Playworks Learning and Development Center

04/11/2025

01/11/2025

Our Galaxy-Glow Light Party lit up the darkest day of the year! 🌌✨At Playworks, every child shines from within, and together, we make the world brighter. 💜Thank you, Playworks families, for being part of our glow! 🌟

26/10/2025

The retained reflexes causing problems with…

Crossing the midline!

Crossing the midline of the body is important because of how it creates connections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain for higher learning.

Kids who struggle to cross the midline of the body often have one or more retained

Primitive Reflexes holding them back.

When kids can’t cross the midline, you may see them having trouble with:

🫣Tracking words across the page (left to right)
🫣Writing words across the page or issues with letter directionality
🫣Attention and focus and can’t complete tasks or follow directions
🫣Is often clumsy and and can be emotional

https://ilslearningcorner.com/the-retained-primitive-reflexes-preventing-kids-from-crossing-the-midline/

25/10/2025

💜💚

What is interoception?

>>> https://www.kelly-mahler.com/what-is-interoception/

24/10/2025

⚠️

A child who masks might look calm and focused in class —
but inside, their senses may be under constant strain.

Bright lights, echoing corridors, scratchy uniforms, strong smells, the buzz of chatter —
for a sensitive nervous system, school can be a sensory minefield.

When a child spends the day holding it together, suppressing reactions to sensory overload,
the cost often shows later — in exhaustion, tears, or shutdowns at home.

Our Masking Toolkit for Parents & Educators explores the sensory environment in schools,
how it impacts children who mask,
and small adjustments that can make a big difference.
Instant electronic download with secure global checkout. at link in comments ⬇️ or via our Linktree Shop in Bio.

Because sometimes it’s not defiance or avoidance — it’s overstimulation.

20/10/2025

Scary❌
Pajamas ✅
Glow ✅
Galaxy vibes ✅

19/10/2025

💜💚

SECOND CHANCE SUNDAY -Resharing the most popular posts from the past 7 days

When a child’s behaviour feels challenging, it’s easy to focus on what we see.
But every action is trying to tell us something underneath.

Shouting, hiding, refusing, hitting, or shutting down — these are not signs of a 'bad' child.
They’re signs of a child whose nervous system is struggling to cope.

When the Downstairs Brain takes over, logic disappears and survival instincts take the lead.
By decoding the behaviour, we start to see the why — and respond with empathy instead of punishment.

When we decode behaviour, we stop asking “What’s wrong with you?”
and start asking “What’s happening for you?”

Remember:
All behaviour is communication.

FOLLOW to explore our series on the Upstairs Brain, Downstairs Brain and links to behaviour to see what’s really driving behaviour beneath the surface.

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE RESOURCE STORE - to accompany our series on social media.

The Child Brain Explained: How the Upstairs & Downstairs Brain Shape Behaviour, a Toolkit for Parents & Educators - available for only £3.75 until 3 November 2025

Electronic download available at link in comments ⬇️ or via our Linktree Shop in Bio.

17/10/2025

A core component of an Autism diagnosis is social differences. Most people tend to look at this as a black & white, yes or no, present or absent manner- but that’s not how it works.

Many (most) Autistic people are socially motivated and seek out interactions and relationships with others. But, this might look different for autistic people as compared to neurotypical people. A super common difference is being OVERLY social.

It’s important to highlight that many differences are subtle and nuanced in a way that results in Autistic people being viewed as “quirky,” “odd,” “socially awkward,” “weird,” etc - instead of recognizing them for what they actually are… Autistic! But knowing one is autistic can literally save a person’s life ❤️

15/10/2025

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When a child is melting down, our instincts can take over — and not always the helpful ones.
We might lecture, rush to fix, or tell them to calm down… but these actually block co-regulation rather than build it.

Let’s talk about what not to do — and what to try instead — so we can truly help a child borrow our calm instead of our chaos.

IN THE RESOURCE STORE - instant electronic download with secure global checkout.

Managing Big Feelings: A Toolkit for Parents & Educators, a Parent and Educators Toolkit

Helping children turn big emotions into skills for life.

When a child’s emotions feel too big to handle, it can be overwhelming — for them and for you.
Managing Big Feelings: The Toolkit is your go-to resource for guiding children through strong emotions with empathy, clarity, and proven strategies.

What’s Inside:
• Step-by-step calming strategies for moments of overwhelm
• Practical activities to build emotional awareness
• Visual aids to help children recognise and name their feelings
• Scripts and prompts for supportive conversations
• Tools for parents, educators, and support staff

This toolkit is grounded in evidence-based approaches to emotional regulation. It’s designed to work in classrooms, at home, and in one-to-one settings, helping children learn how to manage their emotions in ways that are safe, healthy, and empowering.

Download now and start turning emotional overwhelm into growth, resilience, and connection.

Electronic download available at
link in comments.

18/06/2025

🔺is foundation.💜

WHY CHILDREN NEED TO DEVELOP EACH PART OF THE PYRAMID

"The Pyramid of Learning is a way of looking at the whole child. The very foundation of the pyramid is a child's central nervous system which is closely linked to their sensory-motor systems. Adequate sensorimotor development is built on adequate registration and processing of sensory information."

https://play-spark.com/products/pyramid-of-learning-informational-handout?fbclid=IwY2xjawKQx1RleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvWDg5Q2J1ZnFWNVZ5NnJkAR5HWVI8M0PXNVSGVvnmipQ

Reference: Pyramid of Learning (Taylor, Trott) 1991.