Alaria CIC

A community interest company offering therapeutic support for children, young people and families.

Play therapy, outdoor therapeutic experiences, alternative education, animal-assisted therapy, training and workshops for parents and professionals.

01/03/2026

Come join us for our pre-5 group tomorrow from 1-2.15 🐞🦋🐛🪲

27/02/2026

There was a calm, companionable energy in the air today.

The kind where no one needs to perform. No one needs to rush. No one needs to be “on”. Just children and nature, side by side.

One of today’s invitations was to create Nature Guardians – protectors of different parts of the natural world.

Some children went small and intricate…
A tiny felted guardian wrapped carefully around a stick.

Others went bold and magnificent…
Towering protectors planted firmly into the earth, watching over the reservoir and hills.

And what struck us most wasn’t the size.
It was the intention.

When a child decides to protect something –
a tree, the water, the wind, the land –
they are quietly saying:

“This matters.”
“I matter.”
“We belong to each other.”

No worksheets.
No targets.

Just connection, creativity and a sense of responsibility that grows naturally from love.
This is what happens when children are given space.

They don’t just play.
They care.

And in a world that feels uncertain at times, we think that’s something worth nurturing 🌿

22/02/2026

Come join us for our pre-5 group tomorrow from 1-2.15. We’d love to see you there ❤️❤️🪲🐛🐞🦋

21/02/2026

Rainy Saturdays at Alaria just hit differently.

This morning our regular group were out in the woods – walking, whacking very obliging dead trees (excellent for big feelings), hunting for bugs, and stirring up mysterious potions made from moss, bark and imagination.

This afternoon our new group arrived – and the magic continued.
Bubbles floated through drizzle. Hammocks swung vigorously and then gently between trees. Marshmallows toasted over the fire. Brave feet waded into the reservoir while the rain turned the water silver and still.

There’s something about rain that softens everything.
It slows us down.
It makes the forest smell richer.
It gives children permission to be completely absorbed in what they’re doing.

No one complained about the weather.
No one rushed.
They just played.

And honestly? The reservoir looks rather magical in the rain ✨

20/02/2026

Hiya lovely people 🌿

We had such a joyful Friday morning together! The children loved creating their own colourful masks 🎭 before heading out for a gentle stroll to soak up some fresh air and birdsong.

We made delicious fruit kebabs 🍓🍌 (which were very enthusiastically eaten!) and finished with plenty of swinging and laughter – that wonderful whoosh feeling that brings so much joy and regulation 💛

Thank you to everyone who joined us – these simple, nature-filled mornings really are something special. 🌳✨

17/02/2026

What a glorious day for our Tuesday group.
Ice under boots. Buckets and spades in mittened hands. Careful sliding, cracking, experimenting – “What happens if…?”

There’s something about frozen water that invites curiosity. It changes the rules. It demands problem-solving. It brings squeals, focus and teamwork.

And when fingers started to feel the cold? We gathered round the outdoor stove and made pancakes – warm, golden, slightly wonky and absolutely perfect.

Cold toes – warm hearts – full tummies.

14/02/2026

What a beautiful (and very chilly!) Friday morning we had with our group today ❄️✨

With rosy cheeks and plenty of fresh air, we decided to slow things down and create something special — our own Love Jars. Each person filled their jar with little notes about the things they love. Favourite people, simple pleasures, memories, dreams, hobbies… all the small and big things that make life feel good.

There’s something really powerful about taking a moment to notice what fills your cup. On tougher days, these jars will be there as a reminder of warmth, connection and joy.

And because creativity tends to spark more creativity… we also made a movie 🎬 (future film stars in the making!) and finished with a talent show. The talents were varied and wonderful — including some very enthusiastic, slightly questionable dancing 💃😂

Most importantly, there was laughter. There was confidence. There was togetherness.

Cold hands, warm hearts. That’s what Friday mornings are all about 💛

13/02/2026

You lend your phone to the children to film the movie they’re making – wander off to do some crafting with other children – and later that evening discover your camera roll contains…

🎤 The Alaria Talent Show

Featuring surprise performances, dramatic commentary… and Cheryl mid-twerk.

