Stories from
Beyond the Rainbow Door™

Before we can understand our feelings, we first need to become curious about our world. As parents, carers and educators, it’s natural to wonder why our children behave the way they do. Why are they full of energy one minute and exhausted the next? Why does one sibling love climbing every tree they can find, while another would happily spend an hour collecting leaves or reading a book? The answer isn’t always about changing the behaviour. Sometimes, it’s about understanding t

As parents, carers and educators, we've all experienced it. The moment a small problem suddenly becomes a very big one. The wrong coloured cup. A sibling looking at them. A biscuit breaking in half. Being asked to turn the TV off. Sometimes it leaves us wondering: "Why did they react like that?" The truth is, most emotional reactions aren't actually about the thing happening right now. They're often the result of lots of little things building up throughout the day until Bria

🌱 The Way We Were Raised (and the Dragons We Met Along the Way) Before we talk about connection… we need to talk about control. Because for many of us, growing up didn’t feel like calm conversations and emotional understanding. It felt more like learning to stay small. Stay quiet. Stay “good”. Sometimes it was spoken out loud: “Because I said so.” “Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.” “Don’t answer back.” And sometimes… it wasn’t said at all. You just felt i

Let’s talk about the kind of parenting no one prepares you for. The kind where you love your children more than anything in the world…but still find yourself overwhelmed, triggered, or completely drained. Where a small moment suddenly feels huge. Where you hear your own reaction and think: “Why did I just do that?” And underneath it all, there’s often a quiet promise: “I don’t want to pass this on.” If you’re parenting with trauma, ADHD, anxiety…or a nervous system that’s

By Jodi Heyes – Founder of Worley’s World CIC & Rainbow Rebels Let’s talk about anger. Not the “naughty behaviour” version many of us were raised to believe in, but the real thing. The slammed doors. The shouting over something small. The meltdown that seems to come out of nowhere. For parents it can feel confusing, exhausting and sometimes even a little scary. You might find yourself thinking: Why does my child react like this? Why can’t they just calm down? Why does it seem

Hey lovely grown-ups... Let’s talk about anger. Not the scary, shame-filled version we’re often taught to fear, but the real, human kind. The kind that shows up as slammed doors. Or stomping feet. Or shouting over “nothing”. Or sulking in a huff on the sofa refusing to speak. The kind that leaves parents feeling frustrated, guilty and wondering, “Why does this keep happening?” or “Why am I getting so angry too?” Especially if you’ve got a spicy brain. Especially if your nervo

What’s Actually Happening During a Meltdown (And Why It’s Not Bad Behaviour) When a child is in meltdown, their brain isn’t choosing chaos. Here’s what’s happening underneath: Their emotional brain hits overload. Their thinking brain goes offline. Their body floods with stress energy. Words, logic, and listening disappear. In that moment, your child isn’t being naughty. Their brain is shouting, “I’m overwhelmed!” This is why: Reasoning doesn’t work. Consequences don’t land. A

Hey lovely grown-ups. If you’ve found your way here because you’re googling “how to stop reacting as a parent,” or you’ve had one of those days where you felt overwhelmed, stretched, guilty, or like you’ve snapped before you even realised — breathe for a moment. You’re not failing. Your brain is tired. And the good news is… there are ways to make this easier. This guide will help you move from A (overwhelm, reacting, chaos) toward B (calm, connection, responding) in a way t

If you’ve been part of the Worley’s World community for a while, you’ll know that nothing here was created by accident. Every monster, every story, every tool and every workshop comes from a mixture of lived experience, therapeutic training and a whole lot of stubborn hope 💛 Worley’s World didn’t start as a business. It started as a lifeline. It started in the classroom. It grew during my own journey through PND, anxiety and PTSD. And it transformed when I started to underst

Hey grown-ups 💛 Not every monster loves fireworks. In fact, for some of us (big and small), Bonfire Night can feel like a sensory rollercoaster — beautiful, but a bit too much. The bangs, flashes, and smoky smells can send our nervous systems into full-on “uh oh” mode. If you’ve got a little one who hides behind the sofa, covers their ears, or asks when it’ll all be over — you’re not alone. I wrote this little rhyme about Larry the Scared Monster, who lives in a cosy shipwre

