Many of you know that I love Esther Marshall’s bestselling Sophie Says book series for childrens wellbeing. I have blogged before about the books in the series which include ‘I Can I Will’, ‘Its Okay Not To Be Okay’ and ‘Be Proud Of Who You Are’ and now introducing her brand new book ‘It’s Okay To Make Mistakes’. Esther is on a mission to encourage confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing in the children of today. She tragically lost her sister to mental illness and as part of her sister’s legacy she goes into schools and other organisations to read her books and embed wellbeing, promoting wellness from the early years and more.
The blurb says, ‘Mistakes aren’t something to fear — they’re how we learn, grow, and discover what we’re capable of.
In Sophie Says: It’s Okay to Make Mistakes, Sophie and her friends face challenges big and small, from getting an answer wrong in class to trying something new for the very first time. With kindness, courage, and encouragement, they learn that every mistake is a chance to try again.
This heartwarming children’s book teaches little ones that:
It’s okay to try, fail, and try again.
Mistakes help us build resilience and confidence.
Everyone — even grown-ups — makes mistakes.
The most important thing is to keep going and never give up.
Beautifully illustrated and filled with empowering messages, this story helps children aged 3–8 embrace failure as part of their journey, boosting their self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.’
Esther says that this book is for parents, teachers, and anyone who wants to raise confident, resilient kids and it contains beautiful illustrations from Buzz Berry. Esther has also thrown in a mistake of her own in the book so that she is also showing children it’s okay to make mistakes. Can you also find bunny hiding on each page?
This book follows Sophie and her friends as they make a big mess in the kitchen and learn that mistakes can lead to laughter, learning and even better cookies! Throughout the book, the character of Bunny reinforces that its ok to make mistakes.
(image: Sophie Says/Esther Marshall/BuzzBurry)
I will end this blog with a lovely quote from the book,
‘Remember if you stumble or fall,
Mistakes are a part of it all.
They teach us to be better, to learn and to play,
And help us grow stronger in every way!’.
I really love the Sophie Says books and they are perfect for that little person in your life aged 3-8, who needs a wellbeing boost. As well as the books, there are affirmation cards, colouring books and more resources. For more/ to order a copy please see www.sophiesaysofficial.com
(image: Limited edition Stomp pyjamas by Next, featuring a playful elephant design. 100% of profits support LOROS Hospice’s care for patients and families.)
Now that clocks are going back and its time to get snuggled and cosy, the perfect pyjamas for yourself and little ones have arrived! Teaming up with retail giant NEXT, the LOROS Hospice in Leicester, UK, have come up with some beautiful, stomping elephant pyjamas filled with colourful designs. The designs are inspired by the hand-painted elephant sculptures as part of the famous ‘Stomp Around Leicester’ art trail, which culminated in an art auction.
LOROS Hospice is facing a £2 million shortfall in funding and so NEXT has joined forces with LOROS to encourage the fundraising momentum! 100% profits from the pyjamas go to LOROS., which provides free, high quality compassionate care to terminally ill patients.
Available online now at next.co.uk, with nationwide delivery – every pair sold contributes to LOROS’s vital, compassionate care for over 2,600 patients each year.
There are matching PJ sets for women and children, for family fun! These cosy pyjamas offer more than just warmth and style – they offer a feel-good factor that comes from helping a community lifeline.
Snuggle up for a cause this autumn: by slipping into Stomp PJs, families can stay stylishly warm while making a real difference to LOROS Hospice when it needs it most.
Please note: This post is non-sponsored (no fee taken) so Be Ur Own Light Blog can get entirely behind this wonderful cause!
image: Limited edition Stomp pyjamas by Next, featuring a playful elephant design)
The women’s Stomp PJs are 100% cotton and available in sizes XS – 2XL in regular length, and S – 2XL in tall. The children’s Stomp PJs are also 100% cotton and available in sizes 9-12 months, through to 7-8 years.
