Resilient Kids' Blogs & News
Resilient Kids' Blogs & News
Embedded Files
Save the Date! Goal Mapping for Family Wellbeing at Surrey Hills Wellfest, Sunday 27th July 2025, 10am to 6pm - #stayallday #planyourday tickets. Can't wait or make the date, but want to find out more about goal mapping >> click (password is CJ88)
This is an interactive, hands-on session where you'll create your own goal map - a powerful tool to help you stay focused, motivated, and resilient in the face of challenges.
I will guide you through simple but effective techniques to get clear on what you want, break through any mental roadblocks, and map out the steps to make it happen.
You’ll leave not just with inspiration but with a practical, personalised plan to keep you on track long after the festival.
Summer Advocate for the Bowly Can Book Series
I'm proud to be a Summer Advocate for the Bowly Can book series — a heart-led movement using story to support children’s emotional wellbeing.
This summer, I’m sharing simple, powerful ideas to help you nurture your child’s resilience in joyful, everyday ways.
Check out the full collective of advocates here.
How can we encourage our kids to keep a calm center with life's curved balls?
Here are 5 tips to raise resilient kids:
Are Schools Helping Kids Build Resilience or Just Adding More Tasks?
Wellbeing in schools has become a significant focus in recent years, and while this shift is encouraging, I often wonder if we’re approaching it in the most effective way. Many wellbeing initiatives feel like just another task on an already overwhelming to-do list for children and teachers alike.
But here’s the truth: resilience isn’t built through worksheets, programs, or ticking boxes. It’s built through experience, through problem-solving, connection, and exploration.
Why Resilience Matters More Than Ever
Why Resilience Matters More Than Ever
Resilience, the ability to bounce back from challenges and adapt to new situations - is one of the most essential life skills a child can develop. Yet, many aspects of modern education, from packed curriculums to increasing reliance on technology, seem to undermine it.
Play, on the other hand, is one of the most natural ways for children to develop resilience. Through play, they learn how to handle setbacks, solve problems, and navigate social dynamics. They build confidence, experiment with new ideas, and discover their ability to persevere when things don’t go as planned.
If I had my way, primary-aged children would spend most of their day playing. Play allows kids to practice falling and getting back up—an essential foundation for resilience.
What Needs to Change in Schools?
What Needs to Change in Schools?
Wellbeing in schools doesn’t need to be about adding more structured activities or programs. Instead, it’s about scaling back, simplifying, and making room for the things that naturally foster resilience.
Here are some simple shifts that could make a significant difference:
Allow More Unstructured Time
Reduce rigid schedules and give children room for free exploration and creativity. Whether it’s time spent outdoors or in a relaxed classroom setting, unstructured time allows kids to connect with their peers, experiment with ideas, and process their emotions at their own pace.Facilitate Random Dialogues
Unstructured time also creates space for spontaneous, meaningful conversations. These dialogues—whether between children or with trusted adults—are where kids learn to express their thoughts, share their worries, and feel truly heard. They’re also opportunities for problem-solving, collaboration, and perspective-taking.Focus on Project-Based Learning
Instead of piling on content, teachers could focus on facilitating interest-driven activities where learning naturally occurs. This type of learning nurtures curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving—all key components of resilience.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Building resilience doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with creating environments where kids have the time and space to be themselves, explore the world around them, and learn through experience.
Schools can be places where resilience is nurtured, not through extra tasks, but through intentional simplicity. Less sitting, more being. Less pressure, more play.
What do you think? How can we create schools that foster resilience in children?
In this Resilient Kids' update, I’m writing about a topic that has the power to shape your child's outlook on change, perseverance, and emotional strength and it's called: Bolstering Resilience Through Seasonal Shifts! CLICK TO READ
Updates on my social sites.
“The Simple Life; Sustainable Resilience for Kids" something I'd like to speak about this year.
Why We Need Biodiversity
This week at Resilient Kids I have:
• shared some ideas with a child to support their focus and concentration
• structured a playdate for a child who finds it difficult to bond with other kids
•created a "technology timetable" to help a dad get his child off tech and using their imagination more
• run a parent and child resilience bolstering session
• supported a parent to understand more about PDA
• creatively tutored in person and on zoom.
