Diary Of A Special Needs Tutor

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📓 Diary Of A Special Needs Tutor

Today’s Entry: Does It Get Better?

When I speak with parents or guardians, there’s one question that always echoes:
“Becky, does it get better?”

And my answer is always:
Yes.

The follow-up is almost always:
“When?”

When talking to parents about things like potty training, I often say:
Stick to a routine, and be ready to clean up the mess. No shortcuts. No magic tricks.
Just consistency, patience, and resilience.

So, does it get better?
Yes, it does.

When?
That depends on many factors.

Understanding your child’s unique needs, being involved, learning how they process the world—all of this will give you a clearer picture of when to expect progress, and what “better” might actually look like for your child.

🥳 Celebrate the Little Wins

It’s so important to celebrate progress, no matter how small. Why? Because those little wins show you how far your child has come.

Are they sitting still or giving eye contact for 30 seconds longer than before?
👏 Celebrate it.

Are they now pulling their pants down but still haven’t mastered using the toilet?
👏 Praise them for the effort, and gently guide them toward the next step.

Celebrating Doesn’t Mean Ignoring the Challenges

Acknowledging progress doesn’t mean pretending everything is perfect.
It means you see the effort.
It means you’re encouraging them to keep going.
It means you understand that “better” doesn’t happen all at once—
…it happens one moment of progress at a time.

Hello and Welcome back to Diary Of A Special Needs Tutor
Today's Diary: Stagnation! (REPOST)

Last time, I shared the causes of regression and how one of my students exhibited some symptoms.
Today, let’s talk about something similar: stagnation.

Stagnation happens to all children, whether they have special needs or not. However, it is particularly common among children with special needs. Bear in mind, I am specifically referring to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

These are some of the causes of stagnation.

Illness

Sickness can interfere with developmental progress. When a child isn’t feeling well, their ability to engage and learn is greatly affected.

Anxiety

Unfortunately, anxiety is common in children with autism. Some children become so anxious that it manifests physically—they might vomit or need to use the bathroom urgently. Afterward, they may feel better.

This often happens when the child is highly dependent on routines or is exposed to new, uncomfortable situations. For example, in my previous diary, I mentioned how I worked with a student to get him used to riding a school bus or eating with his classmates. Those activities initially caused him a lot of anxiety.

Sleep Disturbance.

Parents, let me emphasize this: sleep is crucial for a child’s development.

Think about how cranky you get after a poor night’s sleep. Some of us need coffee, tea, or something else to get through the day when we haven’t rested well. Now imagine a child experiencing this—especially if it becomes a pattern.

Sleep is very important for a child’s development. I’ll say it again: sleep is essential.

Tips for Better Sleep:
Create a routine for your child. This might take 21 or 30 days, or even longer, to establish. However, the key isn’t the number of days—it’s how you execute the routine.

Avoid giving your child sugar after 5 p.m. If possible, cut out sugar entirely, especially sugary juices and sodas. Encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

How can you tell if your child or student is experiencing stagnation?

Reduced Interest: They show less interest in activities they previously enjoyed.

Difficulty with Skills: Such as difficulties with social interaction and start to withdraw.
If they used to say a word or two, you may notice it becomes a struggle for them to do so.

Yes, I’ve witnessed children go through the stagnation stage. It’s quite heartbreaking because you want to ensure it’s just stagnation and not regression. So you try everything in your books to make some progress.

When I notice stagnation, I often use an activity the child loves but present it in a slightly different way. Sometimes, I’ll buy a new version of the activity they enjoy to re-engage them. However, there are cases where something at home needs to be addressed.

For instance:
If the child isn’t sleeping well, their development will barely progress.

If their immune system is weak, this too will affect their development.

Dear parents, let’s continue working together to support the development of the children . Yes, it’s a full-time job, and it requires being observant and proactive. Be involved in your child’s growth—teamwork makes the dream work.

That’s all for today. Until next time, thank you for reading.

Remember, the goal is for each child to learn at their own level of understanding and development.

Kindly note that I tutor learners with special needs (neurodivergent) as well as those who are usually/typically developed (neurotypical) from baby class to third grade.

If you want to know more about the services , please get in touch with me over WhatsApp +260962267489.
Don't forget to be kind and part of a solution.

Hello, and welcome back to
Diary Of A Special Needs Tutor

Today's Diary: Regression (REPOST)

I thought of reposting this because of what I have been sharing lately.

Last time, I shared some thoughts that constantly run through my mind, and I posed a question: Have I ever witnessed a child regress?

I am not in a position to definitively say that a particular child regressed, but I do know they exhibited symptoms of regression.

Bear in mind that I had worked with this child for quite some time. I was with him at his school for a number of years and together, we achieved a lot. He learned to get on a bus, cope with changes (which caused him significant anxiety), eat with his classmates or as he used to say, Eat together with friends”, and try fruits and vegetables he initially disliked. We worked towards his independence daily. We challenged each other, and I watched him grow and develop beautifully.

One of his biggest challenges was blending into social settings—like waiting his turn. This was a significant hurdle for him to overcome. However, since he loved PE so much, I used that as a tool to help him understand the concept of waiting and letting others take their turn. Slowly but surely, we were making progress.

Then COVID-19 happened. Between 2020 and 2021, everything changed. My boy didn’t handle change well, and the pandemic disrupted his world completely. We had months of lockdown, returned to school briefly, and went into lockdown again. These disruptions were incredibly difficult for him to process. And I only started seeing symptoms of this change late 2021

When you search for the causes of regression, one major factor is environmental triggers—like major life changes such as moving or parental separation. Unfortunately, my boy experienced those during that period.

Despite these challenges, he remained brilliant in his academics, writing, and independence. However, there was a noticeable shift in his behavior. The progress we had made in social settings—like waiting and taking turns—became a significant issue again which made learning more difficult for him.

This deeply affected him, and I could sense that something had changed, and it felt like too much for him to handle. I didn’t realize how that experience impacted me until later on when I began questioning a lot of things. Should I continue working with children? Did I fail him? A part of me still feels that I did.
This is why I can’t stop asking myself, “Can I do this? How can I best work with this child.” Whenever I meet a new child that may turn out to be my student.

Do I see a future where I stop working with children? I honestly don’t know. But I can say this: I am committed to learning every day. I want to continue discovering how to best support and care for every child I work with now and in the future.

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers, please pay close attention to your children/ students, especially if you have children with special needs.

Until next time, thank you for reading.

If you want to know more about my services, feel free to contact me on WhatsApp at +260962267489. Don’t forget to be kind and contribute to a solution!