How Nature-Based Family Workshops Ease Secondary School Transitions
The transition from primary to secondary school can be a significant hurdle for many children and their families. It's a time often filled with a mix of excitement and understandable anxiety.
At Happy Confident Kids, we believe in supporting young people through these crucial developmental stages, and our "In the Wild" workshops offer a unique, nature-based approach to building confidence and calm.
Recently, we ran a special family well-being session at West Coventry Academy for Year 6 students and their parents/carers, focusing specifically on easing the secondary school transition. It was truly rewarding to witness the transformation as children engaged, asked questions, and left feeling noticeably more prepared and confident.
Witnessing the Shift: A Glimpse from Inside
J, who was on placement with us attended and supported the session with Laura and Anna (our Leicester In the Wild Leader), she provided some incredible insights into the power of these workshops, observing a palpable shift in the atmosphere from the moment families arrived:
"When the families first arrived, I noticed how nervous the children and the guardians were and how each group mainly kept to themselves before we reached the wooded area. Once we got there, however, the children and parents soon became much calmer and engrossed in the activities that Laura presented, especially after Laura told this story of a girl and the storm, where you could see the children enter a much calmer and relaxed state. I thought this was so interesting and such a change from how they were much more anxious and fidgety before."
J’s observations highlight the immediate calming effect of being in nature and the power of storytelling. The structured yet playful activities, combined with Laura's gentle guidance, allowed the children to quickly move past their initial anxieties.
She continued, praising the profound impact of the session:
"What I really loved seeing was the incredible difference the activities and Laura’s words had made, and how key the time spent amongst nature was for the children, as well as how it enabled them to explore and spend time with their parents. I thought the den-building activity at the end was especially effective, and I loved seeing the young children interacting and working together on building these mini dens. Even the parents and guardians showed a great change and became much more active in the activities with their child, which shows how, despite these activities and workshops being aimed at children, it still had a strong impact on the parents' own outlook."
This feedback underscores a core benefit of our "In the Wild" approach: it's not just for the kids. When parents engage and see their children flourish in this environment, it positively impacts their own outlook on the transition process. J also reflected on her own learning:
"I also feel I have learnt a lot from just watching Laura and Anna. Initially, I was quite hesitant about talking to the children, in case I said or asked something too personal, but I soon realised how happy these children were to talk in detail about what they were doing and making, which was so lovely and rewarding to see!"
Key Takeaways for Your Family This Summer
J’s lovely words confirm what we see time and again – these sessions are truly transformational. And the good news? You can emulate many of these powerful elements yourself over the summer holidays to support your children:
Spend time together outside: There are countless FREE natural spaces on your doorstep waiting to be explored. Just being in nature can significantly reduce stress and promote well-being.
Canals are a great space: Water environments, like canals, offer a unique blend of calm and opportunity for exploration. We even have upcoming well-being workshops by the canals where you can experience this firsthand! We will be in Manchester 19th (book online here) and Foxton 29th August (register interest here ahead of booking going live).
Prioritise solo time with kids: Even small, dedicated pockets of one-on-one time can make a huge difference in helping your child feel heard, valued, and connected.
We know it's not always easy juggling during the school holidays, and while there's lots to compare in terms of activities, what matters most is the quality time you share. Finding those "glimmers" – tiny moments of joy and connection – amidst the daily chaos can make all the difference.
What Our Participants Said: Hearing It Directly
The most powerful testament to our work comes directly from the children and adults who attend.
At the end of the session, we collected feedback from both children and guardians what they enjoyed most, and their responses were incredibly heartwarming:
From the Children:
“Being with my mum.”
“Making a boat.”
“Planting the seeded paper and break.”
“Survival skills and it was fun (Den building).”
“I enjoyed today when we made sunflowers.”
“I’m a lot more calmer than I was.”
“I really enjoyed it, I loved making boats.”
“I enjoyed the activities and how each one taught us how to be more confident and calm.”
“I enjoyed making the house and finding the stuff and helped me be confident.”
“Making the peg person helped me because I could make me and myself a house.”
“Enjoyed being outside, enjoyed getting to know the staff of my new school, building activities.”
From the Adults:
“I enjoyed being outdoors and making rafts with my daughter.”
“I think the interaction has been really good and everyone has been involved with all activities.”
“Being outdoors, no technology. Taking time with H without having to rush.”
“I enjoyed being outdoors exploring, making the boats, and spending time with my daughter without technology.”
“Spending quality time outdoors with B. So much fun.”
“Spending time with my daughter creating different things.”
“Loved how the leaders spoke to my child and engaged with them. The positive use of language and saying how all feelings are valid and normal."
“Just seeing her grow throughout this morning. Her reminder of mindfulness and opportunity to view school differently.”
These powerful testimonies underscore the profound impact of connecting with nature and fostering confidence in a supportive environment. The positive shifts in calmness, confidence, and parent-child connection speak volumes about the effectiveness of our "In the Wild" approach to navigating big transitions.
Want to learn more about how we support children through major school changes? Read our dedicated blog post here:
It was so brilliant to run these workshops. It was fantastic to be joined by work placement J she was fantastic. As always its just so epic to see families having quality time together while experiencing plenty of powerful and relaxing well being tools.