From Super HQ
Every super kid has a great team behind them. Here you’ll find ideas and explanations from our clinicians to help you build confidence with sleep, toilet training, behaviour and everyday routines, one small step at a time.
Happy, Relaxed and Asleep
Sleep is essential for us to live healthy lives. Yet, did you know that up to 80 percent of Autistic children experience sleep difficulties , compared to 50 percent of their neurotypical peers? 1,2 Do you want your child to be happy, relaxed and asleep…
Common sleep difficulties experienced by Autistic children
Autistic children are more likely to experience some common sleep difficulties than neurotypical children. Where up to 50% of neurotypical children experience poor sleep 1 , up to 80% of neurodivergent children including Autistic children experience sleep difficulties 2 . For children experiencing chronically poor…
Why We Don’t Use Cry-It-Out
“Cry-It-Out” is also known as ‘extinction’ or ‘unmodified extinction’. This means that a parent will place their child to bed, bid them goodnight and allow the child to fall asleep on their own without the parent revisiting, even if the child begins to cry. Cry-It-Out…
Behavioural Sleep Interventions for Autistic Children
Sleep difficulties are commonly experienced by all children. In fact, up to 50% of neurotypically developing children experience sleep difficulties. 1 However, the prevalence of sleep issues is significantly higher amongst neurodivergent children, with up to 80% of Autistic children experiencing poor sleep. 2
Dropping daytime naps
Receiving enough sleep each day and an age-appropriate amount of sleep is essential to our wellbeing. Our sleep needs change as we grow older. For preschoolers, this can include dropping a daytime nap.
Is my child getting enough sleep?
When a child is not sleeping well, the whole family’s sleep can be affected. “Good” sleep is not just indicative of the quality of a child’s sleep, but also the quantity of sleep. It is important for children to receive the recommended amount of sleep…
How to make achievable sleep goals for your child
Designing sleep goals can feel impossible! There are lots of competing factors which can get in the way of achieving our sleep goals, including time changes, holidays, accidental daytime naps and amount of exercise each day.
How do I teach my autistic child to wipe their bottom properly?
Can your Autistic child wipe their bottom properly and independently? One of the fundamental milestones for a child to independently use the bathroom is learning how to wipe their bottom properly to allow them to be alone in the bathroom without support from another person.…
The importance of Values based decision making
At Super Kids, we believe that values based practices are a key element to effective and ethical teaching.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sleep Aids
Sleep aids are an important part of our ability to fall asleep and put ourselves back to sleep overnight. Sleep aids are not necessarily your child’s favourite toys. Instead, sleep aids are neutral items that have been associated with falling asleep and so become the…
Tailoring Bedtime for Your Child’s Preferences
Today we celebrate both World Sleep Day 2023 1 and Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2023 2 !
What is Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)?
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a scientifically validated approach to understanding and changing human behaviour. It has been widely used as an intervention for autistic children and those with other developmental disabilities. It has been shown to be an effective way of helping indivdiuals reach…
Common Reasons for Not Being Toilet Trained
Toilet training is a normal part of childhood development. However, some children experience difficulties and may not be fully toilet trained by a certain age. Most children achieve daytime urinary continence (wee) and fecal continence (poo) by 4 years of age. Urinary incontinence occurs when…
Understanding Toilet Training Typical Norms and Stages
Toilet training is an important milestone for all individuals, marking their transition from nappies to using the bathroom as independently as possible. While every child is unique and may progress at their own pace, there are some typical norms and stages to toilet training that…
What is “Today’s ABA”?
At Super Kids we have adopted a model of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) service provision that many refer to as ‘Today’s ABA’. Similar models have also been referred to as ‘Compassionate ABA’, ‘Trauma-Informed ABA’ or ‘Values-Based ABA’.
5 Steps for your Autistic Child’s Bedtime Routine
Healthy sleep habits start before we go to bed, with a Bedtime Routine. Your Autistic child’s Bedtime Routine is a set of 3-5 activities that you complete every night in the same order before sleep. These steps should start and end at the same time…
Sleep and Autism
Sleep problems are a common concern for parents of all children. In fact, up to 50% of neurotypical children experience sleep difficulties, such as resistance to going to bed, waking often or for long periods overnight, or difficulty waking in the morning. 1
A Day in the Life of an SBT
For a Senior Behaviour Technician (SBT), every day at work can be completely different! We see a range of clients, travel to homes and schools as well as Super Kids HQ, attend meetings and supervision, and prepare individualised materials and toys for fun and productive…
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neuro-developmental disorder. It’s a broad diagnosis and will affect each individual with ASD differently. Current data indicate that 1 in 50 children are affected by ASD worldwide (CDC, 2013).
5 ways to set up your child’s bedroom for a good night’s sleep
Sleep is critical for overall wellbeing and day-to-day functioning. It is very difficult for children (and their families!) to be their best selves if they are not sleeping well. The first step in helping your child have better sleep is for their bedroom to be…