Forming Connections for Parents & Carers
Hi, I’m Brenda, a parent of neurodivergent adult children, a grandmother, and someone who has spent many years alongside children, families and schools, learning what truly helps and what children need. Over time, I’ve come to understand that beneath behaviour, worries and overwhelm lies a nervous system asking for safety and connection.
I share what life and work have gradually taught me, about regulation, relationship and play, in ways that hopefully feel kind and human rather than instructional. My hope is to support parents, especially those of young children and children with SEND, to feel steadier in themselves and to create homes where children can feel held, understood and free to experience the simple joy of being together.
Rooted, Rhythmic, Connected Parenting
Rooted, Rhythmic, Connected Parenting
A monthly connect & chat for parents of children under five
Parenting little ones in today’s world can feel beautiful and overwhelming all at once. Many of us are trying to stay calm, connected and confident while juggling tiredness, noise, opinions and pressure from every direction.
Together, we’ll gently explore themes like feeling safe,
A monthly connect & chat for parents of children under five
Parenting little ones in today’s world can feel beautiful and overwhelming all at once. Many of us are trying to stay calm, connected and confident while juggling tiredness, noise, opinions and pressure from every direction.
Together, we’ll gently explore themes like feeling safe, staying steady during big emotions, building simple daily rhythms, and finding our way back to more natural, connected ways of parenting.
Connect and Chat TEAMscast
Rooted, Rhythmic, Connected Parenting
Connect and Chat is an online chat, in the form of a TEAMsCast, where we pause, reflect and connect with parents who get it.
Co-hosted with a parent voice at the heart of the conversation, each session is relaxed and discussion-led, shaped by real questions and real experiences.
There’s nothing to prepare and nothing to achieve. Just tho
Connect and Chat is an online chat, in the form of a TEAMsCast, where we pause, reflect and connect with parents who get it.
Co-hosted with a parent voice at the heart of the conversation, each session is relaxed and discussion-led, shaped by real questions and real experiences.
There’s nothing to prepare and nothing to achieve. Just thoughtful conversation, small supportive practices, and space to feel less alone.
Rooted parents raise resilient children and none of us are meant to do this on our own.
Hosts: Brenda and Sally
Hosts: Brenda and Sally
Brenda (Forming Connections)
I'm a mum, grandma, teacher, with a passion for sharing her life experience, knowledge of neuroscience to support communities and families to move from surviving to thriving
Sallyann (Connected Beginnings)
I'm a mum to a 3 year old, TA in a secondary school and has a passion for understanding ways to connect and
Brenda (Forming Connections)
I'm a mum, grandma, teacher, with a passion for sharing her life experience, knowledge of neuroscience to support communities and families to move from surviving to thriving
Sallyann (Connected Beginnings)
I'm a mum to a 3 year old, TA in a secondary school and has a passion for understanding ways to connect and nurture both her and baby, whilst navigating the ups and downs of life.
Available Episodes
Boundaries
Nervous Systems
Nervous Systems
What boundaries really are and why they matter for you and your child?
- Why setting boundaries can feel difficult, especially with other adults
- How your own experiences of safety and relationships shape your confidence in saying “no”
- What’s happening in your mind and body in those moments when a boundary feels hard
Nervous Systems
Nervous Systems
Nervous Systems
What is a nervous system, and how does your own emotional state affect your child?
- How a child's nervous system develops
- Does your nervous system affect your child?
- The importance of co-regulation and emotional safety
Why children don't need perfect parents, they need connection and repair.
The Calm, Connected Home
A supportive six-session programme for parents & carers
(1 hour per session · interactive · practical · compassionate)
Do you ever find yourself reacting more strongly than you want to your child’s behaviour, snapping, freezing, or feeling overwhelmed and then feeling guilty afterwards?
You’re not doing anything wrong.
What you’re seeing is a nervous system under pressure.
The Calm, Connected Homeis a six-session online programme designed to help parents understand stress, behaviour, and regulation, starting with themselves, not their child. When parents feel more regulated, children feel safer, calmer, and more able to cope too.
Grounded in neuroscience
The autonomic nervous system (ANS), and polyvagal theory (explained in clear, everyday language), this programme offers a practical and compassionate approach to everyday parenting challenges. It’s not about fixing behaviour or being calm all the time, it’s about noticing what’s happening in the body and learning how to come back to steadiness.
What the programme covers
Across six one-hour online sessions, parents are supported to:
- Understand what “regulation” really means in family life
- Learn why curiosity, connection and co-regulation is vital.
- Recognise their own stress patterns and triggers without judgement
- Learn why children borrow regulation from adults
- Respond more calmly and consistently during difficult moments
- Understand behaviour as communication, not defiance
- Support children’s regulation without blame, labels, or pressure
How the sessions work
- 6 live online sessions, 1 hour each
- Interactive and reflective, with optional sharing
- Short grounding exercises and practical tools in every session
- Clear explanations with no jargon or prior knowledge required
- A supportive, non-judgemental space
- A WhatsApp group for support between sessions
You’ll be guided to build a small, realistic toolkit of regulation strategies that fit into busy family life, tools you can use before, during, and after challenging moments.
Who this programme is for
This programme is suitable for:
- Parents and carers of children of any age
- Parents who feel overwhelmed, reactive, or “on edge”
- Parents who want to understand behaviour more deeply
- Parents supporting children who find emotions, transitions, or stress harder
- Parents who want support that works alongside school or professional input
No diagnosis is needed, and there is no pressure to share personal details.
Understanding the Dashboard of Your Brain
The Mood Matrix © is a neuroscience-based system designed mainly for ND teenagers, to stop them from merely reacting to their moods/states and start to understand them. By viewing their internal state as a "dashboard" of data, the Matrix provides a shared language to decode energy levels and emotional wellbeing.
Curriculum support links for children not in school
Let us support and share your journey as a parent, using tools and strategies based in brain science.
We also have some helpful curriculum support links below for children not in school. This is a work in progress, and is being added to continually.
Boost Your Knowledge with Forming Connections
Curriculum Support
Curriculum Connections
Projects for all ages
Health and wellbeing
Preparation for Adulthood
Online school links
Elective home education support links
Training/workshops
Coming Soon - exploring connections
Neuroscience
Relational approaches
Regulation advice
Learning and memory
building a bespoke curriculum
SEND support
SEND support
Coming Soon - Supporting connections
Nurturing Neuro-connections: Bespoke plan's to Support Development with Insight and Intention"
Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Cognition and Learning
Communication and Interaction
Neurodivergent support
Curriculum adaptations