The current environment that we live in is extremely negative. We are exposed to 24-hour news coverage of one disaster or catastrophe after the other –  the COVID-19 pandemic, police brutality,  racism, the explosion in Lebanon, the constant negative discourse in politics, Brexit and more.  This constant exposure to negative news is affecting the public’s mental health. 

The impact this negative news has on our wellbeing is separate to the effect each of the individual issues may have on those personally affected by these incidents – the news is exacerbating the effect of world events so, rather than informing and empowering us, the news is creating more anxiety.

A study conducted a few years ago on the psychological impact of the content of news programmes found that those exposed to negative news were more anxious and experienced a higher level of sadness². They were also more likely to catastrophize their personal worries, this means that even though viewers were not directly affected by the content in the news, the negative sentiment that the news conveyed negatively impacted other concerns they had.

The pandemic era is unique in that we are all personally impacted which is rarely the case when a disaster strikes. For many, disasters affect “other people” and we watch from afar in safety. Today, we are the “other people” and this has created a global mental health pandemic. A study conducted in the US which included 200 people from across the country found that levels of depression, anxiety and stress were significantly higher than in pre-COVID-19 times¹. The research found that:

• 50% of participants experienced moderate to severe symptoms of depression in the past month
• 32% of participants experienced moderate to severe anxiety symptoms

The psychological impact of both the exposure to negative news and the current COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and is likely to persist if we don’t take personal action. We can take steps to reduce our exposure to the amount of news that we can consume. The news right now is disproportionately negative and probably always has been, but now more than ever before, we need to seek out positive news and find some inspiration – we need a break from all this negative news!

We recently discovered a new radio show on WINN FM here in St Kitts called The Good News Show, and this was such a refreshing break from all the negativity. Host, Enoete Inanga, takes his listeners on a journey of positivity, highlighting good news, stories, people and ideas. He features positive global and local news stories and interviews inspiring guests who take us through their journey to success. We have really enjoyed listening to this new show and if you’re looking for some positivity you can check it out on Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm AST. Alternatively, you can watch recordings of the show on YouTube, the latest show can be viewed here:

Enoete Inanga seems to be all about positivity and he recently launched Bestimony  – a positive place to give affirmations and show appreciation to others.

So, in our quest to find positivity, we stumbled upon The Good News Show and Bestimony. Have you been on a quest to inject some positivity into your day? Let us know what you have found by leaving a comment below and let’s go on a positivity journey together.

References

1. Johannesen K. (2020) Stress of the Pandemic Has Negative Impact on Mental Health and Relationships, Study Shows [Online]. Available at https://news.iu.edu/stories/2020/06/iub/inside/29-stress-of-pandemic-mental-health-relationships.html (Accessed: 10^th August 2020)
2. Johnston WM, Davey GC. The psychological impact of negative TV news bulletins: the catastrophizing of personal worries.Br J Psychol. 1997;88 ( Pt 1):85-91. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1997.tb02622.x

In today’s blog, we’re delighted to have spoken to author and writing coach, Greta Solomon.

Greta talked to us about the health benefits of journaling and how she’s helping women tap into this empowering and therapeutic pastime through her new book Heart, Sass & Soul. 

Tell us about your new book

Heart, Sass & Soul is a warm, honest, deeply supportive guide to journaling your way to a life that not only looks good – but feels good. One where you’re not trying to be an all-round girl boss / vixen / superwoman who rises at dawn to slay like Beyoncé. Instead, you’re aiming to be more and more YOURSELF, because that’s where your true power lies.

There has never been a better time to be your own guru. Freewriting and journaling in the ways laid out in this book can be life-changing – for all the right reasons. They put you in charge of what YOU think and feel, which is a welcome relief in this hyper connected world. And while there are lots of beautiful journals on the market, there are very few comprehensive guides on how to USE them to create magic and meaning in your life.

Why did you write this book?

I wanted to show people exactly HOW to journal. Not in a 1-2-3 step kind of way. But how to access the deeper parts of you, and how to clear the creative blocks that may stop you from journaling in the first place.

