Mental health is one of the most important aspects of life, not only for adults but for children as well.

Learners from Royal Kings School were treated to a fun and engaging show called High 5, aimed at giving children real tools to handle the tough stuff.

According to Kay Cheytanov, the founder and creator of this concept, the show is called High 5 because they hand them five simple, practical ways to cope with things like bullying, stress, and the digital pressure they live with every single day.

“We aim to open a conversation that schools often don’t have time for. Academics are important, but what about the kid who’s too anxious to speak up, or the one quietly falling apart because of cyberbullying?

“High 5 gives children permission to say, ‘I’m not okay,’ and shows them that’s normal and that there are ways to deal with it,” Kay said.

The day saw dedicated performers from the team engaging with the learners through music, storytelling and theatre. The kids played along, shouted out answers, and laughed with them, but beneath the fun, the team kept circling back to one key message: How to treat themselves and others and how to respond to pressure.

“For the children, it’s like planting seeds. Maybe a bullied child suddenly realises they’re not alone. Maybe a confident child realises their voice can be used to uplift instead of hurt. For society, it’s a long-term change. A child who learns emotional resilience in Grade Four grows into a teenager who can handle rejection better, and an adult who knows how to navigate life’s curveballs,” she said.

Kay concluded by saying this is important for children and society at large.