7 Reasons Why Your Efforts with Your Neurodiverse Child Aren’t Paying Off (And How to Change That)
Perhaps this rings a bell. You've been reading every parenting book out there and attending various therapy sessions with your neurodiverse child. All your friends think you're the most dedicated parent, fully equipped to manage your child's unique needs. However, despite all your efforts, you're still facing meltdowns, sleep issues, and emotional dysregulation.
Does that leave you feeling defeated? Ready to throw in the towel? Like you don’t even understand why nothing is working despite your relentless efforts? Read this guide to learn why you're not seeing the breakthroughs you hope for and how to address the root causes of these neurodiversity challenges.
Ready to learn all about the interconnected factors affecting your child's development? Let’s dive in.
EMBRACING NEURODIVERSITY: THE "BALANCED CHILD" APPROACH
For those new to our Puzzle Tree approach, we would like to introduce our “Balanced Child with Neurodiversity” method. This holistic approach assists families by enhancing the environment around neurodiverse children to support growth and development. Instead of attempting to "fix" the child, we focus on balancing seven key aspects: food, activity, stimuli, emotions, toxicity, sleep, and habits.
In our experience at Puzzle Tree Academy working with neurodiverse children, we have gained insights into the challenges families face in achieving their desired progress. Often, it comes down to one of these seven reasons. Knowing the what and why is the first step in transforming your child's development journey.
The "Balanced Child with Neurodiversity" approach is designed to help you understand and address these seven key aspects holistically. By doing so, you're not just managing your child's symptoms but nurturing their overall well-being. Our approach enables your child to thrive in their unique way, celebrating their neurodiversity rather than trying to suppress it. Let’s look together lovingly and with an open mind, leaving criticism and self-judgement aside, at possible reasons that are holding you back from creating the desired outcomes for your child.
REASON #1: YOU’RE NOT CONSIDERING THE IMPACT OF FOOD
You may have heard the saying, "you are what you eat." This is especially true for neurodiverse children. The wrong types of food can negatively affect your child's immune system and cause significant behavioural and emotional disturbances.
Many parents overlook the connection between diet and behaviour. Understanding which foods support and hinder development can make a significant difference. For instance, processed foods, artificial additives, and high sugar content can lead to significant behavioural issues and emotional disturbances in children with ADHD and ASD. Conversely, nutrient-rich foods can help stabilise mood and improve focus.
By making dietary changes, you can create a foundation for better health and more balanced behaviour in your child. Addressing the impact of food is a critical step toward achieving the breakthroughs you're looking for.
REASON #2: YOU’RE NOT ENGAGING IN THE RIGHT ACTIVITIES
Different activities can have varied impacts on your child. Do you have a list of activities you think would benefit your child, but you're not implementing them consistently?
The types of activities your child engages in can significantly impact their well-being. Engaging in the right activities can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall development.
However, sometimes, the wrong activity or even the right activity at the wrong time can cause more harm than good, leading to agitation and overwhelm.
REASON #3: YOU’RE IGNORING THE ROLE OF STIMULI
To create a supportive environment for your neurodiverse child, you have to understand how different stimuli affect them. Overstimulation can lead to meltdowns, while understimulation can cause restlessness and frustration.
We like to follow this simple three-step system:
Observe: Pay attention to what stimuli trigger positive and negative responses in your child.
Adjust: Modify the environment to minimise negative stimuli and enhance positive ones.
Monitor: Keep track of changes and adjust as needed to find the right balance.
Do you need a helping hand with this? Our work with families has shown that minor environmental adjustments can significantly improve a child's behaviour and well-being. This might involve creating a sensory-friendly environment that reduces overwhelming noises and lights or incorporating sensory activities that help your child regulate their sensory needs.
REASON #4: YOU’RE NEGLECTING EMOTIONAL BALANCE
Please understand that we're not saying you're not doing your best to support your child's emotional needs. However, understanding and nourishing your child's challenges requires a targeted approach.
Emotional dysregulation is a common challenge for neurodiverse children. It can disrupt sleep, affect behaviour, and cause stress for you and your child.