When children feel safe and in charge – anything can happen 😂.

11/02/2026

🌿 Does your child come alive outdoors? 🌿

We currently have 2 spaces available in our new Saturday afternoon group
🕐 1pm – 3pm

The group is for children aged 5–12 years.

Our sessions are led by a qualified Forest School Leader who is also a trained therapist, bringing together outdoor play, emotional safety and therapeutic understanding. Groups are a maximum of 8 children with a minimum of 2 adults.

Our groups are especially suited to children who seem most themselves outside – the creators, the climbers, wanderers, builders, fire-watchers, deep thinkers. Many of the children who attend are neurodivergent or on the pathway to diagnosis. There is no pressure to sit still, perform, mask or fit a mould. All activities are optional.

At Alaria, children are met as they are.

On any given Saturday, you might find us:
🐔 Caring for the guinea pigs and chickens
🚀 Launching ourselves across the soft play in the old horse shelter
🧚 Building fairy houses tucked beneath tree roots
🪵 Constructing elaborate goblin dens from branches and tarps
🦖 Strategising how best to catapult toy dinosaurs across the paddock using whatever materials we can gather
🔥 Perfecting the science of marshmallow-toasting over the fire
🕳 Investigating mysterious holes dug by unseen woodland engineers
🌊 Watching the wind ripple across the reservoir and exploring what lives beneath

The play emerges from the children themselves – we follow their curiosity, their questions, their big ideas.

If your child feels unsure in new places, you are very welcome to stay and join in. Settling takes time – and we’d always rather children feel safe than rushed.

🌱 You can book one session as a paid trial (£25) with no commitment to continue.

After that, you can decide whether to sign up for the remainder of the term.

If this sounds like your kind of Saturday, comment below or send us a message for booking details.
www.alaria.uk

10/02/2026

This was such delightful Tuesday Forest School magic 🧡

Homemade apple cake, wrapped up and gently warmed over the fire pit – shared, savoured, and very enthusiastically approved by the children today 🍎🔥

There’s something deeply regulating about food cooked on the fire. The waiting. The smell. The togetherness.

We don't think moments like these are extras – they’re the learning. Connection, patience, sensory joy, belonging… with a side of apple cake. Oh and mustn't forget the hot chocolate with mini mallows 😋

10/02/2026

What a lovely time we had at our Pre-5s group yesterday 💚

We shared a tasty snack of strawberries and bananas, while the grown-ups enjoyed a well-earned cup of tea. The potion table was a huge hit – lots of mixing, pouring and imaginative play – and we also spent some gentle time feeding the guinea pigs, which the children really enjoyed 🐹✨

A little reminder that next week’s groups will not be running as the schools are closed. We’ll be back as usual on Monday 23rd February, and we’re already looking forward to seeing you all then 🌿

Thank you for another lovely session.

08/02/2026

🌿 Pre-5s Group – Join Us! 🌿

Our Pre-5s group is a relaxed, welcoming space for little ones and their grown-ups to play, explore and enjoy time together 💚

Each session offers a mix of outdoor and indoor play, including:
✨ Bubble play and sensory activities
🍃 Mud kitchen fun – mixing, pouring and making potions
🐹 Feeding our guinea pigs and caring for the chickens
🌈 Soft play for climbing, crawling, balancing and building confidence
🎨 Simple creative and messy play activities to spark curiosity and imagination

Sessions are child-led and gentle, supporting early development through play while giving grown-ups a chance to slow down and connect too 🌱

📅 Mondays
⏰ 1.00–2.15pm
💷 £10 per adult & child (snack and drink included)

👉 Booking link: https://www.alaria.uk/book-session

Perfect for curious toddlers, busy preschoolers, and parents looking for a calm, supportive group 💚

Address

Alaria CIC
Strathaven
ML106RF

Website

https://www.alaria.uk/

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