Demand avoidance is a very real challenge that many parents face with their neurospicy children. Whether it is asking them to put their shoes on, brush their teeth or sit down to eat their dinner, the reactions can be huge and usually completely disproportionate to the request itself. 

I have been going into schools for nearly 15 years and can still probably count on only one hand those that have really stood out as being fantastic at fully understanding and supporting neurodivergence and behaviour. Pretty shocking really! This is an open letter to the not quite so fantastic schools...

A “Feelings Scale” can be a really simple but highly useful visual tool for helping both a child and those working with them to understand their regulation needs and know how to manage them. It can be stuck up on the fridge at home or on the wall at school.

A lot of you may not know that as well as being a children’s OT, I am also mummy to two neurodivergent children. This helps massively with informing my practice when working with neurodivergent kids and their families and I really believe has made me better at my job. 

Living with neurodivergence is wonderful, exhausting, frustrating, difficult and sometimes it feels never-ending. Often I feel like I am walking on egg shells, not knowing whether we are going to have a good day or a bad day and I spend a huge amount of time defending and advocating for my children, who often can’t advocate for themselves.

I have written the following article from my perspective as a parent, standing in solidarity with the other parents who are on this rollercoaster ride! 

Introducing a special meditation series tailored for children facing fear, anxiety, and sensory challenges, featuring easy-to-use exercises like Tummy Breaths, Colour Meditation, and Seaside Visualisation. These meditations are designed to guide kids towards tranquility and self-awareness, available for use at home or school.

As Therapists, we often use the Zones of Regulation to help children cope with their feelings and body sensations. Here is a starter pack for you to use with your child at home.