Growing with Needs

Do you have a child that needs time alone?

This is just a reminder that some children who are sensory sensitive have a lot to get through at school. Noise, constant movement, lots of people. They may come home and just need some time to themselves to decompress.

Here are some ideas to help:
- Help them find a quiet space where they will not be interrupted
- Make the other family members aware of why they need this
- Give them a box of craft supplies or paper and pens to create quietly with in another room
- Let them spend time in nature
- Time jumping on a trampoline outside

What other strategies do you use to help your child decompress after a busy day at school?

New course starting on Tuesday.

If you are a parent of children from 3 years and up then this is for you! Come and join us to spend some time growing in your understanding of yourself and your child’s behaviour.

Excited to share this with some more moms and dads. And help us make sense of all the information out there!

Sign up link in comments 🤗

Here we are. Having arrived in the world of parenting. Still trying to orientate ourselves and figure out what we should be doing. Trying our best to keep our own lives running smoothly, and doing what we can to be the best parents we can be.

This is something no-one prepares us for. And something none of us have got right.

This course will not solve all your problems. And I am certainly not the perfect parent. But Growing with Needs is about ‘growth’. And this course will give you some more information and handles to make sense of some of the things you are experiencing as a parent.

To understand a bit more of how you and your children tick. And to identify some of the needs behind your repeated frustrations and clashes. So that you can both grow.

Now open to not only the moms. You can attend on your own, or as a couple for the same cost.

Click on the link in the comments or send me a dm with any questions or queries you may have.

Happy Fake Friday Everyone 🎉🎉🎉

I hope yours looks a little like this!
As for us, we have been in the throws of moving home and settling in so have been a little quiet around here.

So this is just a post to say hi and to let you know that I am still around. Will be looking to run another course next term and put out some more helpful things for you 😀

Sending much love and good vibes for the long weekend 😌😌

It’s so easy to overlook our own needs when looking after and caring for others. To push ourselves beyond what we can bear and end up doing things for others with resentment instead of joy.

Today stop and think about one thing you can do to fill your cup so that you have more to give to others ❤️

Calling all teachers out there!! This is a short talk via zoom to share a journaling process that has helped me so much over the years as a teacher.
I started doing this during covid… debriefing through writing at the end of the week, and to clear some of the cluttered thoughts and emotions. So that I can take on the next week’s challenges.

Here is the link to sign up if you are interested and feel free to share or tag other teachers who you think would benefit 💫💫

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEIr0yi9ga-WC91ykB7R-j6CaONZzsTrr1KKLfFsSylTusmA/viewform?usp=sf_link

What is the purpose of Growing with Needs? Here is one of them 😀 And some more info for you…

None of us can argue that parenting is not difficult. And there is none of us that do a perfect job. I myself experience daily challenges and need support in this area.

As a teacher I have worked with many parents over the years. It struck me during that time how so many parents are in desperate need of support. Stuck in the business of life and the confusion of all the information and opinions out there. Desperate to find some clarity and get some handles in dealing with the unique personalities and struggles of their child.

I have always loved working with parents and Growing with Needs is my growing endeavour to continue providing this support.

I do not have all the answers. And I do not know your unique child. But you do. And the framework that I have been working with is such a great tool to help organise the various opinions and information, and to help YOU figure out your own child. I am also passionate about creating visual resources that help us to remember what we know, as it is often hard to access it when we need it most.

Watch this space for courses and initiatives I will be running this year.

Give a ❤️ if you recognise the need for support and share with a parent friend who may need support at this time 😌

Hi 👋🏻 I’m Lisa. Founder of Growing with Needs.

For the last while I have been sharing posts with you to help support you in your personal and parenting journey.

For the next week or 2 I would like to give you a better idea of what Growing with Needs is actually about and what it is that I am offering under this name.

There are many new projects and beginnings that are happening behind the scenes, so I thought I would let you get a glimpse into these and what is to come…

Keep an eye on this space and be sure to like and share with a friend who may want to be included in the journey.

Start of the year reminder: Stop and appreciate the small pleasures of life❤️

There are many things in life that we rush right past. Or consume frantically. Especially when kids are in tow. So many moments of beauty and wonder that we miss.

