Thursday 27 July 2017

Parents with autistic kids need the right support

Our autistic son, at the playground

Becoming a parent can be easy for some, more difficult for others. Being a parent can be the same. Some take to it like a fish to water and for others it can be a daily struggle.  What must be really difficult is when your child’s autistic behaviour is misunderstood and as a result you are considered a bad parent.

Wednesday 26 July 2017

WonderfulWednesday: SEND30DayChallenge via @mumsmissions


This month's wonderful Wednesday share isn't really a single post I found online.  It's a series I've found, all thanks to this idea of a Special Needs Bloggers 30 Day Challenge from Mum On A Mission.

Monday 24 July 2017

Helping siblings with different abilities play together - Crouching Tigers

Jane playing crouching tigers and hiding

Sometimes it's difficult for the kids to play together - what am I talking about, a lot of the time it's difficult.  The holidays are upon us and this means less school mates and resorting to playing with siblings.  Two of our boys are autistic.  David is pre-verbal and thinks like a child half his age and Anthony also has ADHD.  Jane on the other hand is highly social and imaginative and desperate to play with her brothers.  This means we need to help them play and recently this means adapting games.  So we've created Crouching Tigers to help them play together.

Thursday 20 July 2017

Medal craft activity for the World @ParaAthletics Championship

Jane and Advid running - Medal Craft activity for the Para Athletics

Helping kids understand or engage with sports events can sometimes be a challenge whether they have autism or not.  As the World Para Athletics Championships are in full swing, why not engage them with a fun medals activity.  This craft activity we did at Me Too & Co has some great ways for developing motor skills and can celebrate your own achievements or games.

Tuesday 18 July 2017

Our favourite online educational resources for the holidays


Anthony really struggles with homework.  David is only interested in what he is interested in when he's interested in it and Jane is interested in learning about everything! Over the last school year we've found being able to access ideas for homework or about topics at a level my kids get and understand has been really helpful.  And we are heading for the holidays and summer projects.

Thursday 13 July 2017

What SEND families find most difficult about the holidays

Anthony on holiday

In some ways, this is maybe one of the saddest posts I've written.  Generally I wouldn't put myself into the 'sad' or 'angry' blogger categories.  I definitely share how I feel and how *I think* my boys and family feel about things that happen. But I'm not sure they are really sad posts. When I asked some SEND families what they found difficult about the holidays I wasn't expecting half hearted remarks but I didn't expect to feel so down hearted after reading them.

Tuesday 11 July 2017

Sleeping in a sauna

Sleeping in red sheets

Ahhh.. the British and our heatwaves.  We do love to complain about a lack of summer and then melt and moan when the temperature rises above 30 degrees.  Mostly I hear moaning about the nights and about how windows are opened and everyone has bought fans turned.  But not in our house - it's just not safe. We have to think about our autistic kids and what works for them.  Read more here.

Sunday 9 July 2017

SEND & SpectrumSunday #52


Welcome back for Spectrum and SEND Sunday #52!  Summer is upon us and we are struggling a bit with the heat in our home. 

Wednesday 5 July 2017

Saved by a pack of M&S Dark Chocolate Lemon & Lime Jaffa Cakes


One of my girl friends loves the M&S Dark Chocolate Lemon & Lime Jaffa Cakes.  They are her go-to treat - worth their weight in gold. And though I'm not so sure that financially makes sense, she bought a pack over to my house the other day when she and her little boy came round for a play date with Jane.  And they were delicious.  Today I was going to drop some to her as a treat in return, but I couldn't.  Because yesterday I had to use them to save my son from himself. 

Monday 3 July 2017

Why we may always be part of the latest craze

Why we may alwasy be part of the latest craze - Anthony playing with a Fidget Spinner

David loves to spin.  He spins toys, wheels, lights and particularly enjoys whole body spinning himself akin to a figure skater.  He'll spin when he's excited and sometimes spin his fingers near his eyes too.   He spins at home, at the playground, on days out and even in the odd restaurant.   And then in the same restaurant he may stand mesmerised by a spinning fan that's just meant to be keeping the patrons cool. Sometimes it's a reaction to having fun, being excited and sometimes it's about being calm.

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