Here's a sneak preview of the latest edition of Easy Parenting magazine. The focus this month is on supporting children after parental separation. Lots of other interesting articles and tips for parents.

Just a note for our customers...our office will be closed from Thursday 22nd December and re-open Monday 8th January. We are nearly fully booked for January for occupational therapy and psychology in particular so please contact us if you require services in the New Year. Thank you

Thanks to Laura again for sharing this lovely article on managing sensory overload over Christmas. With a little planning and consideration, children with higher sensory needs can enjoy the holiday period just as much. http://lemonlimeadventures.com/reducing-surviving-sensory-overload-holidays-anxious-kid/

Our therapy services are very busy at present so we are actively looking for an experienced psychologist or psychotherapist to join our team for at least one day per week. Extensive experience working with young people and their parents is essential. For further information, please contact the practice either on 012937882 or info@treehousepractice.ie

We always have a little memento for the children that visit Treehouse to take home with them, whether its a stress ball, fidget toy, or toy car. But for Christmas, we are inviting the children to open the advent calendar and see what they find! Its going down a treat already. The most rewarding part of the job is seeing the children leave with a smile on their faces. We'd like to think its not just because of the treat!

The elves were busy decorating in Treehouse today, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

This useful graphic and article takes you through what a day is like for a child with sensory processing difficulties https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-child-with-sensory-processing-issues

The next article of Easy Parenting will be on supporting children in the aftermath of divorce. We some helpful tip sheets in the practice for anyone with these experiences currently so please get in touch if we can help

As adults, we often struggle to support our children through difficult life stages, and nothing is more difficult than coping after loss and death. This lovely article provides some useful advice. https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2017/nov/17/dealing-with-childs-grief-acknowledge-somethings-happened-rainbow-trust

In response to your request, we have extended our hours for occupational therapy services. We now have full-day clinics on Saturday and Sunday, and afternoon sessions on Thursdays. This is in addition to clinics running during the day mid-week.

With Santa starting to look for ideas, it might be nice to consider some 'traditional' toys this Christmas, as well as electronic ones. We know that children are often drawn to electronic toys (and these can be fine in smaller doses) but research also shows that the types of toys we as parents played with in childhood (think blocks, dolls, wagons and books) engage parents for longer, and can help with language development. This link helps explain more http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/traditional-toys-beat-gadgets-in-language-development-20160205-gmn4ii.html

Check out the latest issue of Easy Parenting magazine, there are 2 articles by Dr Sara O'Byrne, the first focusing on best practice guidelines for diagnosing autism and the second on the issue of grandparents providing care to their grandchildren. As always, the magazine will be available to read in the Treehouse reception area.