Blog

When it comes to celebrating neurodiversity in the classroom, let’s start with what the term “neurodiversity” is? It’s becoming more widely used and known, but what does it mean? Neurodiversity refers to the diversity of brains and minds. It acknowledges that everyone’s brain is wired differently and that this difference should be celebrated. It covers the great superpowers such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and more. Whether it be a learning challenge or developmental conditi …

If you have a child, chances are you remember all too well the stage where everything seemed to go in their mouth, whether it was their foot, your keys or anything else that was in reach. You’ve probably heard all the horror stories about dog poop or kitty litter, too (that’s if you haven’t lived it). While chewing is a frustrating stage, it is actually a normal part of development for babies and toddlers. But it’s when kids continue to chew and chew inappropriate things, an …

Gross motor skills are important for everyday life - developing the muscles in the arms, legs and torso aids activities like walking, running, lifting, climbing, throwing and kicking. The development of gross motor skills lays the groundwork for fine motor skills, and aids speed, reaction and risk assessment. 10 Activities To Develop Gross Motor Skills 1. Obstacle Course Set up an age and skill appropriate obstacle course! This is an easy activity to practice indoors or outdoors …

Being diagnosed with dyslexia, whether you’re an adult or child, can be quite a process. But once you have been, everything makes sense. And teachers quite often say when it comes to dyslexia in kids, you can nearly see the relief in their eyes as there’s now a reason why they’re not quite “getting” their learning like the other kids in their class. What does Dyslexia mean? Often you’ll hear the term “dyslexic” thrown around as a joke or meant as a supposed funny excuse as …

Sensory fidget toys are more than just a craze and the latest hype. They have a fabulous purpose for kids with ADHD, OCD, Autism and other sensory and behavioural challenges. Adding some calm and assistance with concentration can do wonders for their school day and make certain environments and situations more manageable. Can you imagine being overstimulated and hyped up all the time and having to move? How exhausting, stressful and upsetting would it be? This is why fidget …

Mindfulness for kids couldn’t be more important in the world we live in. Particularly with COVID-19 and some states of Australia being in and out of lockdown for the past 2 years. It’s hard enough for adults to understand. What must our young people be thinking? It’s becoming quite normal for kids to be doing more and more on digital devices. learning at home online online at school doing their homework online studying online chat to their friends online watch YouTub …

A Child Psychologist is a health professional that has studied human behaviour at university and is a trained expert in the way people behave and think. Their job primarily involves helping people to change their emotions, thoughts and behaviour to enable them cope better and be happier in life. There are many reasons why a child might be referred to for Child Psychology including, but not limited to:• Developmental delay in speech and language• Learning and attention proble …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a behavioural disorder which makes it difficult for a child to sit still, pay attention, be organised and think about the consequences of their actions before acting. The three main problems a child with ADHD faces are inattention, impulsivity and overactivity. Although most children have trouble with some of these things, in children with ADHD the behaviour is extreme, continuous and affects their day to day functioning. There ar …

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way an individual interacts with their environment and the people around them. Often they have impaired communication, social and language skills as well as restrictive, repetitive behaviours, interests or activities. The term ‘spectrum’ refers the range of difficulties a person with ASD may experience and the degree in which their life may be affected. There is a saying that goes “If you’ve met …

The main goal of Occupational Therapy for children is to enable those with a disability or injury to participate and function successfully in daily living activities. Occupational Therapists (OT’s) are trained professionals who help develop skills in such areas as: Eating Toileting Playing Writing Running Hopping Dressing Learning Drawing Showering Jumping Cutting At your initial consultation the OT will assess your child’s fine and gross motor skills, cogni …