Today, my youngest son and I went to a place we have been together many times before and I thought we may never go again. Over the years we have frequented this lovely park a great deal. But during Covid times, my children grew, and grew out of going to playgrounds in parks, and we...
When I think of mottos for my own family when I growing up, two spring to mind: ‘Remember, as far as anyone knows, we are a nice normal family!’ which was displayed on a sign in my parents’ kitchen. And the second, which was suggested latterly and also made me chuckle: ‘I was normal once....
BY SUSANNA PINKUS This is a topic I am asked about a lot. So here are some thoughts and tips:1. There can be many reasons why a young person is struggling with their attention and focus. This is why it is so important to look holistically to understand what the young person is experiencin 2....
BY SUSANNA PINKUS When your child is newly diagnosed with ADHD or indeed any other thinking or learning difference, you will want all staff to be made aware and to be understanding and supportive. This is important at all points in a child’s education but in the primary phase it is usually easier as there...
BY AARAN PATEL Does your child or a child you are teaching, struggle with reading tasks? Do they hate being given a piece of comprehension homework? Do they complain of having to read for more than a few minutes? Do they seem to try to avoid doing any schoolwork? Do you feel like they are...
BY SUSANNA PINKUS How do you build trust in your work? Whilst there is no set formula, building trust is something I think about a great deal. Each parent and child that I meet brings their own needs, hopes, fears, and requirements, and I need to tune into these quickly. Whether with parents, children or...
I would say to myself: Carry on treasuring those friendships. These are your people. And they will continue to deeply matter to you throughout your life. Don’t worry about the maths, you will eventually get a C and get much better at it as the years go on (there is something called dyscalculia which isn’t...
BY SUSANNA PINKUS I am consistently in awe of the amazing parents I meet. Without exception, they love their children deeply and have often gone to the most exceptional lengths to help them. But by the time they reach me, they are often at sea, unsure how to move forward. They ask questions such as:...
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”;“Little children little worries, big children big worries”;“Give with a warm heart rather than a cold hand”. My grandma was full of wise sayings that still often spring to mind. And one of which I particularly recall is, “All I want (my darling) is your presence not presents”....
Having this boy by my side at work as a therapy dog, and at play as my family’s four-legged best friend, brings so much fun, companionship, and unconditional love. This past week with my son being sick, I have watched how Woody (known as ‘Doggo’ to my eldest) intuitively knows when and how to comfort,...
