Exploring new foods

Introducing new foods can be challenging for both parent and child due to sensitivities to taste, texture, appearance, and smell. Here are 5 tips that can help make the process a little easier.

Introducing new foods can be challenging for both parent and child due to sensitivities to taste, texture, appearance, and smell. Here are 5 tips that can help make the process a little easier.

Nadine (parent + practitioner)

non-verbal communication

4 tips for connecting and communicating with your non-verbal child.

4 tips for connecting and communicating with your non-verbal child.

Nadine (parent + practitioner)

Characteristics of alone-time for ASD

When autistic children engage in lots of social activity, they may need a period ofalone time afterwards to recharge their batteries. Parents, here are some ways you can support them.

When autistic children engage in lots of social activity, they may need a period ofalone time afterwards to recharge their batteries. Parents, here are some ways you can support them.

Nadine (Practitioner)

How to create a social story

Social stories are a fantastic tool to help children navigate new experiences and develop social skills. Together at home, pick a situation that your child struggles with and try designing and creating a social story using images and/or words to help provide guidance on what to expect and how to respond.

Social stories are a fantastic tool to help children navigate new experiences and develop social skills. Together at home, pick a situation that your child struggles with and try designing and creating a social story using images and/or words to help provide guidance on what to expect and how to respond.

NADINE (PARENT + PRACTITIONER)

Supporting your child with ‘Turn Taking’

Turn-taking is a fundamental skill that plays a key role in social interaction, communication, and building relationships. Whether your child is neurotypical or on the autism spectrum, you can support them with developing this skill by modelling it to them, using a toy to help signal turn-taking, or by playing a fun game together that incorporates turn-taking.

Turn-taking is a fundamental skill that plays a key role in social interaction, communication, and building relationships. Whether your child is neurotypical or on the autism spectrum, you can support them with developing this skill by modelling it to them, using a toy to help signal turn-taking, or by playing a fun game together that incorporates turn-taking.

NADINE (PARENT + PRACTITIONER)

3 Benefits of social stories

Social stories are brief, easy-to-follow descriptions of a situation, event or activity. They can help children understand what to expect in a situation, and why. They can be used to develop social skills, help children understand social norms and social reactions, as well as helping with changes to routine.

Social stories are brief, easy-to-follow descriptions of a situation, event or activity. They can help children understand what to expect in a situation, and why. They can be used to develop social skills, help children understand social norms and social reactions, as well as helping with changes to routine.

NADINE (PARENT + PRACTITIONER)

Starting a conversation about mental health

It can be difficult to know how to start a conversation about mental health with your autistic child. It can help to try talking whilst doing an activity, asking mainly closed, direct questions, and finding a communication style that works best for them, such as communicating through drawing or play.

It can be difficult to know how to start a conversation about mental health with your autistic child. It can help to try talking whilst doing an activity, asking mainly closed, direct questions, and finding a communication style that works best for them, such as communicating through drawing or play.

Annie (practitioner)

Teddy bear breathing

Tap into your child’s imagination to help them to engage with breathing exercises.

Tap into your child’s imagination to help them to engage with breathing exercises.

Annie (practitioner)

Importance of stimming

Stimming is a unique way that some autistic people use to express themselves and regulate their emotions and sensory experiences.

Stimming is a unique way that some autistic people use to express themselves and regulate their emotions and sensory experiences.

NADINE (PARENT + PRACTITIONER)

Quality over quantity

Caring for a child with additional needs can sometimes make it harder for parents to spend one-to-one time with each child. However, just 10 minutes of focused one-on-one time with your child can satisfy their need for attention much more effectively than 30 minutes of divided attention.

Caring for a child with additional needs can sometimes make it harder for parents to spend one-to-one time with each child. However, just 10 minutes of focused one-on-one time with your child can satisfy their need for attention much more effectively than 30 minutes of divided attention.

Nadine (Parent + practitioner)