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Child masking at school

When “fine” at school isn’t really fine

School & Education Struggles, PDA Parenting Realities /

When “fine” at school isn’t really fine When my child was still in mainstream education, they were an expert masker. At school they looked happy, compliant, even sociable. They smiled, joined in, did as they were told. On the surface, they seemed fine. But the moment we got home, it would unravel. Their nervous system […]

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It’s not separation anxiety – it’s survival

PDA Parenting Realities, School & Education Struggles /

It’s not separation anxiety – it’s survival When your child can’t go to school without you, it’s not about over-dependence. It’s about safety. There’s a story many of us are told when our children struggle to separate from us at the school gates. “It’s separation anxiety.” It’s said gently, maybe with a tilted head or

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