London Sen Mum

Halloween fun

Not an Ad :) Halloween Trail at Kew Gardens - spooktacular family fun in London 👻🎃Wow! This is literally the best event I’ve seen so far this year, I’ve put the raw footage on so you know what to expect or you can show your kids like a social story when deciding whether to go or not-We went from 5-6.30- the earlier slot, there are three time periods with each later one getting more spooky - the performers were so talented, there was even a Dracula magician :)I was so impressed by the actors and effort that @kewgardens has gone to, this will definitely be our yearly tradition from now on! Feedback from others at the event was just that they wanted even more of it!It’s a great alternative to festive lights when it gets a bit too chilly for young ones or kids who are wheelchair users.We had no issues taking his wheelchair buggy round and found it very accessible There’s food and drink stalls available too - selling mulled wine and hot chocolate, hot dogs and burgersLots of kids and adults came dressed up and made a real occasion of itThe crowds were pretty low considering how popular the event is and the wait to see performances wasn’t long. Overall it’s not to be missed 🤩Have you been yet?

AD/invite We finally got a chance to check out the international family rave @bflfevents ! Check out that head bop at the end! Honestly the staff couldn’t have done more to help my son- they helped us find two quiet spaces for him in between his dancing ✔️ there’s so much sensory activity- perfect for kids with adhd! ✔️ a kids craft table and play area ✔️Face painting for adults and kids! ✔️ Bar and fresh food ✔️ dj set was great! They played a mixture of genres from reggae to drum and bass ✔️ staff wouldn’t let kids leave without an adult- I was impressed how safe this made it for the kids - especially those likely to try and elope #autismfriendlyspace The timing- 2pm-4pm was perfect for us and good for tiny tots that have an early bedtime- check out their website to see when they are near you next- tickets sell out fast! #kidsrave #kidsraveparty #raversunite #drumandbass #garage #house #familyfriendlylondon

Before- my son is on alert watching his environment and not relaxing and being his self After- he is relaxed and happy Sometimes all it takes is switching up the environment to let your child experience pure joy- it’s definitely a case of observing them in different places to see how they respond, especially if they can’t tell you - you don’t need to take them to fancy places - just places or sessions where it’s quiet can make a massive difference -my son can go from happy to overwhelmed in an instant if another child is loud or screams especially - top tip- visit playgrounds early in the morning or just before they close and see how much difference it can make! #sensorysensitive #autism #nonverbal #preverbal #autismtips #autismparenting

Halloween with sen kids- remember you don’t need to do anything fancy! My son had a lot of fun just with his pumpkin last year :) Here’s some events that have been listed already if you do venture out- 1. Audley end railway Halloween train Ride through the woods to visit the witches and their monster friends, Gift for every child, Craft Making, Magician Show, Fairy & Elf Walk, Adventure Play Area   Caters free Adults £19.50 Children from £9.75-£19.50 October 27th,39th November 2nd Saffron Walden, Essex 2. Friday 18 October to Sunday 3 November 2024 Halloween trail at Kew Gardens A trail filled with spooky fun for everyone. Brought to you by the producers of Christmas at Kew, this brand-new, after-dark Halloween trail is filled with many hidden surprises. 3. Hallowe’en At Hogwarts Experience Hallowe’en as if you were a Hogwarts student, by stepping into the Great Hall with over 100 pumpkins floating above a spooky feast, as seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. New- dementors may be floating around the place so be on your guard! 13Th September – 10Th November 2024 Tickets selling fast! 4. Lush Colchester celebrate Halloween half term with Spooky bath bomb making! from 28th October with glorious sensory product making such as I want my mummy and Brain freeze Lush lakeside- Friday, October 25- lakeside 5. Old MacDonald’s Farm & Fun Park Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5AY all rides are free with your tickets- perfect for kids that don’t understand and want to go on lots of things repeatedly! Haunted HOUSE - OMD Magic School Roller Coaster Open Every Day Scary Stories, Halloween show with the mischievous witch - help find hidden sweets and outsmart the witch’s tricks! Take Part In Old Macs Ghost Trail (free wicked gift) Pick Your Own Pumpkin, halloween tattoos 26th October- 3rd November

