Stay Calm

04/12/2025

🎄 MINDFUL PASS THE PARCEL – A CALMING CHRISTMAS CLASSROOM GAME 🎁✨

Looking for a fun and calming activity in the lead-up to Christmas?

Try Mindful Pass the Parcel – a lovely way to bring festive magic, movement, and mindfulness into the classroom.

Instead of sweets or toys inside each layer, children unwrap a mindful moment they can all do together. These short activities help the children reset, refocus, and reconnect with themselves – especially useful during such an exciting (and overstimulating!) time of year.

This game is perfect for those moments when the class needs a breather, a reset after playtime, or a gentle transition between activities. It brings everyone back into their bodies, supports emotional regulation, and lets children have fun without becoming overly excited.

Here are 20 Christmas-themed mindful prompts you can pop inside the layers:
1️⃣ Snowflake Breath – Take 3 slow breaths, floating down like snowflakes.
2️⃣ Christmas Tree Stretch – Reach tall like a glowing Christmas tree.
3️⃣ Warm Cocoa Breath – Blow gently as if cooling hot chocolate.
4️⃣ Elf Hug – Wrap your arms around yourself for a cosy squeeze.
5️⃣ Jingle Fingers – Wiggle your fingers slowly like jingling bells.
6️⃣ Reindeer Stomp – Softly stomp 3 times like reindeer hooves.
7️⃣ Present of Kindness – Think of something kind you could do today.
8️⃣ Silent Night Stillness – Be as still and quiet as you can for 5 seconds.
9️⃣ Snowman Melt – Stretch tall like a snowman, then slowly melt down.
🔟 Star Hands – Spread your fingers wide like shining stars.
1️⃣1️⃣ Christmas Cookie Smell – Imagine smelling a warm cookie… breathe in slowly.
1️⃣2️⃣ Penguin Waddle – Take 3 gentle waddles like a winter penguin.
1️⃣3️⃣ Snowball Squeeze – Pretend to squeeze a soft snowball, then relax your hands.
1️⃣4️⃣ Magic Bauble Breath – Hold a pretend bauble and breathe gently into it.
1️⃣5️⃣ Tinsel Wiggle – Give your shoulders a sparkly little wiggle.
1️⃣6️⃣ Listen Like Santa – Close your eyes and listen for 3 quiet sounds.
1️⃣7️⃣ Wishing Star – Make a quiet wish for someone else.
1️⃣8️⃣ Little Helper Moment – Think of one helpful thing you can do at home.
1️⃣9️⃣ Snow Globe Stillness – Pretend you're in a snow globe and let everything settle.
2️⃣0️⃣ Christmas Heart – Hand on chest, whisper: “I am calm.”

✨ Why this works:
Mindful Pass the Parcel turns an exciting game into a moment of calm connection. Children practise slowing their bodies, using their breath, noticing their senses, and showing kindness – all vital skills for emotional regulation. It gives them a gentle pause during busy school days and helps reset the classroom energy quickly and playfully.

01/12/2025

Get Closer to Calm – Fortnightly Teen Wellbeing Sessions

Next Session: Friday 5th December
Investment: £10

(A parent is welcome to stay and learn alongside their teen.)

Over the past few sessions, the teenagers have been building their very own calm toolkits.

✨ We’ve explored simple but powerful mindfulness practices, including breathing techniques and body scans, helping them recognise how these tools can support them when life feels overwhelming.

✨ We’ve learned about the vagus nerve and the important role it plays in anxiety and emotional regulation — giving teens a better understanding of what’s happening in their bodies during stressful moments.

✨ Through guided visualisations, we’ve discovered just how powerful the imagination is. Each teen is learning how to use their mind as a safe, supportive space, helping them shift their thoughts in a positive way.

Every fortnight we add new tools, new understanding, and new ways to feel grounded, calm, and connected.

These sessions are practical, gentle, creative, and tailored to meet each teenager right where they are.

If your teen could benefit from more confidence, calmer thinking, better emotional awareness, or simply a supportive space to unwind — they’re warmly invited.

💚 Next session: Friday 5th December

Come along, learn together, and get closer to calm.

29/11/2025

What a magical afternoon we had yesterday! ✨

Our 3-hour workshop with the home-ed children, Syd the therapy dog, and so much creativity was an absolute joy.

We began by meeting the star of the show — Syd! The children loved learning all about him, and he was in his element receiving endless cuddles throughout the session. 🐾💛

Next, we stepped into the world of imagination as everyone created their very own Magical Garden. The ideas were incredible, floating trees, flowers you could climb inside, talking animals, secret places, and so much more. The creativity in the room was simply inspiring. 🌳✨🌸

Then it was time for music! The children made and decorated their own musical shakers, and together they created two brilliant songs, which were recorded for them to take home and treasure. 🎶💫

But perhaps the most beautiful part of the day was the friendships that formed. The atmosphere was relaxed, gentle, and safe, a space where everyone felt able to connect, share, and be part of something special.

Truly a magical session from start to finish. ✨💖

Thank you to everyone who joined us — we can’t wait for the next one!

