Neurodiversity

Children and young people with neurodiversity, such as autism spectrum condition (ASC) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), often find everyday events challenging due to differences in how their brains process information. This can increase their likelihood of facing mental health difficulties. Some common challenges include:

• School difficulties (e.g., school avoidance, learning processing, bullying)
• Sensory sensitivities (e.g., hypersensitivity to sounds and lights, limited food options)
• Difficulty identifying and expressing emotions.
• Masking feelings away from home, leading to exhaustion and meltdowns.
• Struggling to cope with changes.
• Microaggressions from adults and peers, such as being labelled the ‘naughty child’ or attention-seeking.

Helping to identify stressors

Recognising individual triggers and stressors is crucial for understanding how to make effective changes to support your child and to help children develop emotional awareness. You can do this activity through a variety of methods which is age appropriate for your child, you may wish to do this through play, drawing or by talking but it can be helpful to model by exploring some of your own triggers and stressors.