The Whole Child Connection

18/02/2026

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18/02/2026

Growth isn’t linear - it moves in waves, with setbacks, pauses and leaps forward all shaping the progress.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿…
𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧’𝗦 𝗢𝗞𝗔𝗬!

Development can ebb and flow, and each path is unique and valid. So, keep showing up. Keep noticing. Growth is happening.

Let’s celebrate growth in all its forms.

17/02/2026

Your child is not ignoring you.
They are overwhelmed.

When children are angry, shouting, refusing or throwing things, it is easy to move straight to consequences. But when emotions take over, the thinking part of the brain switches off. In that moment, lectures do not teach. Shouting does not calm. Punishment alone does not build skills.

Children need help to regulate before they can reflect.

Connection does not mean giving in. It means staying steady. Naming the feeling. Showing your child that you see what is going on inside them. Once their body settles, they are far more able to listen, understand boundaries and take responsibility for their behaviour.

Clear limits still matter. Consequences still matter. But connection makes them work.

If we want children and teenagers to manage big emotions, build self control and develop respect, we need to model calm first.

Regulation before reasoning.
Connection before correction.

Like the photo and comment "CONNECTION" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

10/02/2026

An Allied Health Assistant (AHA), or Therapy Assistant, can play an important role in supporting your child’s therapy. AHAs help children engage fully in sessions, reinforce OT, SP, BSP strategies at home, and provide extra support tailored to each child’s needs.

We’re pleased to have Prabh, our lovely AHA on our team with immediate capacity to provide supports to young children and young adults. If you feel an AHA could be a valuable part of your child’s care team, please reach out and we’d be happy to chat and answer your questions.

✉️ hello@thewholechildconnection.com.au
🌎 www.thewholechildconnection.com.au
📍Melbourne West

10/02/2026

Strong Relationships Fuel Development!

10/02/2026

Term 1 | Group Therapy (Thursdays and Fridays)

The Whole Child Connection still has a few spots available for neuroaffirming group therapy sessions in Derrimut and Truganina for ages 2-9 years.

Guided by the evidence-based DIR Model
• Child-led and relationship-based
• Focused on connection, shared joy, and meaningful engagement
• Small groups formed by age and developmental capacities

📩 Comment or message us to express interest or request further information. Limited places available.

10/02/2026

Term 1 | Group Therapy (Thursdays and Fridays)

The Whole Child Connection still has a few spots available for neuroaffirming group therapy sessions in Derrimut and Truganina for ages 2-9 years.

Guided by the evidence-based DIR Model
• Child-led and relationship-based
• Focused on connection, shared joy, and meaningful engagement
• Small groups formed by age and developmental capacities

📩 Comment or message us to express interest or request further information. Limited places available.

03/02/2026

🧠 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿
What other amazing qualities would you add to this list?

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 🔗💞🧡
Prioritizing connection and trust to create safe, meaningful relationships with each client and their families.

𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 🌀🐛🦋
Ready to pivot in an instant, letting go of any plans they had, to best support regulation and engagement.

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 🤔🔍🕵️‍♀️
Approaches every
interaction with openness and wonder – always seeking to understand someone’s inner world, perspectives, motivations, and intentions.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 🧘‍♀️💭📝
Thinks deeply about interactions – using insights to best support development. This includes self-reflection on one’s own actions during an interaction.

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 🤝🏻👫🧱
Partners with both parents and professionals in a shared mission to support the whole individual.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝘀-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 💪🌟🗝️
Sees the brilliance in every person – amplifying their passions, honoring their individuality, and using their strengths as a springboard for growth.

03/02/2026

Not every child needs us to completely change how we speak. And honestly, not every adult will feel comfortable being this mindful with their language all the time.

But for some autistic children, especially the ones who freeze, avoid, or shut down when they’re asked lots of questions, the way we speak can really change how safe an interaction feels.

In DIRFloortime®, we start to notice the moments where questions, prompts and instructions might be adding pressure without us realising. In those moments, shifting to more declarative language - sharing instead of directing - can help a child stay regulated, engaged and connected.

This isn’t about removing questions.
It’s about recognising when they create performance pressure and knowing there’s another option.

01/02/2026

A baby’s cry is a biological signal that their body is in distress and they need support.

In early development, their brain relies on these moments to shape how it responds to the world. When a caregiver consistently shows up, the brain begins to wire for safety, connection, and trust.

When those cries are ignored, the baby’s body stays flooded with stress, and the brain starts preparing for a world where needs go unmet. This affects how they regulate emotion, how they seek comfort, and how they form relationships—often in ways that are hard to undo.

Always tend to your little one’s physical and emotional needs. Their future depends on it.

31/01/2026

Denmark is officially moving away from the cry it out method after a nationwide study revealed it was still being taught in most municipalities. More than 700 psychologists signed a unified statement urging immediate discontinuation of the practice. They emphasized that prolonged crying without comfort elevates cortisol and affects how the infant brain forms emotional and stress regulation pathways. This national push reflects growing scientific awareness of early neural sensitivity.

Researchers highlight that when babies cry alone, their stress signals rise sharply. Without caregiver response, the brain begins wiring for self protection rather than trust. These early patterns influence later attachment styles emotional stability and even learning behavior. Denmark’s decision aligns with decades of neuroscience showing that infants depend on caregiver regulation to build healthy neural circuits.

Despite this, the cry it out approach continues to be recommended in parts of the U.S. where outdated models of infant independence remain common. Scientists argue that babies do not learn self soothing through isolation. Instead they learn through repeated experiences of comfort which stabilize heart rate breathing and emotional processing. This helps form long term resilience.

Denmark’s shift highlights a global conversation about infant well being. The science is clear. Responding to a baby’s distress supports healthier development than leaving them to cry alone.

15/01/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦❗❗❗

"Shifting from addressing behaviors to trying to understand their origins and triggers means making a shift from managing out children to understanding them deeply" Mona Delahooke, Ph.D.