Month: January 2025

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How can I help my child manage their emotions

5 ‘Know yourself, Grow yourself’ Activities

Children’s Mental Health Week is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of emotional well-being in young people. 

This year’s theme, ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’, highlights the crucial aspect of self-awareness in children’s development.

Helping children build self awareness is so important as they build resilience by understanding their own strengths and weaknesses. They are also more aware of what triggers strong emotions. It also helps build stronger relationships as they are aware of others feelings and perceptions. They are more aware of their values and beliefs and are able to make good decisions and choices using their strong inner compass and moral code.

5 ways to encourage your child to build self-awareness

Reflection: Ask open-ended questions like, “What did you enjoy most about your day today?” or “How did you feel when that happened?”

Mindful Moments: Incorporate mindfulness practices like deep breathing, mindful eating, or observing nature. These activities help children become more aware of their thoughts and feelings.

Creative Expression: Encourage your child to express themselves through art, music, writing, or drama. This allows them to explore their emotions and inner world.

Growth Mindset: Remind them that everyone makes mistakes and that challenges are opportunities for learning and growth.

Open Communication: Create a safe and supportive environment where your child feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.

5 fun activities to help manage emotions

My Values Wheel

Help your child create a Values wheel by identifying and ranking their most important values (e.g., kindness, honesty, creativity).

Strengths Spotting

At the end of each day, ask your child to identify their strengths and talents and what they are most proud of that day.

Future Self Journaling

Get your child write a letter to their future self, setting goals and expressing hopes and dreams.

Gratitude Walk

 Take a walk together and encourage your child to notice and appreciate the beauty around them.

Kindness Challenges

Encourage acts of kindness towards others and themselves. Reflect on how these acts make them feel. They could also play the Secret Angel Game where they have to be someone’s secret angel and leave notes or perform small acts of kindness without the recipient knowing. 

As always, patience and understanding is needed as your child learns to grow and know themselves more and more each day. Most importantly, enjoy the process.

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How to Support Your Child with Anxiety – taming the anxiety monster

Anxiety.

It’s on the increase and doesnt seem to be going away any time soon. As a parent you want to get the right tools and understanding to support your child manage this unpredicatable monster.

1. Understand the Beast Anxiety is complex and comes with a wide range of symptoms, from excessive worry and fear to physical sensations like stomach aches and difficulty sleeping. Every child is different and is triggered by different situations. Some children worry about school, social situations, or even everyday occurrences. Open communication is important and your child needs to feel safe talking about their feelings. Let them know you’re there to listen without judgment.

2. Build a Safe Haven: Create a safe and calm environment with consistent routines to give a sense of security and reduce anxiety. Be their source of comfort with plenty of hugs and cuddles if they like and need them. Limit screen time as it can exacerbate anxiety. Focus on strengths and celebrate your child’s accomplishments and help them build self-esteem. Look for the small wins each day.

3. Equip Them with Coping Skills: Deep breathing exercises can calm their nervous system. Try green breaths – blowing in the colour green. Mindfulness and meditation can help them focus on the present moment and reduce anxious thoughts. Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups to release tension. Positive self-talk and affirmations where they repeat a positive word or sentence can help transform thoughts. Check out the Relax Kids website for more creative ideas and support (and products).

4. Seek Professional Guidance: Consult with a therapist: A therapist can provide your child with personalised coping strategies and support. School counsellors: Many schools have counselors who can offer support and guidance to both children and parents. Support groups: Connecting with other families who are dealing with similar challenges can offer valuable support and understanding.

5. Remember Self-Care: Take care of yourself as parenting can be stressful, and it’s crucial to prioritise your own
well-being. Seek support for yourself and remember to reach out to friends, family, or a therapist for support.

