This is My Place: Art Activity
To celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, Place2Be is happy to share an activity to explore this year’s theme This is My Place.
Belonging is the feeling of being a valued part of the groups and places that are important to us. It means feeling cared for and comfortable to be ourselves.
This resource encourages children to explore their sense of belonging by creating a personal map, which can include places, groups, or activities or something not physical, where they feel they belong
This activity aims to increase personal sense of belonging and connection, and aims to foster understanding of belonging and its importance to wellbeing
You will need paper or card; paint, crayons, colouring pencils/pens; recycled paper (optional); scissors (optional); string, glue or tape (optional)
Activity warm-up
Before starting the main art activity, have a look through the categories below. It may help to jot down thoughts and ideas about where you experience a sense of belonging.
What does belonging mean?
Do you know belonging isn’t felt from just one thing or one place? There are so many ways we can feel like we belong. See some examples below:
- At home: with supportive family members/carers who know you
well, even your quirks. - At school: in classrooms where ideas are shared, with teachers who believe in you, and among friends.
- In activities or special interests: that you enjoy and are passionate
about ex: arts, maths, reading... - In communities: religious or cultural groups, neighbourhood communities, online spaces or volunteer organisations.
- With friends: those special people who truly understand you, make you laugh, and stand by you.
- Within yourself: feeling comfortable to be you and accepting yourself as you are.
- Within the environment and universe: being outdoors or
looking at the stars to feel belonging not only with other people but
all that exists on our planet and beyond. good times and difficult ones
Start the activity
Using available materials, create a map showing all the places, groups, and activities that help you feel like you belong.
Your map could look like one you’ve seen before with real places, or it could be completely imaginary with unusual features and outlines.
- Draw the main outline of the land and what it looks like:
- is it an island surrounded by sea or does the land cover the whole page? maybe it is shaped like something you like (for example an island in the shape of a bird)
- perhaps it is completely imaginary and out of this world (such as candy clouds)
What is the environment like?
- does it have one big city or are there many villages and towns?
- are there mountains, forests, lakes, volcanoes, beaches, etc.? - Using your choice of words, colours, symbols and patterns, add everything that gives you a sense of belonging to your map.
Reflection questions
- Where would you most like to be on your map today?
- If you met someone who feels left out, where is the first place you’d like to bring them on your map to help them feel like they belong too?