http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.growingchoices.co.nz en-us Sat, 03 Oct 2026 17:29:00 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/170879/what-happens-during-a-davis-autism-approach-programme/ If you’re a parent considering a Davis Autism Approach programme for your child, you may have lots of questions.What actually happens during the programme?What will my child be asked to do?Will they need to sit still and listen?What if they don’t want to participate?Will I be involved?And, perhaps most importantly, what will the experience feel like for my child?It’s completely understandable to want to know what you’re stepping into before making a decision.The Davis Autism Approach is ... Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:01:43 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post170879 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/169963/autism-support-new-zealand/ If your child is autistic, finding the right support can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are schools, health professionals, disability services, community organisations and different approaches to consider, and it isn't always easy to know where to begin.But perhaps the first question isn't only “What support is available?”It is also “What does my child actually need?”Every autistic individual is different. What helps one child may not be what another child needs.At Growing Choices, I... Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:23:49 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post169963 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/169277/dyslexia-support-isnt-only-for-children-daves-story/ Dave* came to Growing Choices as an adult with significant challenges in the way he experienced and processed information. His visual perception meant that he had been experiencing the world as flat and dark, while his auditory perception had made sounds feel mostly muffled. He had even thought he was deaf. Through the programme, Dave* began to experience the world with more accurate visual and auditory perception.... Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:09:28 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post169277 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/169133/from-why-dont-they-teach-us-like-this-at-school-to-confident-learning/ Mason was nine when he came to Growing Choices for a one-to-one intensive programme, while his parents completed the parent course alongside him. He was thoughtful, communicative and curious, but school had become difficult for him. He had experienced anxiety, a lack of confidence and daily tears around school for more than a year. Over the days that followed, Mason began to experience learning in a very different way. At the end of his first day, he told his family, “I love it! It’s fun! An... Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:45:05 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post169133 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/168225/what-is-executive-function-why-understanding-and-concept-mastery-change-everything/ Have you ever looked at your child and thought,"I know you can do this… so what's getting in the way?"Perhaps your child explains the maths problem perfectly on the way home from school. They tell you all about the book they're reading or confidently answer your questions over dinner. Then, a little later, they sit down to complete the homework and everything changes. They can't seem to get started. They forget what to do next, frustration grows, and before long you're both wondering what happ... Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:50:20 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post168225 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/168063/the-story-behind-the-growing-choices-logo/ It isn't just a logo.It tells the story of everything I believe about life, learning, and the people I have the privilege of working alongside. Every part has meaning.... Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:15:55 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post168063 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/168026/orientation-where-learning-begins/ Sometimes the first step towards easier learning isn't learning more. It's becoming oriented.Quite a few parents tell me they know their child is bright. They can see their imagination. They hear the wonderful ideas they come up with. Yet when it comes to reading, writing, or even following instructions, everything suddenly feels much harder.It doesn't seem to make sense.I've heard this story many times. Parents often ask me,"Why is my child finding learning so difficult when I know they're capa... Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:32:02 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post168026 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/167887/dyslexia-friendly-fonts-do-they-really-help/ Sometimes the biggest change isn't the font. It's how a child experiences reading. Quite a few parents ask me about dyslexia-friendly fonts. They've often read that changing the font might make reading easier, and they're wondering if it's something they should try. I think it's a really good question. And before I say anything else, if your child has found a font that feels more comfortable, that's wonderful. Anything that helps a child feel more confident with reading is worth celebrating.... Thu, 23 Jul 2026 17:07:45 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post167887 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/167799/what-if-adhd-isnt-about-a-lack-of-attention/ Lately, I've been thinking quite a bit about ADHD.Perhaps it's because more and more people are talking about it. Parents are asking questions. Adults are recognising themselves in conversations they've never had before. It feels as though ADHD is everywhere at the moment.I think that's a good thing.The more we understand, the more opportunities we have to support children in ways that really make sense.At the same time, I've found myself a little hesitant to talk about ADHD.Not because I don't ... Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:36:17 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post167799 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/post/166776/from-fear-to-hope-how-learning-is-changing-lives-at-kakamega-global-star-academy/ Donate via Raisely →... Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:21:09 +1200 http://www.growingchoices.co.nz/blog/#post166776