Opening the door to conversation

It can be difficult for teenagers to open up about how they’re feeling. Letting them know you’re available to listen, without pressuring them to talk, can make it easier for them to seek support when they’re ready. Reassuring statements such as “I’m here whenever you want to talk” or “There’s no rush” can help create a safe, supportive environment and encourage teenagers to open up in their own time.

It can be difficult for teenagers to open up about how they’re feeling. Letting them know you’re available to listen, without pressuring them to talk, can make it easier for them to seek support when they’re ready. Reassuring statements such as “I’m here whenever you want to talk” or “There’s no rush” can help create a safe, supportive environment and encourage teenagers to open up in their own time.

Emelia (Parent)

Navigating the Hitting Phase

If your toddler starts hitting, try focusing first on the person who was hurt rather than the hitting behaviour. Acknowledge their feelings with comments like “Your sister is hurt and feeling upset,” which helps model empathy and avoids giving extra attention to the behaviour. Later, when your child is calm, gently explain that hitting hurts people and encourage the use of gentle hands instead.

If your toddler starts hitting, try focusing first on the person who was hurt rather than the hitting behaviour. Acknowledge their feelings with comments like “Your sister is hurt and feeling upset,” which helps model empathy and avoids giving extra attention to the behaviour. Later, when your child is calm, gently explain that hitting hurts people and encourage the use of gentle hands instead.

Annie (practitioner)

Wash worries away exercise

For younger children, using water as a symbol can help them let go of worries that are outside their control. If your child shares a worry during the day, encourage them to imagine washing it away while they wash their hands, picturing the water carrying it down the drain. Making this part of their routine can help children feel calmer, lighter, and more settled before bedtime.

For younger children, using water as a symbol can help them let go of worries that are outside their control. If your child shares a worry during the day, encourage them to imagine washing it away while they wash their hands, picturing the water carrying it down the drain. Making this part of their routine can help children feel calmer, lighter, and more settled before bedtime.

Annie (practitioner)

Making time for self care

Finding time for self-care as a parent can be challenging. A simple way to start is by building small moments of self-care into everyday routines, such as practising mindfulness while brushing your teeth, reflecting on three positive things from your day before bed, listening to an audiobook while doing chores, or stretching while waiting for the kettle to boil.

Finding time for self-care as a parent can be challenging. A simple way to start is by building small moments of self-care into everyday routines, such as practising mindfulness while brushing your teeth, reflecting on three positive things from your day before bed, listening to an audiobook while doing chores, or stretching while waiting for the kettle to boil.

Annie (practitioner)

Preparing your child for the exam season

Help your child with autism prepare for exams by talking about when and where exams will take place, creating a revision plan, and displaying their timetable somewhere visible. Practise simple mindfulness or breathing exercises together, work with teachers to identify helpful support, and encourage time to relax after school. Good sleep, healthy eating, and regular exercise can also support their wellbeing during exam periods.

Help your child with autism prepare for exams by talking about when and where exams will take place, creating a revision plan, and displaying their timetable somewhere visible. Practise simple mindfulness or breathing exercises together, work with teachers to identify helpful support, and encourage time to relax after school. Good sleep, healthy eating, and regular exercise can also support their wellbeing during exam periods.

Annie (practitioner)

How social media impacts the developing brain

Research shows that social media can affect the brain’s reward system, especially in developing minds. Each scroll, notification, like or interaction can trigger a release of dopamine, a ‘feel-good’ chemical, which encourages us to keep checking for new content. Over time, this can lead to repetitive checking habits and make it harder to switch off from apps and devices.

Research shows that social media can affect the brain’s reward system, especially in developing minds. Each scroll, notification, like or interaction can trigger a release of dopamine, a ‘feel-good’ chemical, which encourages us to keep checking for new content. Over time, this can lead to repetitive checking habits and make it harder to switch off from apps and devices.

Ruby (practitioner)

Ways to support your autistic child after masking

Autistic children may hide parts of themselves to fit in, which can be exhausting and may lead to increased anxiety. Support them by allowing stimming, quiet time, or movement without judgement. Avoid commenting on eye contact or facial expressions, provide a predictable routine, and allow time to decompress after busy or overwhelming environments.

Autistic children may hide parts of themselves to fit in, which can be exhausting and may lead to increased anxiety. Support them by allowing stimming, quiet time, or movement without judgement. Avoid commenting on eye contact or facial expressions, provide a predictable routine, and allow time to decompress after busy or overwhelming environments.

Nadine (PARENT + PRACTITIONER)

Preparing children for exams with a social story

Social stories can help children understand what to expect and the social rules of situations such as exams. This story explains that exams are a way to show what they know, encourages listening carefully, trying their best, asking for clarification when needed, managing feelings of nervousness with slow breaths, and following instructions throughout the exam.

Social stories can help children understand what to expect and the social rules of situations such as exams. This story explains that exams are a way to show what they know, encourages listening carefully, trying their best, asking for clarification when needed, managing feelings of nervousness with slow breaths, and following instructions throughout the exam.

Nadine (PARENT + PRACTITIONER)

Descriptive commenting during play

When playing with your child, it’s natural to ask lots of questions. But lots of questions can interrupt play and engagement. Instead, try describing what your child is doing, such as “You’re building a very tall tower” or “You’re carefully placing the yellow brick on top.” This supports creativity, confidence, independence and problem-solving while helping children stay focused and enjoy their play.

When playing with your child, it’s natural to ask lots of questions. But lots of questions can interrupt play and engagement. Instead, try describing what your child is doing, such as “You’re building a very tall tower” or “You’re carefully placing the yellow brick on top.” This supports creativity, confidence, independence and problem-solving while helping children stay focused and enjoy their play.

Parent

Building Interoception awareness

Interoception is our ‘inner body sense’, helping us notice signals like a racing heart or muscle tension that can indicate emotions. For many autistic children, these signals can be difficult to recognise. Simple, predictable body-based activities can help children tune into what their bodies are telling them, making emotions easier to notice, understand and manage.

Interoception is our ‘inner body sense’, helping us notice signals like a racing heart or muscle tension that can indicate emotions. For many autistic children, these signals can be difficult to recognise. Simple, predictable body-based activities can help children tune into what their bodies are telling them, making emotions easier to notice, understand and manage.

Nadine (PARENT + PRACTITIONER)