27/11/2025

“A child doesn’t learn to cope by sitting with their overwhelm, but by feeling your calm beside them.”

Children don’t magically know how to manage big feelings. They learn it through us, through our tone, our breathing, our steady presence, and the message:
“You’re safe. I’m here. We’ll get through this together.”

When we sit beside them, stay grounded, and offer connection instead of separation, their nervous system begins to settle. Over time, they internalise that calm… and it becomes their own.

This is the heart of emotional regulation, co-regulation first, independence later.

One calm moment at a time

26/11/2025

Did you know your brain is always learning and rewiring itself? It’s called neuroplasticity and it means that every single thought you repeat becomes a pathway your brain starts to follow more easily.

So when you practise positive affirmations, you’re not just saying nice words…
you’re literally training your brain to think and feel differently.
One thought at a time. One moment at a time.

Small shifts → BIG changes. 💛

If you want to feel calmer, more confident, or just a little bit lighter inside, start with a simple affirmation today:

“I am capable. I am learning. I am enough.”

What affirmation will support you today?

And if you’d like support, tools, and a safe space to explore this more, my fortnightly teen sessions are designed exactly for you.

Next session: 5th December.
Come join us

25/11/2025

🌟 THE POWER OF IMAGINATION — AND WHY TEENS NEED TO HEAR THIS 🌟

One of the things I wish every teenager knew is this:
Your imagination isn’t just for daydreaming.
It’s influencing your energy, your emotions, and your body every single day.

Think about it…
A stressful thought can make your heart race.
A worrying “what if?” can drain your energy before anything has even happened.
Replay a negative memory and you can feel your whole body tighten.
Nothing physical is happening — yet your body responds as if it is.

But here’s the part so many of us never get taught:
✨ If imagination can lower your energy, it can also raise it.
✨ If it can create stress, it can also create calm.
✨ If it can make you feel small, it can also make you feel strong.
✨ If it can pull you into the worst-case scenario, it can also create the best one.

The imagination works both ways — and you get to choose the direction.

This is why guided imagery, visualisation, and creative inner work are so powerful for young people.

It gives them a way to reset their minds, re-energise their bodies, and shift their emotional state in minutes — using something they already carry inside them.

I see it every time I work with teens:
💫 A moment of calm suddenly becomes possible.
💫 Confidence rises.
💫 Worry softens.
💫 Their energy clears.
💫 They reconnect with who they really are.

Imagination isn’t “pretend.”
It’s a tool.
A powerful one.
And when teenagers learn to use it intentionally —
they realise they have far more control, resilience, and strength than they ever knew.

✨ Their mind becomes a place that can support them, not sabotage them. ✨

20/11/2025

Mindfulness is one of the most effective tools we can offer children—especially those who become easily dysregulated.

From a scientific perspective, mindfulness strengthens the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for attention, emotional regulation, and decision-making) and calms the amygdala, reducing the fight-flight response. Regular practice improves vagal tone, helping children return to calm more quickly when overwhelmed.
In schools, mindfulness can:
Reduce anxiety and increase focus
Improve emotional regulation and impulse control
Strengthen resilience and problem-solving
Foster a calmer, more connected classroom environment
How schools can bring it into the classroom:
Begin the day with a short breathing or grounding exercise
Use mindful moments before transitions
Introduce sensory-based tools or visualisations
Offer mindful movement or stretching breaks
Use reflection journals to help children connect thoughts, feelings, and behaviours

The Magical Garden is a fun, imaginative way to weave mindfulness into daily routines. It invites children to create their own inner garden, which naturally guides them into a calmer nervous system state. Teachers gain insight into how children are feeling, what they need, and any emotional themes emerging. Because it feels like play, children engage deeply without pressure.

Mindfulness doesn’t just help children regulate—it helps them thrive. And when it’s embedded into school culture, everyone benefits.

18/11/2025

Happy to be featured in an article written for MOJEH Magazine by Annemarie Sterian.

The piece explores the importance of inner child work and how our early experiences continue to shape how we feel, react, and move through life as adults.
If you’re curious about inner child healing, how it works, or where to begin, get in touch, I’m always happy to share more and support you on your journey. 💛

Healing your inner child isn’t about rewriting the past, but learning to meet it with compassion - and discovering the freedom to grow differently.

18/11/2025

Only 2 spaces left!

We’re excited to welcome Home Ed families to a magical and creative three-hour workshop for children aged 5–10, led by Jacqui Cameron (wellbeing therapist and mindfulness teacher) and Victoria McCrea (music therapist) — with a very special helper, Syd the therapy dog 💛

We know how beautifully children connect with animals, and Syd’s calm, gentle nature makes this workshop truly special, inclusive, and welcoming for every child.

