Family Compass

05/11/2026

Myth Busting

“If a child is laughing, they can’t be struggling.”

Children can laugh with friends, enjoy a party, do well at school - and still be finding things really hard.

We all have different sides to ourselves. Sometimes a child’s worries show up only when they’re somewhere they feel safe enough to let their guard down.

That doesn’t mean the good moments aren’t real. They absolutely are. It just means we shouldn’t assume a smile tells the whole story.

If something feels different about your child, stay curious. Make time together. Listen without rushing to fix it.

You don’t have to wait for things to become a crisis before asking for advice.

28/10/2026

Children want to be heard - are we listening?

Here’s a statistic that made us stop and think.

In the Children’s Commissioner for England’s Big Ambition survey, only one in five children said they felt their views were important to the adults running the country.

That’s a pretty powerful reminder that listening to children isn’t just about asking a question, it’s about showing them that their answer matters by acting on what they say.

Here at Family Compass we definitely aren't running the country (thank goodness) but we do know how important it is to listen. This might mean offering real choices, explaining why something can’t happen, changing a session to include something meaningful or simply making time to check in when they've shared something difficult.

We want children and young people to have a voice in the support they receive. Not just be talked about, but talked with.

How could we do this better? ANy ideas?



Check out:

The Big Ambition The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, published The Big Ambition, compiling the voices, views and

27/10/2026

Half-term doesn’t need to be spectacular (or even spooktacular...👻)

If your social media feed is full of amazing half-term plans, here’s a gentle reminder: you don’t have to keep everyone entertained every minute🍂

A puddle walk. Baking something slightly wonky. A library visit. Building a den with the sofa cushions. Listening to your child's playlist together. A day at home doing very little.

For some children, especially those who find change tricky, a little predictability can help too. Try agreeing on one plan for the day and leaving some room to just be.

And if your child needs a quiet day after a busy week? That counts as a good day too :)

Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash

23/10/2026

Kicking off the weekend with some positivity!

Don’t let anyone tell you that young people today lack ambition, resilience or a sense of social responsibility. Just look at this amazing young man...

Josh Moodie is taking on a truly extraordinary challenge, cycling 15,000 miles from Land's End to Russia's Pacific coast, completely unsupported.

An incredible endurance challenge in itself, but what makes it even more inspiring is that he's using his adventure to shine a light on grassroots charities and humanitarian projects along the way.

There's something really special about a young person choosing to take on such a huge personal challenge whilst also looking for ways to make a positive difference to others.

Please do take a look at what he's doing, follow his adventures and, if you're able to, support his fundraising. He deserves all the encouragement we can give him.

We're all rooting for you, Josh 🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴

https://www.thelongrideeast.com/about


Earth Action North Devon The Pickwell Foundation

Explore Joshua Moodie's unsupported cycling expedition from Europe to Russia, highlighting cultural diversity, humanitarian efforts, and environmental impact along the 15,000-mile route.

21/10/2026

When people hear "Dance Movement Psychotherapy" (DMP), they might imagine learning a dance or dance class but the reality is very different.

A DMP session is a confidential and supportive space where a young person can explore their thoughts and feelings without needing to verbalise everything. We can use dance and movement to explore the things our minds cannot explain. No dance experience is needed for DMP sessions as the movement we use is for expressing our 'inner world' and does not have to look or be a certain way.

When we experience difficulties with our mental health it can feel like our body and mind are disconnected. DMP encourages the mind and body to work well together in a safe and therapeutic environment.

As children learn through play and movement before using words, DMP allows us to connect to our early life experiences and understand more about ourselves. We still talk in DMP sessions, but it can be as little or as much as the young person likes.

A DMP session can include:

A warm up with games and activities

Using movements and play to express ourselves

Regulating the body through breathing exercises, stretching, dance

Building body awareness

Using metaphors and imagery to explore what's important to you

Relaxation techniques

DMP provides a young person with a better understanding of their body's response to things like stress and anxiety. It also equips them with regulation skills to cope with life's challenges and strengthen their relationships with others.

19/10/2026

Mental Health Monday : when worry comes out as anger

Ever noticed how a child can hold everything together all day, then fall apart the minute they get home?

Sometimes worry looks like tears. Sometimes it looks like a slammed door, a cross voice or a complete refusal to do something ordinary.

It can help to be curious about what might be underneath the behaviour, rather than jumping straight to consequences. A snack, a bit of quiet, some time together - and then perhaps ‘That looked like a really tough afternoon. Want to tell me about it?’

Of course boundaries still matter. But so does understanding what a child is trying to tell us.

What helps your family decompress after a long day?

Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash

16/10/2026

Research into Practice

Why the little back-and-forth moments matter...

‘Look at this!’

‘Oh wow - tell me about it!’

It doesn’t sound like much, does it? But these tiny exchanges are actually a really big deal.

Researchers at Harvard call them ‘serve and return’ interactions - when a child reaches out through a look, sound, gesture or word, and a caring adult responds.

Over time, these moments help build the foundations for learning, relationships and wellbeing.

No expensive toys. No perfect parenting. Just noticing, responding and being interested.

What’s your child’s favourite way of getting your attention?

14/10/2026

Behind the Scenes

It's the small things that make a space feel safe.

We wanted Family Compass to be a homely, comforting place, not like a GP's surgery or a 'therapy room', and we hope we've succeeded...

A familiar chair. A box of favourite figures. A therapist who remembers what you were building last week.

Our rooms aren’t about looking impressive. They’re about making space for children to play, create, think, or just be.

Here’s a little peek at our Heather room - a place where play comes alive for so many of our children 🥰

03/10/2026

A weekend book recommendation for you...

Anyone read it? What did you think?

I took Caitlin's advice and enjoyed walking to meet some friends yesterday, enjoying the fact that of all the millions of humans on the planet I was the *only one* experiencing that moment, and those sounds. I then inhaled a cloud of midges, which slightly ruined the moment, but still...