Mindfulness: How can it help with mental health difficulties?
It is Mental Health awareness week this week and the theme for this year is Mindfulness. Earlier this year, Special Needs Jungle ran a post in conjunction with the first …
Category: TopTips
On conversation, sensory issues and being different: Some SNJ book reviews!
I am sometimes sent books for possible review but find it difficult to fit it all in. Luckily, I know some parents who are very good at reading and reviewing …
Stress-free Holiday Tips: Planning travel with special needs children
It’s that time of year when Christmas seems a distant expensive memory and the days are temptingly beginning to draw out. Yet we still have months of damp and cold …
The 12 “Dos” of Christmas for parents of disabled children
Christmas is almost upon us and it seems like it’s been a long time coming. The retail hype seems to start earlier each year so it’s no wonder many parents …
Top tips for a successful One Page Profile
The new Children and Families Act is supposedly person (and family) centred, i.e. the child (and family) should be at the centre of all decisions made about them. The services …
Back to school with your special needs child: Some top tips for a smooth ride
The Summer is almost over and as parents we are either reluctantly or desperately looking to the start of the new term, depending on how the last few weeks have …
6 Tips for Special Needs Summer Survival
Well, here we all are, knee-deep in the long summer school break. It can be a time of stress for many parents of children with additional needs, children who thrive on …
Top tips & simple, effective resources for supporting children with Visual Impairment
As you may know, my son J has a visual impairment. During the first few years of his life, I spent so many hours trying to find activities to do with …
A mother’s top tips for parenting your ADHD child
I recently read an article written by professionals concerning Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The article focused on diagnosis and treatment and it was apparent from the article that it …
Top tips for preparing for medical appointments
Elizabeth writes… It can be daunting going to any appointment. I see myself as relatively level-headed and as a speech therapist, have lots of experience talking to different professionals. However, …
Working with parents as partners – a practitioner’s top tips
Debs writes… The Children and Families Bill, currently working its way through parliament is very big on practitioners in education, health and social care working in partnership with parents – …
Ten things I wish, with hindsight, I had known
Debs writes…. As we go through the Special Needs Jungle, we pick up tips, we gain confidence and we often think “I wish I’d known …….. at the beginning” I …
Ten tips when your child is newly diagnosed with a special need or disability
You may have suspected, even all but known, but the moment when you finally get a confirmed diagnosis for your child is a watershed. You may feel numb, distraught, helpless. …
The Brain Injury Hub – a brilliant resource
As part of Family Voice Surrey, I have visited The Children’s Trust in Tadworth a number of times as they kindly lend us a room for our meetings. The Children’s …
10 Tips for Developing Your Child’s Language Skills
I recently met Vanessa King, when she joined our Women in Business Network group in Farnham. Vanessa is a qualified teacher, parent, toastmaster and an expert in teaching confident speaking …
When SEN Tribunal looms, seek legal advice
Many parents find themselves in the position, as they try to secure a statement for their child with special needs, of having to go to Tribunal when they cannot reach …
Special Needs top tip: Elastic laces
So, here is Special Needs Jungle’s top tip of the day that I think many of you will find very handy. Lots of our children have difficulty with laces, especially …
Sensory needs met with a Body Sox
Many children with special needs have sensory issues, including my two. Their school used Body Sox which Youngest absolutely loves. He asked me to source one for him and here …
A new SEN Advice service from Contact-a-Family
Contact a Family, the national charity that helps support parents with disabled children has launched a new SEN National Advice Service. This service will help families whose child may have …
1-2-3 Magic – the discipline system that saved my sanity
When you have children on the Autistic Spectrum, finding an effective solution to help with discipline is not easy. Out two AS boys are high-functioning but often did not realise …