During the morning, children will:
🐾 Spend time with Syd, learning about therapy dogs and enjoying his friendly, comforting presence
🌿 Take part in a fun, magical mindful activity #
🎨 Get creative through art and music — including making their own musical instrument and working together to compose a song
🎵 Receive a recording of their song to take home
🧚‍♀️ Enjoy a surprise visit (and gift!) from the fairies at the end ✨

This relaxed, nurturing workshop is perfect for creative, animal-loving children, especially those who may be a little shy. There’s no pressure, only gentle encouragement, connection, and fun.

👩‍👧 Parents are welcome to stay and enjoy tea or coffee while their children create
👥 Limited to 10 children to keep the group small and supportive
🚗 Parking available

A beautiful opportunity for children to express themselves, make new friends, and experience a heartwarming morning with Syd by their side. 🐾💫

WhatsApp Jacqui on 07452 835784
— in Kenardington.

14/11/2025

SCHOOL WELLBEING WORKSHOPS 2026

✨ Bookings for 2025 are already coming in for My Magical Garden & My Magical Tree! ✨

One of my favourite parts of visiting schools is seeing the spark that lights up in teachers’ eyes when they realise just how many meaningful and fun ways they can use these techniques to support their children.

The feedback is always incredible, and it’s such a joy to watch teachers get excited about bringing imagination, creativity, and emotional wellbeing into the classroom in a way that includes every child.

After the buzz and wonder of Christmas, it’s so important to keep that sense of magic alive… and that’s exactly what the Garden and Tree invite children to do, all year round. ✨

Why not tap into the incredible imagination our children already have?

Instead of imagination being used to fuel fear, anxiety, or “what if” thoughts, My Magical Garden and My Magical Tree show children how to use their imagination in a positive, empowering way:
💚 To express themselves
💚 To build confidence
💚 To find calm
💚 To understand their feelings
💚 To create their own safe, magical space

When children are shown a different way, they can make positive changes and their creativity is the key.

Here’s a lovely video from a wonderful group of Year 3 teachers sharing their feedback after a full day of sessions with their children. Their enthusiasm says it all!

If you're a parent or teacher and you're reading this thinking, “Our school needs this”…
Then do get in touch. I’m always happy to chat about how My Magical Garden and My Magical Tree can work for your school — and the best part is, it’s very budget friendly.

Hear what teachers have to say after experiencing our wellbeing workshops with their classes! These sessions help children explore emotions, build confidence...

11/11/2025

Does your child struggle with anxiety? Are they dealing with grief, or do they have big emotions that sometimes feel overwhelming? 💫

My Magical Garden offers a gentle and imaginative way to help children feel calm, confident, and in control again. Through creativity, guided visualisation, and choice, children create their own magical garden, a space that reflects how they feel inside and supports emotional healing and balance.

Here’s what one parent recently shared:
💬 *“My six-year-old daughter and I recently took part in a My Magical Garden workshop with Jacqui, and it’s something I would highly recommend. I’ve been a fan of Jacqui’s work for years and have also worked with her in a professional capacity, so when my daughter began to struggle with her emotional well-being, I knew exactly who to reach out to.
The tools and techniques shared in the workshop have equipped my daughter with an ‘invisible armour’ that helps her navigate everyday life. She now listens to the creative visualisation before bed, and each morning we check in with one another by choosing which magical creature we’re bringing to school and work that day.
Thank you, Jacqui, not only for supporting my daughter, but for supporting me too. My Magical Garden has become part of our daily routine and is something I’d truly recommend for any family whose children are finding their emotional well-being a challenge.”

🌸 My Magical Garden sessions can be held in person or online, and every family receives their own copy of the book and a manual to continue the magic at home.

If your child is struggling with anxiety, grief, or big emotions, or finding it hard to get to school, this gentle, imaginative approach could be just what they need. 💖

06/11/2025

🌿 Why children get sore tummies when they’re anxious

The vagus nerve is like a superhighway that connects the brain and the body, especially the tummy. It helps send messages both ways, from the brain to the stomach, and from the stomach back to the brain.

When a child feels worried or stressed, their brain sends a “danger” signal down the vagus nerve. The body then goes into fight, flight, or freeze mode. This makes:
🌿the heart beat faster,
🌿 become quicker,
🌿 the stomach muscles tighten or digestion slow down.

Because the tummy and brain are so closely linked, children can actually feel their emotions in their stomach. That’s why anxiety can cause butterflies, tummy aches, or even a need to rush to the toilet.
💫 What can help
The good news is that the vagus nerve also helps the body calm down, we just have to help it switch back to “rest and digest” mode.
Here are some gentle, child-friendly ways to do that:
🌿Slow breathing – Breathing in deeply and slowly out tells the vagus nerve that everything is safe. Try “smell the flower, blow the candle.”
🌿Humming or singing – The vibration activates the vagus nerve (it runs near the vocal cords). Singing a favourite song or humming quietly can help the body relax. Some children naturally hum to self soothe
🌿 Gentle rocking, stretching, or walking can help release tension and bring comfort.
🌿 and touch – A warm drink, a cuddle, or placing a hand on the tummy can soothe both body and brain.
🌿 moments – Focusing on the senses (what can you see, hear, feel?) helps bring attention back to the present, reassuring the nervous system that it’s safe.