Beacon Family Services

27/07/2026

As the school year ends, we often expect things to feel easier. And sometimes they do.

But not always. You may be noticing or worrying that instead of settling, things feel a little more unsettled because the structure of the day has gone and familiar people aren’t going to be there in the same way.

Some children are more sensitive to change because of their life experiences. When familiar anchors aren’t there, they can feel unsure. That can mean big feelings, more movement and more resistance.

It can feel confusing as a parent. Head over to our blog to read an adoptive parent and teacher's thoughts about how to cope and focus on the small, everyday moments of connection that will help everyone begin to feel safe again.

Link in comments 👉

17/07/2026

Good luck to our amazing Practitioner Nikki and one of the incredible families she has worked with, Dani and Tom and their son, as they take part in the Superhero Tri Series powered by Marvel this summer and raise funds for Beacon Family Services and the National Institute of Conductive Education (NICE)!

As a team, they will take on a fully inclusive triathlon to help raise funds for our organisation and create fantastic fun-filled memories too. DIY superhero costumes may be involved 🦸😂

Nikki will complete a 750m swim in Dorney Lake in Windsor. 🏊‍♀️

Tom will take on the 20k cycle and aim to include his son on his adapted bicycle for a leg of the journey. 🚵

Dani will take on the 5km run and aim to include her son in his wheelchair for part of the journey. 🏃‍♀️

Last year we supported 466 families, reached 1,217 children with our play therapies, and created £1.59 of social value for every £1 invested. Like other organisations who rely on multiple funding sources Beacon Family Services achieves so much, but we can only do as much as we are supported to do.

This fundraising mission will help us continue to be there for families, providing vital play therapies for those in need.

If you would like to support our terrific team and donate towards this challenge, the JustGiving link is below:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nikki-veszpremi-1

Thank you for your support! 😍 🫶

14/07/2026

Is your child keen to go to your local theme park again? Have you seen your child spinning in circles? Or hanging upside down? Or constantly moving? Or do they love to crunch ice?

It can feel puzzling and you may find yourself wondering how to stop it or whether you should.

But often, there’s something important happening. For many children, movement like this isn’t random. It’s a way of helping themselves feel more organised and settled.

Whether your child seeks out movement and sensations (or avoids them and hates the big rides) they are finding a way to manage what is happening inside and feel safe.

We asked Dr Bala Pilai, a specialist in physical therapy, about sensory needs and movement here. See link in comments 👉

01/07/2026

If there’s one thing that’s constant, it’s change. And at this time of year, there can be a lot of it.

As the school year comes to an end routines shift as plans are made to change teachers and leave familiar classrooms behind.

For some children, this feels exciting, but for others it can feel much bigger than we might expect. Parents (and teachers) are already telling us some children are showing more emotion, needing more movement and responding to uncertainty.

It can be hard to make sense of some of the behaviour but often it’s a need to feel safe in the middle of something that feels different.

When things around them are changing, children often need us to stay close and be alongside them as they find their way through.

If this time of year feels big for your child, you can read about transitions and how to support children with connection and safety on our blog. See link in comments...

21/06/2026

Simple, shared moments of play can make a difference to how we and our children feel.

Theraplay-based games, like mirroring one another, help children feel seen, soothed, and understood through connection and shared experience.

When we slow down and move together we can connect and begin to feel calm in the moment. We are helping our children feel in sync and letting them know we are right there with them.

Play like this supports emotional regulation which is what helps when feelings are big.

Explore more ideas and explore our support for children and parents to strengthen relationships through play by visiting our website.
www.beaconservices.org.uk

16/06/2026

Ever feel like nothing you do is helping your anxious child? If you are parenting a child who is anxious, you are probably asking yourself every day what can I do that will help.

We are all quick to reassure. We want to make it better as fast as we can.
But when feelings are overwhelming, reassurance doesn’t always reach them.

Our children need us to stay close and be calm. And that’s not always easy when you’re quietly worrying they might never feel confident or curious again.

If you are sitting in that place our blog explores how connection helps children feel safer.

And feeling safe is what allows them to begin managing what feels too much.

https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/a-parents-guide-to-supporting-your-childs-anxiety-and-nurturing-connection/

09/06/2026

We often look for the right words to help children feel better. And sometimes we all keep talking when we know what we said isn’t quite connecting.

But connection is not always built through language.

Children feel calm when they experience safety, rhythm, and shared attention with their parents. Story massage offers a gentle way to slow down together.

Through touch, storytelling, and presence, children can feel soothed, seen, and safely connected.

Discover how to try story massage at home:
https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/how-to-give-a-sensory-story-massage/

Watch the video to see how to give your child a sensory story massage and add positive touch to stories at bedtime or bath time.

04/06/2026

After all the sunshine, the rain can feel like a bit of a shock.

Back to school, back to routines… it’s easy to find ourselves hurrying from one place to the next, heads down, trying to stay dry.

On the way to or from school, you might feel playful for a moment…
Which one shall we jump in or over?
Shall we go for the biggest one?
Can we make the loudest splash?

You may race each other to the next puddle or take turns to choose where to jump

These little moments of play help us connect. Transitions back into school can bring big feelings even when things seem “fine” on the surface.

And play is one of the simplest, most powerful ways children can release that tension and find their way back to feeling settled.

For more ideas about play and how it helps build and stregthen relationships visit our blog.