✨ “Please Come Back With Worley”

Worley World
Aug 1
3 min read

What Happens When Grown-Ups and Kids Connect

At The HUB in Consett this week, something magic happened.

It wasn’t just about glitter or slime (although there was a lot of glitter and slime involved). It was about what happens when you bring grown-ups and children together in a space where every need is welcomed, every feeling is valid, and every monster...even the wiggly, long-armed kind has a place.

In partnership with Unite Club, The HUB, and Karbon Homes, Worley’s World was invited to run a creative holiday session for children of all needs and abilities, no diagnosis required. Just a chance to play, connect, and belong.

And connect we did.

🧠 The Power of Playful Learning

From the moment the first monster mask was made and the first LEGO brick placed, the kids were in. And so were the grown-ups.

Because Worley’s World isn’t just play for the sake of play.It’s play with purpose, where slime becomes a sensory regulation tool, LEGO becomes a bridge to connection, and stories spark conversations that matter.

One adult shared their proudest moment: building a better Worley LEGO cave than their coworker. (The competition was fierce and fabulous.) Another left with their very own goodie bag because let’s face it, grown-ups deserve a little magic too.

But what stood out most wasn’t the crafts or chaos.It was the impact:

🟡 50% of children said their favourite part was “making new friends.”
🟡 For neurodivergent children, that’s huge. Friendships can be tricky to navigate but not today.
🟡 “Spending time with new friends” was another top highlight, proof that what we’re building here goes way beyond the session.

💛 Real Moments of Connection

We saw belly laughs from a child who usually finds it hard to engage.

We watched another who couldn’t share what they liked at lunchtime… but by the end of the day, they were proudly telling us all about their favourite parts.

We witnessed trust. Curiosity. Teamwork.And one very focused child so deeply engrossed in their monsterous tasks that they didn’t even notice their adult had left the room.That’s growth. That’s emotional safety.

Even the monsters the kids made in our Make Your Own Monster activity told beautiful stories. And as someone who’s spent years helping children explore their emotions, I can tell you ... these creations were pure gold.

🟠 “Big Smiley” makes people happy by smiling

🟣 “Blobby” makes friends and has a caring heart

🛠 “Bob the Builder” fixes books and people

🌀 “Zim” is just a blob — and that’s totally okay (eee this one tugs at my heart strings!)

They weren’t just playing.They were telling us how they really feel, through monsters made of playdough and imagination. That’s emotional literacy in action.

🌱 Co-Regulation in Action

Worley’s World isn’t a ‘drop the kids off and run’ kind of session.It’s about learning together, grown-ups and children side-by-side, co-regulating, listening, laughing, and healing.

One parent shared:

“The children engaging with my child was beautiful.He belly-laughed. He communicated his needs.I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him.”

That’s not just an activity.That’s healing ... for everyone in the room.

🧩 The Inclusion We All Deserve

No diagnosis needed.No pressure to sit still.No expectation to “mask” or pretend you’re okay when you’re not.

Just a space where:

Sensory play is celebrated
Movement breaks happen when needed
Every child and every grown-up can just be themselves

When we say Worley’s World is about more than just feelings…this is what we mean.It’s connection. It’s confidence. It’s community.

🐾 And Finally…

“Please come back with Worley.”

That’s what one child said as we were packing up.And I absolutely will.

Because this?This is what matters.This is why Worley’s World exists.

To create safe, silly, soulful spaces where grown-ups and kids can meet in the middle. Monster by monster and remember how powerful connection can be.