Step 3-The Environment
When we hear the word environment, we often think of a physical space: a home, a school, a park. But your environment isn’t just where you are. It’s also how you feel in that space.
The truth is, we can create environments; emotional, energetic, and relational, that allow each member of the family to thrive.
This step is about intentionally cultivating the conditions that support:
🌱 Self-regulation: Feeling safe enough to be yourself and manage emotions
🌈 Play & joy: Spaces where silliness, curiosity, and creativity are welcome
💫 Wonder & awe: Moments that spark connection to something bigger
👣 Uniqueness: Honouring what makes each person different, not trying to fit a mould
🤝 True connection: Slowing down enough to see and hear each other fully
And because we are all different each family’s version of a thriving environment will look different, too. That’s the beauty of it.
You get to create a home culture where every child, every parent, feels like they belong.
Not by doing it perfectly, but by doing it intentionally.
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Environments can be intentionally created experiences, shaped by energy, habits, and the unspoken agreements within our family units.
This step is all about consciously crafting the kind of environment where every member of your family can thrive.
. There’s no “one size fits all,” but there is a way to anchor your family environment in values that support regulation, growth, and deep connection.
We explore this through four guiding pillars:
✨ Presence 🎨 Creativity ❤️ Connection 🌈 Joy
✨ PRESENCE
Presence is about being fully with each other, mind, body, and spirit. In a world of constant distractions, presence is the rarest gift we can give our children. It's not about being perfect, it’s about being available.
Simple rituals can build presence:
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One on one time after school
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A few minutes of shared silence or deep breaths before bed
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Leaving your phone outside the room during story time
A calm environment starts with you. When you're regulated, your child feels safe. Presence helps your home become a safe emotional base; not just a place to live, but a place to be.
🎨 CREATIVITY
Creativity isn’t just about painting or crafts, it’s about solving problems, exploring ideas, and expressing feelings in ways that make sense for your family.
Creative environments give space for everyone to be heard and involved.
It might look like:
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Family meetings where even the youngest voice matters
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Brainstorming new routines together
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Turning challenges into opportunities for growth
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When we’re creative, we find solutions with our children, not for them. Communication becomes a two way street, built on curiosity and collaboration.
❤️ CONNECTION
Connection is the glue that holds a family together. It doesn’t always mean big days out or long chats, it can be found in the tiny moments.
To build connection:
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Schedule regular “connection points” (e.g. weekly board game night, bedtime chats)
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Learn what lights each other up and honour it
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Create rituals that make every family member feel seen and loved
True connection says, “I see you. I value you. You matter.” It’s where belonging is born.
🌈 JOY
Joy is the sparkle, the everyday magic that makes life lighter. It’s in the spontaneous dance party in the kitchen, the belly laughs at bedtime, or the “just because” celebration for overcoming a fear.
When we prioritise joy:
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We remind our children that life isn’t only about getting things “right”
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We model emotional resilience, joy doesn’t erase challenges, but it helps us move through them
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We show that every family member, adult or child, is worthy of celebration
Make space for joy. Make it a habit. Let it be loud or gentle, silly or soulful but let it be part of your environment.
Your Environment = Your Energetic Home
In the end, your environment isn’t just the walls around you, it’s the feeling that lives inside those walls. When you weave in Presence, Creativity, Connection and Joy, you don’t just raise emotionally intelligent children, you create a family culture that feels like home.
Ready to reimagine your environment?