The Contented Child

UNDERSTANDING SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER
2018-11-13 09:30 - 11:30 (Europe/London) | Ramsgate Arts Primary Academy, 140 Newington Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6PT
Does your child or children you work with struggle with noise, movement, touch? Are they always seeking sensory feedback or do they not register pain or discomfort? The Contented Child brings you sensory processing difficulties. A workshop, for professionals and parents who have a child with sensory processing difficulties (SPD). The workshop looks at how sensory processing difficulties may present in the child. Looking at the child who seeks out sensory feedback, to the child who actively avoids touch (hypersensitivity) and the child who is under responsive (hyposensitivity).
Our workshop, aims to
Understand developmental stages of sensory processing Sensory processing difficulties in the early years The hypersensitive/hyposensitive child How sensory processing difficulties impact on behaviour Sensory processing and associated conditions Strategies and activities to support the child who struggles with sensory processing.
Delegates will have an opportunity to gain a theoretical overview of sensory processing difficulties. Delegates will explore the impact on the child’s behaviours and ability to learn, when they are experiencing SPD. Delegates will be supported to think about the environment at nursery/school/home. Delegates will be supported to understand and use strategies that enable children with SPD to, cope in the environment and make progress.

Emotional Regulation (including anger/anxiety)
2018-11-09 09:30 - 12:00 | West Faversham Community Centre, Bysing Wood Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7RH, United Kingdom
EMOTIONAL REGULATION – For parents and professionals to provide support at home and in the school environment
For many children to thrive and succeed within the home and school setting, they need to have developed an ability to manage/regulate their emotions so that they are able to learn and achieve.
An original version of the intervention written by Niki Green has been successfully implemented in many local schools and Niki is now running a new enhanced version of the original program in several other Shepway schools as well as privately through The Contented Child with measured impact. The original version is being successfully run across Shepway and other districts. Delegates will have the opportunity to gain a theoretical overview of the rage/anxiety cycle and to consider the underlying reasons for a pupil’s behaviour. Delegates will be supported to identify strategies to support pupils at each of the stages of the rage/anxiety cycle and to explore the reasons for heightened anxieties/emotions.
Delegates will be provided with a resource pack to run the new enhanced 6/12 week structured intervention programme through sharing examples of effective practice.The programmes are structured to enable the pupils to develop their skills in managing their own crisis situations and to be able to reflect. Children will create a workbook and be introduced to a variety of visual supports which can be used as a management tool by parents/setting staff and enable consistency in approach. This programme can also be adapted for small group work.
Refreshments will be provided.

Autism and Girls - The Hidden Gender
2018-11-08 09:30 - 12:30 | West Faversham Community Centre, Bysing Wood Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7RH, United Kingdom
‘Are parents and professionals missing the signs of autism in girls?’ (Kate Reynolds)
Autism is often described as the ‘exaggerated male brain’ and certainly there is prevalence in diagnosis with current National Autistic Society figures showing that only 1 in 4 diagnoses are female. Is this really an accurate picture though? Are boys really more susceptible to this condition?
In this course, we explore why autism is different for girls, the gender issues within diagnostic methods and the issues with gender bias even post diagnosis. We will look at the particular characteristics presenting within girls as well as female friendly strategies for dealing with big issues such as puberty.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S ANGER (5-12yrs)
2018-11-06 09:30 - 12:30, 2018-06-08 09:30 - 12:30 | Petham Village Hall, Church Lane, Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD, United Kingdom
Have you ever wondered why your child is so angry or what you can do to manage their outbursts?
There are very real reasons why a child behaves in this way. Anger doesn’t just appear from nowhere. This workshop will give you a new and unique understanding about what is causing your child to behave this way, how to anticipate and diffuse angry outbursts and will provide interventions and strategies to help your child become calm, emotionally responsive and self-controlled.
There will be practical activities and an extensive resource pack mailed out post workshop. Your trainer is Niki Green.