Writing has unlocked so many doors for me (and not just because I became a journalist who got paid to interview celebrities, go to events and drink champagne at parties)! Through my life and work I realised that through writing I ask for things that I wouldn’t dare speak out loud. Better still, I could write things into existence. Things that were never there before, except for wishes or dreams in my head. And when there were very dark, difficult times, writing has been a helpful friend. My mother committed suicide 11 years ago and writing helped me to heal and chart a new path.

From a professional point of view, I began writing this book in 2016 at a time when I needed a break from my business. I had spent four years pitching, developing, creating and delivering business writing workshops (alongside being pregnant and then a new mum).  And I needed to get back in touch with myself. I cleared my schedule with the aim of doing nothing in particular. And that’s when the yearnings, inklings and frantic writing began. After years of writing to order, I finally wrote what I wanted to write. At first it was like clearing the phlegm from my writing throat. But soon, the channel was open, and the essence of this book flowed. As did a workshop in writing for creative self-expression which sold out within hours. I knew I was onto something and I began to realise the true power of writing for creative self-expression.

We didn’t realise that writing and journaling could be so empowering. What are the other health benefits of journaling?

 Psychologists have found that expressive writing (where you write about thoughts and feelings) results in fewer doctor visits and can even boost the immune system in the short-term. It can help you to recover from depression, find happiness and make you feel better about yourself and your life. In Heart, Sass & Soul, I show readers exactly how to journal in order to overcome self-doubt and develop a new creative identity; transform dark times into something beautiful; find moments for healing themselves without judgement and to become empowered with uninhibited self-expression. I also love the fact that all you need to journal is a notebook and a pen. Journaling is cheap and can pretty much be done anytime and anywhere. It literally puts the power of self-care and wellbeing into your own hands.

What is your link with St Kitts and Nevis?

 My dad and his family are originally from St Kitts and my dad grew up in Nevis. We actually lived in Nevis for a year when I was five before returning back to the UK, to London. So these island have always been an integral part of my life.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

 My mission is to build a thriving community of empowered, self-expressed women, who know exactly what they think and feel, who can face uncomfortable emotions head on, access their higher wisdom and tap into the creative current of life.  Meaning is made from walking through loss and grief, not from dancing around it. And a joy-filled life is not only possible, but inevitable when you are creatively free. When you are ready to answer the call, I’d be honoured to be your guide.

Where can our readers order a copy of Heart, Sass & Soul?

Heart, Sass & Soul by Greta Solomon is published on 15 April 2019, and is available to pre-order now on Amazon.

---

Special Offer!

We’re delighted to say that Greta is offering a free writing masterclass worth £77 for everyone who pre-orders Heart, Sass & Soul before 15 April. To claim that gift please visit https://www.gretasolomon.com/preorder-gift-with-heart-sass-soul

About Greta Solomon 

Greta Solomon is a British journalist turned writing coach and the author of Heart, Sass & Soul: Journal Your Way to Inspiration and Happiness. In 2006, she discovered a talent for helping people overcome the blocks, fears and shame that stops them from fully expressing themselves. Through talks, workshops and online programs, she teaches real-world writing techniques and inspires others to live rich, full lives. Her work has been featured in Forbes.com, The Numinous and The Huffington Post. She is a published poet and songwriter, a psychology graduate, certified life coach, trained lifelong learning teacher and holds a specialist certificate in lyric writing from Berklee College of Music. She lives in London with her husband and their daughter.

And, you can find Greta on Instagram and on twitter

Welcome back to our blog! Today, we’re delighted to have a guest blog submitted by Nina Johnson-Campbell of the NJC Therapy Practice.

Nina discusses how we can manage stress through emotional intelligence and provides some really useful tips that just require 10 minutes of your day. 

This is the second blog from Nina Johnson-Campbell, in her first blog Nina explored a new tool to support the wellbeing of children and adults. You can read her first post here

---

What Exactly is Stress?

Stress is a necessary, innate/natural part of our survival instinct and physiological make up; it motivates us to take action to keep us safe or to keep reaching just that bit further to achieve our dreams and aspirations; it’s the ‘fuel’ that propels us.

Stress only becomes a problem when the physiological and physical symptoms build up in our body without being released and as a result starts to negatively impact our: memory, concentration, emotions, thinking abilities, health, our overall wellbeing and eventually our mental health.

