5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a School for Your Neurodivergent Child
If you're the parent or carer of a neurodivergent child — whether they're autistic, ADHD, PDA, or simply beautifully wired in their own way — choosing a school can feel like stepping into a job interview you didn’t ask for.
Will this place truly see and support my child — or just try to make them fit in?
The Hidden Superpower That Helps Kids Regulate Their Emotions
When kids feel overwhelmed, anxious, fidgety, or flat, one of the most effective ways to help them regulate is through proprioceptive input — the sensory feedback our muscles and joints get when we push, pull, squeeze, or move with effort. Think of it as the body’s internal GPS: it tells us where we are in space, how we’re moving, and how much force we’re using.
Activities like jumping, climbing, pushing heavy objects, or giving firm hugs can help calm the nervous system and bring kids back to their bodies. But one often-overlooked form of proprioception is breathing — particularly slow, deep, controlled breathing.
What does it mean to be neurodiversity affirming?
Neurodivergent children, for example those with ADHD or autism, have a brain structure and chemistry that is fundamentally different from typical brains (or neurotypical brains). Navigating the healthcare system for a neurodivergent child, whether they are autistic, have ADHD, or face specific learning differences, can be challenging. Often, traditional assessments and therapies are designed to "correct" neurodivergent traits, focusing on perceived deficits rather than celebrating the child's unique strengths.
At Hi Thrive, we are committed to a neurodiversity-affirming approach.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in Autistic Children
Parenting a child on the autism spectrum comes with its unique challenges, and among them is the lesser-known condition called Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). PDA is widely understood to be a profile on the autistic spectrum, characterised by an avoidance of everyday demands and the use of ‘social’ strategies to as a means for avoidance.