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Rainy Day Activities

When January Weather Isn’t Playing Nice: Fun Indoor Activities to Keep the Whole Family Busy

January weather can be anything but predictable—one minute it’s sunny, and the next, you’re stuck inside with gloomy skies and pouring rain. But don’t let the wet and wild weather ruin your day! Here are 10 creative indoor activities that are sure to bring some warmth, laughter, and family fun to your day—no matter what the forecast says!

  1. Bake Biscuits or Decorate Pizzas Together
    Why not get the whole family involved in the kitchen? Baking Biscuits or making homemade pizzas is a fun way to bond, plus you get to enjoy a delicious treat at the end! Let everyone pick their toppings or create their own cookie designs for a bit of extra creativity.
  2. Create a Living Room Tent Adventure
    Transform your living room into an epic fort! Gather sheets, blankets, and whatever else you can find to build the ultimate indoor tent. Add some pillows and toys, then snuggle up for stories, snacks, or a cozy movie.
  3. Put on a Sock Puppet Show
    Grab some mismatched socks, buttons, wool, and glue, and make your own quirky sock puppets. Once you’ve got your puppets ready, put on a hilarious show for the family! It’s a great way to get everyone’s creativity flowing.
  4. Host a Tea Party Picnic in the Lounge
    Who says tea parties are just for sunny days? Set up a cozy picnic right on your living room floor, complete with tea (or hot chocolate!) and your favourite snacks. Bonus points if you wear fancy hats and pretend you’re at a royal gathering!
  5. Dress Up as One Another
    Ever wondered what it would be like to be your sibling or parent for a day? Time to find out! Pick a family member, grab some clothes and accessories, and dress up like them. It’s guaranteed to get lots of giggles, especially if you try to walk in each other’s shoes (literally!).
  6. Tackle a Giant Puzzle Together
    Looking for a way to pass the time? Break out a big puzzle and work on it as a team. It’s a perfect activity for everyone to contribute, and there’s something deeply satisfying about seeing that last piece snap into place.
  7. Play Classic Hide and Seek
    A good old-fashioned game of hide and seek never gets old, especially when everyone has to come up with their most creative hiding spots! It’s a great way to burn off some energy indoors while having a laugh.
  8. Read Stories Aloud to One Another
    There’s no better time for reading than when the rain is pouring outside. Take turns reading stories or create your own adventure by combining characters from different books. You might even end up with an exciting new tale!
  9. Grab an Umbrella and Take a Walk
    If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, put on your raincoats and grab an umbrella. Go for a walk in the rain and embrace the weather—it can actually be a lot of fun splashing in puddles, and it’s a great way to get some fresh air (without the usual cold).
  10. Relax and Unwind with a Nature Meditation
    When the weather feels especially chaotic, it’s the perfect time to unwind and reset. Put on your favourite Relax Kids audio or a soothing nature meditation. Let the calming sounds of rain, waves, or birdsong bring the tranquility of the outdoors inside and help you feel grounded.

    Bonus Tip: If you’re stuck at home and looking for even more fun ideas, try crafting homemade gifts or playing board games together! Whatever the activity, the goal is to enjoy quality time with your loved ones while the weather does its thing outside.

    So, the next time the weather turns wet and wild, don’t fret! With these fun indoor activities, you’ll create memories and laughter that will last long after the rain stops.

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The Evolution of Parenting Advice – From Dr. Spock to ChatGPT

I was just reflecting the last 50 years of parenting and thinking how far we have moved on from Dr Spock’s advice to my mum to leave a baby cry (I still remember it) to modern attachment parenting styles.

We’ve really had such a change in styles of parenting advice and support over the last decade. Each era has brought its own uniqueness as parents have learnt to navigate the changing world. It has been a fascinating journey.

As I child of the 60s, I remember my mother going to Dr. Spock’s ‘The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care’ for everything!

Spock’s approach was revolutionary. After the English stiff upper lip approach, Spock was all about empathy and less authoritarian. He encouraged parents to trust their instincts rather than rigidly stick to traditional methods. We owe a lot to him as his work created a whole generation of parents to prioritise emotional wellbeing over strict discipline. He paved the way for a whole new softer parenting approach.

