Bay Paediatrics

05/12/2025

We are excited that our managing director Freddie Bennett is speaking at the My Spirited Child ADHD conference in Christchurch tomorrow.

We’re going to light the fuse on the rocket labelled, ‘How neurodivergent parents can raise unstoppable neurodivergent kids’ 🚀

This is the core of everything we do at Bay Paediatrics.

Because we believe:

- Every neurodivergent child deserves to grow up knowing they belong, exactly as they are.
- Every neurodivergent parent deserves practical, judgement-free tools to help their kids soar.
- NO family — no matter how complex, how unique, or how wonderfully different — gets left behind.

Freddie will be sharing the strategies, the mindset shifts, and the real-life stories that prove confidence comes first… and the world catches up later.

We’ll be bringing every ounce of that fire straight back to our clinic, our families, and our community.

If you’re at the conference, come find us, we’d love to say hello!

And if you’re one of our Bay Paediatrics whānau cheering from home…watch this space, because the best bits are coming straight to you.

06/11/2025

🧩 EPIC Families LIVE 2025 🚀

What. A. Day.

The largest event for neurodiverse families EVER in New Zealand.

450 parents, caregivers and children came to Tauranga to be part of something truly extraordinary.

EPIC stands for Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. At Bay Paediatrics, we believe that every family is an EPIC family, and this is part of our mission to ensure we give every family the tools and freedom to thrive.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re…

Taking the first tentative steps towards a life on the neurodivergent spectrum…

Feeling overwhelmed, overlooked and trapped in a holding pattern where you just want some clarity and certainty…

Seeking to better understand, and be better understood by family, friends, teachers and society…

On the receiving end of an ADHD or autism diagnosis and are asking, ‘Now what the hell do we do?!’...

Or just looking to build confidence and connection through being in a safe space with people just like you…

…NO FAMILY GETS LEFT BEHIND.

This is just the start of the neurodiversity revolution.

Here’s to building a brighter future for families across New Zealand.

30/10/2025

🎃 The REALLY Scary Thing About Halloween 🎃

It’s ironic that on Halloween, you need to wear a mask in order to be like everyone else.

For a neurospicy person, that's how we feel every day.�

Children who are beautifully unique in their passions, intensity, or way of communicating are often misunderstood. They may be labelled as “weird,” “too much,” or “different.” While other children might move smoothly through the unspoken rules of friendship, your child may feel like they’re always one step behind.

This isn’t because they don’t want friends. It’s often because their social signals don’t quite match the “expected” patterns. They may miss cues, talk too much about their favourite topic, or find group dynamics overwhelming. The result can be rejection or exclusion...and that hurts deeply, for both child and parent.

Why does this happen?

💬 Different communication styles: Neurodivergent children may prefer direct honesty or deep topics, which can confuse peers used to lighter, fast-paced chatter.

😵‍💫 Sensory and emotional intensity: Big feelings or sensitivity can overwhelm other kids who don’t yet know how to respond.

⚠️ Unwritten rules: Many social rules are invisible. If no one explains them, a child may unintentionally “break” them and be left out.

So this is how parents can help:

🎓 Coach social skills gently: Role-play or explain social cues without shaming.

🙌 Find kindred spirits: Support friendships with children who share similar interests, even if they’re younger, older, or outside the classroom.

🛟 Create safe social spaces: Structured playdates, clubs, or hobbies provide predictability and reduce the pressure of large groups.

🪞 Model friendship yourself: Show them what kindness, repair, and patience look like in your own relationships.

❤️‍🩹 Validate their pain: When they’re left out, acknowledge their hurt. “I know that feels lonely. It’s not because something is wrong with you.”

And here’s the truth: many of the children who don’t “fit in” grow up to be the adults who stand out — as innovators, creators, leaders, and visionaries.

Being “too much” is often just the first sign of being extraordinary.

22/10/2025

Creating Neuro-Inclusive Classrooms and Workplaces -this month with the superstar team at Toi Ohomai university.

