Shirley Husband

Scottish children’s author 📚 Stories that help little ones feel calmer and more joyful🦋My new book, The Boy in The Bubble, is out now on Amazon 🌊

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

I’ve been quiet on here for a long time, but I've been pretty busy writing books for children who feel things deeply - and looking after my own kids!

I'm back because I want to talk about childhood anxiety, the healing power of nature, and stories that help little ones when they’re overwhelmed.

It’s a subject that’s close to my heart, and something that I genuinely want to talk about!

Come and find me here if you care about it too…

🔗 p.s. I have a new book out, plus a free activity pack for anxious little ones - the link’s in my bio. ☺️👆

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

Sunshine increases serotonin in children and adults. It's just simple biology. When they feel good, you feel good. When you feel good, they feel good. It's worth it – get outside even for 20 minutes! ☀️ #NatureHeals

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

The research on nature and children's mental health keeps pointing to the same thing. Getting out with kids doesn't have to be a perfectly planned family excursion. Just go to the park, spend time in the garden, or go for a walk along the shore or in woodland. Just get away from the rectangle for a while! Where's your favourite outdoor spot to take your children? 🌿

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

A friend told me last week that she read 'The Boy in the Bubble' before bed – to herself, twice! She said, "This isn't just for kids, you know." It was a lovely compliment! As adults, we all felt these things once – and we still do. Big feelings don't have an age limit! You can find the book and a free activity pack through the link in my bio. 🔗 💙

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

You don't have to be a calm parent all the time! You just have to be aware when you're not, and take time to regroup. And talk about it to your child! You could say, "I was snappy earlier, and I'm sorry. I was stressed. That wasn't about you." That's honesty, and it teaches children about emotional health. You'll find they say the same to you when they're grown! 💙

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

An anxious parent and an anxious child in the same house is not a great combination. Your child's nervous system reads yours – this is NOT a criticism, it's a fact, and I've been there! Sometimes the best thing you can do for your child's anxiety is look after yourself. What helps you reset? 🌿

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

Mind UK found that a great many parents approach the school summer holidays with a sense of dread. They really love their children; they want to spend time with them, but there's a lot of pressure – financially, emotionally, and logistically. 💙 #MentalHealthAwareness

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

Something we don't talk about enough: summer holidays are so tough for parents! Most of us work to some extent, so there are childcare costs (or juggling), there are six weeks plus of "I'm bored", and there's the huge mental load of making sure everyone is ok! Remember, your mental health matters too.💙

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

Six tips to help anxious children through the summer holidays:
🌅 Keep a loose morning routine
🌿 One outdoor activity every day
📖 A story together at bedtime
💬 Check-in conversations: "What was the best and worst of today?"
📵 Screen-free windows built into the day
🐾 Animals, nature, and movement!

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

Summer loneliness is horrible for children who find friendships hard. Without the built-in social structure of school, some children feel very isolated very quickly. It's a great idea to have at least one planned connection a week – a friend, a cousin, or a club? It makes an enormous difference to them! 💙 #ChildhoodAnxiety

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

I don't believe the best summer structure for anxious children is a packed schedule! Try a gentle rhythm – the same wake-up time... one outdoor thing each day... then a quiet wind-down before bed. That's fun, but still nice and predictable for them. What works for your family?🌿

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

For children who struggle with change, the end of term isn't as exciting as we think it is. It can feel like the ground shifting, so don't be surprised if they run around crazy or go quiet (however they process those big feelings). Talk about what summer will look like, and you'll help an anxious child feel less unsettled before the holidays.💙

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

@readswithravi So true!!

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

Six weeks without school structure can be hard for anxious children. Routine is actually an anchor for kids with anxiety, ADHD, or autism. Your summer doesn't have to have a rigid routine... but a loose rhythm makes a real difference. 🌿

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

@GemstoneNWA I will, thank you!

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

Research shows that children who develop a love of reading from a young age are more likely to experience better mental health in adolescence. Reading together also builds attachment – the closeness of sharing a story creates warmth, safety, and connection. 📖 What book do you remember most from early childhood? For me, it was 'The Enchanted Wood'.👇

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

@GemstoneNWA That’s so interesting! I’ve never seen it! Are you in the US? I love poetry too. All my children’s books have been in rhyme ☺️

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

A storybook doesn't tell an anxious child how to feel. They're watching a character feel it, survive it, come through the other side. It's my hope that 'The Boy in the Bubble' is a book just like that – and there's a free activity pack in my bio. 🔗 💙

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

I wrote 'The Boy in the Bubble' because I wanted to help children like my own son Callum (who's now 20 and studying marine biology at Glasgow Uni). He was such an anxious little boy, but for any mums or dads who are struggling, just have a little faith that with steady understanding and support, your child will be ok. They'll find their way and blossom. Just try to help them build the resilience they need. They may even end up better equipped for life than children who never had that early struggle! 🤿 🌊

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

The Story Project – a UK initiative backed by £600,000 in funding – used children's books to teach emotional skills in primary schools in Bradford. The results showed that children developed a wider emotional vocabulary, greater confidence in discussing feelings, and greater openness. Books are actually serious tools 📚 #EmotionalLiteracy

[Shirley Husband @hollybluecreate]

@Dee_WkdCreative Aw that’s a shame. But will be nice to have rest? Meghan isn’t coming this year either, it will just be me, Claire and Sara from the writing team!