In the 80s, as morning TV became popular, celebrity doctors such as Dr. Miriam Stoppard became household names. She was all about compassion, practical advice, the importance of play and the wellbeing of children. I remember her listening compassionately to tearful parents phoning in and offering caring responses.

As a children’s entertainer In the late 1990s, I often heard the name Supernanny who introduced a whole new form of parenting advice. Jo Frost, used her expertise in child psychology to help families struggling with behavioural issues. Her approach was all about consistency and communication. She was all about boundaries and used discipline techniques, including the infamous “naughty step.”  I do remember this discipline often being used to tame unruly behaviour during parties! Reward systems (later thrown out by parenting experts) were also popular at this time.

In 2000, I made a transition from entertaining to relaxing children. When I first started Relax Kids, introducing mental health and wellbeing tools to children, many parents couldn’t understand the need for it. However with our changing society, growth of technology and awareness of neurodivergence and unique differences in children, we have seen a need.

As the internet took over our daily life, a new wave of parenting advice emerged in the form of mummy bloggers. These online parents shared their experiences, triumphs, and challenges, creating an incredible digital community that offered support and camaraderie.  I remember meeting many mummy bloggers as I started my new Relax Kids business as they would review my books and CDs and recommend to parents far and wide. It was such a buzzing community and the place to be for families and brands.

Alongside the blogging community, we saw more parenting coaches offering personalised support to families to help them manage modern parenthood and creating strategies for specific needs. I’ve met a number of amazing parenting coaches such as Sue Atkins and Sarah Ockwell Smith (Gentle parenting approach) who have become friends and whose work has influenced my later books.

When Social Media came along, an army of influencers arrived showing their perspective on parenting. Humour was often brought in and previously taboo topics such as mental health, depression and parent struggles were tackled openly.

Some Instagram influencers turned parenting into a visual art form with their beautiful styling and neutral tones.  This aspirational style alienated many as the perceived perfection was impossible to attain.

But along came TikTok and blew this perfection out and showed the gritty reality of patenting. Parents had the chance to rant and cry on camera sharing their struggles and taking support from their community of followers. Some videos have been eye opening and incredibly hard to watch.

Podcasts are now on the rise and parents, parenting experts and influencers the chance to share their story and tips to support others.  I’ve spoken on a number of parenting podcasts offering simple powerful tools to help children self-soothe.

We’ve come a long long way to living in a small village and getting parenting advice from our mothers, grandmothers and elders. I wonder what our next parenting advisory will be? ChatGPT?

And now what?

Where are we going next?

What support can we give parents?

Will ChatGPT give parents everything they need?

I’d love to hear your views about parenting through the years.

Did your parents read Dr Spock? (Mine did)

Who has been your favourite parenting expert?

Which is your favourite parent podcast?

Do you have a favourite parent instagramer?

Who was your favourite mummy blogger?

Where do you go to for parenting advice?

Looking back, whose advice would you follow now if you could parent again?

Would you choose insta or TikTok for parenting tips?

What are the next steps for parents and parenting experts?

Free Wellbeing pack – click here

#parenting #parentingexperts #podcasts #wellbeing #instagram #tiktok #chatgbt #supernanny

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Need a BREAK?

Are you feeling overwhelmed? 

Burnt out? 

Does it feel like your brain is on permanent overload? 

You’re not alone.

We all know we should take breaks, but it often feels impossible when you’re drowning in to-do lists and feeling the pressure to constantly be “on.”

“THE BREAK” is here to help.

In each weekly email, you’ll discover:

Brain-boosting breaks: Quick and easy exercises to shake off stress, improve focus, and spark creativity. 

Mind hacks: Simple strategies to declutter your mind, increase productivity, and improve your overall wellbeing. 