With everything going on in the world today, some stories can get missed in the flurry of competing news. However, when I saw a post by the Oli Leigh Trust, a charity in my community dedicated to suicide prevention, that suicide prevention lessons are going to be made compulsory in secondary schools, I was so happy. Department for Education (DfE) announced on Tuesday that lessons discussing suicide prevention would be compulsory in secondary schools from September 2026.
Growing up, when I had my own issues with depression and suicidal ideation as part of my bipolar disorder, mental health was not spoken about openly in schools. We know that sadly, the suicide rate in the UK and worldwide has been rising. A group of Dads, Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen, 3 Dads Walking, who lost their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily to suicide came together to campaign to Sir Keir Starmer and the UK government. Heres what they told the BBC,
‘Lives will be saved. Our Voices have finally been heard. ‘ He said the trio began campaigning shortly after their first walk to raise awareness in 2021 and admitted it had at times felt “like we were swimming through treacle uphill”, but now their “voices have been heard”.
“We have covered a lot of ground, literally and figuratively, over the last few years, but to come to a point where a significant change is going to happen still feels quite unreal. I’m stunned.”
“We are really proud of what we have achieved.”
Suicide is the biggest killer of under 35’s in the UK. In their first walk, they raised nearly 1 million pounds for Papyrus charity. In their second, they walked to all 4 UK parliaments to ensure every child was taught the skills to cope with suicidal thoughts. They then met with MPs to discuss how suicide prevention could be embedded in the curriculum.
“If this is the biggest killer of our young people, why aren’t we talking about it?”
So today I say thank you and congratulations to Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen- three courageous men spreading light and goodness in memory of their beloved daughters. Suicide prevention is so sadly needed.
Self care is so important, so why not try a Magnesium Bath? Magnesium baths rely upon magnesium salts (typically magnesium sulfate or magnesium chloride) dissolved in warm water to create a solution with beneficial qualities. Magnesium ions are absorbed through the skin during your soak through a physical process called transdermal absorption, which relaxes muscles by balancing nerve impulses to muscles, and it also reduces inflammation. Magnesium is also beneficial in the production of cell energy as it helps in the production of ATP and enhances the quality of sleep, due to the control of melatonin release. Here we present five evidence-based ways magnesium baths support physical recovery, skin health, mental clarity,
Deep Absorption of Minerals in Warm Baths to Revitalise Muscles
By soaking in warm water with magnesium bath flakes, you’ll be getting a concentrated dose of this vital mineral that will be absorbed directly into the skin. Magnesium ions penetrate the skin through the flakes, entering the muscles when they disrupt pain transmission and minimise the markers of inflammation. This is selective absorption and initiates recovery of active stress, therefore, heals stiffness as well as increases flexibility. The sources of tensions dissolve, and your previously tensed muscles turn into elastic cords capable of moving in any direction. Habitual soaks enhance soothing properties, so, you can live an active life, without muscle soreness.
Enhancing Mental Clarity with Sensory-Rich Immersion
Warm water helps lighten the burden of daily challenges, and magnesium gratefully taps into neurotransmitters like GABA and tones the impartiality of moods. With every deep breath of subtly scented extra essential oils or plant infusions, every breath is gets a little stronger, until you can relax deeply. You become able to go back into your environment, and you can go and do things in a purposeful manner. Recharging of the mind roots you throughout the day in a state of productivity.
Lifting the Home Spa Atmosphere
More than minerals and water are required to turn a typical bathroom into a sanctuary. You can use soft towels, controllable lights, and adornments that create an atmosphere that welcomes relaxation. Include small-scale candles on the periphery of the tub with flames that provide soft illumination. The slightest bit of greenery helps bring nature inside for relaxation.
Gentle Agents to Boost Skin Health with Nourishment
In addition to relaxing the muscles, a magnesium bath helps to give the skin a glow. The mineral helps to hydrate and repair the cells due to its ability to attract moisture to the epidermal layer. During soaking, scrub a bit with a side brush or natural sponge to scrub off dull cells, and in turn, boost circulation. Pat dry and trap moisture by using a light natural oil or serum, and the skin will absorb the nutrients. As time progresses, you will feel that your skin has become smooth already and has a healthy glow that is a result of constant renewal with the help of minerals, so your skin will feel refreshed too.
