About Happy Little Things
“Let’s raise a generation of happy, emotionally intelligent children and less stressed, emotionally resilient parents.”
— Ali Roff Farrar, Founder of Happy Little Things.
Ali is a qualified Mindfulness for Stress & Mindfulness for Health expert and teacher with an academic background in Psychology. She writes about mental and general wellbeing for National Magazines and is author of Internationally published book The Wellfulness Project. She is also a yoga teacher, and Wellbeing Director at Psychologies Magazine.
My story
Picture this: Amidst the whirlwind of my first baby being born in 2021; the sleepless nights and overwhelming moments navigating the beautiful chaos of new motherhood, with a bird’s nest for hair and baby-related stains all over my clothes, any element of self-care in my life had suddenly become a forgotten memory in the newborn chaos. Two minute showers replaced long baths. Bending over to pick up toys from the floor replaced yoga. And time for myself, well, that’s still a distant memory! Throw in some powerful hormones, maybe even a dollop of postnatal depression… and bam. I wasn’t quite who I used to be.
I know I’m not alone in this phenomenon of parenthood. This thing is, it’s funny now to admit it, but at the time it genuinely surprised me, because I’m someone who has dedicated my professional life to writing about the scientific benefits of wellbeing. I even wrote a book on it, FFS. If I couldn’t keep a shred of self-care in my life during early motherhood, well, who else stood a chance?
The thing is, as I’m sure you’ll have experienced, there are two things that stand in the way self-care for parents (apart from having to look after a beautiful - if demanding - little baby). The first is that we can more or less plod along in this state of ‘new normal’ for months, if not years on end if we need to. We don’t feel great, we’re tired and we’re not our "‘best selves’, but we’re managing. And the second thing that stands in the way of course, is that we no longer put our self-care first. We just don’t care as much as we used to, because suddenly, this wonderful little being is our all-consuming, all-important priority. And so they should be!
We all want to give our children the best. I know I do. But therein lies the problem. When it comes to our child’s happiness, having happy parents is one of, If not the most important factor in a child’s development. It’s not just that you can’t fill from an empty cup (you can’t…) or that you should ‘always put your oxygen mask on first before you can help others (you really should…), it’s that our children, from as young as just a few months old, pick up on our emotional state, internalise it and mirror it. A happy parent literally equals a happy baby.
Back to me as a new mother in 2021, and amidst the usual challenges, a flicker of inspiration ignited within me. With an academic background in Psychology, I’m naturally fascinated in neuroscience and the scientific evidence that mindfulness boasts, so much so that' I’d qualified to become a Mindfulness Teacher for Stress and Health. I still didn’t have time for my own wellbeing and development, but goddamn it, I cared about my daughters. So, driven by a deep desire to give my daughter the best start possible, I began to use my knowledge of psychology and mindfulness to weave easy, fun mindfulness activities into our daily routine. From gentle breathing exercises to soothing sensory play, each day I found a small opportunity to cultivate her emotional intelligence and resilience with a little mindful activity - looking at a leaf up close for a few minutes, listening to the bird song, just gazing into her eyes for a while and smiling.
I listened to her emotional needs, took the time to respond and model empathy. I mirrored her emotions back to her with my words. I took the time to respect how she felt, and narrated my own awareness of my internal feelings. And as she grew, people around us started noticing how confident, emotionally resilient and content she was, often commenting “wow, she’s happy little thing, isn’t she". She grew a little more and began suddenly naming some of her emotions just as she turned two, something that shocked even me, despite having researched the scientific impact of mindfulness and the neuroscientific development of children’s and mothers brains. It's been a rewarding journey to see how integrating mindfulness into our daily lives made such a positive impact on her well-being and the way she interacts with the world.
But little did I realise, these simple acts of mindfulness weren't just shaping my daughter's development – they were quietly transforming my own inner landscape. As we laughed, played, and explored the world together, I felt a subtle shift within myself. The weight of exhaustion began to lift, replaced by moments of clarity and joy. I had started to manage my stress better. Everything felt more positive. I was less stressed. I slept better. I was happier.
In nurturing her growth, I had grown myself.
As our journey unfolded, I delved deeper into the science of mindfulness and discovered its integral link to emotional intelligence, seeking to understand the profound impact it had on both mother and child. The benefits of nurturing your child’s emotional intelligence from birth on future happiness and success is incredible. It can help them navigate school, social media, bullying and transitions or change. It can help them find healthy relationships when they are older, better jobs and even give them the best chance possible for a bright future in a world which we might not be able to predict for them, what with automation technology, AI and the world changing so fast.
Armed with knowledge and a burning passion to share this transformative power with the world, I embarked on a mission to create something truly special – a fun baby class which not only focused on short term happiness and enjoyment, but developed long-term happiness too, through fostering emotional intelligence and a strong emotional bond with their carer. But more than that I wanted it to deliver the same wonderful side effect I had experienced in my own outlook on the adults who came to the classes too, and also give them some elements of wellbeing so that they could fill their cup without needing childcare. So I’ve used my other skills as a wellbeing expert and teacher to weave luxury wellness elements such as aromatherapy, gentle stretching and crystal sound baths into each class too.
And so, Happy Little Things was born. I know it might sound cheesy, but I really do want to make a difference in this world, and I believe that a generation of emotionally intelligent children is just what the future needs. And I know it’s what they need, that’s why I started this whole experiment with my own daughter!
Join us on this extraordinary adventure, come along to a class, and together let's create a world where happiness isn’t just a series of moments we chase – it’s a way of life.
Our mission is to provide a weekly space for you to relax, for your little ones have fun, all while making real cognitive shifts for both of you towards positivity, happiness and emotional development.
