Sue Larkey Blog

How Using Visual Schedules Can Build  Independence for Neurodiverse Students Schedules for Neurodiverse Children  10 Ideas to Try from this Podcast: ✅  Library Schedule Breakdown: Instead of just saying "library time," break down the entire sequence - returning books, sitting on the mat, listening to a story - to reduce anxiety and increase engagement. ✅  Morning Routine Visual Chart: Create a visual schedule for morning routines with breakfast, getting dressed, cleaning teeth, and packing bags - with time allocations for each activity. ✅  Assembly Navigation: Use visual schedules to show the sequence of assembly events - national anthem, principal's announcements, class performances - making long sitting periods more manageable. ✅  Hand-Washing Sequence: Break down hand-washing into clear steps with timing - turn on tap, apply soap, wash while singing "Happy Birthday," rinse, dry hands thoroughly. ✅  Homework Time Management: Use digital timers that can be paused for...

Behaviour Solutions for Kids is a great way to help children with Autism, ADHD, ODD, and all other neurodiversity. By understanding behaviour and putting in place strategies to help children regulate their emotions, you can help them cope with meltdowns and shutdowns. Proactive and reactive strategies can be used to help children learn how to self-regulate and choose their battles. With the right tools and strategies, you can help children with behaviour issues find solutions that work for them. It's never too late to start helping children with behaviour issues, and the rewards are worth it.

Celebrating 300 Episodes!Embracing Difference with a class activity “All About Me” Helping Neurodiverse Children with Emotional Regulation Discussed in the Episode: ✅ Use the "About Me: Understanding My Feelings" worksheet with photos to help children identify what helps them when feeling wiggly, tired, bored, worried, excited, angry, or sad ✅ Create brainstorming sessions where children share different self-regulation tools (arm pretzel, crunchy snack, deep breaths) ✅ Implement wall pushups as a proprioceptive activity for children feeling slow/tired, fast/emotional, or fast/wiggly ✅ Teach the "seat pushup" technique during assemblies - push on chair with palms flat, count to 5-10 ✅ Use "The Palm Push" - pushing palms together for 5-10 seconds as a discrete calming technique ✅ Read "The Red Beast" picture book to help children understand anger expressions ✅ Poll the class to see who uses which strategy in different emotional states ✅ Create a visual menu of regulation activities...

What is Interoception & How it Affects Behaviour in Neurodiverse Students (ODD, ADHD, PDA, AS) What is interoception in neurodiverse studentsDiscussed in the Episode: ✅ H.A.L.T factors underlying behaviour. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired and what to do ✅ Many ADHD children don't recognise they're tired until they're completely exhausted. ✅ Some children don't realise they're thirsty until they need to drink an entire water bottle. ✅ A boy was having meltdowns at after-school care because he hadn't eaten breakfast or drunk water all day. ✅ Using marked water bottles with lines indicating how much to drink by certain times of the day. ✅ Creating "appointments" for social connections where different children meet with a neurodiverse student daily. ✅ One mother reported her son couldn't distinguish between needing to use the bathroom and feeling angry. ✅ Having a neurodiverse student help younger children with reading groups to create a connection ✅ Creating toilet timing routines...

Playground Plans: A Guide to Creating Effective Lunchtime Clubs Playground Plans for Neurodiverse Students  Discussed in this Podcast: ✅ Creating a gardening club where students learn lifelong skills while developing social connections - "I personally, huge fan of gardening because then you can join a community garden. It's a lifelong skill. It's something you can talk about right into adulthood." ✅ Implementing a system of "tickets" to give certain students access to supervised activities during recess/lunch - "Art, let's get a ticket. So that is for students that have been identified that need a bit more support." ✅ Setting up board game clubs to teach turn-taking, winning/losing gracefully, and emotional regulation - "Board games you have to learn, learn to win, lose, wait for a turn. Like I think board games teach a huge range of skills." ✅ Creating clubs based on special interests - "They have library dolls. Play skipping elastics. Remember Elastics Captain Ball art...

Navigating Social Meltdowns: Understanding Triggers and Solutions for Neurodiverse Children (AS,ADHD, ODD, PDA etc) What Are Social Meltdowns?Discussed in this Episode:  Document specific social triggers for individual students - "What does a social meltdown look like? What is the triggers for this child? Is the trigger winning and losing? Is the trigger not having a partner?"  Create a visual social knowledge scrapbook - "This is why I like what Anna Tullemans says with a social script explaining other people's perspective." Great social scripts in the Developing Social skills book available here  Implement "process first, collaborate second" - "Maybe we should reverse it in the classroom. Maybe we should give children all a few minutes to think about what they're gonna contribute to the group and collaborate and then talk."  Establish three peer groups for each child - "Dr. Michael Carr-Greg says children need three peer groups. Is could be activities outside school?    Practice...