7 Ways To Raise Your Energy
Without always being consciously aware, your children will be observing your self-care and learning from you. If you could choose one of these today what would it be?
Pull cord. Relax. Breathe. Smile. Enjoy
Thanks for sending this quote over Ian.
If you look carefully through the skylight in the photo of me in the yurt picture below, you'll see clouds. These aren't just any clouds though, they each tell a story. When we first enter the yurt and lay down to look at them, and relax into the softness of the floor, we get present to the stories and sometimes drift away with them.
The link below has a video tour of the yurt but no clouds. I'll ask Ruth at Burpham Wellbeing to film some for us next time, or maybe I will.
Homework Battles If your child doesn't enjoy sitting still to do their homework, here's at tip: Encourage them to use a timer to sit for short periods of time. When the timer goes off, they can stop if they like to head off and play. Get into a little routine of doing this maybe every day. You may find they can add on a minute here and there to build their concentration. I've got 4 more tips, let me know if you'd like them here
Yellow Slice Question
Can you name a recyclable item beginning with I?
As you may know, I'm a big fan of playing Dobble with the kids I work with and have recently discovered this game called "P For Pizza".
What I enjoy about these games most, is they can be short, fun and pacey : five to ten minutes here and there.
Lovely icebreakers too for kids who are a bit new to my 1:1 creative tutoring, coaching and resilience bolstering sessions.
11.9.22 On the day Elizabeth II died
29.8.22 I'd just popped out on my bike to Peaslake Fair to see Pete and the bees and randomly bought these.
28.8.22 Find out what we watched at the cinema. Click
25.8.22 Wise words from Ben Fogle here
1.8.22 "The essential thing measured by School is whether or not you are good at school. Being good at school is a fine skill if you intend to do school forever. For the rest of us being good at school is a little like being good at frisbee. It’s nice but it’s not relevant unless your career involves homework assignments, looking through textbooks for answers already known to your supervisors, complying with instructions, and then, in high pressure settings, regurgitating those facts with limited processing on your part" ~Seth Godin from Stop Stealing Dreams
You may like to comment on this here
31.7.22 Whereever I go there's a strange glow find out why
31.7.22 8 (Surprising) Reasons Playing Team Sports is SO good for Kids via Charlotte Thomas at Netmums
30.7.22 I'd just cycled into Guildford to get some posters printed for my next Resilient Kids' Activity when ...out of the corner of my eye I noticed the "Green Read Share Community Library" Zero Carbon Guildford. I spotted a book called “Life Enriching Education” by Marshall B. Rosenberg PHD, which was written in 2004. It had a review on the back by Dr Jeanette Vos, Coauthor of “The Learning Revolution”, which my friend Mike Holdstock recommended to me a while ago.
I pinned up my posters, and headed home for a read at great speed, the Turbo button helped.
I'll share a review of my book at "Book Time For Kids" on Saturday 20th August, at Guildford Library
Do you have a good book on the go, let me know?
24.7.22 A Late Take-Over...and a lot of book time for kids click to read
5.7.22 Peanut Butter Protein Balls These peanut butter protein balls are high in energy and useful on-the-go snacks. They take less than 5 minutes to make, can be mixed in a bowl, are easily combined with lots of other random to-hand ingredients and you don’t need to bake. (always check you are well clear of peanut allergy sufferers)
Method
You're really just mixing some runny peanut butter with oats and then whatever you fancy. I looked at lots of different recipes to come to the conclusion that you can make it up.
Ingredients
These are the base ingredients I used:
runny peanut butter
rolled or quick porridge oats
The ratio seems to be 1 cup of runny butter to ¾ cup of rolled oats so you can play with more peanut butter to oats. I didn’t use scales or a cup, I estimated with my eyes and a spoon.
