Nandi Atteridge - Educational Psychologist

01/05/2026

01/05/2026

🌈 A BRAND NEW DIVISION IS OPENING! 🌈

NeuroKids SA is proud to introduce a skills-based training center for autistic adults, under the NeuroKids Inclusive Project NPO.

We are focused on real-time job skills and meaningful job placement opportunities.

👷‍♂️ In partnership with industry professionals, participants will be trained in:
• Painting
• Plastering
• Building

💼 What makes this different?
✔ Practical, hands-on training
✔ Transition into paid practicals
✔ Support into job placements

📅 Course starts: 1 June 2026

💰 Cost: R3,500 per individual

⏳ Registration closes: 15 May 2026

⚠ Only 10 spaces available

📧 info@neurokidssa.co.za
📞 083 754 7105

Let’s build skills, independence, and real opportunities together.

30/04/2026

The words we use with our children matter more than we often realize. 💫

Not because we need to say the “perfect” thing every time, but because the way we respond in those moments becomes the language they eventually use with themselves.

When a child is overwhelmed, crying, or reacting in a big way, they’re not just showing behavior. They’re moving through feelings they don’t yet know how to name, understand, or regulate. Those feelings can feel intense, confusing, and sometimes even scary.

And in those moments, our response teaches them what to do with those feelings.

When they hear “you’re fine” or “stop crying,” the message they often take in is that their feelings are too much or need to be pushed away. Over time, that shapes how they relate to themselves.

But when they hear “I see you,” “that felt hard,” or “I’m here with you,” they learn something different. They learn that their feelings are safe to feel, that they can move through them, and that they are not alone in the process.

At the same time, we can still guide behavior.

We can accept feelings without accepting every behavior. We can hold boundaries while still holding connection. Supporting a child emotionally does not mean removing structure. It means teaching them how to navigate what they feel while learning what is appropriate to do with it.

Because our words are powerful, but they don’t stand alone.

Our tone, our energy, and the way we show up in those moments matter just as much. Children are constantly reading not only what we say, but how we say it and how it feels to be with us.

All of it together becomes what they internalize.

So it’s not about saying everything perfectly.

It’s about becoming more intentional with our words, our tone, and our presence, because those are the tools we are giving our children to carry with them into their lives. 💕💕

30/04/2026

Children’s anxiety is real. It is not “just a phase” and it is not something they can simply switch off. When a child gets stuck in worry, their brain is trying to keep them safe - but it can become overwhelming very quickly. The same “what if” thoughts repeat, the body reacts, and everything starts to feel more and more real.

What we often see on the outside - constant questions, avoidance, meltdowns, needing reassurance - is a child doing their best to cope with something that feels scary and out of control.

The difficult part is this. When anxiety takes over, our natural instinct as adults is to reassure, fix or remove the fear. Sometimes that helps in the moment, but it does not always help the child feel stronger long term. Real support is about helping children feel safe while also learning they can handle worry, face uncertainty and build confidence over time.

This is not about ignoring anxiety. It is about understanding it, responding with care, and giving children the tools they need so it does not control their lives.

Free THE WORRY LOOP IN CHILDREN: UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY CYCLES POSTER

LIKE the photo and comment "LOOP" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

30/04/2026

Sometimes a child knows exactly what to do… but in the moment, they just can’t do it.

This is the difference between the upstairs brain and the downstairs brain.

When the upstairs brain is in charge, a child can think, listen, and make good choices. But when the downstairs brain takes over, emotions run high and behaviour becomes reactive, impulsive, or overwhelmed.

This isn’t a child choosing to misbehave. It’s a child whose thinking brain has gone offline.

And this is where our response matters most.

Because children don’t need more pressure when they’re in their downstairs brain… they need support to feel safe enough to come back to their upstairs brain.

To SAVE, click on the image, tap the three dots, and choose Save.

30/04/2026

LIKE the photo and comment "CALM" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

Free MY CALM KIT: EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND COPING SKILLS POSTER FOR CHILDREN

Big feelings can take over quickly. One minute a child is calm, the next they are overwhelmed, shouting, shutting down or unable to cope. This is not bad behaviour - it is a child whose nervous system is struggling to feel safe.

Children need simple, clear ways to calm their body, slow their thoughts and feel in control again. When adults respond with calm, structure and support, children start to learn that feelings can be managed, not feared.

Teaching children how to pause, breathe, ask for help and choose safe coping strategies builds emotional regulation, resilience and long-term mental health. These are skills they carry for life.

29/04/2026

The DBT House. The DBT House.

🏠 On What Beliefs is Your House Built?
This creative worksheet uses the metaphor of a house to help us reflect on what makes life meaningful and what supports us to thrive.

It encourages reflection on values, strengths, and small, positive changes, helping to imagine a hopeful vision of a “life worth living.”

Helpful for sparking meaningful conversations and building on what’s already working.

adapted from FB page 'Growtherapy'.

https://www.facebook.com/DialecticalTherapy/subscribe/

28/04/2026