The Best Beginning

05/06/2026

Messy play is an integral part of play therapy

But have you a coeliac safe room..?

That means no BROW Barley, Rye, Oats and Wheat.. and or any MAY CONTAIN...

Flours and substances containing the above BROW contain gluten..

Coeliacs cannot ingest gluten but some coeliacs can also be sensitive to gluten containing products on their skin such as oat wheat or barley containing oils or creams.

Cross contamination is a major risk for coeliacs a speck is enough to gluten a person with coeliac and this puts them back months to years of healing of intestinal and neurological progress.

Flour is airborne, so don't have a coeliac visit after a messy gluten session as they wil breath it in and not at all in a room with no windows.

Flour gets everywhere..especially in play so don't take risks.

Thorough cleaning is essential to protect the coeliac
As some in the coeliac community say...its like invisible glitter but no sparkly feeling.

And finally gluten free play dough only.

Coeliacs... we are a little complicated but lots of fun

Follow to understand what is going on with the little coeliac brain..

04/06/2026

ARFID?
Coeliac?
Both?
In a small study 57%
Most coeliacs are going to have a tricky relationship with food.

Coeliacs can have ongoing difficulty with food and or the sensory aspects of food...

that's because Coeliac disease Is Sensory....remember that nervous system

It IS a restrictive diet...there is no getting around that

Coeliacs can be fearful of food...it's instinctive and protective

There are nutritional deficiencies ongoing for many Coeliacs and it can take years to get the balance right...and still life events happen, pregnancy, illness etc

Huge effort is made Trusting food again for Coeliacs

Planning meals

Eating anywhere outside of home

Limited diet surely

When or if a coeliac meets the criteria for ARFID they will require a coeliac informed psychological and systemic treatment that currently isnt existing.

Coeliac and mental health are intertwined not for all but for many and Mental Physical Health need to listen.

Contact [email protected] if this is impacting you.

04/06/2026

Really interested in the small but real cohort of children presenting with PANS who have been diagnosed with coeliac disease.. has anyone had this experience?

  Kapphahn C, Peet B, Gao J, Chan A, Farhadian B, Ma M, Silverman M, Tran P, Schlenk N, Thienemann M, Frankovich J. Sudden Onset Disordered Eating Behaviors and Appetite […]

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

Anxiety and stress are unfortunately at high levels in children and young people in the general population however studies have indicated 1/3 of young coeliacs also manage a mental health issue.

16% of those will have symptoms of anxiety and or ADHD.

So whats the link...

Well that little nervous system is poised to attack and defend and has done so biologically, for likely a long time silent or not. So it's natural to feel concern anxiety or distress at situations that feel like a threat to my safety (minor or major).

There is a "stacking" of factors to create anxiety for a little coeliac;
diet safety and checking (essential),
illness prior to diagnosis,
feeling of illness -that autoimmune response,
the effect of gluten on brain and nervous system, family concern (rightly so)
And
feeling a little bit different inside and out.

The nervous system is body and brain. If it has been under stress (as it will have been from gluten) it will take time to find balance and safety.

So how do we show school is safe for a coeliac with anxiety, how do we show the world is safe...

We work on both sides inside first and outside both heal and support each other.

Responding in "anxiety only" focused approach is not sufficient. Coeliac is body and brain, social and individual and so is coeliac mental health.❤️

Anxiety is complex for the coeliac and we support creating and rewiring those connections with supporting parents in responding to anxious thoughts and behaviour.

We need to consider what is physiologically happening and what else may be needed.

We support the little coeliac through their parents and if required we offer therapeutic work to the child.

These are baby steps and need time, ongoing assessment and support considering all those challenges from the coeliac viewpoint.

Contact to discuss your childs specific needs or anxiety challenges and hear about what and how we can help

[email protected]
Whatsapp 0864061200

31/05/2026

31/05/2026

A third of Western Australian one-year-olds and up to two thirds of three-year-olds have low iron, a study by The Kids Research Institute Australia has found.

30/05/2026

Yes try Irish prices😬