4. Attention, Social Experience and Predictability

Kate and Dave dive into the complexities of life that can be both stressful and rejuvenating, focusing particularly on the experiences of neurodivergent children. They discuss how the love of God drives us to work hard on understanding and caring for our children. They highlight the importance of understanding attention differences, social experiences, and the need for predictability in daily routines. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize that while some aspects can be draining, others can provide energy and comfort. By the end, they reiterate the significance of curiosity and adaptability in parenting, encouraging listeners to tailor their approaches to meet the unique needs of their children.

Takeaways:

• The discussion emphasized the importance of understanding sensory processing differences to help neurodivergent children manage their environments effectively.
• Kate and Dave highlighted how attention differences can manifest in both rejuvenating and draining ways for neurodivergent individuals, impacting their daily experiences.
• They stressed the significance of predictability in routines for neurodivergent children, as it provides comfort and reduces anxiety about unexpected events.
• The speakers shared insights into the social experiences of neurodivergent children, particularly how they may appear fine outwardly while struggling internally during social interactions.

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Citations:

Attwood, T., & Garnett, M. (2023, July 17). Exploring friendship in high school [Video]. Attwood and Garnett Events. https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com

Kunchulia, M., Tatishvili, T., Parkosadze, K., Lomidze, N., & Thomaschke, R. (2020). Children with autism spectrum disorder show increased sensitivity to time-based predictability. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 66(3), 214–221. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2018.1564447

Raymaker, D. M., Teo, A. R., Steckler, N. A., Lentz, B., Scharer, M., Delos Santos, A., & Nicolaidis, C. (2020). “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: Defining autistic burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0079

Wolfberg, P., & Buron, K. D. (Eds.). (2024). Learners on the autism spectrum : preparing educators and related practitioners (Third edition.). Routledge.