Articles #sensoryprocessing

Ever wonder why your neurodivergent kiddo treats the hallway like a bumper car track? 🏎️💨 If you’ve ever had your pedicure ruined by a "bounding" child or wondered why your teen can’t tell you where it hurts until it’s a medical emergency, welcome to the world of the 8 Sensory Systems. We all know the "Big Five," but for my eldest, Olivia, the real stars are Proprioception (body awareness) and Interoception (internal signals). When these systems are under-responsive, life looks like: 🖼️ Double-sided tape on every picture frame. 👣 My big toe acting as a permanent speed bump. 🏥 "I don't feel well" meaning "I'm literally dying" or... nothing at all. But understanding these senses changed everything. It’s why we do co-regulation hugs (the "panini squish") and why I’m vocal about my own sensory limits. I grew up in a house where affection was invisible; now, we verbalize everything—even when I’ve reached capacity for 3-hour Roblox/conspiracy theory lectures. 🛑✋ Being a human is hard. Parenting is harder. Understanding the science makes it just a little bit more manageable. Read the full breakdown of the 8 systems on the blog!

Why Won’t They Just Sleep? The Neurodivergent Brain, Bedtime Battles & the Parent Who Now Requires Horse Tranquilisers If you’ve ever found yourself weeping into a muslin cloth at 3:00 AM while your child displays the stamina of a marathon runner, this is for you. In the world of neurodiversity—especially with Autism, ADHD, and PDA—bedtime isn't just a routine; it’s a high-stakes transition that many brains are physically wired to resist. From the "melatonin lag" to the sensory minefield of a quiet room, I dive deep into why the neurodivergent brain fights sleep so ferociously. More importantly, I share the journey from my own "hollowed-out ghost" phase (and my resulting dependence on "significant" sedation) to finding a path that actually works. Inside the article: The Science of the Struggle: Why delayed melatonin and sensory processing issues make "standard" bedtimes nearly impossible. The PDA Factor: Why sleep feels like a loss of autonomy and how to lower the demand. The Chair Method: A step-by-step look at how I used co-regulation to build independent sleep without the trauma of controlled crying. The "Panini Squish" & Other Tools: Practical, sensory-smart strategies to build a non-negotiable (but low-demand) wind-down routine. A Note to the Sleep-Deprived Parent: Why your rest isn't a luxury—it's a health crisis that deserves attention. Stop trying to land the plane before it has started its descent. Let’s look at the scaffolding your child—and your nervous system—actually needs. "Sleep is the foundation everything else is built on—regulation, learning, and the basic human capacity to get through a day without crying in a car park."

The "Nugget" Narrative: Why Your Child Isn't Just a Fussy Eater If you’ve ever sat in the kitchen, clutching a glass of wine while staring at a plate of rejected broccoli, you aren't alone—you’re in the company of the "Nugget Connoisseurs." In this article, Andrea Grant peels back the labels of "picky" and "difficult" to reveal the neurological reality of ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Explore why the humble chicken nugget is a sensory safety net, why "fussy eater" is a harmful myth, and how to move from mealtime battlefields to a neuro-affirming approach that actually works.