This weekend take a moment to stop. Notice. And appreciate.

Savour a cup of coffee
Take a moment of stillness to notice the sights and sounds around you.
Notice and appreciate the joy and freedom of your little ones

Yes, the year is bulldozing ahead. But let us not let our minds rush too far ahead of where our bodies are living….

Things we are all tempted to do ☝🏻

Our kids often mirror our emotions. As parents it’s okay to feel uncertain. But often in the process of trying to find certainty for ourselves, we can end up unsettling them…

Here are some tips for helping your child settle more easily and not getting in the way of them settling in their new school/ class this year 😀

Monday Mood ☝🏻

Sending strength for the week 💪🏻💪🏻

Happy Friyay 🎉🎉🎉
First week of school done and dusted 💪🏻🙌🏻

It’s a new year of school and your little one may need some help to settle in. As parents we can help to support our kids during this transition.

Change is difficult for all of us. It is a form of grief. We have to accept that what we had is no longer the same. And be ready to embrace the new. This takes time.

Having a place to talk and process thoughts and feelings with someone is so helpful. Here are some slides and a reminder to allow space for your little one to express themselves this week ❤️

What is important to you that you need to put more effort into?

Often this is an area where we are experiencing a lot of tension. When we value something but haven’t been putting enough effort or focus into it.

It could be your family, your home, your faith, your progress at work, your fitness or physical well-being, your home, the cleanliness of your car or your relationships with your children.

Take a moment to think how you can actively put more energy into that area this year 💫💫

As moms we forget to invest into our own growth and find ourselves getting overly involved in our kids learning and growth.

Why not be proactive in thinking of what you would like to learn this year? Start small…

- A new skill
- Do a short online course
- Take up a hobby
- Read a book on a topic that interests you
- Try a DIY project

Reminder: Make some time for your other half (if you have one)

Little people often demand so much that we can forget to invest into the big people that we live with. Even if neither of you feel like it - time invested into your relationship will not go to waste.

- Enlist friends or Grandparents and go out on a date
- Catch up over coffee
- Plan a quiet dinner without phones after kids are in bed
- Do something fun together

If all else fails… try to just to pay attention and be kind in the daily interactions.

Here is my other half on an unplanned lunch date we had a while back ❤️

Write down a behaviour or habit you would like to take on this year - to model to and encourage in your children.

We are all so aware that what we do has a far greater influence on our children than what we tell them to do. This fact can feel overwhelming and scary.

However, growth is what we are encouraging, not perfection. And it is not just our children that need to grow. It’s us too. Just choose one thing and try to stick to it 😀

- Tidying up after yourself
- Saying please and thank you
- Eating healthy food
- Not over reacting to set backs in your day
- Reducing screen time
- Showing kindness to your spouse/ partner

Holiday idea: Read a book together

This little one loves reading. Many don’t. But a great family activity is to choose a book you can all read together. And help grow your child’s love for reading too.

Research has shown that kids learn language so much better in context - ie when they are connected to an adult who can answer questions and help give information meaning.

This may not be something that you would normally enjoy but give it a try! Read a chapter before bed together, or if you are still on leave at some time in the day.

Just a couple of our favourites for older preschool /primary school kids:
- The Magic Far Away Tree
- Charlotte’s Web
- The Narnia Series

Please don’t say all of them 🙆🏼‍♀️🙆🏼‍♀️😜

We tend overwhelm ourselves with trying to get everything right at once. Start with one area you want to create more order in for 2023 and start with that…

- Your home
- Your work
- Your routine
- A room in the home
- Your meals
- Your Finances

Holiday reminder: Have fun / do something that makes you laugh

You may be back at the grind of work and life. And having kids on holiday at the same time is a hack. But let them be a reminder to take some of the holiday into the year. Stop and have a laugh. Take a breather and do something silly. Joy that gives us strength to take on the year.

Also kids are far more motivated to do things when they are happy and there is an element of fun 🤩

- morning tickles
- chasing and catching eachother
- telling jokes
- taking the time to notice and laugh at their silly antics

What new things do you want to do/ try this year?