We’re proud to be delivering our “Neurodiversity in Education” workshops which are designed to help schools, universities, and workplaces understand, support, and empower neurodivergent students and staff.

🧠 Because when we understand how different brains learn, think and thrive, everyone benefits.

These practical, research-based sessions are helping educators and teams to:

✅ Recognise and respond to ADHD, Autism, and other neurodivergent traits
✅ Build environments that reduce overwhelm and boost focus
✅ Use strategies that improve engagement, learning, and wellbeing
✅ Create spaces where people can drop the mask and bring their full selves to work or study

We strongly believe that Neurodiversity isn’t 'a problem to fix'.....it’s a strength to harness.

Together, we can create classrooms and workplaces where every brain belongs, and where every talent can thrive.

We are rolling these out across New Zealand, so if your workplace or educational institution is feeling a little trapped, and you'd like the neurodiversity lockpick, please drop us a message.

22/10/2025

We cracked the neurodiversity code!

Fantastic write up and photos of our EPIC Event earlier this month.

YES...we will be back next year.

YES...it will be bigger, bolder and more EPIC!

YES...We are on a mission to give EVERY family in New Zealand the tools, guidance, knowledge and mindset to become an EPIC family!

A big thanks once more to all 450 of you who made it!

https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/373298-tauranga-showcased-as-hub-for-neurodiverse-support.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawNmGglleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHv6ekrmZztysAhIUKQ5isxChK2_qzT0UbW4JYky31F8wTshLC7BY3MG28STT_aem_UoKCpmm82Ady2_uDiF-iOA

Tauranga showcased as hub for neurodiverse support

13/10/2025

Cracking the Neurodiversity Code.🧩

What an EPIC day!! 🚀

We were delighted to welcome 450 people to Baycourt Theatre in Tauranga to host the biggest EVER event for Neurodiverse Families in New Zealand.

EPIC Families is for Extraordinary Parents and Incredible Children, and this was about bringing leading experts to the stage to help families solve their most pressing challenges.

At Bay Paediatrics we truly believe that every family deserves the freedom to thrive, and EPIC Families is our way of helping parents & caregivers get the knowledge, mindset and confidence to support their neurodivergent children.

EPIC Families will be back next year… and we’ll take it to a whole new level.

11/10/2025

EPIC Families LIVE…today is the day!

Excited to welcome over 400 people to NZ’s biggest neurodiverse family event EVER!!

06/10/2025

The most EPIC event for Neurodiverse Families in New Zealand… EVER!

It’s Mental Health Week, and there’s no better time to jump on board the Neurodiversity Revolution.

We’re giving neurodiverse families the tools, knowledge, confidence, and connection they need to be truly EPIC: Extraordinary Parents. Incredible Children.

This Sunday, October 12th, at Baycourt Theatre in Tauranga, 350 PEOPLE are already confirmed for a show-stopping, code-cracking, game-changing event.

We’re bringing the REAL neurodiversity experts — developmental paediatricians, psychologists, teachers, behavioural change specialists, and CEOs — to help families solve their biggest challenges:

🤯 Emotions�
💤 Sleep
🎓 School�
😡 Meltdowns�
🥗 Diet�
🧠 Resilience
📱 Screens & Internet�
🚀 Confidence

This is about giving neurodiverse families the freedom to thrive: brand-new insights, practical tips, real understanding… all in a room full of families just like yours.

Head to the Bay Paediatrics website to grab the last few tickets and be part of something truly EPIC for New Zealand.

This Sunday, we’re changing the game for neurodiverse families.

Forever.

02/09/2025

EPIC Families LIVE is back!

On October 12th 2025, the Neurodiversity Revolution returns to Tauranga, bringing some amazing speakers to help families crack the neurodiversity code.