Other things you could add to the mix -
honey, maple syrup or something else runny and sweet like agave
chocolate chips
protein powder
coconut flakes
chia seeds
flax seeds
other chopped nuts
raisins
dried cranberries
cinamon
Keep it simple use what you’ve got in the cupboard.
Once you’ve decided what to add - combine all the ingredients and then drizzle in 1 tablespoon of water. If it's a bit dry add a little more water until you get a squishy dryish mix, a bit like cookie dough in texture. If too wet add more oats. You make the mixture into balls with your hands, or use a tablespoon to help get the portions to match if you wish.
I put the balls on a tray and then into the freezer, and later lightly chissled them off with a knife before popping into a freezer bag. They can be stored in the fridge too in an airtight container.
Most recipes suggested 1 week storage in fridge and up to three months in the freezer.
I've hidden them from my teens for now.
Enjoy!
3.7.22 Resilient Dads for Resilient Kids ⤵️
12.6.22 In 2014, I wrote 3 goals in my bedside writing book: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/resilientkids/issues/in-2014-i-wrote-3-goals-in-my-bedside-writing-book-1219807
3.6.22 Meet Paz, she wants to be a marine biologist. We are working on this together. I coach/tutor her for 3 hours each week.
1.6.22 Ashe was playing at the nicely intimate Shepherds Bush 02 in London. Whilst my teenage daughter headed towards the stage, I hung out with other random parents wearing raincoats at the bar. Ashe was excellent, she has a great sense of fun and engages beautifully. Big thanks to the O2 staff who were so friendly and made special too.
Off to see Harry Styles in a couple of weeks. Also put pics here
30.5.22 Can you spot the flamingo in the video below? This was a session I co-facilitated in nature for families at Clandon Wood Nature Reserve and Natural Burial Ground on Monday 30/5. We'll run another one there soon.
28.5.22 "Flags up or down Laura?" click to read on
17.5.22 Did you know the UK produces more single-use plastic waste per person than almost any other country in the world? The "Big Plastic Count" is maybe the easiest thing we can all do to get involved to make a MAJOR impact. It's happening now, have you signed up? I wrote about it here
16.5.22 Fuss free family food by Sarah. Love this account, check her out!
3.5.22 As parents, what might we learn from this article to be more empathic as leaders in our homes and inspire our kids to be so too?
A thought that came to my mind was to simply switch off the phone and be more present. How about you?
Resilient Kids - VISION, VITALITY VOICE
2.5.22 Do you know what you really want to do? Not all adults and kids have this clarity. How about reflecting on how you want to "be"?
9.4.22 This week's Resilient Kids' update contains a typo or two. Read it HERE
6.4.22 "Look at all those attentive children!" said Steph at ZERO. I'm not sure teaching sewing was one of my best ideas, lol! This was a lovely gentle family fun session to facilitate. Thank you for inviting me! Meanwhile, Anna posted about my Monday session here.
5.4.22 Children ill equiped for nature and climate crises without education reform. READ ON.
4.4.22 This week's update An Adventure To Speaker's Corner
16.3.22 There was some frogspawn on the wildlife pond in a school I visited.
The children hadn't seen it. Infact, they hadn't been to their "outdoor learning environment" since September because there's no time.
Natural side effects of kids simply being in nature include joy, excitement, engagement, and a desire to learn. They ask questions, discover things and naturally collaborate.
Nature teaches the kids and adults can facilitate the learning. It's so simple yet it's become so over complicated.
A natural curriculum emerges.
In other news it was raining, so my friend’s school didn’t go out for their "forest school" session.
When they do go out, they often sit in a circle and fill in a worksheet about nature
"We don't even get to engage with it!" one child said to me.
Elsewhere, the gardening club has ceased because there is no time to run it during school hours.
It's OK though because there is a sheet to colour in about the frogspawn and another one all about how to support children's mental health and wellbeing.
I have many more examples.
There is so much to do, and everything has to be tied to a tick and a target so it's hard to justify getting them out into nature when it doesn't fit in with a lesson plan.
Outdoor learning becomes another lesson to "do" rather than an enhancement.