Calm-cultivating tips: Techniques for reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and finding moments of peace in your day. 

Because even a few minutes or seconds of calm can make a world of difference.

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7 ways to get children outside this winter!

We know being outdoors is healthier for children’s bodies and minds, but when it’s freezing outside, blankets seem more appealing.

Winter can be a wonderful time to explore and connect with the outdoors, even without snow.

Here are some creative activities that are great for mind and body encourage mindfulness and help create some fun family memories.

Nature Walks- Even without snow, winter landscapes have their own beauty. Take a nature walk and observe the bare trees, animal tracks, and the subtle changes in the environment. Encourage children to notice the sounds of winter, such as the rustling of leaves or the calls of birds.

Winter Bird Watching – Set up a bird-watching station in the garden or visit a local park. Get a bird book and binoculars and leave out fat balls or make homemade bird feeders using pine cones, peanut butter, and bird seed to encourage birds to come into the garden. Ask children to identify different species and take notes in a journal about their observations. They could even draw or paint pictures of birds. Winter Photography Explore your surroundings with a camera or smartphone. Encourage children to capture snapshots of winter, such as bare branches, interesting textures, and winter sunsets. Discuss what they find beautiful or intriguing and create a mini photo gallery at home.

Indoor Gardening – Bring nature indoors by starting a small indoor garden. Use pots to grow herbs, succulents, or even start seeds for spring planting.

Art Projects with Natural Materials – Collect natural materials like twigs, stones, and leaves during your outdoor explorations. Use them for creative art projects at home, such as making nature collages or sculptures. Children could start a winter art book or winter altar.

Stargazing – On clear winter nights, wrap up and head outside with hot chocolate for stargazing. The crisp air often leads to clearer skies. Use a stargazing app to identify constellations and planets, and encourage children to share their thoughts or stories about the stars.

Winter Picnics – Plan a winter picnic in a park or your backyard or go to the seaside for the day. Pack warm food and drinks, and enjoy the fresh air.

Download our FREE Wellbeing pack for more exercises.

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Full Moon in Cancer: Embrace Your Inner World

The full moon is often linked to heightened emotions and altered sleep patterns. often struggle with sleep and emotions can be heightened. 

Despite the negative affects on our sleep and emotional sensitivities, the full moon does give us an opportunity for introspection and self-care.

You can ponder the questions, or even journal or create some art around them. Some people have a moon journal and use the questions to help them focus on their goals and dreams.

The full moon in Cancer on January 13th,  is a time of heightened emotions and introspection. Cancer is a water sign known for emotional depth, intuition, sensitivity and homeliness. 

Here are three questions to consider during this full moon.

What emotional patterns or habits am I ready to release?

How can I nurture and protect my emotional wellbeing?

What are my deepest emotional needs, and how can I fulfill them?

May this full moon bring you greater self-awareness and inner peace.

I hope you can make a few minutes to think about these questions which will help you make the most out of the Full Moon.

Happy Full Moon – have a magical day.

For more wellbeing tips download our FREE Wellbeing pack

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Why sleep is so important for your child

Is your child getting enough sleep?

I went to a school who said they encouraged children to have an afternoon nap during Health Week.

The teachers were amazed at how the children’s concentration and focus and work improved so much. They realised that the children were simply exhausted on a daily basis and were not getting enough sleep.

Sleep is so vital – Is your child getting enough?

When we sleep our brain and body is restored. When we are asleep, the body produces protein molecules that boost the immune system and help us fight infection. A growth hormone is also secreted during sleep.

Sleep reduces stress by helping to lower the blood pressure and helps to regenerate the body on a cellular level.

Sleep can also help improve moods and help prevent depression and anxiety.

Sleep also improves the memory and clears the mind so helping children learn facts and figures. Getting enough sleep during exam time can have a profound effect on exam results.

