Childhood development

This blog is your how-to-guide, for creating a fun halloween themed sensory activity to supports kids interoception skills – with spooky spaghetti! Interoception refers to our body’s ability to sense and interpret internal signals — things like hunger, thirst, the need to use the bathroom (we call these “homeostatic emotions”), …

Boosting Interoception with spooky spaghetti: A fun halloween sensory activity Read More »

Body signal experiments are simple activities or tasks that are designed to help you tune into your body’s internal signals. They can be as simple as “run on the spot for 30 seconds, now place your hand over your heart. How does your heart feel?” (the child is tuning into …

Using body signal experiments to build interoception and emotional regulation skills   Read More »

You’re giving important instructions to your students when you notice Sally staring out the window, John is rocking back and forth at the end of the classroom, and now Gary is beginning to have a meltdown and needs your support immediately. Busy, high-energy environments can quickly tip into overwhelming chaos …

Managing sensory overload in the classroom: Strategies for teachers Read More »

Supporting kids to first understand their emotions, and then how to move through and express these emotions safely, is an important part of their social and emotional development. But this can be tricky, especially with a complex emotion like anger. That’s where using analogies, hands-on experiments, and play can be …

Anger explained: teach kids about anger with the volcano analogy: a powerful social and emotional learning tool Read More »

When introducing a new skill, we often begin at the start, which can sometimes be frustrating for children as they may become easily discouraged. To give your child a sense of accomplishment, try using the backward chaining technique. This method is particularly effective for teaching self-care skills like dressing and …

Backward Chaining: A step-by-step guide to teaching new skills Read More »

Learning to brush our teeth is an essential skill that sets a strong foundation for good oral hygiene. However, getting kids to brush their teeth regularly can be challenging for both parents and educators. Many children find brushing boring, resist routine tasks, or don’t understand proper techniques. So where do …

Teeth brushing 101 – Strategies for teaching kids to brush their teeth Read More »

What is a reset corner?  The aim of the reset corner is to provide a safe space for children to take a break and reset when they are experiencing feelings that are tricky for them to manage at that moment. Whether at home or in the classroom, children often encounter …

Creating a reset space or ‘calm corner’ for kids: A comprehensive guide Read More »

Children with avoiding patterns have a lower threshold for sensory input and tend to use active self-regulation strategies to avoid feeling overwhelmed.   This is because they have a ‘low neurological threshold’, and therefore need less sensory input to be able to notice and react to what’s happening in their environment. …

Supporting sensory avoiding children: Effective strategies & case study Read More »