HOW TO RUN A MULTI-SENSORY LITERACY INTERVENTION
2018-10-19 09:30 - 12:30 | War Memorial, Capel, New Dover Road, Capel le Ferne, Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7JJ, United Kingdom
Have you ever wondered why a group of children do not make noticeable progress even after many hours of intervention? Perhaps these children have had years of intervention, daily reading, phonic boosters and yet they are still not achieving their potential. This course is designed for SENCOs, teachers and TA’s and will provide some answers as to why the child is not progressing and how to change this outcome.
In the UK it is thought that 1 in 10 learners have dyslexia…that’s 10% of the school population. This intervention outline will support dyslexic students as well as students with other needs such as ASD, ADHD and Dysgraphia.
Content-
Looking at reasons behind poor progress in literacy.
Designing an intervention using strengths and weaknesses.
How to use multi-sensory input and why this is important.
Lesson outlines and examples
The interventions will cover phonics, handwriting, spelling, reading and writing in context, auditory and visual memory, phonological awareness and the alphabet.

ASD Awareness
2018-10-18 09:30 - 12:30 | Iwade at the Barn, 20 All Saints Close, Iwade, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8FP, United Kingdom
The aim of this workshop for parents / carers is to raise awareness of ASD and how this can impact on individuals with the condition. The session provides an overview of the key characteristics of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, looks at how ASD is diagnosed and considers the wide-ranging needs of individuals with the condition at different ages. It also aims to challenge and highlight assumptions people may have about the condition and crucially, explore the strengths of ASD and celebrate the individuality and wide-ranging achievements of people with the condition. There will be opportunities for Q & A and discussion with handouts providing links and signposting to further information for those that wish to explore further.
Introduction, Notion of neuro-diversity Prevalence / Terminology
Overview of key characteristics of autism
Language and communication
Repetitive behaviours / Special interests
Sensory processing
Theory of mind / mindblindness – The Sally-Anne Test
Diagnosis
Complexity of ASD – co-occuring conditions
The changing support needs of individuals with ASD at different ages & stages
Media presentations of ASD, common assumptions & misconceptions
Gender – hidden autism
Strengths of Autism, Challenging limitations
How ASD has changed the world for the better – a focus on the achievements of people with the condition
Your trainer is Tracy Mapp.
Parent Review
‘A great course, lots of information given and broken down into understandable info’. It was good to hear the message to focus on positives’.

Teenage Anxiety - Understanding the Impact and Building Strategies to Thrive
2018-10-16 09:30 - 12:30 | Iwade at the Barn, 20 All Saints Close, Iwade, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8FP, United Kingdom
Up to 1 in 3 teenagers struggle with chronic anxiety – overwhelming feelings of worry, fear and panic that can make daily life immensely difficult to navigate.
Without support, living with persistent anxiety can result in complex and unhelpful patterns of behaviour developing and often results in a negative cycle of isolation feeding the anxiety. Positively, there are lots of effective techniques that can help teenagers reduce feelings of anxiety and learn how to keep them from taking over.
This workshop explores the wide ranging factors that can impact on anxiety levels and helps participants to develop understanding of the impact this can have on teenagers.
Participants will leave with a ‘toolbox’ of resources that teenagers can use on their own or with a support person to help them deal with the day to day challenges of anxiety and break free of negative cycles.
Parking is free at this venue with a parking permit. This will be forward to you prior to the event or alternatively available on the day.
Tickets are £25 per person.

Anxiety – Helping Children to Cope
2018-10-16 09:30 - 12:30 | Singleton Village Hall, Hoxton Close, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5LB, United Kingdom
‘Anxiety is a thin stream of fears trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.’
Arthur Somers Roche
The daily pressures on our children are increasing from targets and testing in the classroom to the rise of pressure advertising and social media. For many of our children the world, or certain aspects of it, is overwhelming, complex and scary. From separation and social anxiety to performance and health anxiety, an increasing number of children now benefit from direct support to manage their worries.
This workshop will introduce you to the current thinking around children’s anxiety and move onto exploring ways to support young people to manage their anxiety more effectively. We will introduce you to visual resources and a toolbox of practical strategies that can be used within home and school.

