by Andre Velho, Head – Autism Programme, Sethu. Autism is a type of neurodiversity – one of the many ways in which people’s brains can be unique. Ananya is an autistic teenager. She struggled to make friends due to her communication and interaction differences but found comfort and joy in
In today’s fast-paced world, play is often overlooked, especially as children grow older. However, research consistently highlights the profound impact of play on mental health. Play is not just about fun; it is essential for emotional regulation, cognitive development, and social skills. From early childhood to adolescence, play fosters resilience,
Parental self-care for me, is as laughable as the idea that someone might catch cholera in Gabriel García Márquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera. I discovered, much to my dismay, that the novel is not about a cholera epidemic at all, but rather a tale of unrequited love and
At Sethu, we use a strengths-based approach to help children express themselves. Recently, Manoj*, 6, filled out the “This Is Me” (TIM) document, which is a simple framework that sparks meaningful conversations between parents and children about various aspects of life. TIM focuses on areas such as what the child
For as long as she can remember, Naina, 17, has been passionate about physics and maths. With her quiet, studious, and compliant nature, she was beloved by her teachers. However, as she entered her teenage years, Naina found it difficult to make friends. She couldn’t understand why many girls were