Maureen French - Life Balance Counselling

12/07/2025

Joy and grief can share the same table.
You can hold both deeply.
You can laugh and still miss them.
You can smile and still ache.

Just welcome both:
The light, the darkness, and all the moments in between.

Let yourself feel it all.
It's what makes life whole.

, Love & Hygge

healing

12/06/2025

It often surprises people that some of the most influential tech leaders set the strictest boundaries around screens at home. Bill Gates was no exception. His approach wasn’t about restriction for the sake of it — it was about protecting childhood, concentration, and connection.

This visual shares what Gates put in place for his own children, and why many experts still recommend similar boundaries today. It’s a reminder that children thrive best when technology supports their development, rather than leads it.

12/06/2025

Being aware of technology use by kids is important. It shapes their brain, but not in ways we want. Emotionally aware kids use less technology.

When screens feel unavoidable
So many parents tell me they feel torn between “protecting childhood” and “keeping up with the world”. Screen guidance can feel confusing, conflicting, and frankly overwhelming.

When you want something simple
The 3-6-9-12 Rule, created by French psychiatrist Serge Tisseron, cuts through the noise with clear, age-appropriate milestones that help support a child’s developing brain.

When brain development comes first
Young children need hands-on play, language, relationships, movement and co-regulation far more than they need digital stimulation. This rule puts those needs back at the centre.

When boundaries build safety
It’s not about fear or shame. It’s about scaffolding digital independence slowly, with connection and supervision in place until a child can cope with the online world.

When families need flexibility
It isn’t a rigid rulebook. It’s a framework. A starting point. A way to reflect on what’s developmentally right for your child, in your home, at your pace.

When you want practical support
If screen battles are an ongoing stressor, my behaviour and emotional regulation toolkits offer step-by-step scripts, routines and strategies. Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

12/06/2025

When a 10-year-old tells us how big feelings feel…
It’s rarely in neat sentences. It’s usually through behaviour, tone, withdrawal, or overwhelm — the hidden language of emotional regulation still under construction.

Behind the shouting, shutting down, or 'attitude'...

Is a child whose body feels too big, too fizzy, too fast. A child who wants to stay in control but can’t access their skills in the moment.

At 10, emotional regulation is still developing.
The brain’s wiring for impulse control and calm responses is growing, but not fully mature. They need our co-regulation, our steadiness, and our presence.

What they show us is communication, not defiance.
Their behaviour is a message: “I’m overwhelmed. Help me feel safe.” When we respond with calm rather than correction, their nervous system learns safety.

Children this age need adults who stay predictable.
A steady tone. Clear boundaries. Close presence. Gentle reminders. It’s these moments that shape how they learn to manage big emotions later in life.

If you’re supporting a child who feels things deeply…
My Managing Big Feelings Toolkit gives parents and educators step-by-step scripts, co-regulation strategies, visuals, and calm-down tools.
Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

12/06/2025

Trauma happens to everyone. Its what happens after that determines it's impact.

Answer a few questions to uncover emotional patterns rooted in past experiences.

11/13/2025

11/13/2025

Diversity Kids 💗

11/13/2025

Why executive function is needed in the classroom for higher learning development...https://ilslearningcorner.com/2016-07-8-executive-functioning-skills-child-cant-complete-tasks-stay-organized-school/

11/13/2025

Rules teach compliance. Compassion teaches connection. And connection is what helps kids grow into kind, confident humans.

Discover your parenting style — take our 3-minute quiz for a personalized roadmap to calm, connection, and joy:

https://bit.ly/Emotional_Intelligence_Quiz

11/12/2025

So often, we use “Good job!” without realizing that our words can shape how students see themselves and their learning. In special education, meaningful feedback goes beyond praise it teaches self-awareness, effort, and growth.
This visual shows how small changes in language can make a big impact. Instead of generic praise, try phrases that validate effort, recognize progress, and build intrinsic motivation. These simple shifts help students understand what they did well and why it matters.

11/12/2025

Childhood isn’t about never making mistakes — it’s about knowing you’re still loved when you do.
That’s the kind of safety that builds strong, self-aware humans. 💚

Start your mindful parenting journey — take our 3-minute quiz for your step-by-step plan toward calm and connection:
bit.ly/Emotional_Intelligence_Quiz

11/12/2025

The adolescent brain is still under construction.
The emotional centres of the brain mature earlier, while the parts responsible for reasoning, planning, and self-regulation continue developing into the mid-20s.

This is why young people may feel things more intensely, respond quickly, or struggle to pause in the moment - especially when overwhelmed.
This is development, not defiance.

For neurodivergent young people, these differences can be even more pronounced.
Sensory processing, emotional intensity, and social fatigue can all shape how feelings show up and how support is needed.
Their brains are not behind - they are building pathways differently.

When we understand the brain, we can meet young people with connection, patience, and co-regulation, rather than correction or criticism.
This is how emotional regulation skills grow over time.

Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy