I am Jeni Hooper a child psychologist and wellbeing coach working with families and organisations to help children develop their full potential. I specialise in Positive Psychology, the science of wellbeing. I developed the Flourishing Programme for children to boost wellbeing and make practical changes which get results. Contact me on 01962 889437 to discuss your coaching, training or workshop needs.
Intelligence as measured on IQ tests used to be considered the prime factor which determined both academic and career success. Now a new generation of research psychologist are linking high achievement, not with IQ, but with the personal qualities which drive perseverance as the key to success. If we look beyond the concept of intelligence [...]
Helping children succeed in life and in learning is sole purpose of education, so it was somewhat surprising to hear Elizabeth Truss, Under Secretary at the Department for Education announce proposals to allow adult to child ratios to be flexible to encourage providers to take on bigger groups. She steered away from talking about education [...]
Each of these books brings something special to inform our understanding of children’s happiness and wellbeing and how we can make a difference in children’s lives. Positive Psychology features substantially but not exclusively in this list which is my personal Top Ten. I would be interested to hear your stories of the impact any of [...]
My heart goes out to everyone touched by the Newtown news. I can’t improve upon Barack Obama’s speech and so I won’t try to convey my overwhelming despair, disbelief and anger. What I do want to consider now is how, if at all, we share news of this kind with young children who will feel more immediately threatened [...]
We live in a world that celebrates busy as a sign of status and success. This may work for adults but it goes against what nature intended for children. One of the casualties of our too busy world is that children are loosing the time to play, freely and independently with no pre-set task or [...]
Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, a great reminder of the importance of supporting all those who are affected by depression, anxiety, stress and other mental health issues. It set me thinking about the need to talk about wellbeing and wondering why it is still a faintly awkward thing to do. The prevention of mental [...]
Children love to play and become totally absorbed in games they choose for themselves. Everyone agrees that play is important for young children but once children reach school age it can become crowded out by a busy timetable of structured activities and homework. But play is not just a time filler and it has a [...]
What helps children to be happy, confident and successful at school? You’ve chosen a great school, the staff are dedicated, highly experienced and inspiring teachers. The curriculum is varied,interesting and stimulating. So what does help children make the most of what is on offer? Is it down to the abilities and temperament that a child [...]
Will your children have a happy summer doing things they love and avoiding boredom? The summer holidays are upon us, hooray for that. Children need a rest and time to unwind. Six weeks or more is a luxury which is eagerly awaited but doesn’t always go smoothly. Whether the holidays have started already or you are waiting [...]
The debate on what education is for and how best to help children achieve their potential is political dynamite. This fierce debate here in the UK is not unique and similar discussions are an aspect of every democratic country. Yes it’s good to talk but we need to stay aware of how our personal values [...]
