Close Menu
  • Home
  • What’s On
    • Events
    • Add an Event
    • Major Event
    • School Holiday Guide
  • Things To Do
    • Free Activities
      • Coastal Activities
      • Outdoor Activities
      • Picnic Spots
      • Playgrounds
      • Pram Walks
      • Rainy Day Activities
      • Walks and Bike Rides
    • Places to Visit
      • Attractions
      • Day Trips Away From The Peninsula
      • Galleries & Libraries
      • Historical
      • Markets
      • Tourism Centres
    • Places to Eat
      • Cafes
      • Restaurants
      • Wineries
    • Places To Stay
      • Accommodation
    • Shopping
      • Baby Goods – Sale & Hire
      • Child Friendly Shops
      • Made on the Peninsula
      • Online
      • Retail
    • At Home
      • Craft
      • Games
      • Recipes
  • Classes & Groups
    • Creative
      • Art and Craft
    • Playgroups
      • Central and Northern Peninsula
      • Southern Peninsula
      • Western Port
    • Sports
      • Fitness
      • Pre School Sports
      • Sports Classes and Tuition
  • Services
    • Health & Wellbeing
      • Dental
      • Health Care Practitioners
      • Hospitals
      • Support Groups
    • Pregnancy & Baby
      • Prenatal
        • Pre Natal Care/Birth Support
        • Pre Natal Fitness & Wellbeing
        • Maternal Health Centres
        • Maternity Products
      • PostNatal
        • Maternal Health Centres
        • Post Natal Support & Wellbeing
    • Special Needs
      • Activities for Special Needs
      • Support for Special Needs
      • Therapists for Special Needs
    • Education & Childcare
      • Daycare
      • Kindergartens
      • Schools
    • Finance
      • Finance
    • Photography
      • Photography
    • Child Safety & Wellbeing
      • Child Safety/First Aid
      • Emergency Numbers
  • Articles
    • Education
    • Finances
    • Health
    • Parenting Articles
    • Places to Eat
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Reviews
    • Member Questions
  • Parties
    • Celebrate – Party Ideas
    • Entertainment
    • Suppliers
    • Venues
  • Giveaways
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Testimonials
  • Giveaways
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Thursday, May 22
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Testimonials
  • Giveaways
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
Peninsula Kids
  • Home
  • What’s On
    • Events
    • Add an Event
    • Major Event
    • School Holiday Guide
  • Things To Do
    • Free Activities
      • Coastal Activities
      • Outdoor Activities
      • Picnic Spots
      • Playgrounds
      • Pram Walks
      • Rainy Day Activities
      • Walks and Bike Rides
    • Places to Visit
      • Attractions
      • Day Trips Away From The Peninsula
      • Galleries & Libraries
      • Historical
      • Markets
      • Tourism Centres
    • Places to Eat
      • Cafes
      • Restaurants
      • Wineries
    • Places To Stay
      • Accommodation
    • Shopping
      • Baby Goods – Sale & Hire
      • Child Friendly Shops
      • Made on the Peninsula
      • Online
      • Retail
    • At Home
      • Craft
      • Games
      • Recipes
  • Classes & Groups
    • Creative
      • Art and Craft
    • Playgroups
      • Central and Northern Peninsula
      • Southern Peninsula
      • Western Port
    • Sports
      • Fitness
      • Pre School Sports
      • Sports Classes and Tuition
  • Services
    • Health & Wellbeing
      • Dental
      • Health Care Practitioners
      • Hospitals
      • Support Groups
    • Pregnancy & Baby
      • Prenatal
        • Pre Natal Care/Birth Support
        • Pre Natal Fitness & Wellbeing
        • Maternal Health Centres
        • Maternity Products
      • PostNatal
        • Maternal Health Centres
        • Post Natal Support & Wellbeing
    • Special Needs
      • Activities for Special Needs
      • Support for Special Needs
      • Therapists for Special Needs
    • Education & Childcare
      • Daycare
      • Kindergartens
      • Schools
    • Finance
      • Finance
    • Photography
      • Photography
    • Child Safety & Wellbeing
      • Child Safety/First Aid
      • Emergency Numbers
  • Articles
    • Education
    • Finances
    • Health
    • Parenting Articles
    • Places to Eat
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Reviews
    • Member Questions
  • Parties
    • Celebrate – Party Ideas
    • Entertainment
    • Suppliers
    • Venues
  • Giveaways
Peninsula Kids
Home»Parenting Articles»Neurodiversity
Parenting Articles

Neurodiversity

4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
By Rebecca Perkins

Understanding what it means to have a neurodivergent child.

