DATE: SUNDAY 7TH JUNE 2026
ISSUE: 7 THIS WEEK’S FOCUS – ANXIETY AND HOW TO MANAGE IT
Hello everyone,
I’ve been thinking about anxiety a lot lately. We speak to so many parents whose children join us struggling with anxiety. Maybe they have just left school or another setting, or life is just unexpectedly difficult. Anxiety shows up differently in different children. It might be regular stomach aches, an inability to participate, clenched fists or difficulty sleeping. There are so many ways that it manifests itself outwardly but it is really hard to know what is happening internally and how best to support children.
So this week I wanted to make anxiety the theme. Not to make it bigger than it is but because I think naming it matters. And because I want you to be aware of some of the small ways that LLP might be able to help.
CLASSES THAT SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY
Two of our classes are particularly worth knowing about this week because they both happen to be genuinely brilliant for anxious children.
Crochet Club
Wednesday 12pm
Crochet Club is calm, creative and it allows children to focus on a new but manageable skill. Children who arrive worried often leave noticeably calmer. Not just that, but they are also learning a skill they can build on and keep doing, which is great for their sense of self worth. You can find out more and book a place here.
Exploring Nature
Monday 12 pm
Getting outside and connecting with the natural world works on the nervous system in ways that are hard to replicate indoors. If your child is struggling, fresh air and a sense of wonder are not small things.
Exploring Nature starts on the screen, but gives your child activities and ideas to get outside and play and learn in nature. You can find out more and book a place here.
THE GARDENER PINWIN
Did you know that putting your hands in soil releases serotonin — the stuff that regulates our mood! Tending something living, watching it grow, being outside — all these activities work on the nervous system and can genuinely reduce anxiety.
The Gardener PinWin is a lovely way to get your child looking after themselves without even realising that’s what they’re doing. It encourages them to spend time planting, growing and designing — whether that’s out in the garden or with indoor plants at home.
By the way, if you haven’t signed up for PinWins yet, this is a lovely moment to start. Your child chooses their own activities at their own pace — that’s the whole point of it. You can find us at pinwins.co.uk!
WEEKLY FAMILY WELLBEING IDEA
When anxiety spikes — in your child or in you — try this. Name 5 things you can see. 4 you can touch. 3 you can hear. 2 you can smell. 1 you can taste.
It sounds simple because it is. But it works — it pulls the nervous system out of the spiral and back into the body. It takes under two minutes, costs nothing, and you can do it together. I think we tend to expect children to manage anxiety without being shown how. But of course it is worth remembering that managing anxiety is a skill, and the more we can help our children to practise it, the more manageable it can become.
WHAT HAS LOLLIPOP BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK?
This week, Lollipop has been busy on her travels and decided to give crochet a go!
After hearing all about the wonderful creations being made in our Crochet Club, she thought she’d pick up a hook and join in the fun. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go to plan, and before she knew it, she was completely tangled up in a colourful mess of wool!
Don’t worry though – the children in Crochet Club are doing a much better job than Lollipop. We think she might need a little extra practice before her next crochet adventure!
We hope Lollipop has made you smile with her crochet disaster! Smiling releases endorphins — your body’s natural stress relievers. Sometimes all it takes is a ridiculous little bear tangled up in wool to get them flowing!
WHAT ABOUT US GROWN UPS?
Anxiety isn’t just something that only affects children. It is very common for adults struggle too. One of the reasons for that is a lack of connection. It is easy to feel isolated. If that is you, we would love you to join our lovely little forum for LLP parents. It is available on the Extra Learning Space and is completely free if you have an LLP Annual Community Membership. It is very new but a great place to reach out and find like-minded people. It is a great place to bounce ideas around with and share what you are going through. Come and say hi!
FIND OUT MORE
SLOW STEPS FORWARDS
If you or any of your children struggle with anxiety, we hope that you can keep taking positive steps forwards so that you can look back and see how far you or your child has come. From what we can see, in the classes, and in our interaction with all of our LLP families, you are genuinely doing amazingly and you deserve to know that! Please reach out for support if you need to.
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