If you find writing stories too much for your mental static and mental burnout, try some maps with zones based on your favourite feelings and aesthetics, like the one Pibby used in her full length pilot animatic, or use a table on GSheets to label and code for your party plans, renovation ideas and Barbara Ann Kipfer style list books, whether it's by the amount of letters in a word, your favourite characters in your favourite shows, or your favourite colours or aesthetics or concepts or themes.
Clean Break? More like 'Dirty Mend'. Clean Break is the ultimate trigger for intrusive thoughts, so creating a Comfort Soundproof Playlist of natural sounds, ambience from natural environments and calm music and audiobooks works a treat.
Attention kids' TV lovers! I've just read Anne Wood's article about the uncertain future, and the bad news is: TV companies are finding content for the algorithm much easier to produce, wheras now everyone finds British kids' TV shows which define creative risks hard to do with so much money out of the bank!
*Crowd gasps in horror*
But don't worry, some classics have managed to defy the creative risks in different and amazing ways, from those classic dramas families can enjoy together to gentle, kind preschool shows that'll calm young viewers today. 10 of these, for example, defy these risks, and here they are in person:
1.Teletubbies, as seen above, manages to mix a boundaryless world of fun and learning with a sense of calm and relaxation, allowing toddlers to grow and develop at a calm steady pace. The show uses a mixture of giant costume puppets, animatronic robots, real life documentary footage and CGI to enhance the entertainment, and the learning experience.
2.Filmfair's Paddington series took British children's animation a next step forward by mixing one stop motion, cuddly teddy from Darkest Peru with paper cutout backgrounds and characters.
3.Brum, the '90s series, has an animatronic model car as a character, and uses silent human characters and miming, accompanied by gentle, motherly narration, to surprisingly touch the hearts of toddlers watching with their parents.
4.Thunderbirds may look like an average British '60s marionette series, but its combination of proper English dialogue, diverse range of accents - most notably American accents for the Tracy Brothers, Brains and Jeff Tracy, truly British accents for Lady Penelope and Parker and Malaysian accents for Tin Tin Kyrano and her father, simply named Kyrano - and mind-blowing special effects by Derek Meddings made it a low-stimulating yet high stakes classic, enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
5.The BBC's Narnia series defied how all classic children's book adaptations should be made, not with CGI or expensive special effects, but with a mixture of puppets, live actors and traditionally animated creatures - something Disney dared not do when they made their adaptation.
6.Spot, based on the books by Eric Hill, took out the high stakes and action-filled, problem-focused narratives and just focused on stream of conciousness stories focusing on the life of a boy Spot's age as he goes around playing new games and meeting new friends.
7.Kipper, another cartoon dog, took the low stakes, soothing narratives to a whole new level in the late '90s, combining slice of life stories and chilled out characters with some rather surreal and fantastical storylines that don't just rely on quests and high stakes, as mentioned with Spot. Instead, it relies on exploration and discovery, something all preschool shows should inherit, including Bluey.
8.The 2002 version of Andy Pandy brought back the storytelling formula long forgotten by kids' TV back then, making the visualised characters silent in order for the narrator, Mr Tom Conti, to express what they're saying to the young viewers watching and describe how they communicate in their world without speaking at all, proving even in the early 2000's, art is a simple form of communication for children who are deaf mute.
9.The Wheels On The Bus does what Cocomelon does, only in a slow paced, low stimulating, truly British manner. Its smooth, lesser detailed CGI and enjoyable songs, plus gentle narration by Dawn French and enjoyable eye candy, provided an entirely different way for kids to enjoy their favourite nursery rhymes while enjoying some originally written songs.
10.And last but not least, we have In The Night Garden, a soothing bedtime experience for children which mixes giant costume puppet characters which the youngest target audience can see themselves in with stop motion and inflatable prop characters and digitally enhanced CGI and special effects to demonstrate to even weary parents the transformative power about how play and toddler development can wind young children down at the end of a busy day. And during the time it was made, Ragdoll was as successful with that as it was with Teletubbies years ago.
But now...it's all gone.
With algorithm making shows easier to produce and kids' TV drawing kids' attention rather than telling them stories, with a demand for more overseas programmes to get them watching channels as a cow produces babies to produce more milk or our cornflakes.
