The Trouble with Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day not going quite as you would have liked?
Triggered by the whole idea?
Left feeling unappreciated and unloved?
Perhaps my story can help
Embodied Living
What is your relationship with your body like?
How do you support your child’s relationship with theirs?
Embodied practices and parenting can support the mind/body connection and lead to a healthier, happier life.
Emotional Well-being at Bean Learning Bristol
The emotional well-being of the young people is a priority at Bean Learning Bristol, a consent-based setting for home educated young people of 9 years +.
Here’s a taste of what that looks like in practice.
Written by Co-founder and Facilitator, Sarah Ridgeon
Perimenopause and me
Are you feeling more exhausted than usual, experiencing anxiety that is unusual for you or suffering unexplained sleeplessness? These are just some of the symptoms of perimenopause, the stage that comes before menopause.
Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation around about perimenopause and HRT. Jay Byrd, Bean Learning session leader and co-founder, speaks of her journey with perimenopause (so far) and her struggle to find a diagnosis that fitted her symptoms.
Raising a Highly Sensitive Child
Is your child more sensitive than their peers? Are bright lights, strong smells, loud sounds and uncomfortable sensations difficult for them to deal with? Do they ask deep questions and notice more than you expect?
It could be that they are a HSC or Highly Sensitive Child. Raising a HSC can have its challenges, Jay Byrd, mother to a HSC and session leader on Bean Learning, has some advice that might help.
An interview with Jem Stopes
Jem Stopes is the newest member of The Bean Team and we couldn’t be happier to be working with them. They offer professional conflict resolution and mediation, relationship coaching and personal development coaching.
But we got to thinking…What is life coaching? What does mediation involve? We put these and other questions to Jem in this blog interview. Enjoy!
Self-care: What Even Is It?
Jay Byrd, a co-founder and session leader with Bean Learning and a qualified massage therapist, talks about her understanding of self-care in a world full of memes and stress.
Spotlight on…Jay Byrd!
This week the spotlight is on one of co-founders, Jay Byrd. Find out more about her varied experiences of supporting young people in Peru and Bristol and how she attributes her lifelong love of learning to being home-educated herself.
Jay specialises in: one-to-one project-based learning sessions with children; group events for children; one-to-one consultations with parents/carers; home-education advice; unschooling; respectful parenting; needs-based communication; and, solo parenting. Oh, and her favourite bean? The black-eyed bean!
3 Reasons to Listen to Audiobooks!
Co-founder Jay wants you to try audiobooks! Can she convince you?
Spotlight on…Janine!
The wonderful Janine has been facilitating yoga sessions on Bean Learning since September 2020. We love her sessions so much that all three co-founders of Bean Learning pay to attend them! So, who better to throw the spotlight on this week!
Janine specialises in: scheduled and bespoke group yoga inspired events for children and adults; tailored meditations; Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep); Yin Yoga; partner yoga for children and adults to enjoy together; UK curriculum-linked tutoring sessions; and, homework help. Oh, and her favourite bean? The Jelly Bean!
3 Reasons Why I Love Rummikub!
It’s ‘National Love Your Pet Day’ and so we challenged Bean Learning co-founder and consultant, Sarah Ridgeon, to give us 3 reasons why she loves her cat, Rummikub!
Expect lots of cute photos along with some unexpected discussions around needs-based communication and meerkats!
Spotlight on…Lucia!
We’ve been fortunate enough to have the brilliant Lucia working with us since September 2020 but, as we didn’t have a blog then, we wanted to take this opportunity to throw the spotlight on her!
Lucia is a theatre workshop facilitator, a performer and puppeteer. She specialises in: scheduled and bespoke events for young people; drama and performance; mythology; history; and, all things nature! Oh, and her favourite bean? The broad bean!
Introducing Jem…
We are delighted to welcome our newest member of The Bean Team - professional mediator and coach, Jem Stopes! We’d like to tell you a little bit more about them and what they will be offering.
Jem specialises in: relationship mediation and coaching, and one-to-one personal development coaching. Oh, and their favourite Bean? The Heinz Baked Bean!
Children’s Mental Health Week
From her experience as a parent, home educator and childminder, Jay Byrd writes about her understanding of children’s mental health and some of the key things we can do to support the mental health of the young people in our lives.
Introducing Bon…
We are so excited to welcome our newest member of The Bean Team - session leader, youth worker and consultant, Bon O’Hara. We’d like to tell you a little bit more about them and what they will be offering.
Bon specialises in: group events for children and young people; youth groups for adolescents; special educational needs; one-to-one mentoring for young people; one-to-one consultations for parents/carers; gender differences; and, neurodiversity. Oh, and their favourite Bean? The jelly bean!
Lego and Me
Bean Learning session leader, consultant and co-founder, Sarah Ridgeon, talks about her love of Lego and how a free resource has helped her get the most out of her collection during lockdown.
Why I am celebrating ‘National Hug day’…
Our co-founder, session leader and consultant, Jay Byrd, talks about her relationship with her son and why she is celebrating ‘National Hug Day’ today.
Back to school tips
With most children returning to school this week, our co-founder Jay has a few tips to help you ensure your child gets the best possible start to the term.