“But they know they shouldn’t do that…”

Yes, they might. They may know that hitting, kicking, throwing or breaking things isn’t okay. But knowing something is wrong and being able to stop yourself when you’re overwhelmed are two very different things.

So what do we actually do when our child is overwhelmed and behaviour becomes unsafe? How do we keep everyone safe without shaming or punishing? And how can we reduce the likelihood of it happening again?

In my latest blog, I explore what to do before, during and after these difficult moments, including creating a practical “999 plan”, using Goal → Predict → Plan → Do → Review, and why relationship and repair are such an important part of the picture.

If you’re parenting or caring for a child whose behaviour can become unsafe when they are overwhelmed, I hope this gives you some practical ideas and a different way of looking at those really difficult moments.

Neurodivergence is not a defect, a failure, or something that needs to be “fixed.” It reflects a different way of experiencing, processing, and responding to the world.

Some children are not just struggling to cope with the world around them.
They are struggling to survive within bodies and brains that experience the world as unsafe.

For neurodivergent children impacted by developmental trauma, everyday life can feel overwhelming, unpredictable, and frightening at a level that many people never fully see or understand.

Why our gut reaction to reason with a child when they have lost control can fuel the fire rather than dampen the flames.

Parental Burnout

What happens when you’re caring for a child whose needs sometimes exceed what you have left to give, and the quiet toll that takes on you.