Retraining to Have Restful Sleeping Routines
Magnesium soaks in the evenings, prepare you to take a lovely, restorative sleep with the help of balancing various hormones that control your circadian rhythm. The temperature reduction when exiting the bath into cool air is an indication to your body that you should take a rest and relax. You will sleep more comfortably, more deeply, with less anxiety and you should end up waking up in a good mood.
Magnesium baths are refreshing and also spiritually enhancing. Muscles relax, minds can be more focused, skin becomes radiant, and sleep comes as easily as breathing. This habit goes beyond relaxation and becomes a specific gesture of care taken towards yourself, one that re-echoes in all the levels of your life. By doing that, every bath will become the ritual of rejuvenation, a special moment created especially in your favour where the stress of the day is washed away and health prevails.
This article was written by Miranda Spears and contains some sponsored links.
Thank you so much to Christina and all at Vuelio for listing Be Ur Own Light as a Top 10 UK Mental Health blog for the 8th year running! This is an important accolade to us and this year we have moved up a place to Number 6!
It is an honour to be listed amongst so many fantastic bloggers and organisations who work so hard to bring important mental health content, you can see the full list here . Well done to everyone.
As we approach our 10th blogging year next year, this continues to be so important for us-to educate and battle stigma about all things mental health. Thank you again Vuelio!
Whenever 1st March rolls around, I feel a tremendous sense of pride but also – how has it been so many years since I started blogging on WordPress about my mental health?
Be Ur Own Light Blog started on 1st March 2016 after I had had to leave a face to face job because I was having panic attacks and couldn’t get in to work. I saw blogging as a form of therapy.. and in truth, I was only originally sharing with friends and family because I felt really alone with it. That eventually snowballed into me writing for Rethink Mental Illness and then in the national media, speaking at a few in-person events and recording podcasts. It was also an honour to be included in several books including ‘The Book of Hope’ by Jonny Benjamin MBE and Britt Pfluger, talking about life with bipolar.
There’s times I still feel alone with my health but I also have so much support and understanding from family and friends and readers here too, which helps a great deal.
I just want to thank everyone we have collaborated with in the past year (sponsored or not)- brands, charities, businesses, individuals making a difference in the mental health world. Thank you for writing blogs for Be Ur Own Light and our personal mission of taking a sledgehammer to the stigma of mental illness (or trying to!).
Thank you also to everyone who has promoted or bought my books, especially my recent kids book ‘Arabella and the Worry Cloud’. I am so proud of ‘Bring me to Light’ too and hope sharing my story continues to help people.
If you’ve been following this journey for 9 years (or longer)- thank YOU for being here for the ride and continuing to read, support and show up.
It has been harder for me in the past 2 years to authentically share everything about my mental health and other health things on here but one day I hope that our journey can inspire others. I live in remission from Bipolar due to my medications holding me and I never forget daily how lucky I am to have access to mental health medications (due to living in the UK) and an excellent therapist, plus support from family.
Going forward, I will still be blogging but I am hoping that the sequel to Arabella and the Worry Cloud will manifest soon. I have written it, I just need the funds to secure everything! Shout out to my friend and illustrator Shelley. I hope also that Arabella will continue to reach more children and find it’s way to all who need its message.
Thank you all of you for enabling me to blog and write and hopefully help people with bipolar, depression, anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks etc. Thank you to every person who has read a blog, bought a book, shared an article, commissioned me in the press to write an article on mental health or current affairs and to all who have or continue to believe in me- including my amazing husband and family. and of course G-d who is behind everything.
I am delighted to say that our children’s picture book ‘Arabella and the Worry Cloud‘ about a little girl with anxiety and how she manages her worries, is featured on Parents News UK website! Not only is it Children’s Mental Health Week but it is also Time to Talk day, where we share our stories about mental health.
