Little Life Development

18/04/2026

Such a beautiful poem from an amazing parent I am proud to work alongside ❤️ . Heartbreaking and powerful, it is sadly an experience that the majority of parents I work with have endured. This needs to change.

We need more professionals who actively stand up and change the tide on this culture and value the parents as the experts on their child that they are 💪 the more the culture shifts and the more we direct back to parents' expertise the more chance we have of meeting the child's needs. When every voice is heard (child, caregivers and professionals), needs are met quicker with less overspend and avoiding needless setbacks.

How do you, as a professional challenge this culture in your work with young people?

I wrote this poem following a meeting about my son this week. I was told they could only listen to professional views about my child and I felt powerless. I was lucky enough to be supported by a fantastic professional who spoke on my behalf.

It reminded me why I do this. I don't ever want a parent to feel like I did 💔

Little Life Development
The Autistic SENCO
Dr Naomi Fisher
Spilling the Tea on Autism and ADHD
Autistic Not Weird
Autistic Girls Network Group
Essex Family Forum
Special Needs Jungle

22/03/2026

This aligns with our stance here at Little Life Development, and why we focus so much on interoception in our work. On the odd occassion we will continue to use zones of regulation with a child who has this already embedded into their routines and is working well. But on the whole it is not something we encourage for all of the reasons mentioned here ❤️

02/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18niN14UPT/

School place offers are out today… and for many families it’s not the news they were hoping for 💔

I’ve shared our own offer email (with personal details covered) because I know how that moment feels — opening it and realising your child hasn’t been given the school you believe they need.

If you’re feeling confused, upset, or worried about September — please know you are not stuck with the decision.

You can appeal a school place.

Most people are never actually told: • what an appeal panel is really looking for
• how to structure their case
• what evidence actually matters (and what doesn’t)
• or that you can challenge issues like distance, medical needs, SEND needs, anxiety, transport, or safeguarding concerns

An appeal isn’t just writing a quick letter — it’s about presenting a clear case showing why this school is necessary for your child, not just preferred.

I can help you: ✔ understand your refusal letter
✔ identify your strongest legal grounds
✔ gather the right evidence
✔ structure your written appeal
✔ prepare for the hearing (including what they will ask you)

You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t need to be “good with paperwork” — I’ll guide you step-by-step.

Message me privately if you want advice or even just to check whether you actually have a case. Even a short chat often helps parents feel much calmer and clearer about their options.

(And please share this — many parents don’t realise they only have around 20 school days to appeal.)

24/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D4jiuXZEz/

Relational safety is a core environmental layer we’ll be unpacking this month.
The social / relational environment shapes whether a space feels safe or threatening.

Attunement or misattunement.
Safe humans or controlling ones.
Co-regulation or compliance.
Shame or dignity.
Being believed or dismissed.
Autonomy honored or overridden.

Distress often increases not because someone is “too sensitive,”
but because their nervous system doesn’t feel safe with the people around them.
Support lives in relationships.

How we respond, especially during rupture, can either escalate distress or help repair it.

Learn more in our new course: https://www.kelly-mahler.com/product/live-online-course-when-environments-hurt/



Image Description: Pink Tile with a big bubble in the center that reads: Social/ Relational Environment. Smaller bubbles around it read: safe humans, co-regulations, attunement, rupture, autonomy, believed, dignity

16/02/2026

Sorry for the radio silence! January was quite the slog and I know that many families have really been feeling that. Hibernation has been needed at times and it's been important to honour this and listen to what our nervous system needs at this time of year. Sometimes that means chocolate and a hot drink under a blanket.. Other times a walk in nature. It's all about the small things.

Sessions this half term have continued to be creative, child and needs led. Both indoors and outdoors. Ranging from creating stories linking interoception, to valentines nature decorations, to creating an autism identity workbook to help support advocacy and help others understand us more.

We are still at capacity but a small number of initial assessments will be available in April. Those on my active referrals list will be contacted soon.

I am taking a break to be with my children this week and enjoying seeing the crocuses popping out of the ground and the (little) glimmers of sunshine when they arrive! ☔ 🌞 🌷

Happy half term for those taking a break. ❤️🌿 ❤️

10/02/2026

My personal favourite was stabbing the rubber! And tipexing everything in sight including my nails. Anyone else? 😂https://www.facebook.com/share/17BKQdQbmP/

"Old School Fidgets"
😂
I bet you had this one, too: https://amzn.to/4tiLfdy?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

04/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HW1F75tV2/

Safety is something a person decides internally.

It doesn’t matter if someone tells us ‘you’re safe’.
People who say that are usually referring to physical safety.
‘Physically you are safe here.’

It’s often not as simple as that.

If we don’t feel safe, we don’t feel safe, and we often don’t mean physically.

The thing we’re missing might be relational safety. It might be sensory safety. Emotional safety. Environmental safety.

We may not be able to explain what exactly is happening in our bodies, or why.
We may not have the words to wrap around our experience.
If our nervous system is heightened, for whatever reason, it can be hard to identify messages from our bodies. It can be even harder to explain that to someone who clearly is not experiencing the same thing as us.

It’s a big ask. We may not be able to.
But you might see clues in our actions, our emotions, our energy, our capacity, our behaviour.

Returning to authentic connection and coregulation in these moments is always a good move, whether you believe we have reasons to feel unsafe or not.

If we don’t feel safe, for whatever reason, it’s not up to you to decide something different.

It’s your job to recognise that our nervous system may be different to your own, and support us in our tricky times. And make sure that support is kind, curious, and empathetic, otherwise you are only pushing that sense of safety further and further away from us.

Yes?

Em 🌈

04/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FCAQoMZsd/

13/01/2026

Echo Carly Budd Developmental Play Academy thoughts here entirely ❤️ let me know yours! 🙏❤️

13/01/2026

When you have the best view of the water under a shelter to hide out from the heavy rain! 🌳🌧️

Today was a wet one and we got pretty soaked taking the equipment down at the end of our Eco Sensory session. The weather can impact our mood and engagement and everyone is different. The weather is a sensory experience and as we all have different sensory preferences and profiles, what is enjoyed by one person could be really uncomfortable for another. I have worked with children who love being under the rain and love the feeling it gives them, whilst others have a real aversion to it. It is also important to remember that our regulation and arousal levels fluctuate throughout the day. Just because a child LOVES standing in the rain one day, it doesn't mean they will the following day.

When I was a teenager I would love long walks in the rain.. I am sure this helped me to navigate all the changes I went through. Now? Most of the time I'd prefer to be under an umbrella and just listen to the beautiful sound! ☔😂

Who here loves walking in the rain? Or are you someone who tends to hibernate as soon as there is rain forecast? ☔🌧️🧠