It is an altruistic theme, set to inspire a big global shift, this year for Autism awareness. The call to us all to ‘Embrace Difference’ evokes the deep human feelings of wanting to be and do better for a better world. It is a call we should listen to and act on.

First, we are alarmed, we are told there is something serious to worry about, we enter the intense stress state of ‘fight, flight, freeze’, then the action we are told to do is freeze – that’s your only option, and that doesn’t work well for most of us. It’s been going on for so long, and in some parts of the world so severe, that there would be identifiable changes in brain structure and function as a result.

OK, Team…we’ve got, give or take, 6 weeks or 42 days of school holidays to survive, thrive and make some happy holiday Family memories!

2020 has been a massive year! So we are going to go big and serve up 42 inspirations for you to whack on the fridge and check off those that sound like great ideas for your Family. In our next article, we are going to explain why these activities are brilliant for your brains too. We have done our best not to repeat any suggestions from last year, so if you are looking for even more you can always download the 2019 list and pop a big bright magnet on it as well.

Everything that is involved in preparing for and having a new human enter your world should be able to be on the table, no judgement. This is a time of mammoth change, especially if this is your first child. It is a transition period in your life that is worthy of even more dedicated time and energy as getting married; building a home; or learning to drive…having a baby involves elements of ALL big life events in ONE.

Is the prevalence of ADHD higher now than at any point in history?

The evidence leans both ways on this one. In the UK it appears to have plateaued; in the US it is on the rise; in Japan and Finland rates of diagnosis are very low. Regardless of the debate on the ups or downs, we know ADHD is the most common brain-based challenge facing Australian children and adolescents.

In a world that seems full to bursting with humans all shouting about “Right now!” and “Change today!”, it can be hard to find the right words to help people to think about the far off (but not that far) future. When we talk about dementia, most evidence suggests that informed preventative thinking and acting, right now, is the wisest choice and most significant action we can take for a brighter tomorrow.

When we worry too much, the visible structure and the way our brain functions changes. Day-by-day, night-by-night, we design it to create, feed and fuel worry, stress and anxiety. The very architecture of the brain becomes a home for agonising anxiety, instead of a calm abode for appropriate action.

What if someone told you that your pain from a physical injury is not a bad back, it’s not wrecked knees, or a frozen shoulder. What if you were told it’s your brain that’s hurting, not your body? You’d probably need a damn good explanation and some solid science to start thinking differently, wouldn’t you?

In a tough time, it seemed easy to take the well-worn start of looking at the definitions of working, together and ‘working together’ to help frame what this theme actually means. All the while considering, why do we still need to be told to work together? Are we all still trying to get on board with it because we all define the deeper meaning of ‘working together’ differently?

We need to know more about Fibromyalgia because knowledge improves understanding, and a better understood person is happier, healthier and ultimately in less pain.

World Autism Awareness Day was on the 2nd of April 2020. Was it?

How many meaningful events have come up in this unprecedented calendar and been modified, moved or missed completely?

‘Celebration’ is the key theme for the Dana Foundation’s 2020 Brain Awareness Week – a week in March to stimulate global enthusiasm and build public knowledge and support of brain science.What does your brain conjure up when it sees the word ‘celebrate’?

Is the first big bright thing that pops into your head - PARTY!!!

It’s FEEL GOOD FEBRUARY and by the way, it’s a leap year, so there is an extra day to feel good. But, really, don’t we want feeling good to last longer than that. Some of us may want to change some unhelpful or unhappy behaviours for good, but how long will it really take? And how do we do it?

A new school year is here! The newness brings feelings of excitement and sometimes a splash of anticipation anxiety - for students, teachers and for parents. Some parents may be concerned about the ‘summer slide’ and what they see as a loss of important school skills over the long summer break. Some students may have flicked through their new textbooks and be feeling a little daunted about learning expectations…don’t fret!

Let’s not FLAP about, let’s FLIP this worry and sidestep any chance of a FLOP in 2020!

Hoorah! Hurrah! The long summer holidays are fast approaching providing almost endless opportunities for fun…

“I’M BORED MUM” or “THERE’S NOTHING TO DO DAD” are some of the words that parents dread. Last time we offered lots of great ideas to help keep the kids happy and their brain’s healthy during the holidays. Now, let’s cover why these ideas are SO GOOD for their brains…

Hoorah! Hurrah! The long summer holidays are fast approaching providing almost endless opportunities for fun…

“I’M BORED MUM” or “THERE’S NOTHING TO DO DAD” are some of the words that parents dread, so here are some great ideas to help keep the kids happy and their brain’s healthy during the holidays.

Next time we’ll reveal the “brainy” reasons why these activities are SO GOOD for you and your kids, but for now, just get started!

Have you ever been in that conversation where someone says ‘but ADHD isn’t a real thing, it’s just an excuse for bad behaviour’ … What do you say?

How do we dispel myths like this and spread the facts in a way that confronts challenges with real science, good humour and familiarity? Because the person spreading the fiction will, in fact, know someone close to them with ADHD, or may even be living with the disorder themselves.

ADHD is as real as…

I want to tell you about my Grandmother. What in incredible woman. My Nan. My hero. She raised eight amazing children, worked hard as a nurse to provide for her Family, and then went on to study Naturopathy - running her own successful and well respected clinic in Subiaco…

Prepare yourself for some big statements to be believed:

We are all connected…

You are deeply connected to everything within you…

Your brain is forging new connections, right now, as you are reading…

Let’s work backward, from the microcosm to the macrocosm, from the individual to the universal, because in beginnings we would like to start with YOU and we want to start small, it’s easier to join the dots.

There is something deeply satisfying about ticking off the last item on the school booklist, and walking through the doors of Officeworks with a trolley full of potential. The moment can be even better if you happen to find yourself an inspiring new diary and slip it in with all the kid’s stuff. There must be something ageless about the power of being prepared and turning a fresh new page.