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,...
BY SUSANNA PINKUS Often when I meet a new family, there is real confusion about what is going on for their child and how to help. Whilst I carefully note existing explanations for the situation, I very much consider the situation with fresh eyes, making no assumptions about what is or is not going on....
BY SUSANNA PINKUS The thought of meeting new adults for assessments can be a daunting prospect. But for youngsters who have social communication differences or experience social anxiety, meeting new people in unfamiliar settings may be exceptionally nerve-wracking. Yet there is much we can do to ease anxieties around the process, and to promote an...
BY ANONYMOUS Discovering I was dyspraxic in my 40s was a wonderful liberation. At first, I felt a little deflated but quickly that passed as I began to learn how being dyspraxic means I have great strengths, while also explaining the things I struggle with. I had always joked that when God made me, he...
To many of the young people I see (and to myself too, I realise): 1. When you are thinking outside the box, it makes sense that you will not fit neatly into the boxes that exist. 2. Although this may not always feel easy when you are younger, and fitting in may feel so important, this difference...
BY SUSANNA PINKUS Although they were some time ago now, the lockdowns were a very challenging time for many. But for some of the youngsters I see, and particularly the girls, for the first time in their lives, they seemed to experience a different way to live and learn. A way where they could separate...
BY OLIVIA KNIGHT Many people, perhaps understandably, have never heard of occupational therapy and don’t know how we can help, especially in relation to children. So perhaps it is no surprise that I am often asked, ‘What do you actually do, and how can you help my child?’ When I mention the term, ‘occupation’ many...