Nothing beats the euphoric feeling of welcoming your newborn child into the world. You dream of a bright future with no boundaries. And why not?

However, when you are told that your child is not ‘typical’, your preconceived idea of a seemingly perfect world has to change.

With more information and research to hand it is becoming easier to recognise and diagnose kids (and adults). As a result, hundreds of Australian children are diagnosed with Autism, dyslexia and ADHD each year.

Many families walk through the ‘neurodiversity door’ with some fear and apprehension whilst they seek to learn more and try to find access to the hard-to-find information and support.

The negative way that neurodiversity is often reported and spoken about throughout society has led to many misunderstandings, confusion and a lack of acceptance. Thankfully, this is slowly changing, but there is still a very long way to go.

What is the Neurodiversity Movement?

Popularised by Judy Singer in 1998, the Neurodiversity Movement is a societal shift that highlights there are variations of the brain and that nothing is classed as ‘abnormal’. 

Advocates for neurodiversity reject the idea that children (and adults) who are on the spectrum or have ADHD and other neurobiological differences are disabled. They passionately believe that their brains just work differently from others and celebrate this.

The goal of this movement is to embrace neurodivergent people as part of the mainstream, accept their differences and appreciate them for their uniqueness and their many wonderful abilities. 

Here are three ways you can embrace your neurodiversity journey.

ACCEPTANCE – TAKE YOUR TIME

Once your child has received a diagnosis you need to take as much time as possible to learn and read information from positive sources.

It’s important to learn about the Neurodiversity Movement and what this means for you and your family.

Talk to your child about their diagnosis in a positive way using age-appropriate language. There is no need to over complicate things. It is really important when discussing a diagnosis with your child that you let them know about the many positives. Highlight that they are wonderful for having a fantastic unique brain.

When talking with family and friends, be mindful that you don’t need others to fully understand the ins and outs of your initial diagnosis. However, you do need them to understand that neurodivergent kids are wonderful, have many fantastic abilities and that they are just as worthy of acceptance as anyone else……Positivity is key.

AWARENESS – WALK THE TALK

We need to teach everyone in our lives that it is OK to be different. 

As parents, we tend to focus too much on the deficits and do not appreciate the strengths of neurodiverse individuals. 

By creating knowledge and understanding this will result in a positive ripple effect of increased awareness, acceptance and appreciation for our neurodiverse children; The key to the new mainstream way of thinking.

Be proud of who your child is. Talk openly with teachers, family and friends to make sure they have a better understanding about what neurodiversity means and how they can support your child. 

Take the lead and the rest will follow. 

APPRECIATION – CELEBRATE DIFFERENCES

Be comforted by the fact that a diagnosis is not a negative thing: it is just different. Accept that, with your unwavering support, your child will absolutely be happy and can achieve their goals.

We, as parents, need to learn how to reframe our thinking that neurodivergent children can be happy and achieve their goals and dreams.

Neurodivergent children often have incredible abilities, hopes and dreams. Sometimes they do things that they may not be proud of and may find difficult because their brain is simply different. But how does that differ to any other child?

There are so many incredible people that have shown that it is not only possible to manage their symptoms but that they can stand out from the crowd. This includes Jamie Oliver (celebrity chef), Justin Timberlake (singer/actor), Emma Watson (actor) and Sir Richard Branson (Founder Virgin Airlines/entrepreneur) to name but a few.

Make no mistake, there will be challenges and you will need to be prepared to take these by the horns.

You are never alone as there is a whole community behind you. 

Always remember: Don’t look back, you are not going that way. Embrace the wonderful future in store for you.


