Mango Speech Therapy

Supporting a child's autonomy and sensory differences in an inpatient medical setting.
🏥 No one wants to be in a hospital. For children with a pervasive drive for autonomy and sensory differences, these types of environments are intense, restricting, and scary.
🔴 Start by validating your child's feelings and desires. "I hear you, I know you want to go home. But we can't because you're unwell"
♥️ Let them know you are there to help them through this.
🏡 Bring comfort items to help them regulate. Coregulate with them.
🗣 Advocate for them. Tell medical staff to let your child know what's happening. Remind them every time that your child feels pain differently. Let them know if they're dismissing your child's sensory needs.
"My child has sensory differences and needles are not the only thing they feel as pain."
"I allow my child more autonomy than you may be used to. Please let us know if medicines can be given on different schedules and if blood draws can be done during waking hours."

Have you tried everything? Researched the tips, spoke with your friend who's been through this? And still not figuring it out???
Set up a free consult today.
Find out how you can be supported.

Sensory differences and food. I come across so many children with sensory differences that impact food intake. Combine these differences with demand avoidance and these children may struggle greatly.

🍽 Before jumping into demand avoidance and food, I'd like to first talk about sensory differences and food.

🧠 Sensory differences are just that, differences! That alone is not something that needs "treatment."

👨🏼‍⚕️ I do understand that when sensory differences have massive impact, then working on "treatment" such as regulation, supports, etc are beneficial.

⚠️ But often, that "treatment" oversteps many boundaries. Often taking autonomy away from the child. This is NOT ok! And may end up lowering food intake!!

🍕 Food preference is OK! We ALL have that. Let's stop judging sensory differences and food preference.

🛑 Now, when it comes to demand avoidance and food, stay tuned for an upcoming live Q&A on just that. I will talk about my own struggles in this area, and well as my sons.

❓Let me know your questions about demand avoidance and food below! I will also be taking questions in the insta live too!

This is a picture of demand avoidance.

👕 Dressing and other routine activities that many would call a "morning routine" can be especially difficult for PDAers and demand avoidant children.

👖Many parents might resort to angrily saying "then you can just stay home!" Because it's frustrating to not be able to just put clothes on. I get it. I know it's frustrating because I too also struggle with not being able to "just put clothes on." But this statement of leaving them home doesn't help and it's cruel.

👗 I have strategies that work for me (mostly), but often it's my anxiety and "fawning" that get me dressed.

👟 However frustrating it is for you, as a parent, it is even more frustrating for your PDA/ demand avoidant child. They aren't doing this to be "difficult." They are struggling.

Demand avoidance in young children can happen for many reasons. At times, this can have a significant impact on eating and meal time.

🍴In our home, we take a different approach to snacks and meals because we all benefit. This approach may not work with your family.

🍽 But, if you’ve tried going the “strict” and “structured” route, and your young child still has very limited food intake or significant meltdowns in relation to meals, then this may be an approach you want to try.

👩🏾‍⚕️ It’s also just as important to explore other medical and non-medical reasons for difficulties with food. Because, they can be subtle and go unnoticed for years sometimes!!

I definitely freak out when my kids engage in risky play. And I use “be careful” way too much! I’m learning to use different language. This is a great read!

5 Reasons to Encourage Risky Play for Kids – Balanced Way to Play 5 Reasons to Encourage Risky Play for Kids June 11, 2022 in Uncategorized - No Comments If you have ever been around kids – as a parent, a nanny, an uncle, a random stranger passing by a playground – I’m willing to bet that you have uttered the words, “be careful!” at some point. It is a p...

Please read this. It's Important to reconsider using the blue pumpkin for autistic children.

Ordering children around, making them comply immediately, and expecting them to do things you wouldn’t expect of yourself is NOT ok!

Let me know what you think?

Technology and small children. A lot of opinions and not a lot of research that isn’t bias.

Here are my top 5 reasons for giving ample and unrestricted access to various forms of technology.

1. Different technology uses different operating systems. Young children who understand the way Apple vs Android (for example) function are expanding their flexibility and problem solving skills.

2. Understanding interface and coding language. Exposure to different games let’s children start learning the basics for coding principles. Technology is their future, knowing technology will eventually be mandatory. Just think about how we no longer use paper for many forms and other routine business matters.

3. Access to the camera is a form of artistic creativity. Like in this photo, where the children were taking selfies. For children who have no interest in using crayons (this happens often with neurodivergent kids) access to creativity via technology is still supporting the creative and flexible part of their development.

4. Restrictions often lead to obsessions. Small children are developing their autonomy and sometimes controls will make children more likely to be obsessed and not able to self regulate. We are raising people. And they are at risk for becoming adolescents and young adults who over use technology in ways that negatively affect their lives. Let them work on self regulation now.

5. Technology is a great way to foster connection! Don’t just use it as a distraction so you can get work done. Use it to connect to your children by engaging in what they are interested in! Children are less likely to seek technology to fill needs if they are more connected and supported by their caregivers.

There are many reasons technology use is POSITIVE! These are just some.

Let me know what you use technology for in your home!