Who told Aldi they could change the honey bottle?! I swear it tastes different now — even though it’s technically the same. It sounds silly, but that tiny change threw me. My brain was like: “Wait… no. That’s not the right bottle.” And I realised — it wasn’t just about honey. It was about how much we crave familiarity in a world that keeps rearranging things. For many of us (especially those with ADHD, trauma histories, or tender nervous systems), routine isn’t boring — it’s

Rainbow Me and my littles I’ve been thinking a lot lately about who I’m really talking to through Worley’s World… and I realised something:It’s the me’s of the world. The ones who’ve been through it.The ones who want better for their kids than what they had.The ones who still light up at Lego, a walk in the woods, or a silly craft session — not just for the kids, but because we love it too. Where I’ve Been I grew up carrying a lot of hurt.I lost my dad when I was still little

The countdown to September has begun… (Mid August if you're in Scotland!) It’s a mix of excitement, nerves, and “do we really have to go back?!” vibes. New teachers. New classrooms. New everything. It’s a lot, even for grown-ups. At Worley’s World, we don’t brush past that. We don’t go straight to “You’ll be fine!” Instead, we pause. We breathe. And we remind families that bravery isn’t about having no fear. It’s about feeling wobbly and giving it a go anyway. And that’s

What Happens When Grown-Ups and Kids Connect At The HUB in Consett this week, something magic happened. It wasn’t just about glitter or slime (although there was a lot of glitter and slime involved). It was about what happens when you bring grown-ups and children together in a space where every need is welcomed, every feeling is valid, and every monster...even the wiggly, long-armed kind has a place. In partnership with Unite Club, The HUB, and Karbon Homes, Worley’s World wa

💣 Why George (and real kids!) sometimes explode after calm activities At first glance, it doesn’t make sense. You’ve just finished crafting, screen time has been peaceful, and suddenly... BOOM 💥 George throws a toy. Or hits. Or runs in circles and knocks something over. But here's the thing: calm on the outside doesn’t always mean calm on the inside. When children spend long periods sitting still or focusing quietly, they often store energy in their body like a volcano hold

Parenting often feels like walking a tightrope. One moment you’re trying to give your child space to explore, express, and grow and the next, you’re faced with a situation that demands your full adult judgement, fast. All the while, you’re questioning yourself. Did I handle that right? Should I have said no sooner? Was I too soft? Too harsh? I’ve been questioned ( and quite strongly, I will add) about letting my daughter play barefoot in the park. “It’s not safe,” I was tol

From a girl who never felt like she fit in, to a mum building a world where every child does. Some thoughts stick with you long after the event has ended... That’s exactly what happened after I attended an Inclusion Conference at Sunderland University. What started as a day filled with nerves, imposter syndrome, and me trying to be brave on my own… became a day that re-ignited my purpose and reminded me why I created Worley’s World in the first place. Worley was born from my

Helping Children (and Grown-Ups) Understand Emotional Energy with Worley’s World + Zones of Regulation Ever felt like your child is bouncing off the walls one minute and flopped in a heap the next? Or they go from chilled to meltdown in the blink of an eye? You’re not imagining it, and you’re definitely not alone. Children experience huge shifts in energy and emotion throughout the day. Their brains are still learning how to process, regulate, and respond. That’s where under

How finding your inner power (and a few rainbow monsters) can help you rise from the hardest moments Jodi - just being Jodi. Enjoying nature with her 3D printed Lizard in her hand! Behind every superhero is a story of struggle... ...And sometimes, the biggest battles aren’t against villains, but against the quiet weight of exhaustion, overwhelm, postnatal depression, or simply feeling lost in parenthood. For a long time, I didn’t recognise the woman in the mirror. My spark h

When people hear about Worley’s World, they often think it’s “just” for kids. Colourful monsters, fun stories, and playful brain breaks. But here’s the truth: Worley’s World is for the whole family. Because if we want our children to thrive emotionally, we need to start by looking in the mirror. Over the last few years, I’ve had to do a lot of unlearning. I’ve faced fears, rewritten limiting beliefs, and learned how to tune into my nervous system, all while juggling the beaut