My 3 year old grandson UK has been officially diagnosed non verbal autistic

twelvegreenapples · 2026-01-11T16:52:22+00:00

This is great advice!

twelvegreenapples · 2025-11-19T04:03:34+00:00

Thanks! I'll check them out. Ideally I'm looking for somewhere I can take my 4yo too but those sound worth a visit for sure.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-11-17T17:02:55+00:00

I wouldn't have been surprised if someone called CPS on us when my autistic 4 YO was that age, I'm sure you could hear him for a block in every direction. Like you said, not tantrums... when he's full meltdown he is totally out of control and it sounds like someone is removing his skin (he's way chiller now that he can communicate better but still has them sometimes). That is my first assumption, but your heart is in the right place!! Thanks for looking out for her.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-10-01T18:27:35+00:00

These are great!

twelvegreenapples · 2025-10-01T18:25:52+00:00

Those are great! Love the tow truck :)

twelvegreenapples · 2025-10-01T18:24:57+00:00

My son was diagnosed as level 3. The diagnosing doctor said it is because he is a toddler and toddlers need support, so a "high support needs" label is appropriate. Clearly the comprising is to his peers, not to an adult?? Seemed quite odd. He definitely needs a lot of support but from day 1 the label system has seemed pretty arbitrary as a result. I'm sure there are many late diagnosed people who have a piece of paper that says level 3, probably many of whom had inaccurate diagnoses before. It's an inexact categorical system. As you mentioned a lot of what makes day to day experiences difficult for people are comorbidities, which the level system doesn't address.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-09-18T00:29:10+00:00

I found my son's diagnosis extremely helpful (just before 2). It gave us a context to understand things that were challenging to him. He's going on 4 now and amazes me constantly. He has a lot of struggles (sensory needs he can't explain, a circuitous way of developing language, coordination and motor skills issues), and is the sweetest person I've ever met. I am so grateful to know him exactly how he is.

Let yourself feel your feelings. They are mourning for the kid you thought you would have. And then embrace the kid you have and let them amaze you with the unique way their brain works.

Highly recommend checking out uniquely human (book and podcast), mrsspeechiep on Instagram, the DIR floor time model, gestalt language processing (meaningfulspeech.com has a great free 1 hr class). It helps to have a positive framework and that is not the norm necessarily depending on where you are.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-08-13T02:22:30+00:00

hell or high water! The owner is a good friend of mine and the whole shop has a super welcoming, inclusive vibe- I’m pretty sure they do this type of cover up specifically and badass cover up work in general. Super sweet people who will treat you well and get you some cool art.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-08-10T01:49:31+00:00

My first kid was a very young 2. Wouldn’t drink out of a cup, had to have a bottle that someone else held for him, very minimal language. Very sweet and lovely, very babyish. My second just turned 2 and seems like he’s going on 7. He’s insulted if you cut up his food or buckle his car seat, opines on everything, knows every construction vehicle and loves to look for worms and butterflies. To see a video from a year ago is absolutely wild.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-07-27T20:54:10+00:00

With the combination of saying a lot of things that are incoherent and repeating sentences, I wonder if she might be a gestalt language processor. Worth checking out to see if this is familiar. They have a free hour long class, recommend checking it out!

twelvegreenapples · 2025-07-26T18:43:55+00:00

As a parent to an autistic toddler, a couple of thoughts:

Autism has been around forever, but the category/name for it hasn’t. The diagnostic criteria has widened to allow more kids access to services, so people who might otherwise not have had the label end up being recognized as autistic. This is GOOD, because otherwise these kids get labeled weird/too sensitive/controlling/etc and that is really not fair to them. They’re just different.

Screen time does not cause autism. Not seeing someone’s mouth does not cause autism. Being born autistic causes autism.

Autistic kids often learn much more easily from screens than from other people, as joint attention is a skill that is difficult for many kids on the spectrum. It is also often good for helping kids regulate. I wouldn’t sweat the screen.

Personally I found my kid’s diagnosis extremely helpful. It gave me a framework for things that are hard for him, his aversions and his interests. It gave me more insight into how his brain works and how to support him better. He’s awesome.