Tickets £25 per person. Refreshments included.
FEEDBACK
‘Fantastic course – can definitely recommend and I will certainly attend more workshops on offer. Thank you for delivering a well rounded session and thank you to everyone else present. I came away feeling more informed, confident and reassured. This is probably the first time that I felt that others ‘got it’, that I wasn’t alone and it has reassured me that I am heading in the right direction with the various strategies etc. Once again, thank you for the professional delivery of the course and opportunity’

A Dad's Guide to Autism
2018-10-03 18:30 - 21:00 | Petham Village Hall, Church Lane, Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD, United Kingdom
Do you have a child with Autism, or child waiting to be diagnosed? Do you struggle with your child’s behaviours, obsessions, eating habits and sensory difficulties? Do you find it hard to understand your child and know how to manage their behaviours in different situations? The workshop will look at the following areas;
Looking at the clusters of need, which make up the condition of Autism.
Looking at the behaviour iceberg in relation to autistic characteristics.
Understanding how your behaviour impact on your child behaviours
Different strategies and tips for supporting your child
Q&A
Delegates will have an opportunity to gain a theoretical overview of Autism and other presenting needs and consider, how this impacts on the child’s behaviours and ability to learn. Delegates will be supported to think about their own reactions and responses to situations.

How To Run Lego Therapy Intervention
2018-10-02 13:00 - 14:30 | West Faversham Community Centre, Bysing Wood Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7RH, United Kingdom
Lego Therapy was originally developed for children with autism but brick building has been and continues to be used therapeutically with children with other social skill difficulties and communication difficulties including language impairment and social use of language. It promotes development of key communication skills, including attention and listening, vocabulary and concept development, sharing, collaboration, describing and explaining, turn taking, problem solving and conflict resolution.
The course will equip the attendees with the theory behind therapeutic brick building and Lego Therapy. It is designed to be a practical and interactive workshop for education staff and parents that covers how to set up and run therapeutic brick building sessions within the home and education settings. As part of the course there will be a practical activity, running a therapeutic brick building session. The course will equip attendees with practical advice that can be applied immediately into everyday practice. Attendees will also receive resources to support the intervention electronically after the event.
Ticket £20 per person. Refreshments included.

Anxiety – Helping Children to Cope
2018-10-02 09:30 - 12:30 | West Faversham Community Centre, Bysing Wood Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7RH, United Kingdom

A Parent's Guide to the EHCP Process
2018-09-28 09:30 - 14:30 | Petham Village Hall, Church Lane, Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD, United Kingdom
Is your child with SEN, not making enough progress at school? Do they need more targeted interventions and support in school and from other professionals to make progress? Does your child need an EHCP to access a specialist provision? This full day workshop aims to support parents to navigate there way through the EHCP process, by covering the following areas;
What is an EHCP?
When and how you request an EHCP?
Evidence needed to request for an EHCP
The EHCP processes and timescales
Draft and final plans
Codes of Practices and Governing SEND Law
Case studies and examples of EHC plans
Q&A

Emotional Regulation (including anger/anxiety)
2018-09-28 09:30 - 12:00 | St Margaret’s Village Hall, Reach Road, St Margaret's at Cliffe, Dover, Kent, CT15 6AP, United Kingdom

A Dad's Guide to Autism
2018-09-27 18:30 - 21:00 | Yoakley House, Drapers Close, Margate, Kent, CT9 4AH, United Kingdom

Emotional Regulation in the Early Years
2018-09-26 09:30 - 12:30 | Iwade at the Barn, 20 All Saints Close, Iwade, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8FP, United Kingdom
For parents and professionals
Is your child having constant tantrums/meltdowns? Are they very emotional and struggle to manage their emotions? The Contented Child brings you emotional regulation in the Early Years.
A workshop, for professionals working in the Early Years and parents who have a pre-school child. The workshop looks at supporting preschool children on self-regulation. Young children being able to recognise and regulate their emotions is an important skill for life. A child who can regulate and understand their emotional state can, become better learners, increase friendships and are more caring towards others.
Our workshop, aims to;
Raise self-awareness for the professional/parent
Educate professionals/parents about anger and anxiety and how it presents
Understand the brain of a pre-schooler in relation to fight/flight/movement
Understand the physiological signs of anxiety and stress
Develop strategies, such as emotional coaching and mindfulness
Implement strategies in a nursery environment or at home
Delegates will have an opportunity to gain a theoretical overview of anxiety/anger and consider the underlying reasons for this, including how the brain reacts to stress and anger. Delegates will be supported to practice emotional coaching strategies and increase children’s emotional expression. Delegates will be supported to understand and use strategies that enable children to manage anger and anxiety in a positive way, through fun, practical activities.