My favourite resources – What they are and how to use them How Should I Set Up My Classroom for my Students?Discussed in this Episode: ✅ Using digital timers with a visual schedule to help students understand transitions - where they're going, what they're doing, and for how long buy here ✅ Placing time timers at assemblies to help students visually see how long they need to sit buy here ✅ Creating portable digital schedules with personalised visuals (like attaching a Lego block to show how long it is until Lego time) buy here ✅ Using the Red Beast thermometer to help children track their anger levels from calm to furious buy here ✅ Creating personalised "wands" with each child to help them identify and work through different feelings buy here  ✅ Implementing token systems as rewards for neurodivergent children instead of traditional certificates or stamps buy here ✅ Using key rings with visuals to help children with transitions or regulation buy here ✅ Having students develop...

What does that Acronym / Abbreviation Mean? I have created a cheat sheet for you Understanding Acronyms CheatsheetDiscussed in this Episode:  Cheat sheet with over 40 + Acronym / Abbreviations  What do the 3 levels of ASD Diagnosis mean  ODD vs PDA  ADHD vs ASD  Common Confusions and Misunderstandings – with Psychologist Emily HanlonARE YOU CONFUSED BY ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS? HERE'S A GREAT CHEAT SHEETI wish I had this list when I first started teaching, I remember the overwhelm of hearing abbreviations and not knowing what they were....... and no google 30 years ago!   Sue's Top Pick for Understanding Diagnostic Terms- MUST HAVE for Professional LibrariesThis week I am joined by guest, Emily Hanlon, a Psychologist who completed her Clinic Masters Research on the well-being of siblings of children with ASD compared to children with typically developing siblings. The results showed that ASD siblings reported lower scores on emotional efficacy and positive affect, and reported...

How to set up your own classroom Hub: How 10 Minutes Can Transform a Student's Day How Should I Set Up My Classroom for my Students?Discussed in this Episode: ✅  Create a physical "Hub" space with individual desks, visual timers, and therapeutic tools like theraputty. ✅  Implement daily "anchor points" where high-needs students start their day in the Hub with a structured routine. ✅  Develop "roadmaps" (social scripts) that outline the bones of the day, helping students prepare for transitions and changes. ✅  Establish consistent classroom and playground expectations with simple rules (e.g., whole body listening, hand raising, respect). ✅  Schedule regular regulation breaks instead of reactive "call outs" to prevent escalation. ✅  Create individualised skill-building sessions ("springboards") targeting specific needs like stopping when asked or handling loss. ✅  Develop personal plans that follow students year to year, reducing teacher preparation and student anxiety. ✅  Implement...

The Hidden Exhaustion: Recognising Masking in Neurodiverse Students Masking and Autism Explained in this Episode!  Discussed in this Episode: ✅  Schedule regular, discreet check-ins with a trusted adult (teacher, music instructor, grounds person) who can monitor the student's well-being. ✅  Establish a "safe haven" where students can retreat during recess instead of facing the social challenges of the playground. ✅  Create opportunities for students to come in 10 minutes before the rest of the class to help with tasks and decompress. ✅  Pair students with peers who allow them to be themselves rather than forcing them to mask their authentic selves. ✅  Form interest-based clubs (like the "rabbit club" example) where students can connect with like-minded peers in a structured, supportive environment. ✅  Teach students to recognize their emotional states using visual supports like the "spoon theory" to help them communicate their energy levels. ✅  Ensure students have access to...

Dean Beadle shares his lived experience of embracing his Autistic Identity and finding Autistic Joy Lived Experience of Embracing Autistic Identity This month is Autism Awareness month. The 2025 campaign focuses on embracing and uplifting the positive aspects of Autistic identity, empowering individuals to appreciate and take pride in their experiences fully.This weeks Podcast Dean Beadle shares how he has embraced his Autistic identity. One of my biggest role models is Dean Beadle, an autistic speaker and trainer. Dean is a proud promoter of the autistic voice, encouraging and empowering other autistic people to share their experiences and insights too. I am a huge fan of Dean’s work and have toured with him in the past. He is so inspiring and I’m sure you will all enjoy listening to Dean’s personal experience and insight as much as I did!   What You'll Hear in This Episode:✅   Reframe autism as a different set of social skills rather than a deficit ✅   Allow for fluctuating...

 Understanding PDA & ODD in the Classroom: An Educators Guide Strategies to Help Teach Kids with PDA************************************** Join me for an upcoming Workshop: Sue Larkey Workshops Can't make these Workshop dates? Join me for a self-paced on-demand course: Sue Larkey On-Demand Workshops ************************************** Strategies for Teaching PDA StudentsKey takeaways from this podcast for educators and parents/ carers of a child with PDA:✅   Share appropriate personal experiences to build trust ✅   Offer two clear choices instead of open-ended options ✅   Use natural consequences instead of demands (e.g., explaining toilet routines) ✅   Allow collaborative learning when students prefer working with peers ✅   Give students a fresh start each day, avoiding delayed consequences ✅   Discuss emotions openly to model emotional regulation ✅   Share problem-solving thoughts aloud ✅   Mix up strategies as they can wear out quickly ✅   Use special interests without...