At Puzzle Tree Academy, we offer practical tips and techniques for addressing emotional dysregulations and restoring balance to your child’s body and mind. Helping you and your child understand how certain situations and experiences make them feel and addressing these can significantly reduce incidents of meltdowns and improve their overall emotional well-being. Proactively addressing emotional needs can transform your child's development journey and reduce daily struggles.
REASON #5: YOU’RE OVERLOOKING THE IMPACT OF TOXICITY
Internal and environmental toxins can have a profound impact on the health and development of neurodiverse children. These toxins can come from various sources, including household cleaning products, pollution, and even some foods.
Understanding and mitigating these environmental factors is crucial. We help families identify potential toxins and make changes to create a healthier, more supportive environment for their children. Parents who have made these changes report fewer meltdowns, better sleep, and improved overall health in their children.
REASON #6: YOU’RE NOT PRIORITISING SLEEP
Sleep issues are common among neurodiverse children, but they are often overlooked. Poor sleep can exacerbate symptoms and make it challenging for children to regulate their emotions and behaviours during the day.
Creating a consistent sleep routine and addressing factors that disrupt sleep, such as diet, emotional stress, and environmental stimuli, can help your child get the rest they need, leading to better mood regulation and cognitive function.
We explore how food, emotions, activities, and more can influence sleep. Creating a consistent bedtime routine and a sleep-friendly environment can help your child get the rest they need, leading to better mood regulation and cognitive function.
REASON #7: YOU’RE NOT ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT HABITS
Do you insist on handling things the way you have always done, or how your environment or society expects of you? Then, you may get caught in the same thought loops and routines that are not serving you or your child well.
Establishing the “right” habits and routines can make all the difference in the lives of neurodiverse children. This includes setting consistent routines, creating clear expectations, and maintaining a structured environment. Many parents find that the effort invested in establishing these habits is worth the following peace and progress.
A STORY OF TRANSFORMATION: CYNITTA'S JOURNEY
Let us share a story that illustrates the profound impact of addressing these root causes. Cynitta, a proud mother of a 4-year-old girl, faced a sudden and heartbreaking regression in her daughter's development at around 19 months. Once a social, active, and verbal child, her daughter became non-verbal and withdrawn, showing signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She stopped talking, making eye contact, and wanting to socialise.
Despite their best efforts, Cynitta and her family couldn't understand what was wrong or how to help their daughter. They felt lost and desperate until they encountered Irina, one of our leading neurodiversity specialists at Puzzle Tree Academy.
That day was life-changing for them. Irina guided them in adopting a holistic approach to address the challenges related to ASD. By analysing and understanding the possible factors behind their daughter's regression, they were able to make significant lifestyle changes.
They adjusted her diet, introduced new activities, managed stimuli more effectively, and nurtured her emotional well-being. Slowly but surely, they began to see progress.
Cynitta shared with us, "With Irina’s help, we could historically trace back to when everything started and what could have been the main factors for my daughter’s regression. We have incorporated many lifestyle changes, and we continue to see my daughter progress day by day. I can finally hear my daughter call me ‘Mummy’ from time to time and verbalise her needs more and more. We have days filled with laughter and so much more eye contact. She started to give us hugs. The girl who couldn’t stand next to or near another child now holds their hands at the creche."
This transformation didn’t happen overnight, but the consistent, holistic approach brought hope and progress back into their lives. Cynitta expressed her gratitude, saying, "I truly feel blessed and thankful to Irina for all the progress that my daughter has made in the past year. I am hopeful about my daughter’s future again, thanks to Irina. I recommend her to any parent I meet who is in a similar situation as us.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS
You may have noticed that all these reasons for not achieving success with your neurodiverse child are interconnected. Addressing them holistically, rather than in isolation, can lead to significant improvements.
We understand how daunting it can feel to make these changes. At Puzzle Tree Academy, we have seen firsthand how our holistic approach can transform lives.
If you want to learn more about supporting your neurodiverse child, we invite you to join our upcoming training on the “7 Root Causes of Neurodiversity Challenges.” Sign up now and take the first step towards a brighter future for your family.
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