In August 2018 we visited Legoland Windsor as our family holiday. My little boy, J is autistic. Going on days out and over night stays are stressful but we love to do them as they are such great experiences. J loves Lego. We spent a lot of time watching the various Lego movies and Tv…
Category: Special needs
5 Lego Activities to Amuse Children when Travelling…
We are off to Legoland this week and are very excited about it. However, it does mean a long journey and a stay in a hotel with a 3 year old. So I searched for some ‘connecting blocks’ (in our case for use with lego) themed activities on the Twinkl website… 1. Duplo Mix and…
Bringing Magic into my Little Boys Life…Amazon Jungle Adventure Show Review
When J was little I remember thinking that all the milestones were going so fast. All the ‘firsts’ were coming and going, and one day I worried there wouldn’t be anymore. What I didn’t realise is that there are more milestones than ‘first word’, ‘first steps’ etc. There’s the ones that don’t have a slot…
A Parents Guide to Autism: Why is YouTube so appealing?
I’m on many, many Autism based forums and websites. I find it helpful to chat to other parents, hear things from the perspective of autistic adults and just to read that we’re not alone in all this. One of the topics discussed quite frequently is YOUTUBE. There’s questions ranging from ‘how long should I let…
How Do You Encourage Speech in Young Children?
One of my favourite memories of motherhood was the first time my son called me “mama”. I had looked forward to it for so long and was beginning to wonder if I’d ever hear it. Whilst my friends were posting the precious milestone as early as 9 months, but mostly around a year old, I…
What I want our professionals to know…
A couple of Fridays ago we met J’s new speech therapist. I was anxious because we had worked with J’s previous therapist since just before his second birthday. Meeting someone new who didn’t know me or J’s history was daunting. As I sat in the waiting room I was thinking about all the professionals we…
J’s Journey Update: autism and beyond…
It’s a beautiful sunny day. Daddy and J are busy playing Star Wars on the climbing frame so I have a rare moment of peace (except for the sounds of explosions behind me). I thought now would be a good time to reflect on everything that’s gone on lately, and changes that are happening. Speech…
Oops…Fathers Day is Sunday! Our favourite last minute ideas from Twinkl.
This month has been manic. At the end of May I remember vaguely reminding myself it was Fathers Day in a few weeks, but those weeks have now turned into days and I’m now left thinking ‘argh, too late for online shopping’. So J and I are going to be exploring some homemade ideas for…
Autism and Festivals: A day out at Strawberry Fair, Cambridge…
Today is one of my favourite days of the year…the first Saturday of June. This means it was Strawberry Fair! I have been to Cambridge’s Strawberry Fair almost every year since I was 18. When I was younger it was all about the music, having drinks with friends and exploring the crafts stalls (including finding…
Life with Autism: Having a Haircut
It is the time I dread…the haircut. J has really thick hair that just grows so fast. He also has a double crown so ends up looking like a cockerel. J does not like his hair being cut. He doesn’t even like it being touched, unless it’s on his terms. I tend to leave it…
Review: Stonham Barns Soft Play (Suffolk)
Today we went off to explore a new soft play centre. I have been wanting to visit Stonham Barns for ages. We only had time to visit the soft play today but Stonham Barns has so much. It’s like it’s own little village. The centre itself was easy to find and had a secure entry…
Ways to Use Visual Communication with Children…
Visual communication is a great way to engage children who have difficulty with a range of scenarios. This may be listening skills, understanding, regulating emotions/behaviour and those who have not yet learnt to/are not able to read. In our family having visual communications has been a huge support with the issues caused by J’s diagnosis…