Getting children to sleep can be a problem and our Relax Kids audios have helped literally hundreds and thousands of children and parents. Children fall asleep listening to calming relaxations. They let their imagination go and the visualisations even help improve their dreams.

If you would like to improve your child’s sleep, you may like to try our sleep toolkit.

SWEET DREAMS!

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Stay Warm This Winter

Cold weather and how to survive

The cold weather, while not only making it extremely uncomfortable to simply exist, could also have serious effects on our health ‚such as increasing the chance of picking up the flu, colds, sore throats and painful joints.

And the last thing we want is for our children to be at risk, as they are often so vulnerable to illness.

So, Relax Kids has given parents a number of helpful hints and fun exercises to do with their children to keep the risks of the cold snap at arm’s length for both youngsters and adults.

First, try the shake and freeze, by shaking various parts of the body in regular intervals then stop and feel your body warming up.

The more athletic families could also pretend to box by clenching their fists and throwing punches in front of them. Watch out though, as much as you might want to keep warm, I’m sure the people around you don’t want to be socked in the mouth.

Other things you can do to stay warm this winter eating regularly and drinking hot beverages a few times a day, according to the NHS.

Don’t forget to snuggle up together and listen to our Relaxing MP3’s

Please pass it on and tell all your friends

If you have found this blog helpful please pass it on to your friends, colleagues, schools and nurseries and help us help more families and schools.

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 How I Turned Dreams into Reality—and How You Can Too!

Manifesting isn’t just something I talk about—it’s my specialty. My friends even call me the Queen of Manifesting.

 Over the years, I’ve used the power of intention and visualization to transform my life in ways that still amaze me.

Here are just 3 things I have manifested in the last 30 years…

🌟 A Dream Cottage in Just One Week

💖 A Husband in Three Weeks

🚀 A Business That Changed Lives

In 1992, I scribbled my dreams on a simple piece of paper—nothing fancy, just words capturing my dreams. I was just out of University and I had big dreams for my new start up business.

I tucked the paper away and, honestly, forgot about it. 

Three years later, I stumbled upon that same piece of paper and couldn’t believe my eyes. 

Everything I had written down had come true.

I literally couldn’t believe it!

That moment changed everything for me. It showed me the incredible power of intention and visualisation, and I’ve been creating vision boards ever since. 

I wish I had that first vision board as I would love to show you but I can share this transformative practice with you in our Manifest your Best Life in 2025 Vision Board workshop.

January 8th at 8pm

What’s a Vision Board and Why Does It Work?

A vision board is more than a craft project; it’s a tool for turning your dreams into reality. By creating a visual representation of your goals, you keep them front and center in your mind. This constant reminder helps align your daily actions with your aspirations, making it easier to stay focused and motivated.

Join Our Vision Board Workshop

Come and join me for an extra special Vision Board Workshop designed to help you clarify your dreams and set powerful intentions for 2025. This workshop isn’t just about cutting out magazine pictures—it’s a journey of reflection, goal-setting, and visualization.

January 8th at 8pm on Zoom

And you will get an exclusive workbook to print off and fill in.

This is what we will cover in the workshop.

Reflect on what you truly want for the year ahead.

Set clear, achievable goals that align with your vision.

Create a personalised vision board to inspire and guide you.

Whether you’re looking to advance your career, improve your wellbeing, strengthen relationships, or invite more joy and abundance, this workshop will empower you to take action.

Why Now?

The start of a new year is the perfect time to set your intentions. Imagine ending 2025 by looking back and realising you’ve achieved what once seemed like distant dreams. 

It’s possible—and I want to help you get there.

💬 Plus, during the workshop, I’ll share insights about Relax Kids and answer any questions you have about my training programmes.

If a few scribbles on paper could change my life, imagine what a focused vision board can do for you. Let’s manifest your best life in 2025! 🚀

Let’s Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet!

Let’s turn your vision into reality together.

🌟 Reserve your spot today! 🌟

Wellbeing Workshops