When life seems to chaotic we seem to avoid doing new things. But then realise how boring life is getting without anything new.

We all need to keep growing. And one of the ways we do it is to expose ourselves to new things.

- Foods
- Places
- Activities
- Skills

Holiday Reminder: Spend time outdoors 🍃

Green spaces tick so many boxes for people big and small. Sounds and sights that make you want to explore, keep you stimulated and soothe the soul. Kids rarely get bored when outdoors 💫

- Go for a walk
- Throw a ball
- Ride bikes
- Collect nature objects
- Have a picnic

Be intentional about who you connect with this year 💫

In my observation, our New Years resolutions often have to do with our productivity or achievement.

Sometimes that’s our main focus. And then when we take a break from work it suddenly hits home how few connections we really have.

As humans we are wired for connection, no matter who we are.

Types of connections to include:
- Family
- Friends to reconnect with
- Mentors
- People we can mentor or help along

Holiday reminder: Show physical affection to your kids 🥰

Tickles, loves, snuggles, wrestling, sitting close. Some kids look for it and others don’t. But they all need it. For some withdrawing is their way of seeking attention. Watch for them, take initiative and bring them close…

A reminder for us all ❤️

This could be learning new information, practical skills or life lessons. Or else could be areas in life or work that you have improved in.

Growth is often slower than we would like and we can spend much of our time comparing where we are to where we want to be. This tends to leave us feeling discouraged.

Looking back over a year, it may be easier to notice areas that we have grown and improved. Bear in mind some of the growing we have had to do merely in returning back to ‘normal’ life post covid.

Give it a try… you may be pleasantly surprised at how far you have come!!!

The after Christmas crash 😴

The year is coming to land. For many people work has come to an end and with it the endless cycle of business… and now what?? So easy to find yourself feeling down and unsure why…

Our poor bodies and emotions are put under so much strain with the endless activity and demands we subject them to. Now is the chance for them to have their moment. It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to not feel great. It’s time to live in the reality of where we are at in life. Let our bodies and souls have a moment to breathe, to rest, to be. Take a moment to remember the good and accept the unfinished. And make peace with our human limitations.

Tomorrow is another day 💫💫

"Day is over, night has come.
Today is gone, what's done is
done. Embrace your dreams
through the night. Tomorrow
comes with a whole new light”

- George Orwell

You should take stock. You have probably achieved more than you think. And just don’t feel the sense of achievement without it being recognised.

Well, now you can take a moment to write down all you have done this year. The small tasks that repeat themselves over and over, the effort and thought you have put into certain things, the safety, nourishment and comfort you have given your family. The income you have contributed to the household and the value your job has given to the lives of others and society. The list goes on…

Silence the voice of ‘not enough’ for a moment.

(Well done!)

Sending much love and Christmas wishes from our family to yours 🤍🤍🤍

Journal challenge number 2 💪🏻

This is something we may be surprised to discover as we reflect. How many people we have made connections with this year. They can range from superficial acquaintances, work colleagues, family connections or deeper friendships that have developed.

Covid was especially brutal to our social activity and connections. Amazing to remember that at the beginning of the year we were all still wearing masks 😳🙆🏼‍♀️🙆🏼‍♀️ I have spoken to a number of people who still experience some kind of social anxiety. However, let’s not focus on that. Rather try to notice positive connections that have been made 💫

Sure it’s Christmas Day, but you may get a quiet moment later in the day… otherwise save for later. And share with anyone else who may like to join in the reflection process this week 😁

Sending much love and good wishes to all 🤍🤍🤍

Holiday idea no 1: Take a child on a date 💫

If you have someone else with you at home, leave the others behind and take them out one at a time. No phones or work tasks involved.

Sometimes family dynamics make it difficult for certain children to get undivided attention and to feel important. They need to get away and have quality time.

If your child does not want to talk that’s okay. Just give them your full attention and let them take the lead. Enjoy being with them. They will get a lot from it, even if you leave feeling it was average.

I need this reminder often, and the times I have done it I have been blown away at the positive impact it has on our relationship, behaviour and co-operation levels 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