The Life Skills Mentoring Academy

09/09/2025

🌈💜 Starting Tomorrow! 💜🌈

Our Emotional Regulation Classes begin Wednesday at 1pm in Dereham – and we still have a few spaces available!

These sessions are such a beautiful way to:
✨ Support your little one’s emotional wellbeing
✨ Encourage calm, connection & confidence
✨ Share special moments together through yoga, massage & calming stories

Suitable for children aged 18 months – 7 years, these classes give families tools that last far beyond the session – helping little ones learn how to manage big feelings while having fun. 🧘‍♀️📖💫

You can book as a one-off taster or join a block of sessions.

💌 Feel free to pop me a message if you’d like more information or are unsure if it’s right for your child – I’d love to chat.

📍 Toftwood Scout Hut, Dereham
🕐 Tomorrow, 1–2pm
💷 From £9 per session

👉 Book your spot here: https://bookwhen.com/littletots

Let’s give our children the gift of calm 💜

08/09/2025

✨ Monday Mindset: A Fresh Start ✨

Whether your child walked into school with excitement or wobbliness today - remember:
💛 Big feelings are normal
💛 Transitions take time
💛 You don’t have to get it “perfect”

🌿 Try starting the week with a grounding reminder for both you and your child:
💬 “It’s okay to feel nervous.”
💬 “We can do hard things together.”
💬 “One step at a time.”

Parenting isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about showing up with love, patience, and presence. And that’s more than enough.

07/09/2025

👋 Hi, I’m Laura, the founder of The Life Skills Mentoring Academy (TLSMA).

A little about me… I’m passionate about supporting children, young people and families to feel understood, build confidence, and find ways of coping when life feels overwhelming. Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand how much of a difference it makes when a young person has the right tools and someone in their corner cheering them on - and that’s what inspired me to create TLSMA.

At TLSMA, we focus on therapeutic coaching, trauma-responsive practice, and creative approaches that make learning about emotions, regulation, and self-belief feel safe, engaging and fun.

💫 What we offer:

👥 Face-to-face classes near Fakenham – a lovely space for connection and growth in person.

👤 Online sessions – so families across the country can access support too.

➡️ Don't forget you can also purchase my workbook which you can do before sessions, after or during! Or even if you wanted to just dip your toe into a little bit of what we're about and what can help. DM me for more information.

Whether it’s through group sessions, 1:1 coaching, or practical toolkits, my aim is always the same: to walk alongside young people as they discover their strengths and learn that they can cope with life’s challenges.

If you’re new here, welcome! I’d love to hear a little about you and what brought you to this page 💛

Don't forget to give us a follow or invite your friends so you can all keep in the loop with any updates 👥

Laura x

07/09/2025

Get involved and share your guesses ❤️

🌿📚 Guess the Book 📚🌿

This week in our emotional regulation class, we'll be exploring a story together. Can you guess the children's book from this clue? 🦒🎶

✨ Sometimes it just takes a little courage — and the right rhythm — to find calm and confidence. ✨

Share your guesses below — and no Googling. 🌸

05/09/2025

🌅 How has the 1st week of school mornings been?
Mornings can make or break the day. If your child struggles, try this 2-minute grounding game: over the weekend and then do it each morning before school. Let me know how it feels.

👣 Feet Check-In
Ask your child:
– “Can you feel your toes wiggle?”
– “Can you press your feet into the floor like a superhero stance?”
– “Can you take one slow, superhero breath with me?”

🌈 This tiny reset helps switch the nervous system into “ready and safe” mode before heading out the door.

Because calm mornings don’t have to be perfect - just connected. 💛

05/09/2025

🌟New ! Single Session Tickets Available - £9 🌟

Our Children's Emotional Regulation Classes are starting next week, and we're so pleased to be welcoming families who booked the full block.

We know not everyone can commit to all the dates, so we've now opened up single class tickets 🎟️

💛 Help your child learn simple tools for calming big feelings
🧘 Fun, interactive activities to build confidence and resilience
👩‍👧 A supportive space for parents and children together

📅 Choose the date that suits your family (Wednesday 1-2pm)
📍 Toftwood Scout Hut
👉 Book your place here: https://bookwhen.com/littletots

Spaces are limited for each class, so early booking is recommended.

Let's give our children the tools to feel calm, confident, and in control 💙

05/09/2025

The first week back is almost done, and I think so many of us are feeling that strange mix of emotions. On one hand, there’s sadness – missing their little faces and the time together. On the other, there’s a sigh of relief that the massive juggling act of the holidays is over (for now) and we can all settle back into some sort of normality again.

But… it hasn’t come without its challenges. This week has brought behaviours we haven’t seen in a long time, sleepless nights we thought were behind us, and big emotions spilling over in every direction. It’s a reminder that change – even when it’s a positive one – is still a big adjustment for little people.

And if you’ve felt tired, stretched, or even questioned if you’re handling it right, please know you’re not alone. These bumps in the road don’t mean you’re getting it wrong. They’re simply part of the transition. Our children are navigating so much all at once, and all we can do is ride the wave with them 🌊

So here’s to gentler days ahead, calmer nights, and remembering that every parent walking this path is doing their best – and that is always enough. 💛

04/09/2025

Back-to-school isn’t just an adjustment for kids - it’s for parents too.
The juggling of schedules, the worry about how they’ll cope, the waiting at the gate… it’s a lot.

✨ Remember:
– You’re allowed to feel anxious about their day
– You don’t have to pretend it’s easy
– Support for you is support for them

At TLSMA, we don’t just work with children. We walk with families. Because regulated parents = safer children. 🌿

03/09/2025

🎒 Did you know a heavy school bag can affect more than posture?
For sensitive children, the weight, noise, and clutter of school equipment can feel overwhelming.

🌿 Try:
– Keeping the bag organised with colour-coded pouches
– Using a small weighted keyring or fidget attached to the zip
– Practising “pack your bag” as a calm evening ritual

Tiny tweaks reduce stress — for kids and parents!

02/09/2025

🎒 First day back… big feelings included.
It’s completely normal for children to feel wobbly at the start of a new term - new teachers, new classmates, new routines.

🌿 Gentle tip: Instead of “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” try:

💬 “It's ok if you feel nervous.”
💬 “Let's talk about what is worrying you"
💬 “I’ll be here after school.”

Validation + reassurance = safety.
You don’t need to erase the worry. Just hold it with them. 💛

02/09/2025

Mia Vivone - The Mindset Coach for Trauma Survivors

Speaking so much sense! Learn more about how to navigate this when speaking with us 💙

❤️‍🩹

01/09/2025

✨ The Back-to-School Iceberg ✨

On the surface, we might see a child who is:
😢 Crying
🙄 Talking back
😶 Distracted
👕 Wearing the wrong uniform
🚶 Skipping school

But underneath these behaviours often lies so much more than meets the eye…

💭 Anxiety, past bullying, worries about being told off
💭 Family stress, separation, or even homelessness
💭 Learning difficulties, autism, or no friends
💭 Experiences of abuse or masking sadness and pain

This image is such a powerful reminder that behaviour is communication. What we see on the outside is just the tip of the iceberg — below the surface are complex feelings, unmet needs, and life circumstances children are carrying with them.

As adults — parents, teachers, and professionals — we have a choice: to react to the surface, or to pause and gently wonder what might be going on underneath.

🌊 Every child’s behaviour tells a story.
🌊 Every child deserves compassion and curiosity, not judgment.
🌊 And every child needs safe adults who see beyond the iceberg.

💡 Let’s make this back-to-school season about understanding, empathy, and support.
clinical.psychologist