Toddlers live in a world that is growing bigger by the day. Their language, feelings, and sense of self are all taking shape, and the stories we share with them can guide that growth in powerful ways. Personal stories make this guidance easier because the characters, places, and details feel close to home. When a child … Read more
A Practical Guide for Teachers (and Parents) Understanding Fine Motor Skills Development Fine motor skills develop when children practice precise, controlled movements using the small muscles in their hands and fingers. These skills are essential for everyday activities like writing, buttoning clothes, and using utensils. When children engage in craft activities, they naturally strengthen these … Read more
Teaching Fairness Through Play: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Guide for Parents Fairness isn’t a concept you can lecture into a child’s understanding. It emerges through experience, through the messiness of sharing toys and the complexity of playground negotiations. For neurodivergent children, this learning process might look different, but it’s no less meaningful or achievable. Your six-year-old who … Read more
Early Intervention OT and Developmental Delays: Helping Kids Build Essential Skills Early intervention occupational therapy (OT) can be a game changer for children with developmental delays. When children struggle with everyday tasks like eating, dressing, or playing, OT offers targeted help that builds their ability to take care of themselves and participate in daily activities. … Read more
5 Expert Recommendations on Daily Activities for Child Development Child development is a complex process that depends on individual child needs. We would all agree that these are areas we want our children to develop, encompassing physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth domains. Experts emphasize the importance of daily activities to support these areas. This … Read more
What is Global Developmental Delay When a child does not meet typical milestones in areas such as speech, motor skills, or social interaction, parents naturally worry. Global developmental delay (GDD) is a term often used to describe a situation where a young child lags behind peers in several key areas. In this article, we explore … Read more
Expressive Language in Children Did you know that a child’s way of telling a story can reveal a lot about how they express themselves? Expressive language is how children use words, sentences, and gestures to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. This guide breaks down the concept of expressive language, explains why it is essential, … Read more
Is Feeding Yourself a Gross or Fine Motor Skill? A Closer Look at Self-Feeding Development Self-feeding is a big milestone in a child’s early years. When a child picks up a spoon or fork and brings food to their mouth, they are not just learning to eat—they are using a mix of motor skills that … Read more
Understanding the Neurodivergent Affirming Child Profile Designed to be Neurodiversity Affirming our new Child Profile is a Holistic Child Development Assessment tool designed to assess and understand the unique strengths and needs of neurodivergent children. This profile considers 5 domains: The results are visually represented in a radar chart, allowing parents, education staff, and therapists … Read more
Developing Adaptive Skills for Success All children need to learn adaptive behaviours to become independent adults. Adaptive behaviours include real-life skills like communication, self-care, home and school living skills, social skills, self-direction, functional academics, and leisure skills. In some of the research, these are seen as a negative, particularly for autistic children. When a child … Read more
Supporting Sensory Seekers: Understanding and Managing Mouthing Behaviours Imagine this: it’s mid-afternoon, and your child has found a shiny, smooth pebble on the playground. Before you can intervene, it’s already in their mouth. To them, this isn’t just a rock—it’s a treasure trove of sensory information. The coolness of the stone, its smooth edges, and … Read more
Understanding the Ethics of Care Framework The ethics of care framework revolutionises special education by prioritising emotional well-being through interdependence and relational connections. This approach fundamentally transforms how special schools support both pupils with profound intellectual disabilities and staff members, creating an environment where mutual care and understanding flourish. Adherents of an ethics of care … Read more
Embracing Neurodiversity in Constructive Play When we think about constructive play, images of children building elaborate spaceships with Lego blocks or crafting intricate sandcastles on the beach might come to mind. While these activities represent advanced forms of constructive play, it’s crucial to understand that they are the culmination of years of experimentation, repetition, and … Read more
The Trajectory Play Schema: Understanding the Fascination with Movement in Children From the graceful arc of a thrown ball to the intricate dance of a leaf in the wind, movement captivates us all. For children, especially those on the autism spectrum, this fascination with movement can be particularly pronounced, often manifesting as a deep interest … Read more
The Art of Rupture and Repair You’ve likely experienced moments when your connection with your child feels strained or broken. These instances, known as ‘ruptures’, are an inevitable part of parenting. However, it’s the way we handle these ruptures that truly matters. This is where the concept of ‘repair’ comes into play, offering a powerful … Read more
Navigating Puberty with Your Autistic Child Puberty is a challenging time for any young person, but for autistic children and their families, it can present unique obstacles and opportunities. This book aims to provide parents and carers with the knowledge, strategies, and understanding needed to support their autistic child through this crucial developmental stage. We’ll … Read more
Nature vs. Nurture: Different Perspectives for Understanding Child Development For decades, the nature vs. nurture debate has been a central topic in understanding human development. Are children shaped more by their genetic makeup or by their environment? While this dichotomy offers valuable insights, modern research suggests that understanding children’s behaviour requires a more nuanced approach. … Read more
Observing young children’s development is both an art and a science. It’s about noticing the small, everyday moments that reveal a child’s growing skills, interests, and personality. As teachers, our goal is to capture these moments accurately and meaningfully, providing a clear picture of each child’s unique learning and developmental journey. This guide is here … Read more
Why Black and White Images are Important for Baby Development We had several high-contrast, black-and-white books for our children, but I never really knew why these were important. In their first few weeks, a newborn’s vision is still blurry and underdeveloped. They can only see high-contrast colours and simple shapes at a close range of … Read more
Why and How to Use Praise with Children with SEN Specific praise is an effective and powerful tool for supporting children with special educational needs (SEN). It can help reinforce behaviour for learning, build self-esteem, and encourage the child to develop a growth mindset. : Importance of Specific Praise for Children with SEN: For children … Read more
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