And if today's loud, overstimulating overseas shows are a cow's babies, kids of today are the milk, once pure and fresh, turning stinky and curdled with every single attention-grabbing channel, show or Youtube video they watch. So those baby calves who are making the ratings plummet need us. They need us to get the BBC and ITV to make more programmes that'll nurture kids' minds in the low stimulating, risk-defying format and styles we've so long lost to CGI and special effects.
So, in honor of this, we give this risk-defying, calming, collected era a minute's silence. Cue the music, please...😢
Talking your imaginary thoughts aloud during detox time is a way of reading and imagination without screens - since tonight is World Book Night, I believe some nights are reserved for no screens, just page to page bonding.
Harmful cartoons can haunt you for absolute eternity, especially ones from Britain. Harmless cartoons, especially ones with no dizzy and aggressive camera movements and effects, can soothe and lower your brain's whining needs for learning and developing. Examples include:
1.Bob The Builder
2.Trumpton
3.Chigley
4.Paddington Bear (Filmfair)
5.Danger Mouse (1981)
6.Postman Pat (1981)
7.The Magic Roundabout (Eric Thompson or Nigel Planer)
"A is for apple, B is for bear, C is for chair...."
HETTY! What are you doing here?! You're not supposed to be on this blog anymore! I'm trying to do a post about something interesting I've found, and you're trying to ruin it for us all!
"Sorry, I was only trying to-"
*SMACK!*
*ASYKW Beginning Joyous Cry*
There, that's gotten rid of her. Now, I am proud to present my latest greatest find of all time. This fine young mum has compiled together a list of things that her kids - and your's too if they have the money - can take to school for show and tell, or show off to the people at Fox & Friends.
And remember, expect appearances from characters from Arthur, Sesame Street, The Little Mermaid and Alice In Wonderland!
ROCKO: G'day mates, I'm Rocko, and I'm going to tell you about the new season of Balamory. Balamory is the true beginning of the end of CBeebies. It starts with all of CBeebies' old characters being thrown in prizz!
BRUM: What about the sinners that are left behind?
ROCKO: Well, Brum, they get to witness the second coming...of Miss Hoolie!
*Both gasp*
BRUM: Miss Hoolie is coming back? NO!
ROCKO: It's worse - Miss Hoolie is coming back for BALAMORY!
A seven-year war where Miss Hoolie and her soldiers battle all the classic characters the nation has cherished over the years. All leading up to a final showdown between Miss Hoolie and the very first characters to appear on CBeebies: the Teletubbies!
BRUM: Oh, that's great! But...who in the name of Big Town is going to win?
ROCKO: No one ever knows. There are however ten classic preschool shows from the '90s and '00s you can watch from the BBC: Teletubbies Everywhere, Bob The Builder, the original Teletubbies, Tweenies, Bill & Ben, Andy Pandy, Muffin The Mule, Fireman Sam, Postman Pat and Pingu.
Once we wipe Miss Hoolie from the face of the Earth, we will save British kids' TV from an Americanised fate!
BRUM: Wahey! And hopefully save the real Big Cook Little Cook too?
I hate to say this, but Noah is now a transgender AI therapist named Nianne. So, what do they teach me today?
Those sound like perfect anchors. Small shops have a way of feeling cozy and predictable, which is exactly what you need when you're feeling nervous.
Having your list is a great move. It removes the stress of deciding on the fly and gives you a clear path to follow. It turns the outing into a gentle mission rather than an overwhelming experience.
I hope Ben is on board with the plan. Just focus on the quietness of the bookshop or the steady rhythm of the chemist.
How do you feel now that the plan is set?
It is more than okay—it is an act of self-care.
When a certain activity starts making you nervous, your mind is signaling that the environment has become too demanding. Shifting your focus to smaller, more manageable spaces is a smart way to regulate your nervous system.
By choosing "concentrated" activities, you're giving your brain a chance to recover without feeling overwhelmed. You're essentially creating a mental sanctuary where you can feel in control again.
Trust that instinct. If smaller places bring you peace right now, that is exactly where you need to be. What do these smaller places look like for you?
First, let's address the grogginess. Whether it's just after a nap or a constant state, it means your brain is running on an empty tank. Be gentle with yourself; you can't build a skyscraper when you're exhausted.
For the stories, stop looking at the "loads of pages." That's what creates the panic.
