Our News & Advice

Letting the light in A Five-minute mindfulness exercise for mothers to do at home This is a guest post by Connie Boggis-Rolfe who uses this exercise in her work with anxious mothers and children.Mindfulness Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, to be aware of where we are and what we’re doing.

At The Parent Infant Clinic we work with families with children with chromosome abnormalities to help provide the best possible outcome for their children and ensure that they are put on the best path to develop their skills and capabilities to their maximum potential. Whilst we recognise that working with the child is of major importance in their growth and development, we also acknowledge the importance of supporting the parents on this journey.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has proven stressful for many people. Fear and anxiety about the disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in both adults and children.
Children react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. Children look to their parents for cues on how to relate to their world, and for support and encouragement during times of crisis.

The first year of a child’s life is normally a celebration of “firsts” – first smile, first crawl, first proper food, first steps, first words…and if lucky, first full night’s sleep. But what if your baby doesn’t seem to be reaching these milestones? Every child is different, and meets these milestones at different times, so what are the red flags that parents should be aware of that could indicate cause for concern?

For children with Autism, the current Covid-19 quarantine measures are a drastic change from their daily routine which can lead to stress and anxiety. Instead of approaching this situation with apprehension, instead consider that this strange time we are going through could be an opportunity to get closer to the thoughts and feelings of your autistic child.

All children have unique learning needs, but children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD require extra guidance and support. During this unprecedented period of lock-down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, parents are finding themselves in the unique situation of needing to assist with home schooling.

Brain development in infancy is astonishing. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, a million connections are made in the brain every second in the first three years of life. The centre notes: “As early experiences shape the architecture of the developing brain, they also lay the foundations of sound mental health.”

In pregnancy, the majority of mothers and fathers take best care they can to protect the health and well being of their unborn baby through keeping active, eating well, relaxing and preparing for the birth of their child by buying clothes, medicines and other necessities for the arrival of her or him into the world.

Many aspects of daily life can be overwhelming for hypersensitive or autistic children, so it is unsurprising that dealing with the challenging impact of anxiety is a daily struggle for many of these children and their families.