Big emotions can be difficult for children to understand. One minute everything's fine, the next there's a meltdown over a missing sock, a game not going their way, etc. When worry, fear or frustration takes over, it can feel as though those feelings are too big to manage. During moments like these, gentle grounding activities such as rainbow grounding offers...
Starting high school marks a huge turning point for kids. In Australia, most make this jump around age 12, and it’s a lot to take in—excitement, nerves, sometimes both at once. Suddenly, there are new friendships to figure out, teachers with different expectations, and tougher schoolwork. The whole school environment shifts. Kids hit high school and everything gets bigger. More subjects...
Fights with friends, pressure over schoolwork, family situations, body changes can swirl around in young minds long after adults think the day’s problems have passed. At night, when distractions fade and the mind winds down, those worries often arise. This can lead to difficulty falling asleep, frequent wake-ups, and emotional meltdowns that appear to come “out of nowhere”. Most parents want...
Receiving feedback can trigger anxiety for a lot of people. That sinking feeling that you feel, the moment someone starts talking about you. Whether it’s family discussion, during performance review, during a team meeting, or in an everyday conversation, the prospect of being evaluated can trigger feelings of dread, self-doubt, and vulnerability. Knowing that someone else is about to offer...
Have you ever stared at your to-do list, feeling completely stuck, unable to begin even though you know exactly what needs doing? Do you find yourself sitting at your desk, thinking about starting a task, yet somehow hours pass by with nothing accomplished? Perhaps you've experienced the frustration of watching deadlines approach while feeling powerless to overcome the invisible barrier...
As a parent, you’ve probably experienced the heartbreak of watching your child deal with disappointment. Maybe it was the tears after losing a game match, the disappointment of not making it onto the school play, or the sadness that came with a cancelled birthday party. In those moments, it’s normal to want to protect your child from pain, to make...
Introduction As you're watching your child play in the park, and something doesn't quite feel right. You might notice that they're not as verbal as their other kids who are at this age, or maybe they seem unusually withdrawn during playgroup sessions. As parents, we often find ourselves wondering whether our children's behaviours are just part of normal development or if...
Many neurodivergent people have heightened sensory experiences. Vibrant lights, busy crowds, intertwining conversations, and the aroma of festive cooking can overwhelm the senses. Although some people may find these joyful, they have the potential to cause distress for others. Picture this: You walk into a room filled with blinking lights, multiple conversations are happening at once, and someone hands you a...
It's dinnertime, and you're calling the kids to the table. There's no response. You walk into the living room and find them sitting on the couch, completely absorbed in their tablet, scrolling, gaming, or watching videos. Maybe it’s not an unusual sight; it has become a routine for many households. But then you notice something else: they get cranky when...
Losing a loved one can be heart-wrenching, and the same is true when we lose a beloved pet. I know because I’ve experienced the loss of cherished animals that were with me, generally from the time they were babies until they took their last breaths. The death of my Shetland Sheepdog, Cody, stands out the most. At nearly 13 years...