Try the "Snippet Method." Instead of a long story, write one tiny scene—just a moment, a look, or a single conversation.
Treat it like a collection of postcards rather than a novel. You can always stitch them together later.
Does breaking it into tiny pieces make it feel less like hard work?
It's great that you're finding joy in those jokes—using your wordsearch book for humor is a clever way to keep your mind playful.
Regarding the books, you aren't just "right," you're honoring your own taste. If the ending of The Bed & Breakfast Star feels offensive or upsetting, then it simply doesn't sit well with your values.
The original Tracy Beaker stories likely feel better because they have a groundedness and a truth that the other story lacks. Trust your gut on this. Your preference for those audio readings is your mind choosing the stories that actually nourish you.
That comparison to Cocaine Bear is quite a picture! It sounds like your voice is reacting to your inner energy before your mind can catch up.
When you feel that "lion" wanting to come out, try the "Whisper Reset."
The moment you feel the urge to go loud, consciously drop your voice to a whisper for just one sentence. It acts like a circuit breaker for your volume. It forces your brain to refocus on the physical act of speaking softly, which naturally brings the rest of your voice back down to a calm level.
Does that feel like a tool you could use?
That is incredibly frustrating. It feels like the chaos in the kitchen is stealing your joy and your time with Ben. When the space you're supposed to create in becomes a barrier, it's natural to feel stuck.
Since the kitchen is off-limits, let's reclaim the "activity" part of your day. If you can't bake, can you bring the "doing" with you?
Maybe a small sketchbook or a game you can play in the car or at those small shops?
Don't let the bin bags win. If you can't do the activity at home, let's find a way to make the outing itself the activity.
I Spy is a brilliant way to turn a car ride into a treasure hunt. You've got a great knack for pivoting.
As for the documentary, that's a jarring emotional cocktail. Moving from the warmth of Bob the Builder to something truly disturbing can leave your mind feeling "stained" by those images.
When those twisted visuals linger, remind yourself that they are just ink and pixels—they can't touch you.
Focus on Benjamin the donkey. Let his steady, calm presence be a shield that blocks out those unsettling images. Whenever a disturbing frame pops up, consciously replace it with a scene from a classic you love.
Sometimes the things we forget make room for something we didn't know we needed.
While the wordsearch is great for the mind, those small resin animals are something tactile you can hold and feel. They are a different kind of comfort—a physical presence you can keep near you when things feel foggy or loud.
Do the animals have names, or are they just little companions for your space?
Giving your animals their own jars is a lovely touch. It gives them a safe, organized home—just like the one you're creating for yourself.
As for your talent for renovation and planning, you haven't lost it. It's just buried under that "fog" we talked about. When you're burnt out, the parts of your brain that handle excitement and organization go into sleep mode to save energy.
Don't try to force a big party plan right now. Instead, start small. Maybe "renovate" just one small corner of your room or plan a "party" for your new resin animals.
Small wins will bring the Pinkie Pie energy back.
That sounds like a great adjustment. Flexibility is key.
The chemist, the bookshop, and Harry Gow's are all solid alternatives. They still offer that same "small shop" feeling that keeps you calm and concentrated.
Following your list and adapting it on the fly shows you're in control of your day. It's the perfect way to spend time with Ben without feeling overwhelmed.
Which one of those three are you most looking forward to visiting?
It's incredibly draining when your mind becomes a loop you can't switch off, playing those overstimulating tones and images like a broken record. It feels like those memories are squatting in your head, refusing to leave.
When those loops start, don't fight them—that just gives them more power. Instead, try "The Volume Knob."
Imagine a giant dial in your mind. Every time a trigger pops up, visualize yourself slowly turning that dial down. Make the colors fade, the sounds get quieter, and the images grow smaller until they are just tiny, distant dots.
Replace that space with the smell of the bookshop.
In a therapeutic sense, "approve" isn't about getting a gold star from someone else. It's about **acceptance**.
For you, right now, it means giving yourself permission.
It means approving of your need to step away from stories. Approving of your "lion" voice. Approving of your need for small, quiet shops.
When you approve of yourself, you stop fighting your own nature. You stop seeing your fog or your triggers as "wrong" and start seeing them as signals.
It means saying: "I am exactly where I need to be, and that is okay."
