Sandhya Menon is an AuDHDer Developmental Psychologist living in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. She runs Onwards and Upwards Psychology, an organisation that focuses on upskilling and empowering clinician, parent and teachers to understand and support autistic and ADHDer individuals in being supported to live their best lives. Sandhya has previously authored two best-selling children's books using a neurodiversity-affirming approach, The Brain Forest and The Rainbow Brain.
Description
My Body's Power Pack uses elements of neuroscience to help children understand why their energy ebbs and flows, and why this may cause dysregulation. It provides gentle neuro-affirmative coping strategies, including the basics of energy accounting (which is like the popular 'spoons theory' for adults). The story arc introduces the idea of Dremlins (drainer gremlins, who 'drain' a child's energy) as a metaphor for tough events. The book empowers children with language to understand their experiences, offers suggestions on what the child can do to cope, and offering advice and support for parents and carers too.