Some schools make it work, still in rather a contrived way, because they have to justify the time outside, like everything now.
Bored kids stuck at their desks being constantly told what to learn are generally more content outside.
"I feel free"
"It was so much fun"
"I get trapped in the classroom"
By the way, did you notice the birds are more cheepy at the moment? The kids tuned in and guessed why.
In another school, we spotted some tadpoles. There is hope.
8,3.22 Resilient Kids sessions at Burpham Yurt. Scroll down this week's newsletter to find the link. HERE
6.3.22 How to make the school run easier and less frustrating In this carousel I share a tip for a calmer and playful morning, where your kids take more ownership and responsibility for getting themselves out the door on time! CLICK
25.2.22 Nature News from the Surrey Wildlife Trust. Here
14.2.22 8 FUN & EASY VALENTINES IDEAS TO SHARE WITH KIDS
1. Tell a traditional tale together and instead of the characters being mean, change their behaviour to love - this will get some giggles.
2. Draw some words of love and pictures on rocks with sharpies, or stick on tissue with PVA or even better mod podge! (a new discovery)
3. Bake and decorate some heart-shaped biscuits (I've got a great recipe to share).
4. Make someone a collaged card with LOVE - drop the need for the card to be perfect and enjoy the mess.
5. What even is St Valentine’s Day? Encourage your kids to do some research with you and then present their findings.
6. Head into nature and create a natural LOVE picture - maybe even just write the word with sticks - no rules have fun, get stuck in the mud.
7. Do something in your garden or local area to show love for it.
8. Play musical hearts - write some love moves on DIY heart paper or cards - play some music you all love and when the music stops pick a card and follow the action eg wiggle like a worm, hiss like a snake, stretch like a cat etc
By the way, I’ll be sharing some of these activities during this week's Kid's Wellbeing sessions in Guildford and on zoom - info in this newsletter.
11.2.22 HALF TERM FUN FOR KIDS IN GUILDFORD
Are you looking for something calm, connecting and confidence-boosting to do with your child this February half term? If so, and you live in the Guildford UK area, why not join me at one of my drop-in Resilient Kid’s wellbeing sessions, I’ve listed them below and over in the Facebook group.
Dates:
Monday 14th Solar Sisters Zero Waste Shop, Refill Station & Cafe 10 am to 12 pm
Tuesday 15th ZERO 3 pm to 5 pm
Wednesday 16th Tunsgate Shopping Centre 10 am to 12 pm
Any questions please CONTACT ME
8.2.22 Resilient Kids Issue 16 "A Resilience Boosting Tip For Kids"
23.1.22 Resilient Kids Issue 15 "The Sweet & Sweary" One. You can read it here.
22.1.22 Colin created a spelling log over in the Resilient Kid's group!
22.1.22 Walk your own path
Schools don't train workers for factories or offices any more.
Schools don't train workers for factories or offices any more.
They train them for something seemingly
They train them for something seemingly
far more important.
far more important.
To turn up,
To turn up,
plug in,
plug in,
and start ordering
and start ordering
from their couches.
from their couches.
Schools train kids to sit and be entertained.
Schools train kids to sit and be entertained.
To consume without question.
To consume without question.
Be a revolting rebel.
Be a revolting rebel.
Let your kids run around.
Let your kids run around.
And be how they are meant to be.
And be how they are meant to be.
18.12.21 THE GIFT OF LIGHT
As the children and I gathered beneath the billowing canopy, we noticed the trees were almost completely bare, and the thicker layer of leaves on the ground.
We also enjoyed our one minute of quiet and stillness and as we did this the sun broke through, and our little robin fluttered close by. I took this as a sign to teach the children about the winter solstice, which this year occurs on Sunday 22nd December at 4:19 GMT. It's when our hemisphere reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun, so we experience the longest night and shortest day (7 hours 38 minutes), and in astronomy terms this marks the beginning of Winter here in the UK.
I also found out that “Solstitium” is a Latin word essentially meaning to stand still, which is what the sun appears to do when it reaches the tropic of Capricorn. (or something like that).
