Play and Thrive

23/10/2023

Often we think in order to help our kids handwriting we need to practice writing with a pencil and paper. Whilst this is important other activities can support handwriting that don't even involve touching a pencil! These are particularly helpful for kids who have an emotional outbursts or refuse when it comes to pencil based tasks.

19/10/2023

What do you do if your child meltdown about something you see as irrational? Firstly start thinking about the problem from their perspective, whilst we may see it as a "silly" or "irrational" problem we need to remember our kids don't have big problems like bills, cost of living and work etc. Someone cutting their sandwich or banana wrong is important to them!

So before we jump to "don't be silly" or "it's not that big of a deal" try and meet your child where they are at with these tips!

13/10/2023

Does your child regularly say "no" or "you can't make me!" try some of these tips if you have a strong willed little one! Remember any big behaviours when expectations are place on kids often shows an unmet need or lacking skill so have a think about if that is in play as well!

11/10/2023

Ever wonder if you can ask your therapist questions? We love getting asked questions and encourage you to do so! Therapist's are only with your child a limited period of time each week, parents are with their kids all the time so it is so important to make sure parents understand what is happening in sessions!

09/10/2023

04/10/2023

Does your child show any of these things as a sign of dysregulation? Every child is different however these are very common things we see everyday with the kids we work with.

When these subtle signs start it's signalling to us that the child's nervous system is detecting something off or threatening. Remember a lot of the time our kids don't even know what it is that is sending them down this path, so asking them doesn't help.

So what can we do? If possible use these signs as a prompt for you to use a sensory strategy that we know works for your child (this will be individual to each child). Think about if you can guess what is triggering them. Think, do I need to change the environment? Do they need a break?

Other times it will be important just to note they are having a tough time and are dyregulated and they may do or say things that they don't mean. Lower your expectations and slow down your own body to support correlation. Remember that aren't giving you a hard time, they are having a hard time.

02/10/2023

29/09/2023

Consent is not just for adults, we can start teaching our kids from a young age!
Help kids understand they are the ones who are in control of their bodies by some simple shifts in how we talk with them.

27/09/2023

It's easy to try to distract our kids from their feelings when sad. As parents and grown ups who care about kids if they hurt we hurt. But if we distract kids from their feelings they don't learn to process them and worse don't feel heard or understood. So next time you go to say "it's okay!" or "you're fine" have a try saying some of these phrases and sit with your child or loved one in their sadness. Make room for the tears and feelings!

26/09/2023

Kids do well if then can.... when they aren't we need to get curious about why! Normally kids are lacking skills or have something going on that is a barrier to them doing what they need to. It's our job to work with kids to understand more about what these barriers are. So next time your child has some big behaviours, get curious!

18/09/2023

We all know that kids have boundless energy, right? Well, that energy needs an outlet, and that's where movement breaks come in! These breaks are not just about having fun and burning off some steam; they play a crucial role in our children's overall development.

🧠 Mental Boost: Movement breaks have been proven to enhance cognitive function and concentration. When kids engage in physical activities, it increases blood flow to the brain, improving their focus and attention span. So, let's encourage them to get up and get moving!

🏃 Physical Health: Regular movement breaks help promote healthy growth and development. They strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and enhance flexibility. Plus, it's a fantastic way to keep their hearts healthy and build strong bones.

😭 Emotional Well-being: Movement breaks are not just about the body; they also benefit the mind and emotions. Physical activity releases endorphins, those magical "feel-good" hormones that boost mood and reduce stress. It's like a natural happiness booster for our little ones!

👯‍♀️ Social Skills: Engaging in movement breaks with friends or siblings promotes social interaction and teamwork. It encourages cooperation, communication, and builds friendships. Plus, it's a great opportunity for them to learn how to take turns and share.

🤩 Creativity and Imagination: Movement breaks provide an outlet for kids to express themselves creatively. Whether it's dancing, playing pretend, or inventing new games, it sparks their imagination and nurtures their creative thinking skills.

👀 Sensory: Movement breaks provide an opportunity for kids to feed their sensory system and get the sensory input their body needs. This is crucial for children's regulation and should never be used as a reward, it's a basic need!

So, let's make movement breaks a regular part of our children's daily routine! Whether it's a quick dance party, a game of tag, or a fun yoga session, let's encourage them to get up, move, and have fun!

15/09/2023

Sometimes when we are planning goals for the kids we focus on SMART goals, now whilst these are important elements to consider here are some things to consider as well!

⭐ Who is it a problem for?
We want the child to be motivated by the goal, getting their buy in is so important to success. If a child is developmentally able to have a say in the goals, let them!

⭐ Ensure meeting the goal doesn't involve changing the child.
To be truely neurodiversity affirming we don't want our goal to change who the child is at their core. Our goal need to support the child, skill build if needed not change them!

⭐ Have a realistic expectation on timeline.
We all want kids to meet their goals quickly, but we need to make sure all parties have realistic views on how quickly that will happen. Sometimes goals are long term, and thats ok.

⭐ Are we expecting too much from the child's developmental age?
We need to look at if the goal is actually developmentally appropriate for the child. Not based on age but where they are at!

If you access any supports from health professionals ensure you are asking these questions of their goals and you are happy with their answers. Having a goal is so important for therapy and guides what we are doing every session!