Good morning!
I've spent the weekend with my youngest, babysitting while her parents are away.
So many thoughts about her. I'm very happy I got to deep-dive into our relationship ships like this.
Kids mh-
I want to find ways of boosting her self-esteem. She's very good at masking (and probably somewhere on the autism spectrum). But that leaves her so drained in some ways. And occasionally very, very self-critical.
Advice appreciated, if you have experience with neurodivergent kids.
Kids mh-
@newt
advice from the neurdivergent side, not so much the caring for kids side.
for neurodivergent kids in general:
make sure they have language to describe their experiences with the world. language for their sensory perception, for executive functioning, for overloads, for masking, for stimming and so on. maybe get them a feelings wheel printed and laminated and focus on really seeing them as they are. give honest praise or acknowledgement for their actual core traits and not their masks. show real interest in their hobbies and interests if you have any. let them know that its okay to stim in private and public if it helps regulate or even if its just fun.
Kids mh-
we mask so much we forgot who we are beneath personally. one thing that helps is to have people try and look behind the masks.
so make sure to really try and peer behind the masks as much as possible and acknowledge and mirror all you can make out. because trying to heighten their self esteem won't work if its something they don't consider as part of their self.