What is Emotional Intelligence(EI*)?

EI is the ability to recognise and understand your emotions and those of others; the ability to use that information to guide your thoughts and actions; the ability to empathise (and therefore build better, successful relationships).

How can Emotional Intelligence (EI) help to manage stress effectively?

• Helps you to reduce excess stress as you better understand your emotions (becoming more self-aware);
• Use that information to guide your thoughts and actions;
• Increase your empathy through better understanding of others’ emotions, which in turn
• Improves your relationships, at school, at home, in the work place** and socially.
• Improving your emotional intelligence will help you to discover your inner strengths, remain calmer and in control in any situation.

Start to improve your Emotional Intelligence right now, today, by doing this simple exercise:

Set aside just 10  mins.

1. Think of the last time you had a strong negative feeling towards someone, it may be a friend, partner, work colleague or even a stranger.
2. Name the exact emotion you were experiencing in that moment (maybe anger, resentment, frustration, disappointment etc)
3. Next take a few moments to explore why you were feeling that emotion (for example you may have felt mistreated, undervalued, ignored, inadequate, unloved).
4. Now consider how the other person may have felt in that moment too, could they have been experiencing similar emotions? How do you know for sure how or what they were really thinking?
5. As you’re now aware, you cannot be sure without further information what they were feeling/thinking. In light of this new awareness,
6. Consider how you could have responded in a better/constructive way for you.
7. What did you learn from that situation, good or bad?
8. What will you do differently next time?

As it’s your response and not the situation that determines your outcome, take time to pause and by practising the few simple steps outlined above, I guarantee you will start to see better results as you  reduce your stress by taking control of your emotions, instead of them controlling you and allow space for you to think more clearly.

Remember as Confucius said:

‘Mighty is the man who can command an army of thousands, Mightier still is the man who can command himself’.

If you would like to discover how managing stress through EI could improve other areas of your life, please contact me at: Johnsm2643@gmail.com or visit my website www.life-njctherapy.co.uk

---

Notes

*M. Beldoch c.1964

** Some studies have shown that job candidates with higher levels of EI are often more successful; perform better once employed; make great managers and business owners ( Forbes.com; Times on Sunday; Harvard Business School)

The above article was  published in  2016: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/health/20161116/stress-management-through-emotional-intelligence

Copyright N.Johnson-Campbell (2016)

With 1 in 4 people in the UK suffering from a mental health issue, there is a need to find experienced counsellors who provide an effective and high quality service, OH Services does just that.

Founded in 2010 by counsellor Olivia Haltman, OH Services aims to support people through the difficult periods of their life. They are committed to providing a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment where people can open up and get the support they need.

They provide one-to-one counselling, EMDR therapy, group therapy, workshops and seminars for adults and young people from all walks of life. They understand that people have different needs and deal with traumatic experiences in different ways, and therefore provide a tailored programme of support that ensures the right approach for each individual.

Founder, Olivia Haltman, is an accredited Integrative Humanistic Counsellor and an Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist.  She is also a member of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), EMDR UK & Ireland and BAATN (Black and Asian Therapist Network). Ms Haltman has over 10 years experience working in the mental health sector having worked for organisations like Mind and established her organisation to support people who want to develop their lives on a personal level and reach their best potential. Of her approach to tackling mental health issues she says:

“I believe everyone is different, with unique needs and aspirations so I use an integrative approach to apply and integrate the most suitable solutions for my clients. Within my practice, I also apply (where necessary) a holistic approach to help clients enjoy the essential benefits of wellbeing and healing processes.”

OH Services works with a range of clients and issues, and if you’re experiencing some form of anxiety or trauma, or just need someone to talk you through an issue then please contact OH services. You can find their contact details here and for more information visit their website.

We recently moved to St Kitts (more about this later!) and were warmly welcomed to the Caribbean by two very intense hurricanes, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.  In the lead up to the hurricanes the media headlines were, as you would expect, attention grabbing ( “super storm”, “the beast”, “deadly” , “catastrophic”)  creating a lot of anxiety for those of us about to be faced with two of the strongest hurricanes of the season.  As I reflect on my experience of these hurricanes it got me thinking: ‘how can we get through not just physical weather-based storms, but the storms of life with our mental well-being intact?’

