As the return to children’s and youth work after the summer holidays gets closer for many of us, or has already started for some, it can be a time of great anxiety and stress for some children and young people, especially children and young people with additional needs. It can also be a challenging and … Continue reading 10 Top Tips For Returning To Children’s And Youth Work
Is there more going on here than what we might observe if all we see is the challenging behaviour itself? Perhaps if we dig a little deeper, look back a little further into the timeline that has concluded with what is being perceived as challenging behaviour, we might realise that we are only acting on a part of the story, we've missed some vital communication, and our response needs to be very different.
We only get one shot at this, one opportunity to show a child or young person with additional needs how valued, loved and cared for they are. Let’s not blow our big chance, but let’s do all we can to be the difference for every child and young person who chooses to journey with us. Let’s have them at “Hello!”
There are many more stories like this that I could share of groups and churches that have recognised how important it is to create accessibility, inclusion and belonging for the one-in-five children and young people who have additional needs of some kind. What about your group or church, does your group or church include children and young people with additional needs, could this be your story too?
There is an often-overlooked short story in the Gospels that many miss but which, while short, is rich with symbolism, meaning, and most of all hope! It’s the story of when a Canaanite woman (sometimes referred to as a Syrophoenician woman) came to Jesus to ask him to heal her daughter, how the disciples and … Continue reading How The Faith Of The Canaanite Woman Inspires Us Not To Give Up
Just because James didn’t know it was his birthday didn’t mean we could treat it like any other day; we wanted to give James great memories to look back on, for him to know that he is loved, that we care enough for him to make his day extra special anyway. And it worked, it really was the very best of birthdays and James was smiling all the way through.
Do Disney/Pixar movies help our children to develop a balanced and inclusive view of disability, or can they instead teach children that there is something ‘wrong’ with disabled people, including their disabled peers?
I thought it might be helpful to provide a ‘kit list’ of items that can be helpful in supporting children and young people with a range of additional needs. If you are looking for something specific, and can’t find it, email me at markjarnold@gmail.com and I’ll see what I can do!Mark’s Additional Needs Kit List: Start … Continue reading Seven Ideas For Your Additional Needs Kit List
This time we will be looking at the story of Easter Sunday, which is the day that Jesus rose from the dead and left the tomb. He did it to give all of us that believe in him new life, just like he had.
This time we’ve arrived at Easter and will be looking at the story of Good Friday, which is the day that Jesus died on the cross. He did it so that all the bad things that we have done would die with him, and so we would be free from them all and could be forgiven for them if we asked Jesus.
Delightful Handmade Dog Products and Gifts
An additional needs Dad and Son baking adventure...
Special Education Teaching Resources, Sensory Stories and SEND Information
The Additional Needs Blogfather 