Decoding A Child's Body Language
Look beyond behaviour. Understand the story.
Strengthen connection.
A deeper way of understanding children
Decoding A Child’s Body Language offers professionals a deeper perspective on the ways children communicate through behaviour, body cues, emotional responses and their developing nervous system.
Created by Anne Matthews — Author, Educator, Mentor and Creator of the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™ — the course draws on more than 40 years of experience working with babies, children, parents and families.
Through a reflective and compassionate approach, it invites professionals to look beyond the presenting behaviour and become more curious about the story of the child — and the family — in front of them.
Professionals working with children regularly encounter behaviours that can be difficult to understand — emotional overwhelm, withdrawal, anxiety, resistance or behaviours that seem challenging or confusing.
While behaviour is often what we first notice, it may be only part of the story.
This training introduces a wider lens — considering body cues, nervous system responses, early experiences and the relationships surrounding the child.
It encourages professionals to pause before simply asking, “How do we change this behaviour?” and instead become curious:
“What might this child be communicating?”
Why this training matters
Who is this training for?
This course is designed for professionals and organisations supporting children and families, including:
• Early years educators and nursery staff
• Teachers and education professionals
• Family support and community workers
• Social workers
• Therapists and bodyworkers
• Health and wellbeing professionals
• Parenting and family-support organisations
• Charities and community services
It is designed to complement existing professional knowledge, offering another perspective from which to understand children's behaviour, body cues, emotional responses and relationships with the adults around them.
Learn from over 40 years of experience supporting babies, children and families
Created by Anne Matthews — Author, Educator, Mentor and Creator of the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™.
Drawing on more than 40 years of working with babies, children, parents and families, Anne brings together experience in bodywork, Pre- & Perinatal Education, nervous system awareness, Baby Body Language and reflective practice.
At the heart of her work is an invitation to look beyond the presenting behaviour or symptom and remain curious about the story behind it.
See the cue. Hear the story. Make the connection.
What’s Inside the Course
Professionals receive access to the complete 10-module learning programme, with resources designed to encourage both personal and professional reflection.
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10 Video Modules
Short, accessible learning that can be completed at your own pace.
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Reflective Prompts
Opportunities to consider the learning in relation to yourself, your practice and the families you support.
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Your Guiding Backpack
Practical ideas and perspectives to carry into everyday professional interactions.
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Parent Stories & Real-Life Examples
Helping you consider experiences from both the child's and parent's perspective.
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Guided Meditations
Opportunities to pause, reflect and become more aware of your own state and presence.
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Lifetime Access
Return to the learning as your experience and professional practice evolve.
This is not about controlling behaviour.
It’s about understanding what sits
beneath it
By the end of the training, participants will be better able to:
recognise body cues and behavioural signals as forms of communication
consider how nervous system responses may influence a child's behaviour and emotional regulation
develop greater awareness of how early experiences may influence development and responses
respond with greater curiosity, compassion and awareness
reflect on how their own presence and responses influence professional relationships
support greater emotional safety, trust and connection with children and families
The training encourages reflective practice and offers a broader lens through which professionals can consider the children and families they support.
Learning outcomes
CPD and professional development
Participants who complete the training will receive a Certificate of Completion, recording their participation in the programme.
The course may be used as part of a professional's reflective learning and CPD portfolio, subject to the requirements of their own professional body or organisation.
What professionals are saying
The training can be offered to organisations in different ways depending on the needs and size of your team..
Staff training access
Provide individual course access for team members as part of professional development.
Group learning programmes
Use the course as a shared learning resource to encourage discussion and reflective practice within your team.
Presentations, Webinars & Workshops
Anne is also available for online presentations, seminars and in-person workshops exploring themes from the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™.
Flexible options for organisations
Curious to explore the approach?
Enrol Today
When you’re ready to enrol, you’ll be asked to create a simple account before completing your purchase. This gives you secure access to your course and learning resources.
A reflective 10-module programme for professionals who want to deepen their understanding of the communication behind children’s behaviour, body cues and emotional responses.
Enquire about organisational access
If you're interested in offering this training within your organisation, school, practice or professional group, please get in touch to discuss group access, presentations, webinars or workshop options..
Contact us to learn more
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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This is a 10-module online learning programme for professionals who work with children and families. It explores how behaviour, body cues, emotional responses, early experiences and the developing nervous system can offer valuable information about a child’s experience.
The course encourages you to look beyond the presenting behaviour or symptom and consider the story of the child — and family — in front of you.
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The course is suitable for professionals and organisations working with children and families, including early years educators, teachers, family support workers, social workers, therapists, bodyworkers, health and wellbeing professionals, and those working within parenting, community and family-support services.
It is designed to complement your existing professional knowledge rather than replace profession-specific training.
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The course is fully online and self-paced, with 10 modules combining short videos, reflective prompts, real-life parent stories, guided meditations and practical ideas from the Guiding Backpack.
I recommend allowing time between modules to reflect on the material and consider how it relates to your own professional interactions and practice.
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Both courses share the core Decoding A Child’s Body Language learning and the principles of the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™.
The Professional Edition encourages you to engage with that learning through a professional lens — reflecting on your own presence and responses, considering the perspectives of both child and parent, and exploring how greater curiosity and understanding can inform your work with children and families.
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The training will help you develop greater awareness of children’s body cues and behavioural signals, nervous system responses and the possible influence of early experiences.
It also encourages you to reflect on your own presence and responses as a professional, and how these may influence trust, communication and connection with the children and families you support.
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Yes. On completion of the training, you will receive a Certificate of Completion which records your participation in the programme.
The course may contribute to your reflective learning and CPD portfolio; however, CPD requirements vary between professions and organisations, so you should check the requirements of your own professional or regulatory body.
That last sentence is important — I wouldn't claim that the certificate is automatically recognised as CPD by every profession.
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You’ll have lifetime access to the course materials, allowing you to return to particular modules and resources as your experience develops or different situations arise in your professional work.
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Yes. Organisational and group access can be arranged for teams wishing to use the course as part of staff learning, reflective practice or professional development.
Access can be discussed according to the size and needs of your organisation. Please use the Organisational Enquiry form to get in touch.
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Yes. Anne is available for online presentations, seminars and in-person workshops exploring themes from the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™ and Decoding A Child’s Body Language.
These can be discussed according to the interests and learning needs of your organisation or professional group.
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The course is designed for education and reflective professional development rather than advice about individual children or cases.
To respect confidentiality, professional boundaries and the individual circumstances of each child and family, Anne is unable to offer case-specific guidance through email or general course enquiries.
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After more than 40 years of clinical practice, I chose to step away from chiropractic practice and voluntarily deregister from the General Chiropractic Council in September 2026. My work now focuses on education, mentoring and the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™.
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