Rebecca Perkins, Founder My Special Child

www.myspecialchildonline.com

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2021

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Calendar
Today
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
7:00 PM - Carnivale Party at Sk8house
10
11
11:00 AM - Mother's Day at Sk8house - MUM SKATES FOR FREE!!
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
4:00 PM - Sk8house Sensory Sessions
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
6:00 PM - FLURO NIGHT at Sk8house – Let’s Glow!
1
Carnivale Party at Sk8house
09 May
May 9, 2025    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sk8house
  • Family Activity
Get ready to roll into a fabulous night full of colour, music and non-stop fun! The Sk8house Carnivale Party will be a magical night of vibrant vibes, [...]
More Info
Mother's Day at Sk8house - MUM SKATES FOR FREE!!
11 May
May 11, 2025    
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sk8house
  • Family Activity
  • Mother's Day
💐 Celebrate Mum on Wheels this Mother’s Day at Sk8house! 💖 This Sunday, 11th May, we’re rolling out the love for all the amazing mums, [...]
More Info
Sk8house Sensory Sessions
Sk8house Sensory Sessions
May 20, 2025    
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Sk8house
  • Workshop/Class
The Sk8house Sensory Sessions aim to be a calm, welcoming space for skaters of all abilities to roll their way — with reduced noise, gentle [...]
More Info
FLURO NIGHT at Sk8house – Let’s Glow!
31 May
May 31, 2025    
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sk8house
Get ready for a night of neon, music and non-stop fun at Sk8house’s FLURO NIGHT! We’re turning down the lights and turning up the fluro [...]
More Info
Events on May 9, 2025
09 May
Carnivale Party at Sk8house
9 May 25
Carrum Downs
Events on May 11, 2025
11 May
Mother's Day at Sk8house - MUM SKATES FOR FREE!!
11 May 25
Carrum Downs
Events on May 20, 2025
Sk8house Sensory Sessions
Sk8house Sensory Sessions
20 May 25
Carrum Downs
Events on May 31, 2025
31 May
FLURO NIGHT at Sk8house – Let’s Glow!
31 May 25
Carrum Downs
Visit Our Advertisers
ABOUT

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

MPNG also publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

ADVERTISE WITH US

Instagram
#thinkingofyou
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
#thinkingofyou
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Grab your cameras and hot choccies! Neon Fields returns to glow up Frankston!
When the sun goes down it is time to gather family and friends and venture into Neon Fields. Beauty Park will once again be transformed into a colourful fantasy world where you’re invited to interact and play among the lights during this free event!
——————————————————————————
#southsidefestival #neonfields #frankston #beautypark #visitfrankston #whatson #whatsonthisweekend #thingstodo #freeevent #photoops #lovepeninsulakids 
@southsidefestivalfrankston
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
Grab your cameras and hot choccies! Neon Fields returns to glow up Frankston! When the sun goes down it is time to gather family and friends and venture into Neon Fields. Beauty Park will once again be transformed into a colourful fantasy world where you’re invited to interact and play among the lights during this free event! —————————————————————————— #southsidefestival #neonfields #frankston #beautypark #visitfrankston #whatson #whatsonthisweekend #thingstodo #freeevent #photoops #lovepeninsulakids @southsidefestivalfrankston
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
In July, Associate Professor Andrew Kornberg, Senior Neurologist at The RCH Foundation, will embark on a remarkable solo flight around Australia to raise $4.5 million for life-changing treatments for children with rare and complex conditions.

Called Fly for the Kids, this one-of-a-kind fundraiser will help establish dedicated spaces, resources, and specialist staff at the RCH, making advanced therapies — including revolutionary gene therapy — more accessible to sick children across Australia.

Andrew’s journey will see him revisit patients whose lives have been transformed by advanced therapies, putting real faces and stories to the incredible impact of this innovation in paediatric healthcare.

You can learn more about the campaign here: https://flyforthekids.org.au 

@rch.foundation
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
In July, Associate Professor Andrew Kornberg, Senior Neurologist at The RCH Foundation, will embark on a remarkable solo flight around Australia to raise $4.5 million for life-changing treatments for children with rare and complex conditions. Called Fly for the Kids, this one-of-a-kind fundraiser will help establish dedicated spaces, resources, and specialist staff at the RCH, making advanced therapies — including revolutionary gene therapy — more accessible to sick children across Australia. Andrew’s journey will see him revisit patients whose lives have been transformed by advanced therapies, putting real faces and stories to the incredible impact of this innovation in paediatric healthcare. You can learn more about the campaign here: https://flyforthekids.org.au @rch.foundation
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Breast Cancer Trials, ANZ’s largest oncology research group, is holding a ‘matched giving day’ on Thursday, 8th May where – for 24 hours only, donations from the public will be matched dollar for dollar by a group of generous supporters. Every dollar raised will be doubled to help fund clinical breast cancer research.

