Wherever we learn...
...we learn to shape-shift ourselves to fit in or, alternatively, we learn that we don't fit in at all. Feeling the need to people-please and /or become 'othered' as 'weird' are both very common for highly sensitive people. It often begins in the classroom and we learn the role of being overlooked. The needs of highly sensitive children and young people are often unseen because they are quiet and avoid sharing their problems. They suffer in silence not wanting to bother anyone or risk rejection. Overwhelm from sensory stimuli, other people's emotions, any social discord and being over-tasked are common challenges leading to intsense stress. As such, sensitive children can be mistaken for having neurodivergent processing disorders. What they actually need to thrive is very simple: understanding, quiet time, opportunity for their own depth of being. A sense of approval for who they already are with the chance to leverage their gifts.
Below are some original creative workshops designed to educate, uplift and foster self-worth. Students, pupils and teachers alike really enjoy these and they have rapid and lasting benefits:
PURRFIT
Developed for all ages, PURRFIT is a fun feline themed workshop day for highly sensitive children, young people and playful adults to explore their deep and overlooked needs. Admiring the independence, strength, grace and playful will of cats Purrfit adopts an extended feline metaphor to inspire our own mindful wellbeing in body, mind and spirit. Popular with schools - both the pupils and staff - Purrfit has seen countless children and young people build social confidence, self-expression and pride in themselves.
PURR = An expression of healing or contentment.
FIT = Able or Ready to adapt.
SERPENTOLOGY
Developed for all school ages, Serpentolgy offers a little bit of magic in the form of animal assisted conversation and therapeutic intervention - with a snake! Effective for guided group and solo work on anxiety and self-acceptance, our gentle, scaly friend inspires deep conversation around being different, being misunderstood and yet having amazing secret senses too. Sensitive children just love to regard the beautiful stoic nature of these differently abled creatures and so, Serpentology explores insights in self-acceptance, social inclusion, self-care and how transitions in life (when we 'shed' our old skins) can stimulate growth and self healing too.
AVANT GARDEN
Developed for all school ages, Avant Garden taps in to the innate magical way of being for children (especially HSCs) and allows them to explore self-inquiry and self-care like it's a class at Hogwarts. In these workshops, the children engage their innate gifts to:
- make 'potions' from delicately scented fresh herbs and flowers for their own purpose e.g., to aid restful sleep or stimulate imagination
- satisfy their need for centring with a meditative grounding that comes with the creative fun of making geometric mandalas
- explore what it means to have emotional boundaries and create their own stories and a new practice around boundary setting
- and more.
"I always look for the cat ladies so I can shout out that I have 'catitude not attitude'!"
Maisy, Y3
"The children have grown immensely with these sessions. Those who struggled to join-in are leading their own games and play."
Primary School Headmaster, Trafford