What my experience of being faced with “the beast” (Hurricane Irma) and “another deadly storm” (Hurricane Maria) has taught me is that whilst the world around you may feed your fear, create confusion and leave you mentally exhausted, you are not powerless, you can take certain steps to ensure you get through the storm without being mentally battered so that you can effectively deal with the run-up, the storm itself and then its aftermath.

 What the hurricanes taught me can be summarised with four p’s:

•           Planning and Preparation
•           Perspectives
•           Perseverance
•           Perfecting

Planning and Preparation

Atlantic hurricanes are interesting, we see the storms coming. Like many other storms, they don’t just appear out of nowhere. They  start weeks in advance on the west coast of Africa as tiny little weather systems that seem insignificant, but if we take a closer look we see the tell-tale signs that something  is brewing.  When we look at the storms of life, many of them do appear out of nowhere but a significant number are like hurricanes, they don’t just materialise out of nowhere, if we look at the signs we can tell something is wrong.

This means we can plan and prepare for many storms. We can take some time to understand what is approaching us. We can go deep, go beyond the headlines of “deadly” and “the beast” and come up with a prediction of what this hurricane is going to do, where is it likely to go and then plan and prepare – am I going to evacuate and avoid the situation or am I going to ride it out and confront it head on?

Evacuation is, at times, the best option. The storm is so deadly that really there is nothing else you can do but carry out a risk assessment and say: ‘Well, I need to get out of the way.’ You avoid getting hurt personally, but those nearest and dearest may get caught in the storm and its aftermath and you’ll have to help them pick up the pieces.

Riding it out and confronting the storm head on is a hard one as you have to make a judgement as to which storms to confront, but this option gives you the best opportunity for personal growth and strengthening your character. For success with this option you can’t just hope for the best, you have to plan and this starts with deep understanding. Do you understand the storm and how it got here? Do you know all the possible paths the storm could take and all the possible outcomes? What might the aftermath look like? Who will get hit by the storm? Who are the vulnerable people?  Once you have an understanding then the planning and preparation starts. With hurricanes, there are clear preparation procedures to help the public get through the storm, for example: stock up on enough  drinking water and non-perishable foods to last 1-2 weeks;  have enough additional water for personal hygiene matters; if you’re on medication have enough medication for about a month; make sure your house has good hurricane protection features (hurricane shutters) etc.

We too have to come up with a plan for whatever problem we face, this involves putting our emotions aside and being very logical, asking some key questions and coming up with the right plan to deal with our personal storm.

The benefit of planning is that it takes away the fear and anxiety of the unknown. We’re not swayed by what everyone says, we’ve done our analysis and we know what needs to be done. We have some peace of mind.

Perspectives

Another lesson that Hurricanes Irma and Maria taught me was the power of speaking to people who have been through a few storms of their own and come through victoriously.  Sometimes we forget that we are not the first to weather the storm and we certainly won’t be the last. What’s their secret? How do they navigate storms so well? – planning and preparation.

As we tried to prepare for the hurricanes, it was the little tips from those who had been there before that really helped:

The neighbour who said: “fill up the bath with water, this way you have lots of water to flush the toilet, brush your teeth, wash up dishes and have a wash – the water company may have to turn off the water for days .” – very practical tip

The real estate agent who said: “don’t panic, these storms are not as bad as they say, you’ll be fine” – very reassuring

The insurance broker: “fill up the car with gas, fill up the washing machine with water (you can never have enough water) and pray, God will take you through” – very practical and a reminder that God is in control.

The family friend: “make sure all your devices are charged and your phone is topped up with enough money so you can make contact should you need help” – another practical tip

When we’re faced with a storm, getting different perspectives from trusted people who have been through a few storms is invaluable.

Perseverance

Hurricanes are long! It feels like they’ll never end. From the time the weather starts to deteriorate to the end of the storm takes about 24 hours. It feels like a lifetime! Imagine 24 hours of extremely strong winds and rain. It’s scary and it’s tough mentally.

