The work being done in schools can be utterly rewarding and completely exhausting at the same time. Those who work with kids know that. While we see the bright light come on in kid eyes as they connect with you or learn a new concept, there can also be a lot of moments that push you to question your whole calling. Because these moments can be so exhausting and completely overwhelming, both positive and negative, school employees need a place to relax, refresh and recharge. An oasis to give staff a break from the hectic pace of an average school day becomes critical.
School have recognized the need for calming spaces for kids. You’d be hard pressed to find a school that doesn’t have some sort of sensory room, or classrooms that utilize low lighting, choice in seating or a calming atmosphere. We know it supports our kids as they learn. Because we know that, we invest in them. On that same note, are we investing fully in our staffs? Do your staff have a hidden retreat where they have low lighting, choice in seating or an atmosphere that promotes calmness?
The idea of a space to recharge is not simply an idea for schools, business has recognized the importance as well. They recognize that office space is often busy and loud and that for many of their people to recharge and get the most of their day, quiet spaces are necessary for reflection, quiet work and refocusing. What’s good for business and kids is likely pretty important for staff of schools given the hectic nature of the day!
In my journeys through the schools, I have picked up a load of great ideas that you may want to consider while looking at modernizing your staff rooms.
- Seating – A variety of seating is a great way to suit the needs of all your staff. Tables for sharing, couches for resting and private work areas for those more introverted is a great start! Simply having the traditional tables may not be an inviting environment for those who need a little more peace in their day.
- Activities on tables – Having a few little games or puzzles around the staff room is never a bad idea. A community puzzle, a book of crosswords/Sudoku or a simply wooden puzzle may be the exact thing a stressed teacher needs to unwind and forget the busyness of their day for a second.
- Walls – What’s on the walls of your staff room? We spend a lot of time as school staffs worrying about what the walls look like in our classrooms and halls but what about our staff room? Beautiful serene pictures, inspirational quotes and words of calming can really help create a more peaceful environment. One great idea I saw was a picture of every staff member and their family on the wall. What better way to unwind than to see your lovely family during a break time!
- Snacks! – Who doesn’t like a nice little treat now and again? Schools have excessive snacks much of the year as the community really does know how much schools do for their kids. That being said, a nice selection of fruits and veggies may be the exact little healthy snack to get your people ready for the onslaught of kids needs.
- Lighting – We’ve made great strides in how we light classrooms to bring down the intensity for kids. Wouldn’t it be a much calmer space if we could light a staff room the same way? While fluorescent lights are great for illumination, they don’t always create the warmest of environments for recharging. Ikea has many options for low lighting that can set a more relaxing mood than the old school fluorescents.
These are just a few things to thing about when it comes to taking care of the caregivers in your school but certainly not an exhaustive list. One school I visited even put in an electric fireplace surrounded by couches and with comfortable blankets. What better way to relax than that! The investment is well worth it!
Stay Well!
Dave
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