On Fridays, I’m very fortunate to be able to teach this group of 7 to 8 year-olds and we enjoy our hour together in the school woodland. It’s a very nourishing and healing experience for us all and something I really look forward to. In this week's session, we finished with a little round of Silent night, before they scampered off for a play.
Not long until the longer light, hang in there!
9.12.21 OUR KIDS NEED TIME TO HEAL
The crammed overwhelming curriculum in schools leaves little space to play, create and explore intuitively.
Everything is linked to a learning outcome, a tick box, sticker and reward.
Our little ones need healing.
Time to be quiet, still and reflective.
Who knows where their natural state of curiosity would go if they were just given time to let it flow.
29.10.21 8 WAYS TO ENJOY A GREENER HALLOWEEN
Every year more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkin gets thrown away to rot in landfills. Thirty-five million costumes are purchased and most are made of non-biodegradable plastic. Plus all the plastic tat, how much must there be of that?
For some children, Halloween can be as exciting as Christmas, and for many parents, it invades their budgets and ‘to DO lists’.
The image below is with one of our allotment pumpkins. They are fun and easy to grow in the garden too. They take up quite a bit of space and are great weeds concealer
Click 👉 here to take you to a little carousel I’ve made over on Instagram with 8 simple ways to keep Halloween affordable, green, and healthy.
Else, click on the white arrow in this blog to take you on a Thortspace Journey!
27.10.21 ME IN 1984 AGED 12,
and because I was working as a Saturday girl at my Dad’s electrical shop in Putney, I got given the fashionable branded Asea dishwasher T-shirt (image below).
Not only an opportunity to earn a commission for every dishwasher I sold (probably none) but also I got such a confidence boost wearing it
The picture was taken in our family garden in Lyne, Chertsey UK. Most of us were @swpsofficial girls, I’d got in on an assisted place, with some gratitude to Maggie Thatcher for this policy.
Next to us is a long green shed which my mum ran a mail-order business from. Occasionally helped out by my sister @thinkpurplehartspace and me.
The shed was later equipped with a second-hand pool table, darts board, TV and VCR, fruit money machine, sofas, and a fish tank. A perfect smoking den for 18 year olds to head to after a night out at the pub with their mates.
Sadly the 1980s recession put a big strain on a shopkeeper in Putney and his marriage. With the constant threat of bailiffs knocking at our door and too many remortgages, we eventually had to say goodbye to our family home and start adventures on our own.
It was certainly a catalyst for new beginnings.
Not sure where the T-shirt washed up.
7.10.21 PAM ROY AND I HAD A ZOOM THIS WEEK
We shared our passions for Education Reform. She's very cool, you can read about her here.
30.9.21 CREATIVITY HAS BEEN SO ERODED IN OUR NATIONAL CURRICULUM,
alongside play. It deeply saddens me, as it’s so relaxing and soothing for our children and a natural resilience boost.
The little video clip below was made at this week's "Mum & Child Resilience Boosting" session at Burpham Yurt. It's called "A Field Of Flowers"
Watch it HERE
15.9.21 Thought you might like to see this too.
5.9.21 LAST MONTH AT BURPHAM WELLFEST, I gave a talk about bolstering kid's resilience, shared my best selling book collaboration, plus facilitated a child-led playful yoga session.
I'm running family wellness sessions in nature here in Guildford too, and online. Contact me for more info ,
31.8.21 CREATE MORE CALM, PEACE AND HARMONY
in your hearts and home. Join me this Thursday for my “Resilient Parent, Resilient Kids” session on zoom. More about this in my recent video. Register here.
21.8.21 GRATITUDE FOR ATTITUDE
Did you know that just thinking about being grateful releases a cocktail of happy hormones? I once read that this is called an "upward spiral".
A while ago I made a short e-book called "Gratitude to Boost Resilience".
It's free, and you may like to download it from this collection of little guides and books I've curated here -
21.8.21 THIS IS WHAT KID NEED TO BOLSTER THEIR RESILIENCE
CLICK Join me on the 22nd August, at Burpham Wellfest in the sweatband.com talk tent from 14:40 to 15:10 where I'll be speaking about my new book plus "Happy Kids, What's Resilience Got To Do With It?"