After the HUGE success of our first show in March, we’re bringing you a brand new group of experts to deliver the definitive answers and practical solutions to help you solve the challenges of:

- Managing emotional dysregulation, drama, meltdowns and outbursts
- Focusing in the classroom, managing life at school…and cracking the teacher communication code
- Sleeping and bedtimes
- Dealing with anxiety for children…and parents
- Mealtimes, nutrition and eating habits
- Being a neurodivergent parent with neurodivergent children
- Communicating with your child about ADHD
- Helping your child to discover their ‘ADHD Advantage’

This time we're going bigger and better: It's our mission to deliver the largest event for neurodiverse families EVER in New Zealand.

Check out what happened in our last EPIC Families event (which totally sold out).

Links to tickets are in the comments: We would love to see you there!

17/07/2025

🎓 Helping teachers to help children 🎓

School can be a tough environment for neurodiverse children.

From emotional struggles to educational challenges. From friendships to focus. From maths to meltdowns: The classroom can often be a confusing and overwhelming place.

As parents, we know first hand that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see the school number flashing on your phone *again*. Or the heartbreak of a bedtime conversation that reveals friendship challenges. Or the panic of being late for work and having your child refuse to get ready for school because they don’t want to be there.

But it’s also a challenge for schools. Often, despite best intentions and a huge desire to make a positive difference, teachers, principals and learning support teams often feel overwhelmed, understaffed and under-equipped to deal with a growing number of children dealing with an increasing number of challenges.

Bay Paediatrics is on a mission to change all of this. Starting right now.

Today, we started delivering free neurodiversity care hampers to every primary and intermediate school in Tauranga. Some info, some insights, and some delicious snacks to make teachers smile.

This is what our New Zealand Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence is all about - not just world-class ADHD, ASD and learning assessments, but also giving professionals the right tools, knowledge and confidence so they can do their part to create extraordinary parents and incredible children.

If you have a child at school anywhere between Ōmokoroa and Papamoa Plaza, hopefully their teachers will now be in a good mood this week!

11/07/2025

🧠 Putting neurodiversity and mental health at the top of the agenda.

It was great to welcome Tauranga MP and New Zealand Health Committee member Sam Uffindell MP to Bay Paediatrics today.

Sam was able to meet some of our team members and experience the New Zealand Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence first-hand to discover how we deliver the leading ADHD and Autism assessments for children (AND adults).

We’ve invested in our vision of creating the leading paediatric clinic in the country - located in the heart of Tauranga and with 10 state-of-the-art consultations which are now all FILLED with the the leading paediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and play therapists.

The journey is just beginning but we're so proud of what the team is creating and how Bay Paediatrics is building a brighter future for children across New Zealand.

30/06/2025

🎙️ NEW PODCAST EPISODE! 🔊

When you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child, there are times when life can feel impossible. But our truly EPIC guest, the one and only Mary-Jane du Toit is living proof that NOTHING is impossible.

Mary-Jane is a mum of a neurodiverse family and founder of Spectrum Connections - a charitable trust that provides peer support for families who have a child or teen that has Autism, Aspergers, ADHD, ADD or any other form of neurodiversity.
In this open, honest and truly inspirational podcast which is jam-packed with insights and wisdom, MJ reveals:

🧭 What it feels like to be in it for ‘the long haul’ and how the neurodiversity diagnosis of her sons became a ‘gateway’ to her mission of helping the world become a better place for neurodiverse families.

🎓 How her son’s behaviours at school and kindergarten started to lay a trail of clues that something was different about his development, which led to an autism diagnosis.

😥Nothing will ever be ‘normal’ again - The pain that parents can go through when their child receives a neurodiversity diagnosis.

🗺️ How ‘the neurodiversity journey’ doesn’t end with a diagnosis…in fact, it’s only the beginning. However, it also gives parents the opportunity to embrace their child’s uniqueness.

🔄 The cycle of family change and how it can help parents deal with anger, frustration, overwhelm and the other emotions that arise when parenting a neurodiverse child.

🆘 When you're on parenting journey, how to know when to ‘push through’….and when to ask for help.

Plus, you’ll discover MJ’s secret…

💡When it feels like the world is against you, how to remember, “this is a bad moment, not a bad life”

WeI loved recording this with MJ, she truly is the Queen of Neurodiversity.

Links to listen are in the comments.