Here’s a snippet of their thoughts:
‘Supporting children with anxiety, London-based author Eleanor Segall has drawn from her own childhood experiences to write Arabella and the Worry Cloud, a heartfelt picture book supporting children aged 5–8 who struggle with anxiety. Eleanor, who has lived with bipolar disorder since her diagnosis at age 16, aims to help young readers understand and manage their worries through relatable storytelling.
Arabella and the Worry Cloud introduces readers to Arabella, a seven-year-old girl who faces daily worries, from small tasks like putting on her socks to bigger fears about her cat or schoolwork. Her constant companion, the Worry Cloud, symbolises her anxious thoughts, teaching children that worries, like clouds, come and go.
Eleanor shares coping tools within the story, inspired by techniques that helped her manage her own anxiety. Through Arabella’s journey, children learn that even when caught in life’s “rainstorms,” the clouds will eventually clear.’
(image: E Segall/Shelley The Artist)
You can read the full article here. Thanks to all at Parents News UK!
Did you know 1 in 5 children face mental health challenges? Let’s make a difference together this #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek by taking part and donating to Place2be if you can.
The theme of this year’s week is ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’, which is about encouraging children and young people across the UK to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means for them.
This year Place2be is partnering with Here4You, supported by the Walt Disney company and the Inside Out 2 characters to explore the theme.
I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression as a 15 year old, and had anxiety from a young age. I was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 16 and in a CAMHS unit in hospital in 2004. We know these days that more children are struggling, which is why awareness weeks like this are so important.
Through my kids book, Arabella and the Worry Cloud, I try to help children with their own anxiety to help them process their feelings with a trusted adult.
This weekend is the Jami Mental Health Shabbat 2025. This is an initiative very close to my heart as I was a volunteer with this project from its inception in 2017-2018, helping to get the shabbat into communities. The Shabbat grew from an idea to be more open about mental health across Jewish communities in the UK, with Rabbi Daniel Epstein at the healm (and the brilliant team at Jami), to a nationwide yearly initiative in synagogues, schools and homes. It raises awareness of mental illness and distress, encouraging conversations and breaking down the stigma in our communities by placing this discussion at the heart of them, through lived experience and Rabbis speaking about it in their pulpit.
The Shabbat has other initiatives including hosting a shabbat meal and asking guests to donate to Jami instead of a gift, a toolkit with resources to use, Challah makes and an open mic night on Sunday 3rd at the Head Room Cafe for the whole community.
As Jami say, “Jami Mental Health Shabbat coincides with Parashat Bo. On this Shabbat we read about the plague of darkness, which can be likened to the experiences of many living with mental illness and distress. The parasha also talks about how the Israelites, full of hope, could see through the darkness into the light. This special Shabbat is an opportunity for us to encourage conversations on mental health, raise awareness of mental illness and distress and share ideas on how to support ourselves and others within our community. “
Over the years, my Dad and I have given our talk about our lived experience of bipolar for this shabbat and in communities to hundreds of people including Bushey United and Chigwell United Synagogues, Belsize Square Synagogue and Edgware Yeshurun Synagogue. We also have spoken at Limmud Conference in Birmingham to share our story and had a question and answer session. This wasn’t easy for me with my anxiety as you can imagine!
This year, for personal reasons we are taking a break from speaking our mental health story, but we both support this shabbat and amazing charity. You can also read our story in my book ‘Bring me to Light: Embracing my Bipolar and Social Anxiety’
If you’d like to take part in the shabbat this year, please go to www.jamiuk.org/jmhs .
Let’s keep raising awareness of mental illness and distress and shine our light to the world. No one should ever feel alone in their community due to mental ill health.
There is nothing more heartbreaking than to see your child suffering. What’s more, when their mind is playing tricks on them, and they’re experiencing spells of anxiety, it can leave you feeling helpless as the parent/carer. While you may be doing all the right things such as taking them to therapy and encouraging them to talk about their feelings, sometimes their environment can play a huge role in their emotions. Children spend a lot of their time in their bedrooms, especially when they’re feeling anxious about the outside world. Transforming their bedroom into an anxiety-reducing space could be the key to allowing them an environment to disconnect from ruminating thoughts completely.