Sutherland Memorial Park, Burpham, Guildford
10 am to 6 pm
"ACTIVITIES FOR ALL"
This is a free event and following best practice guidelines for Covid safety
In this photo Ruth and I are being interviewed by That’s TV Surrey about Burpham Wellfest. Ruth very articulately promoted the event while I didn’t. The piece lasted literally 20 seconds with me wittering on about community gathering together and getting to know each other and cut out Ruth’s bit altogether It was my festy dungees and Liberty shirt that nailed it
19.8.21 So grateful for the lovely feedback below from Kirsty at Woodland Spirits -
Kirsty and I
14.8.21
Why Did Matisse Make His Snail From Paper? Read on
9.8.21 Meet Mrs Valerie Wood-Gaiger MBE "Learn With Grandma" Mum of 5, Grandma and Great Grandma to 14 - "Helping to break down the digital age gap by sharing skills; love & knowledge across the generations". Enjoy our Random Dialogue video just below, else view us chatting over on Facebook. I've also written this blog about Val too.
8.8.21
I'm excited to share that I am officially an author! And the amazing book that I have co-written will be out soon.
Meanings Over Milestones is a little book with a big mission: to inspire a world where life meaning is just as important as life milestones and to raise money to support global grassroots projects tackling children's emotional well-being.
It's a collection of over sixty stories from mums - writers and amateurs alike - sharing messages of beliefs, values, purpose and passion for their children.
It's an anthology of hope, transformation, love and so much more. And it will make you reflect, weep or affirm "me too" on every turn of a page.
More soon!
With gratitude to Angharad Davies for making it all happen
Our book is now in paper back and made it to number 1 across 8 categories on Amazon. Read more here.
Me pretending to read the book, just before the deckchair collapsed!
27.7.21
"You are a bloody idiot, can't you see where the back of the queue is?"
https://mailchi.mp/ec03e15f1c87/i-overheard-this-whilst-sipping-my-green-tea
27.7.21
"You are a bloody idiot, can't you see where the back of the queue is?"
https://mailchi.mp/ec03e15f1c87/i-overheard-this-whilst-sipping-my-green-tea
21.07.21
"Do you ever feel like your brain is too busy to focus on your work? I’m an avid user of To Do lists for getting my busy thoughts on paper, computer, or phone without compromising productivity. Truth be told, I’m also an avid loser and rewriter of said To Do list… I digress." said Dee Read on
7.7.21
More like Rio? Or standing at the door of the pink flamingo? What's your favourite item of clothing that makes you feel invincible?
For me, it's my dungees.
As a child I wore them too. They were a great match with my denim hat which I used to pin badges onto - it was a cool look, honest.
Sometimes we can imagine putting on a special outfit even if we actually don't.
We can be invisibly invisible.
4.7.21
Saturday's update includes a link about education reform.
23.06.21
How do you model problem solving skills with your kids?
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6813227660253122560
22.06.21
Did you have a teacher or tutor that made a difference in your life?
Have you ever said thank you?
https://mailchi.mp/d785f22d3135/i-dont-think-you-realise-the-impact
19.5.21
19.5.21
“The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and in November the government announced its 10-part plan for a 'green industrial revolution' to help change this"
“The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and in November the government announced its 10-part plan for a 'green industrial revolution' to help change this"
Watched these two on BBC Newsround this week with the children I was teaching. I’ve also shared the video in my local Guildford community group. There will be a rewilding stand at our #burphamwellfest2021 to encourage more conversations about it
Watched these two on BBC Newsround this week with the children I was teaching. I’ve also shared the video in my local Guildford community group. There will be a rewilding stand at our #burphamwellfest2021 to encourage more conversations about it
Pre May 2021, I was writing and sharing but not collecting in one place. Check out my social pages for more news and blogs etc!
Pre May 2021, I was writing and sharing but not collecting in one place. Check out my social pages for more news and blogs etc!
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