How do you get through the actual storm? You have to persevere.  Persevering through a hurricane means: taking care of yourself (you have to eat, sleep and relax); keeping occupied so the storm doesn’t consume you, taking stock (Is our plan working? Do we have everything we need? Is everyone in my household ok?); making good use of the calm periods and appreciating the moment (strange as it may seem, some parts of the storm can be enjoyable or can provide time for personal reflection)

Perfecting

After the hurricane, there is plenty of time to evaluate what worked well and what didn’t and you can use this information to perfect your approach to the next storm.  Don’t ride the storm in vain; let it be a learning experience so that it makes you stronger next time.

Hurricane Lee is just around the corner and we pray that it by-passes the Caribbean, but if it doesn’t we now feel equipped to ride it out, although it’ll be very draining after two hurricanes in two weeks!

---

Message from The Lake Foundation:

The Lake Foundation recognises that St Kitts was spared the full force of Hurricanes Irma and Maria whilst other islands were directly hit. Our thoughts and prayers are with those islands who have sadly lost so much and we have donated supplies to the Salvation Army to help with the relief effort. This article doesn’t aim to trivialise the experience of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria but aims to encourage reflection on life’s emotional storms.

We encourage everyone to make a donation to the Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria relief efforts particularly to efforts being made to rebuild the British Virgin Islands, Barbuda, Dominica and St Martin who were hit directly by the hurricanes and sustained significant damage.

Hey folks, Stacey Mensah, our guest blogger, is back and this week she reflects on the need for a bit of ‘me time’

Thinking of yourself isn’t selfish – it’s necessary. In a world where different mediums are competing for our attention as soon as we wake up, it’s important to take the time to refuel. And unfortunately, I had to learn this the hard way. I recently worked for a company that required me to work extensive hours and at first, I didn’t have a problem with that. It’s only when I began to blur the line between the social and professional that I realized how taxing this was on my health. And by that, I mean every single night I was taking the work home.

Now for all of the journalists out there, I agree this is a by-product of the path we’ve chosen to take, but something has got to give. When it’s 4 in the morning and all you can think about is your rundown – knowing full well that all of the members of your team are fast asleep that’s when you know you have to re-prioritize a few things. Couple this with the fact that I was on first name basis with a couple of UberEats delivery drivers who practically became family, that’s when I knew that I needed to go back to basics.

So, what exactly are the basics? We’re talking about trying to avoid the complicated ways of doing things. One of the major ways I like to do this is by writing to do lists. They are my way of getting down everything that needs to be done and I’m usually always able to schedule in some ‘me time’ as writing the list allows me to be efficient with my time during the day. ‘Me time’ could be something as simple as taking a 5-minute walk, a period of reflection at the end of the day or even getting in some quality rest and relaxation. Some people find the idea of ‘me time’ as an alien concept, but to others, it’s the only way they are able to give their best at work. In case my story hasn’t compelled you enough to take some time out of your busy schedule, just know that if you factor in eating unhealthily and sleeping poorly, to say that you would not be doing yourself any favours is an understatement. Is this really practical in this day and age? For those who live in London or a big city, you may feel as though it is so cut throat that the only option you have is to dedicate every waking hour working towards that next big objective, but sooner or later it hits us all.

Ultimately, not prioritizing ‘me time’ means losing yourself in the long run – you lose that vavavoom, that je ne sais quoi! And, your health and well-being takes a big hit. Treat yourself as a vessel. There is no way you can pour into others if you’re running on empty. So take some time to refuel because life is hard enough when you’re running on a full tank.

Do you take time for yourself? Do you think it’s necessary? Comment down below…

In this blog we hear from the creators of a new tool to improve the wellbeing of children and adults.

Being ‘switched on’ 24/7 to all kinds of connected technology and social media such as Snapchat and Instagram, is now the norm especially for young adults and many children. It seems almost as vital as breathing. But with the increasing publicity showing the huge rise in anxiety and stress levels in these same groups, maybe it’s time to look at some alternative ways of connecting well, that can help to reduce some of this excess stress and anxiety.

More and more studies are showing that getting into the habit of taking ‘down time’ for yourself each day can lead to some unexpected ‘connections’ especially when combined with a few simple effective daily practices, among them: daily gratitude and random acts of kindness. These have been found to:

• nurture positive qualities,
• improve your emotional intelligence which can improve relationships,
• improve performance,
• reduce excess stress and so help to
• support emotional well-being.

