#neurowild

I’m talking our ND kids working way above grade level at school. Maybe they are brilliant at maths, or writing, or perhaps their verbal communication skills would have you believing that they’re a good five years older than they are. They also struggle with things.

Adults often make the mistake of seeing this kid’s brilliant academic skills, and assume that this child should be equally as brilliant in every other aspect of their life. That means executive functioning, ‘social skills’, life skills, daily tasks, emotional regulation, etc. Adults often expect that this kid should be just as great at everything else as they are at maths.

When this 7-year-old child struggles with something ‘simple’ like getting dressed, parents might turn around and say things like ‘I just watched you do 5 pages of long division- stop being ridiculous. This is EASY compared to that.’

The thing is, it isn’t. Not for this kid.

Maths was simple for them, the way that getting dressed might be simple for you. Conversely, getting dressed is hard for them, the way that maths might be hard for you.

We need to meet them where they’re at.

We can marvel at their mathematical brilliance, wonder how on earth they can do those complex equations. And then after, we can help them clean up the milk they spilled, and comfort them about the mess. We help them regulate when their feelings are so big about the bits of cereal on the floor, and the drops of milk that landed on their shirt. We work alongside them to pack their bag in the morning. We help them work through the huge sadness of losing a game to their brother.

We do all that.

And we know that we are supporting them where they need the support.

And we are are still there, in their corner, when they don’t.

Point is, they know that we are there no matter what. That connection and that trust is essential.

People need to understand that The brilliance we have in one area is not necessarily transferable to different things. And suggesting it is is unreasonable and distressing.

So let’s not, yeah?

Em 🌈🌻✌️

AuDHD SLP

From this Facebook page by NeuroWild, which I can't link to directly.

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