I'm Louise Winstanley and my journey from being a child has been testing. Being a child with Red hair in the 80's, an introvert with a fear of the world around me and lack of confdience whom found school challenging, educationally and socially. I grew up always following instructions, being the good child and doing as I were told and not being a problem to my parents. Lovely as it sounds, I felt very negative about the world around me, I felt lonely! I didn't always feel that I fitted in with peers and spent a lot of time on my own. My confidence took a hit a few times with peers being unkind and feeling unsupported by adults whom I felt should have stepped in to support me. I muddled through life. I learned to build my own positive mindset and find solutions to my own problems. I developed a relationship with myself where I could trust, finding positive self talk and enjoy being in my own company. This led me to push through with confidence and find the determination to continue through challenging times. 

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Going back to my childhood, storytime was an important part of my relationship with my mother, it was part of my bedtime routine in the early years. Traditional stories were great. There was just one thing I feel was missing that I feel would benefit children today, Positive Mindset! The emphasis on the meaning of stories, key words that can be drip fed to children to increase their self belief, confidence, self esteem, positivity. Words that encourage, motivate and can be embed into their minds to support them with the things in life that pull them down emotionally. 

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Supporting children to:

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• Self Regulation to find the tools themselves with support from their loving family to work through difficult times,

• Calm their minds, 

• Enhance their creativity

• Aiding Self Awareness

• Develop concentration and attentions skills

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Thinking happy thoughts before bedtime is a key way to not only get the required sleep but also to tap into the deepest, most uninterrupted sleep possible. Creating a positive thought process before sleep is one of the best ways to create a positive mindset for the following morning and your hectic week ahead.   (Source: www.nuvanna.com)

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Good sleep is important for your child's physical and mental wellbeing.

A relaxing bedtime routine is one important way to help your child get a good night's sleep.

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Relaxation tips to help sleep

Doing the same relaxing things in the same order and at the same time each night helps promote good sleep: 

• A warm (not hot) bath will help your child relax and get ready for sleep.

• Keeping lights dim encourages your child's body to produce the sleep hormone, melatonin.

• Once they're in bed, encourage your child to read quietly or listen to some relaxing music, or read a story together.

• You could also suggest your child tries this relaxing breathing exercise before bed.

(Source: www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/healthy-sleep-tips-for-children/)

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That's why I have created Merlin The Unicorn to be a friendly companion for your children, to be their guide supporting them through their own adventures of finding ways to end the day with gratitude, optimism and invoking YOU as Parents to be on board, connecting with your child to experience this magical journey that you can incorporate into your own life too. Enhancing your ability to be there for your children, to open doors for discussions to release worries whilst at the same time instilling a postiive mindset and encouraging independence. 

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Rainbow Colours

Merlin works with colour, each one of the rainbow colours has a different energy and vibration to it. Our bodies have internal energy points, each rainbow colour relates to a part of the body. (We can't see these as they are energy) If one of these colours become dull we can feel physical and emotional pulls on our bodies. So Merlin can help you and your children increase the vibrancy of these colour to help you feel happier and physically well. So each meditation story has a colour related to it, focusing on this colour can help bring a brighter energy and each colour has a specific purpose to help bring balance overall to your childs wellbeing.

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Motivational & Positive Messages

An optimistic mindset is a great way to drift off to sleep. Instead of worrying about what needs to be done, you’re focused on the great things that have already happened. Knowing that great things have already come to you helps set the expectation for more of the same. Merlin has incorporated a positive affirmation with each meditation story, supporting you and your child to end the day with positive words that can help them feel better about who they are. 

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What Do Children and Parents Say about Merlin's Meditation Stories?

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Alfie (8yo) - loves the Merlin the meditations as they make you relaxed and puts him a good mood before before going to bed. His favourite so far has been the story about the Red Rose.
Archie (6yo) - loves the Merlin the meditations as they help him to get sleep more easily.
I love the meditations as it’s a great way for them to relax before bedtime and allows them ease into a more calm mood where I do think there sleep is better. The meditations are easy to listen to and have a running theme connecting them together. The length is just right too. If you're looking for ways to do something slightly different at bedtime that relaxes everyone who listens then the meeting Merlin and his unicorns is a great way of doing that. Thanks Louise (Marina) 

Louise's meditations are wonderful my kids loved them and listening to them as part of their bedtime routine really helped us through a period of adjustment. We had moved from Ireland to Italy and my kids where settling into their new schools and speaking a different a language and also missing their friends. My six year old in particular REALLY loves them. She LOVES unicorns! (Aishling) 

I listened the Wind Chimes Meditation Story with Louise, I liked being on the mountain as it helped me feel like I was actually outside and that nothing bad can happen to me. I felt calm, safe and protected by the world. I also felt more connected to the earth as if I were part of it. I could sense the smell of leaves and the feel of the wind blowing through my hair. I also felt like mice were licking my toes. This meditation story helped with my imagination and creativity along with helping me forget about my bad days at school to relax me and unwind. (Maisie age 10)