Stay Calm

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.

06/11/2025

🎥 Watch the video to hear a Year 3 teacher share his thoughts on the value of children learning this tool to help regulate their emotions.

He explains how adults find ways to manage challenges, and how important it is that children are also given tools to understand and cope with their feelings.

It’s inspiring to hear educators recognise the impact of emotional wellbeing in the classroom. 💛

A Year 3 teacher shares her thoughts on our recent emotional wellbeing workshop, describing it as a valuable tool to help children understand and express the...

03/11/2025

Stay Calm Wellbeing Workshops for Schools and Families

In a world where children are constantly stimulated, these workshops offer something truly different, a chance to pause, breathe, and reconnect through imagination.

Featured in Mindfulness Magazine, this creative, mindfulness-based approach helps children calm their nervous systems, build resilience, and rediscover their natural sense of calm and confidence.

Each session blends imagination and mindfulness to bring peace to the classroom, supporting emotional regulation, creativity, and focus.

Tailored to your school’s needs, with up to five workshops a day, every pupil has the chance to experience calm in action.

For a modest investment, your school will gain a lasting, evidence-based resource that supports emotional literacy, improves self-regulation, and enhances wellbeing across your community.

Available all year round, affordable and inclusive.

Visit my YouTube Channel and see all the amazing testimonials from teachers. https://www.youtube.com/

To book or learn more, contact Jacqui Cameron

29/10/2025

Teacher Feedback on My Wellbeing Workshops

I’ve had the privilege of visiting so many wonderful schools, both here in the UK and abroad, to deliver my wellbeing workshops. 🌍💚

After some of the visits, I’ve invited teachers to share their reflections, and I’ve gathered a collection of short interviews where they talk about how the children engaged with the sessions and what they observed.

You can now find all of these interviews on my YouTube channel. Hearing directly from teachers brings these workshops to life in such a genuine and meaningful way.

If you’d like to know more about how these sessions could support the wellbeing of children in your school, or in a school your child attends, please feel free to get in touch. I’d love to share more information.

🎥https://www.youtube.com/

29/10/2025

Last horse session of the year with our amazing teenagers 🐴✨

What a lovely group! We had so much fun with our activities today, including one where pairs worked together, with one person blindfolded and the other giving directions on where to go. I even joined in… and I have to say, it’s not easy being blindfolded while leading a horse! But it was such a great exercise in trust and teamwork.
Over the weeks, we’ve seen some really special friendships blossom. It’s been wonderful to watch as everyone slowly opened up, felt safe to be themselves, and showed their true character. The confidence, laughter, and care for the beautiful horses has been heartwarming to see. 💛
These sessions have been all about connection to the horses, to each other, and to ourselves.

We might run a little Christmas special (weather permitting!), so keep an eye out for updates. ❄️🎄

28/10/2025

When I visit schools to share My Magical Garden or My Magical Tree, one part often sparks curiosity and sometimes a little scepticism.
At the back of the books are symbolic translations: gentle suggestions of what a child’s choices might mean emotionally. For example, a stormy sky, a locked gate, or a hidden path can all hint at different inner experiences.
Teachers sometimes tell me, “This feels a bit woo woo.”
And I completely understand. Schools are used to evidence, structure, and frameworks, not symbols and imagination.
But symbolism is actually deeply rooted in psychology.
Respected figures like Carl Jung taught us that the mind expresses itself through symbols, especially when words aren’t enough. Margaret Lowenfeld, a pioneer of play therapy, showed how children use imaginative worlds to communicate feelings safely. Donald Winnicott spoke about the importance of “transitional spaces” places where children can explore emotions through creativity and play.
When we see it this way, symbolism isn’t mystical, it’s a language of the heart.
Children often show us how they feel through imagery, colour, and story long before they can tell us in words.
The meanings I offer in the books are never labels or diagnoses, they’re invitations to curiosity.
A way to notice patterns, ask gentle questions, and offer the right kind of support.
Symbolism simply gives us another way to connect, and sometimes, that’s where the real understanding begins. 💚

Here's the flower page from My Magical Garden - which one do you feel drawn to today? What is the meaning for you? Put your choice in the comments and I'll give you the interpretation.

25/10/2025

Mirror Neurons and How We Feel Each Other’s Emotions
Have you ever woken up feeling great, but after spending time with others, you’ve walked away feeling sad, anxious, angry, or drained without really knowing why?
This often happens because of something called mirror neurons, special brain cells discovered by neuroscientists Giacomo Rizzolatti and later Marco Iacoboni. These neurons help us naturally connect with others by “mirroring” what we see and feel around us.
When someone smiles, our brain responds as if we are smiling too. When someone is upset or stressed, our mirror neurons can react in the same way allowing us to feel what they feel. It’s how empathy works at a biological level.
But sometimes, we take on those emotions and hold them as if they were our own. Over time, this can leave us feeling heavy, overwhelmed, or out of balance.
That’s why it’s so important to find gentle ways to release what isn’t ours, through music, dance, cold showers, breathwork, movement, mindfulness, or visualisations like the Magical Garden.
When we learn to return to calm and reconnect with our own energy, we not only feel better ourselves, we also help those around us to settle too.