Did you know that BIG feelings in children are often tied to their developing executive function skills?
Executive function is the "air traffic control" of the brain. They are the mental skills that help kids plan, focus, control their impulses and manage their emotions in healthy ways.
This graphic from offers some great ways to help build these essential life skills.
By creating routines, using visual schedules, and helping them label their feelings, you're not just helping them overcome a difficult moment, you're helping them build the skills they need to SHINE through school and beyond! 💛
12/08/2025
☀️ Suncream struggles? You’re not alone!
For some children, applying sun cream is more than just annoying; it can be a real source of fear and stress.
Here are some gentle, playful tips to make it easier:
Prepare ahead – Talk about applying suncream when you’re not about to use it. At dinner, chat about the sunny day tomorrow and how you’ll need sun cream to keep your skin safe and healthy.
Let them explore it during messy play.
Build it into a routine by applying it at regular times, not just before heading out. Predictability makes it less stressful.
Make it fun!
⭐ Shout “Starfish!” and have them spread arms and legs.
🐡 “Puffer fish!” for cheeks and face.
💪 “Muscles!” for arms.
🎭 Play “copy me” or race to see who applies it faster.
Offer choices. Cream, spray, mist, coloured… let them pick! Or rename it: “Fairy sparkle sun spray” or “Incredible Hulk muscle cream” to match their interests.
Finally, if applying sun cream is still tricky, you could also try sun-protective clothing to reduce how much you need to apply. Start applying slowly and work up to more. 💛
12/08/2025
Turn a “No” into a “Not Now”
Many children find it tough when they can’t have or do something they’ve set their heart on, or when plans suddenly change.
One gentle way to help is by having a “Not Now” Jar.
Whenever something isn’t possible in the moment, whether it’s a toy, an activity, or an outing, children can write it down (or draw it) and pop it into the jar.
This teaches them that “no” or “not now” doesn’t mean never.
Their wishes are still valued, and there’s always another day for possibilities.
It’s a small shift that can make a big difference in how children handle disappointment and how they see these challenges in future. 💛
11/08/2025
Today was quite a day, but among the non stop rushing around and chaos, a magic moment happened. My daughter stopped her play and started tidying up around me.
When I asked what she was doing she simply said, "helping," and smiled.
It wasn't because I asked her, and she knew there was no treat or reward at the end.
She did it because she saw I was tired and she knew it was the right thing to do.
It may seem like a small act, but at that moment, it felt huge.
She wasn't just doing a chore. She was showing empathy, taking responsibility, and learning that hard work, even when it's unglamorous, is a way of showing you care.
She showed me that all my nagging, modelling and annoying sayings do land.
They plant seeds and those seeds are always growing, even when we can't see that growth. Just as our children are.
It's a reminder that chores aren't just about a clean house. They're a way to teach our kids invaluable life lessons about teamwork, grit, and the quiet satisfaction of a job well done. 💛
11/08/2025
Please bear with us as we are currently without power. This means we've unfortunately had to cancel our sessions for today and have emailed everyone accordingly. Thank you for your patience and understanding 💛
10/08/2025
This is your Sunday evening reminder 💛
10/08/2025
Yep, always 😆
10/08/2025
Absolutely this 🥰 it's not always easy, but you are your child's home, their safe space, their everything 💛
09/08/2025
A very warm welcome to all our new followers 🤗
I'm Jodie, the person behind the business which I founded in 2018.
The foundations of SHINE started after having to learn everything the 'hard way.' It came after years of fighting for not only my children, but also advocating for the children and families I worked with for over a decade in education. During this period, I felt so unbelievably frustrated with society's obsession with simply putting plasters on issues, waiting until people reach crisis and not fully understanding the effects of the trauma this causes.
Trauma I know only too well, now living with EDS, Fibromyalgia and FND.
I hope that I now offer everything I needed as a child and everything both myself and my children needed when I was fighting for them to be seen, heard and understood.
Childhood is precious and the social noise and pressures aren't getting any easier.
I firmly believe that, “Whilst we cannot predict the future for our children, we can equip them with the tools they need to SHINE through any storms they may face - as confident, secure, resilient and content young people.”
SHINE stands for Self-Awareness, Healthy Habits, Independence, Nurturing Qualities, and Emotional Intelligence. These are the form foundations we all need to shine through school and beyond.
Our award-winning curriculum helps children learn how to N.A.M.E. their emotions in healthy ways, which stands for Notice, Accept, Manage and Express. As they become Feelings Detectives®, with parents, caregivers, and professionals as their Emotional Champions, ready with the tools to support and connect with confidence.
