Back to school - The First Week Isn't The Important One | NeuroDADverse Ep.64

The first week back at school can feel like the biggest hurdle of the year.But what if we've been worrying about the wrong week all along? This week on The NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben reflect on the transition from the summer holidays back into school life and why they've completely changed the way they think about September. Instead of chasing the "perfect" first week, they're learning to focus on helping their children feel safe, heard and emotionally regulated, trusting that routines and confidence will come with time. Along the way, they discuss:- Returning to school after the summer holidays- Supporting autistic and ADHD children through transitions- Why listening can be more powerful than solving- Managing sensory challenges in the classroom- Building confidence through independence- Dungeons & Dragons, new friendships and teenage anxiety- Siblings supporting one another- The importance of kindness in education One of the biggest lessons from this episode is that progress doesn't always happen in the first week. Sometimes it comes from staying patient, accepting that adjustment takes time, and being the calm presence your child needs. 💛 If this episode resonates with you, we'd love to know: What's been your biggest back-to-school win or challenge this year? Join the conversation in the comments or over on our social channels. 🎙️ NeuroDADverse PodcastReal conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world. Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life. If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here. 🔔 New episodes weekly📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show📧 neurodadverse@gmail.com 🌐 All links & platforms:👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn #NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK#NeuroDADverse #autismparenting #adhdparenting #backtoschool #autism #SENDparenting #schooltransition Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse00:43 Why We Missed Last Week01:49 Back-to-School Reflections07:21 Three Words for the Week10:23 Sensory Challenges Return14:28 Dungeons & Dragons & Anxiety18:30 The Reality of Staggered School Starts23:07 Small Wins From Week One25:45 Why Listening Matters More Than Solving26:03 This Week's Parenting Wins35:00 Siblings Supporting Each Other37:12 Calm Acceptance Over Quick Fixes41:25 Kindness in Education44:03 Mabel's Creative Success45:23 Looking Ahead48:23 Final Thoughts49:27 You're Definitely Not Alone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.