions effectively.
The Ventilation Station within the Happiness Lab is designed to provide students with a safe space to release pent-up negative emotions that may weigh them down. Engaging activities such as scribbling, paper shredding, bop bags, squeezing sponge balls, and sponge painting allow students to express and alleviate their negative feelings, promoting emotional well-being.
The Recreational Station focuses on improving body dexterity and relieving stress. Activities like clay modeling, kinetic sand, stone painting, puzzles, and Jenga provide students with an outlet for creativity and relaxation. Engaging in these recreational activities helps students unwind and rejuvenate their minds.
A unique feature of the Happiness Lab, the Peek-a-Boo Lane, offers short motivational reads that lead students to the next activity station. This corner serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of positive thinking and encourages students to maintain an optimistic mindset.
The Joy-Lo Station is a simple yet effective corner dedicated to experiencing joyful moments. It includes a whiteboard wall and spaces to hang sticky notes. Specific jars, such as the compliment jar, gratitude jar, and memory jar, encourage students to focus on positive aspects of their lives, fostering a sense of happiness and gratitude.
The Relaxation Station provides a serene and comfortable sitting area for students to unwind and practice meditation. Guideline posters displaying stretching exercises are available for everyone to follow, promoting relaxation and mindfulness.
In addition to the well-designed physical structure of the Happiness Lab, our program includes a dedicated happiness period in the daily timetable. This period ensures that students have a fixed time slot to engage in happiness-related activities regularly. By prioritizing happiness in the daily schedule, the school acknowledges the importance of student well-being and provides a structured platform for fostering happiness.
With its thoughtfully designed structure and engaging activities, the Happiness Lab offers students a nurturing environment to explore their emotions, express themselves, and develop essential life skills. The incorporation of a happiness period in the daily timetable further emphasizes the school’s commitment to student well-being. Through the Happiness Lab, our school is fostering a positive and thriving community where students can cultivate happiness, resilience, and personal growth.
Also read: Groundbreaking Foundational Literacy & Numeracy Lab at Navrachana Vidyani Vidyalaya