Demand Avoidant Conditions in the Early Years
2018-09-25 09:30 - 12:30 | Singleton Village Hall, Hoxton Close, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5LB, United Kingdom
For parents and professionals
Defiant, argumentative, controlling………………..or a typical pre-schooler?
This short workshop, is for professionals working in the Early Years and parents who have a pre-school child. The workshop explores the conditions of; Oppositional Defiance Disorder/Pathological Demand Avoidance. By focusing on the characteristics of both in relation to typical development of a pre-school child.
Our workshop, aims to;
Look at ODD/PDA characteristics
Typical development of a preschool child and associated behaviours
Parenting a child with PDA – Video interview
Associated neurological conditions
Strategies and resources to support a child with extreme demand avoidance
Delegates will have an opportunity to gain a theoretical overview of ODD/PDA and other presenting needs and consider how this impacts on the child’s behaviours and ability to learn. Delegates will be supported to think about their own practice in nursery and at home. Delegates will be supported to understand and use strategies that enable children with ODD/PDA to, cope in the environment and make progress.

Anxiety – Helping Children to Cope
2018-09-25 09:30 - 12:30 | St Margaret’s Village Hall, Reach Road, St Margaret's at Cliffe, Dover, Kent, CT15 6AP, United Kingdom

Basic Awareness of ASD in the Early Years
2018-09-21 09:30 - 12:30 | Petham Village Hall, Church Lane, Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD, United Kingdom
For parents and professionals
Does your child or children you work with show characteristics of Autism; obsessive and repetitive behaviours, shows little interest in others, or wants to control others, struggles to use language in social situations? The Contented Child brings you a workshop on Autism in the early years.
A workshop, for professionals working in the Foundation Stage and parents who have a pre-school child with ASD or are on the waiting list for an ASD assessment. The workshop looks at how Autism may present in the preschool child. Early identification and diagnosis is vital to enable settings and parents to meet children’s needs.
Our workshop, aims to;
Looking at the clusters of need, that make up the condition of Autism
Supporting theory of mind in the early years
Supporting weak central coherence in the early years
Supporting executive functioning in the early years
Interventions and activities to support the child with Autism in the early years
Delegates will have an opportunity to gain a theoretical overview of Autism and other presenting needs and consider, how this impacts on the child’s behaviours and ability to learn. Delegates will be supported to think about their own practice in nursery and at home. Delegates will be supported to understand and use strategies that enable children with Autism to, cope in the environment and make progress.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S ANGER (5-12yrs)
2018-09-21 09:30 - 12:30 | St Margaret’s Village Hall, Reach Road, St Margaret's at Cliffe, Dover, Kent, CT15 6AP, United Kingdom

MISUNDERSTOOD DEFIANCE - UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING PDA AND ODD
2018-09-21 09:30 - 12:30 | Yoakley House, Drapers Close, Margate, Kent, CT9 4AH, United Kingdom
How do you cope when presented with a child who is persistently defiant, argumentative, irritable and presents as needing to be in control of everything – to the extent that seriously interferes with day to day life?
Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) are diagnoses that can describe such behaviour. This short training session seeks to explore behaviours linked to these diagnoses so that parents and professionals can have a better understanding of why and how they occur.
The course will explore the recommended strategies for supporting and ways to manage when faced with these challenging behaviours.
There will be opportunities for Q and A throughout with handouts providing links and signposting to further information for those who wish to explore further.
Refreshments are provided and there is free parking at the venue

Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder
2018-09-20 09:30 - 12:30 | West Faversham Community Centre, Bysing Wood Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7RH, United Kingdom
‘Sensory Processing Disorder is not the end of the world. It is the beginning of a whole new world!’
From the child who seeks out certain tastes and textures to the child who trips over every bump to the child who actively avoids touch, hypersensitivity (over responsiveness) and hypo sensitivity (under responsiveness) to sensory information can be challenging both to identify and to support.
In this short course, we will explore the complex nature of Sensory Processing Disorder, it’s inconsistencies and effective ways to support children who struggle to process everyday sensations.
Tickets are £25.00 per delegate.
Free parking is available at the venue. Refreshments included.

