Children’s wellbeing: London resources, activities and guidance

For getting off to a good start: Hartbeeps

One for the really little ones, Hartbeeps will take your tots on a themed journey in a warm, sensory-inspired room. Set to music and nursery rhymes, the classes – organised into six-week courses – will help your young ones develop their confidence, explore their surroundings and find their feet (quite literally, at first). Classes begin with 'Baby Bells' – suitable for newborns to babies up to those almost sitting – and continue through to 'Happy House' classes for toddlers and preschoolers. Meet-ups take place across London, so look out for one in your area.

For building mental and physical strength: kids’ yoga

Yoga has many positive effects on mental and physical health – from building core strength to improving respiration habits – but it’s not only adults who benefit from it. Yoga can help children relax and concentrate, too. Triyoga offers classes for children aged 2 – 12 years and has studios across London, from Chelsea to Shoreditch. Meanwhile Shala in West Norwood offers great children’s yoga classes south of the river; the studio has been operating for 20 years and has number of top-notch tutors.

For nourishment: Gill’s Cookery

It's impossible to ignore the many stats, studies and figures that explain how crucial it is for children to maintain a healthy diet. Helping your little one discover a love of cooking – and learn which foods are good to eat and why – will aid their understanding of why nourishment is so important.

Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to children’s cookery courses. A favourite of ours is Gill’s Cookery in Hampstead. London-based caterer Gill runs ‘Fun Friday Cookery’ sessions, in which she teaches her young class how to make new tasty treats each week. The rota here is far from your average plate of iced biscuits, the likes of mango and passionfruit cake, omlettes and homemade pasta have all featured in the past. Gill also runs courses teaching big kids useful cooking skills for their Duke of Edinburgh award trips.

For self-expression: Kids’ art and wellbeing club

Led by professional artist and educator Alicia Gradon, Sketch Better’s Kids' Art Club helps children find and develop their creativity and strengths. Students aged 5 – 8 are taught a variety of skills including observational drawing, watercolour painting, model-making and weaving, as well as social and emotional skills like teamwork and resilience. Classes begin with a calming activity, and involve both group and individual elements. Session are usually split into three parts: wellbeing, art and feedback.

For finding a voice: Champs Academy

For shy children as well as those with learning difficulties, group situations can be particularly intimidating. Champs Academy is an organisation offering coaching to children and young people to help them become more confident, capable and equipped to deal with everyday challenges. The academy offers one-to-one confidence and communication coaching – which you can arrange to have in the comfort of your own home, if you prefer – while group workshops are also run. The academy can also delivers sessions in schools where certain pupils have been identified as having a lack of confidence.

For being at one with nature: London Wildlife Trust

It’s a well-known fact that fresh air can calm a busy mind, while exercise makes your body release endorphins which have a positive effect on your mental health. It can be hard to get enough of this, though, if your children are growing up in a big city where there might not be much by way of green space for them to roam in.

The London Wildlife Trust runs an excellent programme of events throughout the year and across the city. From Wildlife Weekends at Woodberry Wetlands to nighttime bat walks through many of the city’s parks, these events offer a chance to explore London’s larger outdoor spaces. The group nature of the activities means you’ll feel comfortable letting your little ones stray further afield than usual, while the guided element means they’ll be learning as they go.

For self-help: picture books with a helpful message

Self-help books are not just for us adults, but they take a different form, often swaddled in beautiful illustrations, when they’re aimed at children. Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, illustrated by Quentin Blake, aims to help children grieve following the loss of someone close and explains that it’s okay to be sad sometimes. Meanwhile The Dot by Peter H Reynolds and Penguin’s Hidden Talent by Alex Latimer are two books that see characters who initially struggle with confidence and developing their talent, but with the help of friends and others who believe in them, get there in the end.