This list consists predominantly of books that are written for parents, carers and school staff by leading experts in the field of autism. The first section is followed by some books that are directed at young people with autism which can be either read by themselves or together with a parent, carer, or at school.
In this interview, Dr Weston talks with Justin Bowen about his own family’s experience of loss and what prompted him to write support books for parents, schools and children experiencing bereavement. They discuss how schools can best support children who have lost a loved one (and how settings can access Justin’s fantastic and practical book, ‘Be The Rainbow’) and dwell on Justin’s personal insights into things that helped him and his family manage through this deeply challenging time. Justin’s story is an inspiring and empowering message of hope and optimism, and will help schools to see what an important role they can play in helping to heal children who have experienced the death of someone close to them.
The sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is likely to impact on different children, in different ways. If you’d like some support in talking to your child about this issue, here are some evidence-based tips.
University dropout is more common for autistic young people than for non-autistic young people and the change from school to university can pose many challenges. In this video, youth development researcher, Dr Kathryn Bates, and writer and researcher, Kerrie Portman, herself a young autistic person who has gone through this experience, discuss key recommendations on how we can best support autistic young people as they transition to university.
Researcher of the Month, Tom King, discusses his recent paper which reviews the evidence for peer-led mental health and wellbeing interventions, widely used in schools worldwide. He talks us through why they are so appealing to schools and outlines the potential benefits and risks.
Researcher, Gemma Goldenberg, outlines evidence on the impact of nature on the development of children’s self-regulation before providing usable classroom strategies for encouraging students to engage with the natural world.
Join Dr Kathy Weston and consultant clinical psychologist, Dr Sophie Nesbitt, for a discussion of the best ways to support the siblings of young people with eating disorders. The family-based nature of most eating disorder treatment approaches means that siblings are likely to be highly impacted when their brother or sister has an eating disorder. Dr Nesbitt shares advice on how to approach conversations with siblings, how to support them through worries and wobbles and how to consider responding to tricky questions.
For teens, entering sixth form and moving towards greater independence in their lives and studies is a big step. Whilst undoubtedly exciting, some young people may find aspects of this transition daunting, or they may simply need a bit of help navigating new challenges and experiences. Remember that even though they are growing up, you remain a powerful influence and guide in their lives! Here are our top tips on supporting teens as they embark on the next stage of their journey.
Research shows that perfectionistic characteristics are on the rise among young people, feeding into a range of mental health and wellbeing difficulties, and leading to reduced motivation and performance in the longer term. The good news is that schools and families can make a difference; by supporting young people to develop “perfectionism literacy” and striving to avoid the creation of “perfectionistic environments” at home and in school. NACE CEO, Rob Lightfoot, will share an overview of current research in the field and practical strategies to help schools and families respond.
Children in military families face certain challenges that their friends might not encounter and can experience their childhood or adolescence quite differently from their peers. Having a parent in active service can entail unique events and transitions for children which might include frequent moves to new schools or homes, having a parent deployed away from home, frequent shifts between living with one parent and both parents and disruptions to friendship networks. This list of books featuring characters with these specific experiences might help any children in this scenario understand their experiences or encourage them to talk about how they feel.
