Sensory Kidz Universe

 If your mornings feel like a full-blown emotional bootcamp before 8:30 a.m… you’re not alone. That heart-racing panic, the meltdowns before you’ve even had your first sip of coffee, the “I’m not going” on repeat — it’s not bad parenting. It’s not laziness. And it’s definitely not your child being “defiant.” For many autistic and sensory children, school isn’t just hard — it’s a battlefield of bright lights, noise, scratchy uniforms, and unpredictable chaos that would push even the calmest adult to tears. But for some kids — like my son, — it’s not just about the lights or the noise. It’s about change . 💜 What School Refusal Really Is Let’s get one thing straight: school refusal isn’t refusal — it’s distress. It’s your child’s nervous system waving a white flag and saying, “I can’t cope today.” And it’s not always caused by the classic “autism triggers” people expect. For Isaac, it all started this term — new classroom, new teacher, new faces. He’s gone from play-based l...

You know that moment when you ask, “Want juice?” and your child chirps straight back, “Want juice!” … then doesn’t actually answer the question? Or when they wander round the house reciting entire chunks of Peppa Pig? That, my friend, is echolalia . It can be cute, confusing, or downright exhausting — and if you’ve googled it at 2 a.m. wondering “is this normal?” , you’re in the right place. Echolalia is incredibly common in autistic kids (and some non-autistic kids too). It’s not rudeness or “parroting for fun” — it’s actually an early way of communicating. Once I understood that, a lot of my frustration disappeared. What Exactly Is Echolalia? Echolalia is the repetition of words or phrases that a child hears. It can show up in two main ways: Immediate echolalia – they repeat what they just heard, usually right after you say it. You say, “Time for bed” → they say, “Time for bed!” Delayed echolalia – they echo words, phrases, or even whole songs hours or days (so...

  When most people picture autism, the image that comes to mind is often based on boys. Research, diagnosis criteria, and media examples have historically focused on them — which means girls are often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or recognised much later. But autism in girls can look very different. Many parents describe feeling like “something was off,” but when they raised concerns, they were reassured their daughter was just shy, sensitive, or quirky. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll look at why autism in girls can be harder to spot and the early signs to look out for. Why autism in girls looks different Girls are often skilled at masking — hiding or copying behaviours to blend in socially. Instead of standing out, they may observe their peers and imitate what they see, giving the impression that everything is fine. Their interests may also appear more “socially acceptable.” While a boy might be obsessed with trains or Lego, a girl may have an e...

  Birthdays are meant to be magical — cake, balloons, friends, the lot. But if you’re a parent of an autistic child, you’ll know they can also be complete chaos. The noise, the fuss, the endless singing… it can all tip into a meltdown faster than you can say “blow out the candles.” In our house, birthdays are interesting . My two are a month apart, and this year we’re (possibly foolishly) planning a joint party. Isla loves the fuss and attention — she’d happily have a marching band follow her around all day. Isaac? He loves birthdays, but only on his terms. He wants the balloons and the presents, but the spotlight and the singing? Not so much. Honestly, he’s going through so many changes right now that even I don’t know what to expect. And that’s the reality for a lot of families like ours. So, how do you celebrate a birthday that feels special, without the sensory overload that can ruin it for everyone? Here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way) and some practical tips to make auti...

  If you’ve landed here, chances are you’ve been up at 2am googling “why won’t my child sleep, eat, or stop lining up the crayons?” Been there. Autism can look a hundred different ways depending on the child, but there are some early signs that make parents stop and think, “Hmm… is this just a quirk, or something more?” I’m not a doctor (just a battle-tested sensory mum), so take this as real-life guidance you can nod along with—not medical advice. Here’s what to look for, plus what to actually do if your gut is telling you something. 🔑 What Are the First Signs of Autism? Some of the most common early signs parents notice: Delayed or different speech and communication. Little or no eye contact. Fascination with routines and repetition. Sensory reactions to noise, textures, or lights. Preferring to play alone rather than with peers. (Tip: don’t tick off boxes like it’s a shopping list—autism is a spectrum, and every child’s mix of traits looks different.) ...

 If your child survives on beige food, welcome to the club 🍟🍞🍗. My kid once lived on a rotation of chicken nuggets, chips, and dry toast — basically the “tan only” section of the supermarket. Doctors tell you to “just introduce new foods slowly.” Yeah, good one., why don’t you try offering broccoli to a child who gags at a pea? So here’s my real-life, sneaky-but-actually-doable nutrition hacks that have worked in our sensory house. Spoiler: they’re not all about hiding spinach in brownies (although, respect if you’ve managed that). 1. Fortify the beige Instead of fighting the beige diet, level it up. Sprinkle grated cheese on plain pasta = extra protein & fat. Add ground flax or chia seeds into pancake batter = invisible fibre boost. Swap nuggets for better nuggets (brands with actual chicken, or air-fryer versions). Tiny upgrades > full battles. 2. Use drinks to your advantage Some autistic kids will refuse food but happily drink. Smoothies can ...

Family holidays. They look dreamy on Instagram, don’t they? Matching swimsuits, happy kids, cocktails by the pool. Reality for autism parents? Overstimulated meltdowns in the airport, beige food battles, and you crying into a travel-sized wine at midnight. But here’s the thing: holidays can work for sensory families — you just need to plan like a military operation with a side of humour. So, here are my real-life, slightly rare but actually brilliant tips that have saved my sanity. 1. Forget the itinerary, pick the anchor Most people pack in 101 excursions. Don’t. Choose ONE anchor activity your child can look forward to each day (swimming, beach walk, hotel arcade) and let everything else be optional. Less pressure = fewer meltdowns. 2. Pack your “home smell” Forget the fancy lavender oils. My kid sleeps better if his room smells like home. A pillowcase, blanket, or even an unwashed T-shirt from your bed (glam, I know) works wonders. Familiar smells = safe brain. 3. The ca...

  The Loneliness No One Talks About You can be in a room full of people and still feel completely invisible. That’s what autism parenting loneliness feels like. It’s not something we post on Instagram, because it doesn’t look pretty. But it’s real. And if you’ve ever sat on the sofa after another exhausting day, wondering if anyone really gets it… you’re not alone. Why Autism Parenting Feels So Isolating It creeps in slowly. Friends drift away when you cancel plans one too many times because your child can’t cope with the noise, the lights, the change. Family members shrug off meltdowns as “bad behaviour.” Neighbours give you those looks in the supermarket. Even when you’re surrounded by people, you feel like nobody truly understands the load you’re carrying. The truth? Autism parenting reshapes your whole life. The routines, the appointments, the constant planning. It’s exhausting. And it leaves very little space for the version of you who once had the time and energy to kee...

 Let’s Get Real for a Minute This post was sparked by a friend’s late-night confession — she admitted her marriage was hanging on by a thread under the weight of autism parenting.  No one talks about this stuff. Instagram shows perfect family snaps and smiling kids. But the reality behind closed doors? It’s meltdowns, exhaustion, and parents who feel more like co-workers in survival mode than husband and wife. So let’s talk about the messy, taboo side of marriage and autism parenting — the side we all secretly Google at 11pm but never say out loud. The Invisible Load Parenting an autistic child means juggling therapies, appointments, school meetings, sensory strategies, meltdowns, and daily firefighting. It’s a lot. What makes it harder? It usually falls unevenly. One parent might shoulder the majority of the load — bedtime battles, phone calls with school, planning the next routine reset — while the other gets labelled the “fun parent.” It builds resentment. Silent th...