Guiding Hands Therapy Centre

08/08/2025

Many parents have concerns about medication to treat ADHD. However, recent studies show reduction in the risk for self harming behaviours, and increased brain growth, as positive after-effects, among others. Read the full article here: https://www.additudemag.com/benefits-of-adhd-medication-include-brain-growth/?ecd=wnl_additude_250803_cons_adhd_pro&goal=0_a767e6fc3c-bae913d357-301502862

28/07/2025

We love this!

24/07/2025

There's a reason we are drawn to natural spaces, whether it's the green grass of an open field or the lapping waves of the ocean. Now science also confirms that young children who are exposed to natural spaces are at lowered risk for the developmental of neurodevelopmental conditions (such as ADHD, Autism, learning delays etc). What's more, the benefits were also linked to prenatal exposure (so when mom was pregnant but she spent time in nature😉):

Children exposed to more green space before birth and during early childhood have a lower risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, a new study shows.

22/07/2025

Over the past 2 weeks Vicky Downing had the pleasure of presenting training and findings from her from research about ADHD to 3 groups of practitioners working with children and families: the very professional teaching and head staff at Veritas College in Springs, a group of psychologists and Registered Counsellors of the Impact Therapy Kids Practitioners Growth Group and the Forensic Forum (a closed group of professionals from different fields working with family law).

Over the past 2 weeks, I had the pleasure of presenting training about ADHD to 3 groups of practitioners working with children and families: the very professional teaching and head staff at Veritas College in Springs, a group of psychologists and Registered Counsellors of the Impact Therapy Kids Pra...

18/07/2025

New research compares how our brains encode the emotions others share with us with what we infer (how we interpret) their feelings. The take away message from the research is that empathy and social connection are crucial for physical and mental well-being. Read the full article here:

A new fMRI study reveals that our brains encode both what others intend to express emotionally and how we consciously infer their feelings—two distinct processes.

09/07/2025

Although AI tools can make our lives much easier, beware of over-reliance on them! New studies show that there are "cognitive costs" such as decreased working memory and creativity, both important for problem-solving and idea generation.

Recent studies suggest that tools such as ChatGPT make our brains less active and our writing less original.

02/07/2025

For some time we have suspected that children's screen time can affect their moods, and now science confirms this with studies showing how increased screen time can lead to increased behavioural and emotional problems. The cycle is then repeated as children spend more time engaging with their devices to cope! What can parents do? Set limits through installing age-appropriate parental control apps, model more suitable coping strategies to your children, encourage device-free play and participation in sport and creative hobbies. Contact our Educational Psychologist, Vicky Downing at vicky@guidinghands.co.za, for a free eBook from the American Psychological Association (APA):

Children turn to screens to cope, which can lead to more problems, study says.

29/06/2025

Why? Why? Why? We know it can become tiring when our children ask repeated questions, but don't discourage it! In fact, encourage your children to keep asking questions. Neuroscience has confirmed a relationship between early childhood curiosity and adult intelligence:

A new study reveals that cognitive tests in infancy can modestly predict intelligence three decades later.

27/06/2025

While learners often complain about having to learn a second language in school, science tells us that there are benefits which extend beyond language acquisition, such as delayed onset of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

More than half the world’s population speaks more than one language. Viorica Marian, PhD, of Northwestern University, talks about why speaking multiple langu...

25/06/2025

How strong is your WHY in life? Viktor Frankl, well-known psychologist and Holocaust survivor, taught us that if we know our WHY (meaning) in life, it's easier to deal with challenges in life. PS: you'll want to watch the whole video for other pearls of wisdom:

https://wisdom-for-life.com/lessons-from-mans-search-for-meaning-viktor-frankl/Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (who was a professor in neurology an...

20/06/2025

Science confirms that children and adolescents with ADHD may have social-related problems which impacts on their ability to understand social interactions and, ultimately, could affect their connections with others. This is how the experts explain the link:

Children and adolescents with ADHD are known to have difficulties in relating to family members, peers, and teachers. Over the long run this can contribute to anxiety or even delinquency.

15/06/2025

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, dads who are raising other people’s children, dads of fur kids and those who fulfill the role of dad in our children’s lives.