http://www.theinsightcentre.ie/

The Insight Centre, Portmarnock (2025)

30/11/2022

Welcome to anyone who has joined us on here recently!

Our Psychology team have been adding new content across our 3 support apps this month - for Parents, Teens & Kids - and we wanted to highlight our Black Friday offer.

For the remaining days in November we are offering 30% off our yearly premium subscription💜

Simply click on the link in our bio and input code INSIG30 on our annual subscription page to avail of this offer.

One premium account unlocks premium access across all 3 apps, giving your whole family psychological support for the year.

Share with anyone you think might like access to:

➡️advice podcasts from our Psychology team

➡️access to soothing meditations

➡️relaxation & coping tools

➡️therapeutic stories for kids

➡️tools to help your teen sleep

➡️animations, a worry jar, brave diary and more...

As always, we welcome feedback and any suggestions about what topics or supports you would like to see us offer - wishing you all a relaxing and restful weekend💜

11/08/2022

The Spectrum Alliance is offering a new seminar for primary and second-level education staff on Managing Neurodiversity in the Classroom. The online seminar will take place on September 28th from 4pm to 6pm and will cover Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD and ASD. For more details on the seminar and to book a place see https://www.tickettailor.com/events/dyslexiaireland/742854
The Spectrum Alliance is an umbrella network of national organisations that represent and advocate for the needs of people with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD and ASD; the four member organisations of the Spectrum Alliance are the Dyslexia Association of Ireland, Dyspraxia Ireland, ADHD Ireland and Aspire - The Autism Spectrum Association of Ireland. During the seminar experts from each group will share insights and tips for educators on these four neurodiverse profiles.
The fee per attendee is €45, but if you are booking two or more places for your school staff, a reduced group booking rate of €35 per attendee is available.

09/05/2022

Free Workshop For Primary School Teachers

* This workshop is aimed at helping primary school teachers facilitate the development of their student’s speech, language and communication skills in the classroom setting.

* It will focus on whole class language activities, how to identify students with language difficulties and strategies teachers can implement into their daily classroom routine.

*The workshop is aimed at teachers of children aged 5-8 years (Junior Infants - Second Class)

09/05/2022

Free Workshop For Teachers

* This online workshop aimed at helping preschool teachers facilitate the development of their student’s language and communication skills in the classroom setting.

*This workshop is for preschool teachers who have children with delays within their language development or children who are nonverbal.

*Teachers will be given tips and strategies on how best to support children’s communication development.

Book your free place here:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/strategies-for-supporting-language-development-in-the-preschool-classroom-tickets-328748283967?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

09/05/2022

Free Online Workshop

*Learn how to facilitate the development of your child’s language and communication skills in everyday settings.

*This workshop is for parents of children aged 0-3 years who are experiencing delays in their language development or children who are nonverbal.

*Parents will be given tips and strategies on what to do and what not to do when supporting their child’s communication development.

Book your free place here:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/strategies-for-supporting-your-childs-language-and-communication-skills-tickets-328755525627?aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing&utm-campaign=social&utm-medium=discovery&utm-content=attendeeshare

09/04/2022

Online parent workshop happening this week! Places strictly limited.

* Develop your understanding of stress and anxiety

* Learn what parental responses are helpful in reducing anxiety overtime and what responses can maintain anxiety.

To book follow this link:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/understanding-and-responding-to-anxiety-in-children-tickets-288626990097

23/03/2022

Places limited. To book follow this link:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/288626990097

15/11/2021

New online parental workshop. To book follow this link:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/understanding-and-responding-to-anxiety-in-children-and-adolescents-tickets-206086860347

05/10/2021

Lion's breath (in Sanskrit, simha, meaning ‘lion’)is a breathing exercise from yogic practice, that involves exhaling forcefully with your tongue extended towards your chin. It’s often used as an energising breath that can help you release tension in your face, neck and throat, and help you find emotional balance. This practice can be used by children and adults, and can be a lovely exercise to use as part of an after-school ‘decompression time’.

Traditionally lion's breath is done in a kneeling position, with ankles criss-crossed. But choose a seated position that you feel most comfortable in - in a chair or cross legged on the ground. Focus your gaze on the space in front of you or the tip of your nose, and follow the steps above - breathing in and exhaling with a force, producing a “ha" sound. Your pose should feel like a lion, and don’t be afraid to adjust to what feels powerful and balanced for you.

If instructing a child around how to practice this pose you might ask them to kneel or crouch on all fours, and take a deep breath through their nose. As they breathe out, guide them to open their mouth wide and stick their tongue out. Invite them to imagine how a lion might breathe, or yawn, or even roar! Repeat this 4-6 times and check in to see how everyone is feeling in their heads, hearts and body.

You can find a range of animated and guided breathing techniques on our InsightKids app, which you can download for free through the link in our bio. Wishing you all an easy pace Tuesday 💜

04/10/2021

Have you downloaded our free parent app? Gain access to support from our team of psychologists via our app.

