Child Therapy NI

16/11/2025

A 98-year-old Inishowen man has issued an appeal to find anyone who might still be alive with whom he worked on the Lough Swilly Railway Line.

16/11/2025

SECOND CHANCE SUNDAY - another opportunity to see our most popular posts of the past 7 days.

During a meltdown, the goal is not to 'fix' or 'stop' the behaviour.
The goal is to help the nervous system return to safety.

What we say — and how we say it — makes a profound difference.

When a child is overwhelmed, the thinking parts of the brain are offline.
They can’t reason, respond, or problem-solve yet.
They need co-regulation, not correction.

This post offers phrases you can use at each stage of the meltdown cycle — not to control the moment, but to support safety, connection, and repair.

Because when a child learns:
“I can have big feelings and still be safe with you,”
they develop emotional resilience, trust, and self-understanding.

If you found this helpful and would like a deeper breakdown of each phase (with step-by-step support strategies), you’ll find the full Timeline of a Meltdown resource via link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

Save this to come back to when things feel overwhelming

16/11/2025

Many parents worry that showing too much love or attention will spoil a child, especially in the first few years. Neuroscience shows this belief is false. Before age 3, a child’s brain is not capable of manipulating or demanding affection. Instead, every act of care teaches them one vital truth: whether the world is safe.

In these early years, the brain is building millions of connections that form the foundation for trust, emotional control, and social understanding. When parents respond to cries, make eye contact, and comfort their child, they’re shaping how the child’s nervous system reacts to stress. The message becomes: “You are safe. You are heard.”

This is how secure attachment forms. Children who feel protected and comforted are more likely to grow into confident, curious, and resilient adults. Restricting affection doesn’t build independence; it builds uncertainty.

Each gentle touch, soothing word, and shared smile wires the brain for stability and empathy. Love in early childhood is not indulgence. It is brain development.

So hold them close. Respond often. Love freely. Because what feels like comfort today becomes the foundation of who they become tomorrow.

16/11/2025

The signs of slow processing you may have missed...https://ilslearningcorner.com/2016-09-processing-speed-slow-processing-speed-makes-simple-tasks-daunting-kids/

16/11/2025

Agree 💯

15/11/2025

The vestibular system is key for balance, coordination, and movement ⚖️✨ Here are 35 simple vestibular activities for toddlers and preschoolers to support healthy development through play.

👉 Link is in the first comment below!

15/11/2025

Most toddlers are busy learning ABCs and counting, but what they really need are the invisible skills that shape their brains for life. By age 5, gaps in these foundational skills become much harder to close.

The three core skills that determine lifelong success are focus, language, and confidence.

Focus is a secret superpower. Kids who practice paying attention early struggle less in school later. Simple activities like stacking blocks or drawing without interruption train their brains to sustain attention. Observe quietly, don’t correct or praise constantly, and let their focus grow naturally.

Language builds confidence. Early communication helps children develop social skills, curiosity, and self-expression. Narrate what they do, like “Stack the red block. Look how round it is,” then pause and let them respond. Every word becomes a connection in the brain, laying the foundation for learning and relationship skills.

Confidence emerges when children feel safe to explore, make mistakes, and solve problems independently.

Focusing on these skills before age 3 gives your child a head start in school and life. Foundations matter more than facts.

15/11/2025

Social Anxiety

What other possible social anxiety symptoms could you add to these that your child experiences?

fears reading out loud in class
freezing up around others
refuses to go to school
fear of being judged by others
avoiding social situations
fear of meeting new people
intense anxiety in social situations

To learn more about Sensory Processing Disorder, our website is full of information and resources. sensoryprocessingdisorderparentsupport.com

15/11/2025

Free and Fun Places to Take Your Kids to Play and Learn

I was going to add the animal shelter to visit to see and learn about animals (some even allow kids to read to pets!) but ran out of space. What am I missing? 😅

15/11/2025

15/11/2025

Any Thoughts on this?
This is a page for discussion.