E SAFETY AND THE IMPACT OF SCREEN TIME ON YOUNG MINDS
2018-06-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Petham Village Hall, Church Lane, Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD, United Kingdom
The average age for a child to get their first phone is now 8 yrs old. No amount of parental controls on your devices can substitute for ensuring both you and your children are well informed and understand the risks and benefits of using screens. This workshop will explore the emerging research around the negative impact of screen time for our young people as well as building confidence in parents to champion the positives of computing and ideas of how we can best support our children to navigate safely in the digital world. Find out about the risks and rewards of computing, monitoring and managing screen time, age restrictions on gaming & social media and access resources around keeping your children safe online.
‘Very eye-opening, brilliant resources – Every parent needs to come to this workshop’

MISUNDERSTOOD DEFIANCE - UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING PDA AND ODD
2018-06-20 09:30 - 12:30 | West Faversham Community Centre, Bysing Wood Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7RH, United Kingdom

Emotional Regulation (including anger/anxiety)
2018-06-19 09:30 - 12:00 | Iwade at the Barn, 20 All Saints Close, Iwade, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8FP, United Kingdom

UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD'S SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION NEEDS
2018-06-18 18:30 - 21:00 | Petham Village Hall, Church Lane, Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD, United Kingdom
UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION NEEDS
‘Are you concerned about your child’s speech?’
‘Are you worried that your child does not understand what you are saying?’
‘Does your child have difficulty interacting with other people?’
The aim of this workshop for parents / carers is to increase awareness of how speech, language and Communication develops and to offer strategies to support a child with Speech Language and Communication needs at home , whilst also offering the opportunity to meet and share experiences with other parents.
The workshop will include information on:
• The stages of normal speech and language development.
• Identifying children who may have difficulties understanding or using language.
• Information on when to refer a child to a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Diagnosis and how to get the appropriate support in Nursery and School.
• Strategies and activities to support a child’s language development.
• Total communication – using visual support and signing to support communication.
There will be opportunities for discussion and handouts will be provided.

Emotional Regulation (including anger/anxiety)
2018-06-11 18:30 - 21:00 | Petham Village Hall, Church Lane, Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD, United Kingdom

How To Run Lego Therapy Intervention
2018-06-08 13:00 - 14:30 | Petham Village Hall, Church Lane, Petham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5RD, United Kingdom
Lego Therapy was originally developed for children with autism but brick building has been and continues to be used therapeutically with children with other social skill difficulties and communication difficulties including language impairment and social use of language. It promotes development of key communication skills, including attention and listening, vocabulary and concept development, sharing, collaboration, describing and explaining, turn taking, problem solving and conflict resolution.
The course will equip the attendees with the theory behind therapeutic brick building and Lego Therapy. It is designed to be a practical and interactive workshop for education staff and parents that covers how to set up and run therapeutic brick building sessions within the home and education settings. As part of the course there will be a practical activity, running a therapeutic brick building session. The course will equip attendees with practical advice that can be applied immediately into everyday practice. Attendees will also receive resources to support the intervention electronically after the event.
Ticket £15 per person.

Emotional Regulation (including anger/anxiety)
2018-06-05 09:30 - 12:30 | Ryarsh Village Hall, Birling Road, Ryarsh, West Malling, Kent, ME19 5LS, United Kingdom

Dyslexia Awareness and Confidence Booster
2018-06-02 10:00 - 12:30 | Singleton Village Hall, Hoxton Close, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5LB, United Kingdom
Dyslexia has a further reaching impact on an individual than reading and writing alone. Self esteem is often severely compromised when dyslexia is not understood by the individual and their family. Understanding what dyslexia is and how to use your learning skills to compensate weaker areas and flourish will allow both child and parent a new, brighter beginning.
This course provides a positive outlook of dyslexia at a child friendly level. You will participate in fun activities together that can be used at home.
Suitable for children aged 8 and over.
Tickets 1 Child 1 Parent £25 1 Child 2 Parents £35
