Keeping our kids entertained for a few more weeks

The last year has seen us having to spend more time than ever in our homes. While it has been nice being able to spend more time than ever with our families, we have also had to find innovative new ways to keep entertained, particularly where the kids are involved! 

Keeping the relationship with the Grandparents going

These surreal days have seen the world forced to adjust to a new normal. While this has been difficult for many of us, those that are older and more vulnerable have been at greater risk. Some of these people have had to shield or self isolate for up to a year in an effort to avoid Covid-19. While vaccine rollouts are well under way, it been a long time since we've seen each other and this is especially the case with our kids. 

Helping improve my mental health with small changes

The current changes has led to plethora of news about it's impact on our mental health.  I've written plenty about how it's impacted on us and just generally about the additional stresses that come with raising children who happen to have additional needs.  Then someone said to me "Well, what can you do about?"

Making TimetoTalk for mental health

What's it like to bring up a child with additional needs? It can be wonderful, amazing and full of things I never thought possible. But it can also be very tiring and stressful. And as it's Time to Talk Day, the day to think about starting a conversation about mental health,  it seems a good time to share.

Five reasons why my kids get frustrated

My kids can become frustrated for a variety of reasons and it isn’t always easy to pinpoint the underlying cause of their emotions.  Two of them have communications difficulties, but even our daughter can struggle sometime to explain why she's feeling frustrated.   As a parent of autistic kids I've learned to behave like a detective - what's causing the issue?  

Educational resources for our kids this lockdown

We're back at home teaching the kids.  There's plenty for them to do during this lockdown though.  The teachers have got to grips with google classroom in a big way and it shows.  I mean it makes sense, I'm using TEAMS to teach so why shouldn't they be busy doing meetings and providing materials too?

Helping our autistic kids get the best sleep during the lockdown

None of our children sleep great. Estimates say between 50% and 90% of autistic people have some sleeping difficulties, whether that's going to sleep, staying asleep or sleeping at the wrong time - and that's just when things are normal. A King's College London study in the summer found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of people's sleep was worse during lockdown.  

Back to online learning - 5 things we do to help our kids be safe online

It's back to remote learning.  The internet is a fantastic tool for learning and socialising but, sadly, it isn’t risk-free. For us, it’s vital to recognise the risks associated with surfing the net and to try and implement effective measures to ensure our kids can stay safe online. To get started, we take a look at these five things we can do to protect our kids when they’re using the internet:

Looking back over 2020 with our autistic, ADHD and neurotypical family

Usually at this time, I'd scan through my blog and pick and best posts over the last year.  Previously it has including how we helped our amazing son zip line not only in the forests of Maui but across the Canadian Rockies and the moment when for the first time in his life, our son didn't cry about going back to school. But it's not really been one of those years has it?