Be sure to listen to what your children want for their bedrooms before taking the design into your own hands. If they believe a Minecraft bedroom will make them feel happy and give them a sense of security in their space, listen! Otherwise, consider the following tips for designing your bedroom into an anxiety-reducing space.
Colour schemes
Starting with the room’s backdrop, consider painting your child’s room a colour that inflicts a sense of calmness and serenity. There are a number of colours that are proven to create this mood, for example, cool colours such as blue, green and lavender grey are known to create a relaxing feel. Also, pastel shades of favourites such as pink and green are perfect for creating a sense of tranquillity.
Connections to nature
Nature has shown to have immense benefits for reducing anxiety, from going for walks to playing in the park, if your child is struggling to face the great outdoors, consider bringing it to them. For example, add touches of greenery in the space. There can be faux versions of vines winding round their bed, or perhaps give them real plants to take care of and give them a greater sense of purpose. If your child has been begging for an animal, why not start small and get them a fish? It has been proven that watching fish swim back and forth can relax the mind and ease muscle tension.
Blue LED lighting
Lighting can be a hard element of the bedroom to influence. If your child’s bedroom is currently brightly lit with fluorescent light this may not be helping their state of mind. Blue light therapy has been raved for its ability to influence mood and the body’s biological clock. Dimming their bedroom lighting with blue lighting may support their night of rest. Several sensory light appliances can create this experience, in addition to adding texture to the projection that mimics ocean waves.
Create “safe spots”
Sometimes, your child just wants to be alone, and that’s okay. Creating a safe space away from the world can be simple with the addition of a children’s teepee, or if your child has a bunk bed with underspace, make this area more private with curtains. Fill this space with comfy seating, pillows, and games for your child to play. It can be tempting to buy them an Xbox or PlayStation to enjoy in their bedroom, but this can worsen your child’s anxiety and keep their mind active when it’s time for rest. Keep technology away from their bedroom, and keep it comforting and quiet.
Keep schooling separate
Another mistake parents make with their child’s bedroom is adding a desk for them to complete school work. When your child is suffering from anxiety, school can often inflict feelings of discomfort or remind them of unpleasant experiences. Allow your child to do their school work downstairs where you can support them and be there for them. Allocated places for different activities can help them feel a sense of security. Reserve the bedroom for sleep. Having a small table and chair for your child to do artwork can act as a place to explore their creativity.
Encourage rest & relaxation
Encouraging relaxation is essential when transforming your child’s bedroom into an anxiety-reducing space. This involves creating an atmosphere that promotes comfort and signals to your child that their room is a sanctuary for winding down and recharging. Start by investing in high-quality, soft bedding and cosy blankets that make your bed an inviting haven. Add plush pillows or weighted blankets, which are known to provide a sense of security and calmness.
(image: Pexels: Vika Glitter)
An anxiety-reducing space
Transforming your child’s bedroom into an anxiety-reducing space can have a profound impact on their emotional wellbeing. By focusing on calming colours, natural elements, thoughtful lighting, and creating safe and comforting zones, you’re helping to create a sanctuary where they can decompress and feel at ease. Remember, every child is unique, so it’s important to involve them in the process and tailor the space to their individual needs and preferences.
Small changes in their environment can make a big difference in their ability to manage anxiety and feel secure. While this is just one piece of the puzzle, pairing it with emotional support, therapy, and open communication can empower your child to navigate their emotions with greater resilience. A cosy, peaceful bedroom can become their haven—a place to relax, recharge, and truly feel at home.
Author Bio
Amy Jones is a freelance writer and enjoys writing a range of topics, from mental wellness to home renovation and loves researching the latest news and updates. Having worked with a number of different businesses, including Petite Lumeire, Amy is now a freelance writer looking to specialise in children’s mental and physical wellness.
beurownlight.com 