Tute Virtual Coffee Morning recap – October 24, 2025

Written by Natalie Hollins,

Parent Support Associate

Topic: Supporting mental health and wellbeing at home

Thursday, October 24th | 10:00–11:00 AM

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our most recent virtual coffee morning. For those who couldn’t make it, here’s a quick recap of what we explored together.

This month, we created a calm and supportive space for parents and carers to share experiences, ideas, and strategies for helping children manage life’s ups and downs. Our focus was on emotional wellbeing, understanding how young people feel, what they might find difficult, and how small changes at home can make a big difference.

The emotional challenges young people face

We began by acknowledging that all children experience emotional highs and lows, but some find it harder to express how they feel. Parents talked about how school pressures, friendships, and online life can affect mood and motivation, and how important it is to listen and take emotions seriously; even when they seem small.

💬 “Children’s emotions are just as real as adults’ – they simply have fewer words to explain them.”

Supporting Calm at Home

We discussed how calm routines can help reduce stress for the whole family. Parents shared their favourite “small resets” – stepping outside for a few minutes, using music to unwind, or simply taking a deep breath together.

💬 “Peace begins with a deep breath.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Simple actions like maintaining consistent routines, modelling calm behaviour, and creating quiet spaces all help children feel safe and grounded.

Building resilience and confidence

Our discussion turned to helping children see setbacks as part of learning. Parents shared examples of encouragement that boost confidence and ways to balance offering support with allowing independence.

💬 “Resilience is not about never falling – it’s about learning how to get back up.”

Signs to look out for

We explored some early signs that a child may be struggling, changes in sleep, appetite, or mood, social withdrawal, or loss of interest in activities they usually enjoy. Trusting instincts and starting gentle conversations were key themes.

Everyday strategies that make a difference

Parents shared lots of practical tips, including:

• Short daily check-ins like “What went well today?”
• Encouraging regular breaks, fresh air, and good sleep routines
• Using gratitude or calm moments to end the day on a positive note
• Making time to listen, without judgement or rushing to solve

💬 “It’s the little things we do consistently that build wellbeing.”  Parent participant

We ended with this lovely thought:

💬 “We can’t protect children from every storm, but we can give them an umbrella.”

Next Coffee Morning

Topic: School pressure, motivation and avoidance
Date: 28^th of November @ 10:00

We’ll explore why some students struggle with motivation or school refusal and share practical, compassionate ways to help them re-engage.

We hope you can join us – no need to book, just drop in with your cuppa!