Laura Alexander is passionate about body safety education, and encouraging and supporting parents to create an environment where they can have open, honest and shame-free conversations with their children. She launched Our Mindful Children to provide safe and accurate information for parents as they navigate parenthood and their children’s development. Their aim is to help nurture children into becoming resilient, kind and self-aware individuals, who are compassionate to others and feel capable of achieving anything. With the emotional development and wellbeing of children at the forefront of what she does, Laura talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
After going through IVF, a very difficult pregnancy and what continued to be a difficult postpartum period, I wanted to create a business that would help give children the skills to tackle whatever life may throw at them. Life can be challenging at times. The aim of Our Mindful Children is to help nurture our little ones into becoming confident and mindful individuals, who are compassionate to others and feel capable of achieving anything.
I am also passionate about consent and body safety education, as well as encouraging and supporting parents to create an environment where they can have open, honest, and shame-free conversations with their children about all manner of essential but sometimes considered ‘difficult’ topics. Children are naturally curious, and in this complex and digital world, it is important that as parents, we become our children’s go-to source for safe and accurate information. Over time I have been able curate a selection of wonderful and empowering resources, which support the social emotional learning, mental well-being, and safety of our children.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I initially started by offering a wide range of product collections around all areas of child development and learning, but I soon learnt that it was supporting the social emotional learning, mindfulness, cultural awareness, and body safety education of our children that I was truly passionate about. I therefore soon made the decision to streamline my focus and collections to allow me to give these areas my full attention.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Introducing consent and body safety education into the forefront of my business has been a big breakthrough for my little business. Having researched some resources and information around this hugely important topic, I knew straight away that this was essential information for all children, parents, and caregivers and that it isn’t being taught nearly enough. I was shocked by the statistics and information out there, and the more time I’ve spent delving deep into consent and body safety education, the more it has become a mission of mine to reach as many families as possible.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
With difficulty! As well as owning Our Mindful Children, I am also a Specialist Musculoskeletal, Trauma and Orthopaedic Physiotherapist, and spend some time each week assessing and treating clients. Whilst my daughter is still in pre-school, I set aside every Wednesday to spend with her and try not to work until the evening when she’s asleep. As a little family of three, we try to make the most of spending time together at the weekends.