How can people get involved:
Donate online at breastcancertrials.org.au/givingday (this will go live On Thursday 8th May)
Donate by calling 1800 423 444
Follow Breast Cancer Trials on socials and share their own stories, thanks and memories of their mums and mother-figures.

@breastcancertrials
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
Breast Cancer Trials, ANZ’s largest oncology research group, is holding a ‘matched giving day’ on Thursday, 8th May where – for 24 hours only, donations from the public will be matched dollar for dollar by a group of generous supporters. Every dollar raised will be doubled to help fund clinical breast cancer research. How can people get involved: Donate online at breastcancertrials.org.au/givingday (this will go live On Thursday 8th May) Donate by calling 1800 423 444 Follow Breast Cancer Trials on socials and share their own stories, thanks and memories of their mums and mother-figures. @breastcancertrials
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Cute Mother's Day craft to do with the kids for mum!

https://peninsulakids.com.au/spiral-paper-flowers/

#mothersday #crat #craftingwithkids #kidslovecraft #homemadegifts
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
Cute Mother's Day craft to do with the kids for mum! https://peninsulakids.com.au/spiral-paper-flowers/ #mothersday #crat #craftingwithkids #kidslovecraft #homemadegifts
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
One of my fave parts of Mother's Day, (other than the at-home day spa), is receiving these questionnaires full of funny answers, (and sometimes some hard truths), from my kids.

https://peninsulakids.com.au/craft-whats-the-best-thing-about-your-mum/
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
One of my fave parts of Mother's Day, (other than the at-home day spa), is receiving these questionnaires full of funny answers, (and sometimes some hard truths), from my kids. https://peninsulakids.com.au/craft-whats-the-best-thing-about-your-mum/
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Today we received a gorgeous entry for our colouring in competition from a 75 year-old reader of Peninsula Kids magazine in the actual MAIL! 💌

This has made my day so much that I may have to pay the entrant a visit with a special prize for all their effort and for giving me a huge smile on a Monday!

How’s that artwork?!?!?! 🤩

Have you sent your entry in? 
IG: Use Linktree in bio to download a copy.
FB: check out pinned/featured post. 🧑‍🎨 
@chocolate.grove 
——————————————————————————
#peninsulakids #peninsulakidsmagazine #colouringin #colouringincompetition #chocolate #chocolatehamper
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
Today we received a gorgeous entry for our colouring in competition from a 75 year-old reader of Peninsula Kids magazine in the actual MAIL! 💌 This has made my day so much that I may have to pay the entrant a visit with a special prize for all their effort and for giving me a huge smile on a Monday! How’s that artwork?!?!?! 🤩 Have you sent your entry in? IG: Use Linktree in bio to download a copy. FB: check out pinned/featured post. 🧑‍🎨 @chocolate.grove —————————————————————————— #peninsulakids #peninsulakidsmagazine #colouringin #colouringincompetition #chocolate #chocolatehamper
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
#anzacday #lestweforget
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
#anzacday #lestweforget
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
The piggest news is about to drop! 🐷
Be among the first to hear the squeal-worthy scoop, in just a few days time!
Knock! Knock! Who’s there?

Do you think Peppa and George will have a baby brother or sister? Drop your guess in the comments below!

#expectingPigChanges #PeppaPigNewBaby #BigSister #BigBrother 

@officialpeppapig
mornpenkids
mornpenkids
•
Follow
The piggest news is about to drop! 🐷 Be among the first to hear the squeal-worthy scoop, in just a few days time! Knock! Knock! Who’s there? Do you think Peppa and George will have a baby brother or sister? Drop your guess in the comments below! #expectingPigChanges #PeppaPigNewBaby #BigSister #BigBrother @officialpeppapig
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
View on Instagram
Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay In The Know

Sign up to our free newsletter and receive weekly updates on events and things to do with kids on the Mornington Peninsula.

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
© 2025 All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.