Teaching emotional regulation to adults is not always easy.

In my work with A Positive Start CIC, I’ve often met adults who instinctively dismiss grounding techniques, breathwork, or vagus nerve activation as “woo woo” or “silly.” They weren’t taught about the nervous system, emotional regulation, or the power of somatic practices. For many, it’s hard to see the value of these tools until crisis strikes — by which point, the thinking brain is offline and the tools feel inaccessible.

And then I started noticing something else: The same resistance I saw in adults often showed up in children. Children feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Not because they weren’t open, but because the adults around them weren’t modelling the practices, or didn’t yet know how to teach them in ways that felt natural and safe.

That’s when inspiration struck — at the MBIMB Safer Futures conference, where I was introduced to the incredible work of Chrissy Sykes and her My Body Is My Body campaign. Chrissy was teaching children across the globe about body safety and awareness using song, animation, and movement. It was simple. Joyful. Powerful. And, most of all — effective.

I remember thinking, whilst watching the MBIMB songs play on the screen in front of us and swaying along in time with the music : “This is fantastic,  –  Could we teach emotional regulation the same way? Could we plant seeds of safety, confidence, and connection through songs that make children feel seen, heard, and held?

That question led to a collaboration between A Positive Start CIC and Chrissy Sykes. Combining our trauma-informed approaches, and building on our River Room project — a safe, creative space where children can just be — we created The River Room Songbook: a growing collection of songs that teach regulation, self-worth, and connection through music, movement, and story.

Because here’s the thing: Waiting until you’re in crisis to learn regulation tools is like trying to learn how to swim while drowning. Children — and adults — need to practice these tools before they need them. So that when overwhelm hits, the response is already wired in. That’s why we made the songs fun. Natural. Relatable. So the nervous system learns them through joy, not pressure.

Our Vision for the Future

We dream of a world where the River Room Songbook is taught in schools, nurseries, and communities across the globe — where every single child has access to these life-shaping techniques as and when they need them.

Where it becomes common practice — a natural, default go-to when life gets tough in adulthood.

Because the alternative? Ignoring, suppressing, masking, or avoiding unprocessed emotions — all of which can take a toll on our nervous system health. These unresolved patterns don’t just affect individuals; they ripple outward, impacting families, relationships, workplaces, and entire communities through unconscious, often harmful behaviours.

This approach is especially powerful in supporting children and families living with the effects of complex trauma. Unlike a single traumatic event, complex trauma often involves ongoing stress, relational harm, or instability that can deeply affect the developing nervous system. By integrating emotional regulation techniques early – through music, rhythm, and connection – we help children build safety from the inside out. This creates a foundation for lifelong nervous system balance, reducing the long-term effects of trauma and supporting more connected, compassionate communities.

When we give children the tools early, through joyful, embodied learning, we give them something far more powerful than temporary relief — we give them resilience, awareness, and self-trust.

You can access this free resource here – feel free to share it with family, friends and neighbours The River Room Songbook

From Limpopo to the World… a Song of Worth, Pride, and Healing

We are beyond thrilled to share this incredibly heart-warming moment from Limpopo, South Africa, where a group of extraordinary children are singing “I Am Special”, a brand-new song from The River Room Songbook.

Taught by the dedicated team of Pastor Rose Papola and Zama Buthelezi, through the Girls Empowerment programme (in partnership with My Body is My Body and supported by Rotary International), these children aren’t just learning a song — they’re learning to believe in themselves.

“I Am Special” is more than a melody — it’s an affirmation. It reminds every child: You matter. You are worthy. You are loved.

What began as a gentle, trauma-informed idea in a quiet River Room in Scotland and Yorkshire,  has now become a global movement — with songs reaching children in schools, churches, and communities around the world.

In the second part of this video, the children share what they’ve learned — it’s moving, powerful, and a reminder of why we do this work.

This is what music for healing and empowerment looks like. This is how we plant seeds of worth that will grow for generations.

Explore The River Room Songbook here: https://apositivestart.org.uk/the-river-room-songbook/

With love and gratitude to all who are bringing these songs to life — and to every child singing loud and proud: You ARE special. And the world is brighter because of you.

In collaboration with: My Body is My Body Programme – MBIMB Foundation &  A Positive Start CIC