These daily practices are used by thousands of people worldwide every day from top sports personalities, business professionals, senior citizens to children.

‘My Time to S.U.R.B.* A Journal to Nurture Balance’ is a guided daily journal created to introduce older children and young adults, to these same simple, effective practices to make connections in unexpected ways not only with others but with themselves too. It combines these practices with inspirational quotes and also captures the benefits that studies have found come from daily journal writing – memory improvement, self- discipline, learning to focus on goals and some aspects of mindfulness.

“My Time to S.U.R.B” has been piloted by children and adults over the last couple of months and the feedback has been very positive:

“My daughter took part in the pilot of this journal and having read through it I decided to follow along as well. We found that it helped us to connect with each other more also when my daughter chose to share some of her thoughts from her pages, I understood much better the pressures she has been feeling from the need to perform well in school exams, sports and at home”– Di, South London.

“I think the booklet would be a very useful tool for adolescents and older children in primary schools. It would help them focus on something positive and recognise strengths and qualities that they can nurture while being more inclusive and respectful of others (and let’s face it this society needs a bit of that at the moment).” – Luisa, Lead School Counsellor, North London.

“It has helped me to try to listen more to my mum and sometimes think what I can do to help someone else” – Kai, London.

“After using the journal for just the first couple of weeks I find myself giving more thought to the kind of person I want to become and how I can help myself to become that person. I also love the feature of quotes throughout the journal” – Katy, Essex

We hope the journal will encourage older children and young people to help create balance in their lives through using simple, effective practices.

For further information please contact Nina at: johnsm2643@gmail.com or telephone: 07900 215 914. Alternatively you can visit their website here

---

Sources: The Observe (Guardian) ; University of Toronto; Harvard Health Publications

In this week’s blog our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah, who is a freelance journalists, asks the question: ‘Is the constant exposure to negative news affecting our wellbeing?’

I’ve always wondered how my profession affects my health. Is the constant exposure to news, be it good, or bad, affecting me? How often do you watch the news? I’m guessing you watch it in one of five ways. One – you watch it before the school run, trying to become as informed as possible before you hit those school gates; Two – You listen or watch the hourly updates; Three – You find yourself consuming as much information as possible throughout the day; Four – You hope the talk around the lunch table will fill you in on all of the latest details. Or, possibly, you don’t watch the news.

Due to my profession I have to consume a lot of news. And according to some people, because of this, I should be under a desk somewhere, pulling my hair out and shivering in a nocturnal state. Ok, I must admit that’s a bit of an exaggeration on my part but there is truth to this and of course I have a study on hand to back this up. The lovely psychologists over at the University of Sussex found that the less negative news participants heard, the better off their health was. Those that were exposed to the negativity spent more time talking about their worries and persistently thinking about them. It also proved to exacerbate their own personal worries. With every day worries climbing upon the mountain that is life, it’s all too easy to drown yourself in ‘negative news’.

As an individual who has a keen interest in politics I beg to differ with this point of view. I accept that it’s plausible, but I still disagree. Being able to tune out of ‘negative news’ is a luxury. It’s not Western however, as the catastrophic events of the last few months will go to show. The idea of being able to ‘pick n mix’ what we can tune into is an interesting one, as we’re selectively choosing which bits of news – or as I like to call it, someone else’s reality – we can tune into. And of course, yes, it is sad. Seeing events that mark the end of someone’s life or that of a society’s way of life, is hard. Let’s accept that. But choosing to completely stop is simply doing yourself a disservice. Watching the news allows you to discover new things in the world and it also challenges the way you think.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you will know that one of the main things we look to promote is moderation. That glass of wine is not going to hurt you, it’s only once we push towards the barrel do we start to feel it. The same should be said for the news. I mean you don’t want to be that person in the grocery aisle that doesn’t know who our prime minister is! Everyone is different and watching the news 24/7 works only for the few. Instead of ‘watching the news’ and all of the connotations that comes with it lets aim to just be aware.  Aware of what’s going on around us and if we have the power to change it.

As always we welcome your opinions. Comment down below.

See you next week.

In this week’s blog we’re delighted to hear from Veronika Lazarenko, the Founder of Löyn Toys. Veronika discusses sensory play and its wellbeing advantages for children.

