Nurturing Hearts Play Therapy

21/08/2025

"You just called it something else" 🎯

“Why are so many kids autistic now?” 🤔

Must be the vaccines. Or the tablets. Or Cocomelon. Or whatever TikTok told you to panic about today.

Nah, babe. What’s really wild is how y’all act like autism just popped up outta nowhere — when in reality, you grew up surrounded by undiagnosed autistic people. You just called it something else.

Your cousin wasn’t “lazy.” He just couldn’t function without routine.
Your uncle didn’t “give you the creeps.” He struggled with social cues.
Your grandpa with the strict breakfast routine and same chair every morning? That was sensory comfort and hyperfixation.
That classmate who was brilliant but never spoke?
The sibling who had meltdowns over scratchy clothes or loud sounds?
The kid who knew more about dinosaurs or trains than the teacher?
The adult who wears the exact same outfit every single day because it feels right?

You didn’t miss autism. You mislabeled it.
Autism isn’t new — but diagnosis is.
Awareness is.
Acceptance is.

So yeah, go ahead and keep blaming screen time or Tylenol if it makes you feel better — while entire generations of folks were dismissed as “weird,” “bad,” or “slow.”

It’s not a rise in autism.
It’s a rise in people finally being seen for who they really are. 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

19/08/2025

I Love this truth! I try to apply this in most relationships (not just with kids) and often advice parents to "Connect, then redirect" ♥️

Credit to

17/08/2025

Even if only some of these points resonates with you, then take those you need and leave the rest ☺️ Also - it's about trying your best, not perfection. You don't need to get it right all the time. Being aware and recognizing it is already a step in the right direction. 🫶🏻

Some things are too heavy for kids to carry — and they shouldn’t have to.
Your child needs security, not stress. Safety, not secrets.

Let them have the gift of being a kid.

✨ What we don’t share with our kids can shape them just as much as what we do. ✨

04/08/2025

🙏🏻🥰

27/06/2025

See you in Term 3 🙏🏻♥️

15/05/2025

This!! 👌🏻♥️

Credit to

28/04/2025

When Their Storm Meets Our Calm, Co-Regulation Occurs

When someone is experiencing intense emotions they may be perceived as being in a “storm.” If another person responds to this with heightened emotions of their own (an "even larger storm"), the situation is likely to escalate, leading to increased tension and conflict.

In contrast, meeting the storm with calm involves maintaining a grounded and attuned demeanor while the other person is expressing intense feelings. You model effective emotional regulation, which can help the other person begin to modulate their own feelings. Your calm can serve as an anchor, providing a safe space for the other person to process and express their feelings without fear. The person in distress may feel understood and supported, and is more likely to be able to de-escalate and cocreate their own calm.

Be the calm 🌅, not the storm 🌊

07/04/2025

27/03/2025

Yes! ♥️

Credit to

05/02/2025

Volg Raising Brightness vir gratis toegang tot 'n paar aanlyn praatjies vir laerskool ouers i.v.m screen-time, beplanning, motivering, en ADD in kinders 🙌🏻🙏🏻

Ons Dinsdae-aande praatjies is terug🤩.
Elke laaste Dinsdag van die maand bring ons vir jou gratis kennis oor dinge wat saak maak. Hier is die program vir die eerste helfte van 2025.

Praktiese riglyne vir 'screentime' in jou huis.
Tuesday, 25 February · 19:00 – 19:30
Time zone: Africa/Johannesburg
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qph-bysi-xhc

www.raisingbrightness.co.za

14/01/2025

Worth a read- Take what you need/want and leave the rest. 😊

"Die kinders wil net koek hê en rondhardloop!" - Love die deel 🤣💪🏻

Liewe mammas & pappas

Na 11 jaar in die onderwys en omdat ek self ‘n ma van 2 seuntjies is vra ek, nee, pleit ek:

Hou op om jou kind vir allerhande kompetisies in te skryf en die arme bloeitjie uit te lewer aan tannies met grys, stywe bollas, met blou oogskadu wat hulle beoordeel vir goed wat hulle nie eens weet hulle “verkeerd” doen nie.

Hou op om klaspartytjies vir die juffrou te reël, wie beïndruk jy nou regtig?

Hou op om jou kind se skooltake te doen, die onderwysers giggel lekker vir jou vreemde taalgebruik.

Los jou kind dat hy van die hond met die lang tande skryf in sy opstel, hy leer dan om homself uit te druk en dat sy gevoelens en opinies saak maak.

Hou op om jou kind op te dress in “naamklere” sodat ander mense moet d**k jy is suksesvol/ryk/oulik.

Jou kind wil vuil raak en rondhardloop en nie bang wees as hy per ongeluk se duur broek geskeur het nie.

Hou op om vir n kleintjie wat nog nie eens kan praat nie duur tema partytjies te hou en die wêreld te nooi.

Vir wie doen jy dit? Die kinders wil net koek hê en rondhardloop!

Hou op om jou kind vir elke denkbare “stimulerende” aktiwiteit in te skryf. Hy/ sy kan iets kies, jy betaal deur jou ore en jou kind raak net moeg.

Hou op mammas & pappas.
Hou op “perform”.

Jou kind is nie ‘n skouperdjie nie, ook nie ‘n troeteldiertjie nie.

Gesels, lag, raak vuil en wees net.

Staan terug, haal asem en wees net.

Elana Barker

13/12/2024

That's a Wrap! 😁
To all the parents of my child- clients, the teachers, my colleagues/support network and husband - thank you SO much for a fantastic 2024! Onwards and Forwards! I absolutely LOVE what I do. 🙏🏻❤️🥰 Be safe, be kind to each other (and yourself!) and see you again in 2025.