* Designed to support parents through the everyday stressors of parenting and life in general.

* Designed to support parents who are parenting a child experiencing stress or anxiety.

* Build self compassion, resilience, coping skills and emotional literacy in yourself and your family.

* Teen platform and kids app also available providing whole family support.

Currently offering 30% discount on our premium subscription giving the whole family access to all content on across apps with one subscription. Month free trial for premium access also now available.

www.insightforall.com

09/09/2021

Hand Strength
Hand strength is essential for engaging in everyday fine motor activities. Children who have poor hand strength may encounter difficulties with tasks such as holding a pencil, using a scissors, fastening zips/buttons, opening/closing containers and using cutlery.

Here are some suggestions for supporting children to develop their hand strength.

1. A children's jumbo tweezers or kitchen tongs can be used to pick up objects and place in containers, e.g. cotton balls, beads, raisins.

2. Water play using spray bottles, e.g. spray paint, watering flowers, water guns.

3. 'Suckers' can be pulled from surfaces and develop both hand and upper body strength.

4. Clothes peg games promote hand strength and hand separation, e.g. placing 'legs' onto animals.

5. Kneading cookie dough/play dough/ putty to develop upper body strength.

6. Modelling with putty - rolling into shapes, making animals, making jewellery, etc.

7. Scissors practice using a variety of materials , e.g. straws, play dough, card.

8. Interlocking construction toys such as lego or pop beads.

22/08/2021

Be SMART!
This mnemonic can be helpful when considering how we as adults are communicating with children with language and communication difficulties.

S: Slow down (your speech)
***Children with language difficulties need extra time to process speech and language. If you speak too quickly, they may miss information. Speak slowly and pause between key phrases. Use short, simple sentences.

M: Emphasize key points:
*** Some children need support with receptive language skills. If you add emphasis, this helps clue them into the critical words and important information.

A: Add a visual, gesture, or cue.
***Children with language difficulties benefit from extra hints and visual aids.

R: Repeat instructions, two or three times.
***Repetition of verbal stimuli is highly beneficial for children with language difficulties. If your child hasn’t understood you try repeating what you’ve said rather than rephrasing. Re-phrasing can increase the language load for a child with difficulties.

T: Time needed to respond is longer.
***Children with language difficulties may need extra time to formulate their responses, so it is important to be patient with them.

14/07/2021

As parents we can worry about our children being bored. Here are only some of reasons why boredom is actually really important!

1. Encourages creativity and imagination:

When children are left to amuse themselves, they are placed in a position when they must entertain themselves. Ensuring children have this space provides them with the chance to try things of their own choosing, creating a sense of discovery, inquisitiveness and learning.

2. Enhances problem solving skills:

In this technological age, children can often feel discomfort when at a loose end, this can motivate a child into generating ideas as to how to amuse themselves, enhancing their problem solving skills and building a sense of independence.

3. Improves interpersonal skills:

When children are left to their own devices they must communicate, negotiate, problem solve and collaborate with each other, without the support of an adult.

4. Builds confidence:

When your child has chance to keep themselves occupied, and they achieve this independently by trying new things, it can help to improve self-confidence and their sense of self-efficacy.

5. Enhances self-awareness:

Boredom provides your child the opportunity and space for inner quiet which can aid creativity and self-awareness.

09/06/2021

Pausing is such a simple strategy to use with young children, and works for many different reasons.
Why should we incorporate pauses when talking with children?
1. Processing time:
For children with receptive and expressive language delays, incorporating intermittent pauses as we talk with them allows them time to process what we are saying. When communication is difficult for a child, it may take them more than a few seconds to process a word, phrase, or sentence.
2. Providing your child with the opportunity to communicate:
When talking with our children, incorporating pauses
provides them with the opportunity to participate in the routine or conversation.
3. Reducing pressure associated with communication:
We want our children to learn that communication is fun! When we slow down and give our children the time they need to participate in these reciprocal exchanges, we reduce pressure associated with communication.
4. Observing how your child communicates:
Pausing and slowing down when talking with your child allows you to observe how they are currently communicating. Once we make these observations, we can then model the next developmentally-expected behaviour for our child. When you pause, you might realize your child is doing more to communicate than you originally realised!

Try pausing for 10 seconds and see how your little one responds!

04/06/2021

Tips for building confidence and self esteem in our children

12/05/2021

Meet the team behind our app. Designed to help parents support themselves and their children. Teens and kids app also available so the whole family is supported 💕

09/05/2021

Love this post
Helpful phrases that can be used to help children regulate and problem solve when completing homework

For more tips and guidance check out or download the Insight: For Stress &Anxiety App designed by The Insight Centre Team

05/05/2021

Hi All, We are having issues with our website - apologies for any inconvenience. We are open and if need to contact the clinic you can ring 01-8463894 or email admin@theinsightcentre.ie we hope to have it up and running again soon! Stacey

The Insight Centre

30/11/2022

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