From birth through to early childhood, children use their senses to explore and try to make sense of the world around them. They do this by touching, tasting, smelling, seeing, moving and hearing.

Sensory activities facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore. The sensory activities allow children to refine their thresholds for different sensory information helping their brain to create stronger connections to process and respond to sensory information.

What is sensory play?

Sensory play is simply play that encourages children to use one or more of the senses.  Often called “messy play,” sensory play experiences focus on stimulating children’s senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, balance, and movement.

The sensory integration theory focuses on the idea that through changing your experiences you can change the way your brain works. So, through sensory experiences, a person can gain a better ability to learn and function. Therapists practice sensory therapy through the use of play, designed to change a child’s brain when reacting to touch, sight, texture and sound.

For example, initially a child may find it difficult to play appropriately with a peer when there are other things going on in the environment with conflicting noise. However, through sensory play exploring sounds and tasks a child learns to adapt to being able to block out the noise which is not important and focus on the play which is occurring with their peer.

Research tells us…

• Young children rely on sensory input to learn about their environment.
• Sensory play helps build neural connections that support thought, learning, and creativity.
• Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine/gross motor skills, problem solving/reasoning, and social interaction.
• Children’s exposure to sensory play opportunities is declining.

Toys such as stress balls can help a child develop their senses as this helps them practice gripping their hands, along with catching and throwing the ball which adds motor skills and coordination, which requires an increase of concentration and attention. Sensory socks or eggs are also a useful form of sensory therapy as this gives the child a space to become aware of their surroundings, gives them alone time for relaxation and most importantly helps them grow their imagination.

So in short, the answer to your question is yes, sensory play is crucial for your child’s development. And since children today are no longer given ample opportunities for naturally occurring sensory play, it is up to us as parents to be sure their needs are met.

For more information on products which help with sensory deprivation visit Löyn Toys.

Veronika Lazarenko,

Founder of Löyn Toys

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LoynToys

https://www.facebook/LoynToys

In today’s blog we hear from Natasha Rego, the founder of Chateez who discusses the inspiration behind her organisation and what they hope to achieve.

Before I discuss Chateez in detail, I’d like to explain the inspiration behind it and the problem it hopes to solve.

The problem

Social media sites like Facebook, Snapchat and WhatsApp tend to dominate the way a lot of us communicate these days – and these sites are particularly popular among teenagers.

Now, social media can have several benefits. For instance, research shows that younger people are more at ease talking to their peers on their smart phones via social media than they are in a face-to-face setting, and it can help build stronger relationships, too.

However, social media can also pose a major problem: it is a further barrier to the way we communicate, especially among younger people.

The solution?

As a youth worker, I couldn’t fail to notice the growing trend for young people to be practically glued to their phones checking their social media accounts, which made communicating with them effectively a real challenge.

It became apparent to me that I needed to find a fresh way to spark conversation and engage with the young people I worked with. And It occurred to me that there’s one language teenagers are familiar with from their extensive use of social media: the emoji. With plenty of input of the young people I worked with, the concept of Chateez cards was born

What is Chateez?

Chateez cards are a modern twist on the flashcard. Every card features an emoji, which is designed to spark conversation and to encourage people to open up about their feelings. They have been designed to be visually appealing, and they are also versatile and flexible, which gives them a broad range of uses.

Best of all, Chateez cards achieve what I intended: they make talking so much easier, and they’ve certainly proved to be a conversation starter among many of those who have used them.

As I’ve previously explained, young people were the primary inspiration behind the cards, but they are just as suitable for use with children and adults. And I’ve received awesome feedback from a diverse range of users, including child psychologists, mental health charities, parents and fellow youth workers.

The key benefits of Chateez cards

• They spark conversation, providing young people with the opportunity to talk about how they are really feeling.
• They break down barriers, while using a common ‘language’ that is well-known to most of us – emojis.
• They can be used to diffuse conflict/situations peacefully by encouraging conversation.
• They are engaging and help to create a comfortable setting, which makes talking easier.

Thanks for reading my blog if you’d like to find out more about us please visit our website  or link up with us on Social Media (Twitter and Facebook)