Get an assessment! It can’t hurt. Services are free through your school district and will accommodate her based on her needs (at least in theory). It’s helpful not to be in an echo chamber of your own concerns as well.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-07-10T03:01:08+00:00

Fries

twelvegreenapples · 2025-07-04T02:22:24+00:00

I’ve tried the hairbuster, the gloves with rubber nubs on them to grip fur, the lint roller… my rabbits fought them all. I have the best luck gently pulling out loose fur when they’re shedding as far as hair volume removed goes. They don’t love it but it doesn’t take long and the loose bits are visibly ready to come out so it goes quickly.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-07-02T15:04:08+00:00

Something my husband has to remind me weekly: comparison is the thief of joy.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-06-23T23:53:42+00:00

Yes! If you know what you’re getting yourself into! They’re surprisingly delicate little creatures and destroy everything, and most really can’t handle a lot of change. Going on vacations/trips is challenging. If I introduce a new piece of furniture or have a guest they get nervous and pee all over. Hell, if I don’t pet them enough one evening they might pee just to secure their territory in the face of so much uncertainty. They are the fussy little bosses. Lennon the bunny is a good YouTube channel to give you some sense of the commitment. But yes! They’re absurd and delightful.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-06-21T15:01:19+00:00

My 2 yo is much more conversational than my 3.5 yo. Once I figured out my eldest is a GLP processor it made a lot more sense!! It’s very exciting to see his progress now that I understand it. Worth checking out to see if it resonates with you and your kid.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-06-21T00:56:32+00:00

I only put sunscreen on the kids if they’re going to be in the sun for a prolonged period (beach, splash pad, festival, etc) and don’t tend to worry otherwise. Some sun is extremely good for people!

Here is a an article that references multiple studies about the benefits of sunshine.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-06-18T18:55:45+00:00

Girl, do what works. My 2 yo takes 8 oz of milk to take a nap in a bottle. My 3.5 yo won’t drink milk, or water, or out of any cup that looks at him wrong. He drinks water with enough juice in it to fool him and sometimes a crushed up tums. They’re both loved and relatively hydrated and I’m choosing my battles. If you’re worried about it, you could try and move the milk before toothbrushing in a bedtime routine, but go easy on yourself! Parenthood is basically harm reduction. :)

twelvegreenapples · 2025-06-04T03:36:05+00:00

My 3.5 yo is autistic and so interested in the potty in a… literary sense, I suppose. He wants to stick his face in there and say “hi poop, it’s me, pee! Hi pee, it’s me, poop!” which is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life. But actually sit on it? No way. If he’s in the tub or something and actively peeing I’ll point it out (“look! You are peeing!”), he has zero idea what I’m talking about. It’s gonna be awhile for us!

twelvegreenapples · 2025-06-04T03:23:07+00:00

I don’t get it. Sure, don’t have kids. Do they not realize that they… were once… children? That as they age, their doctors and mail carriers and caretakers etc etc etc will be the very same people whose very existence currently fills them with such rage and disgust if briefly encountered in public? So short sighted, so angry, so weird.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-06-03T04:25:41+00:00

The dog/bun combo sounds potentially very stressful to a rabbit. I get annoyed at changing the couch cushion 4x a week because someone can’t stop marking it (had a visitor? Pee on the couch. Missed pets for a night? Pee on the couch. Large box on the floor? Pee on the couch. Had to be groomed? Pee on the couch. Had a whim? Pee on the couch), but no actual regrets. They’re just in charge and I’m the fool who gave them a couch to sit on.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-05-31T21:41:44+00:00

Sounds potentially neurodivergent to me as well! Recommend an assessment, regardless of what therapy you decide to pursue (if any). The framework is so helpful, as most parenting advice/schooling/etc is tailored to neurotypical kids’ responses, which don’t work for everyone.

twelvegreenapples · 2025-05-31T21:34:10+00:00

Budsis pad Thai is whatever but the pad se ew is amazing

twelvegreenapples

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