Tamyra Cooper MSW, LCSW

02/03/2026

Not all avoidance is defiance. Sometimes it’s anxiety, overwhelm, and a deep need for autonomy.

Children with a PDA profile often experience everyday demands as a threat to their sense of control and safety. Their responses can look puzzling on the surface, but underneath is a nervous system trying to cope.

Today’s visual shares some common signs of PDA to help you spot patterns with compassion, not judgement. Understanding is the first step toward support.

01/22/2026

Love this for so many different reasons :)

01/17/2026

On sorrowful days, many parents and caregivers are searching for ways to support their children as they hear about violence and traumatic events in the news. We’ve gathered trusted guidance and reputable resources to help you have age-appropriate, supportive conversations that can reduce fear and build a sense of safety. Visit our website to read Talking With Children About Violence in the News: Guidance for Parents and Caregivers and find tools to support your family during difficult times: https://namimn.org/talking-with-children-about-violence-in-the-news-guidance-for-parents-and-caregivers/

Via Early Risers Podcast

01/16/2026

01/16/2026

12/29/2025

Free THINGS CHILDREN’S CAN’T DO YET POSTER

Children are often expected to cope in ways their brains are not ready for yet. When a child is overwhelmed, tired, hungry or upset, they cannot simply stay calm, think clearly, explain their feelings or control their impulses on demand. These are skills that develop slowly, with safety, support and repeated co regulation from adults.

This poster gently reminds us that meltdowns are not bad behaviour and that children are not being difficult on purpose. They are still learning how to manage big feelings, switch tasks, handle expectations and regulate emotions. Understanding this can change how we respond in hard moments and help children feel safer, calmer and more understood.

A simple message, but one that many children and families need to see every day.

Comment TIME and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

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12/11/2025

YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT!

Many surveys have been conducted about autism, and only a small number of responses came from autistic people.

The Michigan Autistic Adult Advisory Committee (MiA3) aims to fix this problem by conducting the first-ever autistic-led statewide needs assessment, working directly with the Michigan Autism Council and other leaders across the state.

If you are interested in taking their survey, you can find it using the link below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FXX9J9W

11/20/2025

WHEN I COME OUT OF SCHOOL…

I’ve held it together all day — smiling when I didn’t feel OK, copying others so I could fit in, keeping my stims small and hidden.

So when I come out of school…
Please don’t ask me to talk straight away.
Please don’t tell me how good I was.
Please just let me rest, be quiet, and feel safe again.

Want to understand more about masking and neurodivergent wellbeing?

Explore the full Masking Toolkit by The Contented Child for visuals, guides, and practical tools that help uncover what’s behind the mask — and support children to feel safe being their true selves. Link in comments ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in our Bio.

NOTE
Some children do mask so competently that it can be hard to get a diagnosis - that is why I created Meet My Brain: Power & the Tricky Bits. Link in comments.

11/14/2025

11/12/2025

Check out the great resource from the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council's Youth Employment Accessible Hub (YEAH) go.mi.gov/dGH6k1098

10/28/2025

10/23/2025

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