When I'm not working I love spending time with my amazing family. I have my partner, 2 beautiful girls aged 22 and 10 and wider family all close by. Big age gap I know! I thought it would mean free babysitters, but she's too busy living her best life. In fact, they both have a better social life than us 😆 We also have Teddy who has helped many children with their phobias and we have a new therapy puppy joining our family soon, so watch this space 🥰
We also have Jasper the mischievous cat and when I'm not running around after this lot, I love a bit of 'me time' in nature and taking photos.
I have honestly worn so many hats, bought so many t-shirts as they say, and experienced the many highs and lows of life. My experience is very much lived and everything I do is with the hope that I can offer to others, what I wish I had when I needed it. Either as a child, a parent, or professional.
Thank you so much for being here. We are more than a business and a movement. By being here, you are part of the Sunny Kids Family and to indirectly quote Stitch, (my daughter will cringe at this 😆) much like "Ohana" we strive to ensure no family or child struggles alone, or is left behind 💛
09/08/2025
💛 New Resource added to our store. Link in comments 💛
08/08/2025
💛 It’s been a difficult week. 💛
I’ve been running my business for over 7 years, and it has been incredible. I’ve had the absolute privilege of supporting so many amazing families and watching children grow, shine, and flourish.
But lately, I’ve been experiencing the harder side of business.
While I know “you can’t please everyone,” I also want to gently remind people that behind this business is a real person. A single mum juggling all that brings, along with all the feelings that come with it.
Running a small business is hard. Really hard.
There’s so much more to it than what you see on social media.
Behind every post, every package, and every service is a person doing their very best to make it all work, without losing themselves in the process.
I’m the mum, the homemaker, the accountant, the social media manager, the customer service team, and the administrator… all while trying to keep my emotional cup full so I can give my best to everyone. Including myself.
This business was built to give me the freedom to be there for my family, to enjoy the little moments, and to create a beautiful life for us.
All while making a real difference to every single person that I work with.
That’s why my Terms and Conditions are so important.
They’re not just “rules,” they’re boundaries that protect both you and me, so I can continue to offer the person-focused, family-centred service I’m known for.
In fact, they’re often more flexible than most because I care deeply about making my service work for each family’s unique needs.
When you choose to work with me, I see you. Every detail of you. And together, we work from the roots up.
I understand that life happens, and if you communicate with me, I will always do my very best to adapt. But this has to be within our agreed terms. Not just for fairness, but because delivering my time and expertise without payment, or taking on more families than I can realistically support, would compromise the high-quality care I’m committed to.
Healthy boundaries are what allow me to give my best to every child, every family, and to my own family, too. 💛
Thank you for understanding, for supporting small businesses, and for valuing the people behind them. 🫶
Love Jodie ###
08/08/2025
Today is international cat day 🐱
This is my boy Jasper. He loves to walk across the screen and press keys when I'm working. 😆 He's very mischievous and was quite aptly called Scamp when we rescued him as a kitten. Please feel free to share photos of your fur babies too 💛
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Sunny Kids Shine Feelings Detectives:
Why we are working together for a brighter future!
Hello and welcome to the home of Sunny Kids Shine.
Sunny Kids Shine was founded by Jodie Smart in 2018 and we introduce mindfulness to young children and help make BIG feelings child size. In this fast paced world that we live in, where 1 in 4 adults experience a mental health illness every year and 1 in 8 children have diagnosable mental health problem; children’s wellbeing must be without doubt the core of all education and learning.
We help children to learn from a young age that we all have a beautiful rainbow of feelings inside and that every feeling is ok. Our beliefs are that whilst we can not predict the future for our children, we can equip them with the tools they need to SHINE through any storms that they may face; as confident, resilient and content young people.
Our online programme supports Parents, Carers and Practitioners from a variety of disciplines including education, health and social care to create emotionally enabling environments and become their children’s Emotional Coach. We support your children to become a Feelings Detective and learn how to N.A.M.E their feelings in healthy ways which stands for Notice, Accept, Manage and Express.
Research has found that just being able to label feelings can really support children’s wellbeing, and the children who are secure with their feelings and the feelings of others tend to perform better in school.
Sunny Kids Shine really is about laying a strong social and emotional foundation during the crucial early years of life, that truly can last a lifetime, helping children SHINE feeling:
Secure, Healthy, Independent, Nurtured and Empowered!
For further information please visit our website www.sunnykidsshine.com and get in touch today.
