Bay Paediatrics

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

11/10/2025

EPIC Families LIVE…today is the day!

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

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!