- The Underbelly Festival brings a slice of the Edinburgh Fringe to London’s Cavendish Square from July to September. - Enjoy top-notch circus, cabaret, and comedy acts in the iconic Spiegeltent. - Indulge in a variety of street food options and refreshing drinks, they even have a bar :) - Relax in deckchairs or picnic areas while soaking up the festival atmosphere. It’s such a chilled space away from the crowds and hustle and bustle of the city - Free entry to the square all season long, with Spiegeltent show tickets starting at just £13.00 and special day offers available at the on-site box office. There are a ton is shows to see here, we saw the wholesome FailFailFailWin! Show starring the dynamic duo Mark and Loz James. It was a dive into the world of circus magic with a twist of resilience and adventure. Full of jaw-dropping diabolo stunts, mesmerizing juggling acts, and daring hulahoop feats. Loz took on the challenge of spinning 8 real VERDAGEN ikea plates! This show is a rollercoaster of emotions, suitable for all ages 3 and above. Uplifting and ageless in its relevance and humour ! We found it funny, captivating and engaging. The kids all loved that they could try out their own circus skills at the end in a mini workshop, fueled by the confidence given to them in the show #failfailfailfailwin #underbellyfestival #cavendishsquare #summerinlondon☀️☀️☀️☀️

The Magic Garden This playarea/family adventure space is filled with character and imagination 🐉🐲🏰 The giant magic dragon is adorable and children are allowed to play on him too Before we visited today, I was under the impression that the magic garden was mainly a wooden adventure playground with some accessible parts, however I was delighted to see that it’s actually a sensory haven for families- with a splash park area, sandpit, natural pond to play in, magical features like unicorn statues hidden in the undergrowth and wooded area and medieval style seats. ✔️ my son particularly loved the water and also the quiet space he found with a soft sofa in the treehouse style structure ✔️ it’s really lovely that there is toilets and a cafe, ice cream available so you can stay longer ✔️ The water pumps, splash park, sandpit area and wooded area were all accessible ✔️ We also visited the hedge maze which was a lot of fun and the palace too ✔️ The whole of the gardens at the palace are fascinating, loved seeing the kitchen garden and citrus plants 🪴 Time limits set in busy periods So they even offer SEN sessions— RISE AND ROAR: QUIET SESSIONS IN THE MAGIC GARDEN The Magic Garden will open later at 11:00 when Rise and Roar sessions take place. Theses sessions are on Various dates until 06 October 2024 from 9.30-11am Tickets are free for members and also give you access to the beautiful palace, which was home to Henry VIii and his wives They offer a Halloween event in the haunted area of the palace too! 📍Hampton court palace

@bludfest The boy done good! 🤩🫶 this first year was absolutely incredible! With a top line up, funfair, a whole village vibe and no trouble, just love! @yungblud sounds pnemonal singing live too 🎪 ✔️ love how neuroaffirming the event is and run by yungblud who has adhd too, his mother decided against medication and just let his full personality shine through ✔️There was a friendship tent where people could find a calm space and connect ✔️ no queues for toilets and the whole place was accessible ❌ @aib_security sadly let @yungblud down with a 2 hours and 38 minutes queue we had to get in, in the sweltering heat with a disabled child, we missed @jazminbean so my daughter was gutted about that and apparently some people fainted and missed the whole event too - this is no reflection on what yungblud has created and we would still attend again 🥰

AD So, one thing I’ve noticed is that my son is able to tolerate places that are busier if he is totally focused on something that grabs his whole attention- like waterplay or like @bubbleplanetexperience which is literally his dream place to play!! It’s not got stuffy rules like some immersive experiences- you are allowed to touch more or less everything and there any isn’t time limits, you can also go back into rooms as much as you’d like, ridiculously perfect for if your child needs a time out of you need to powder your nose 🤣 Now- this is a return visit because the first time we didn’t get to experience the VR, my gosh it was worth the whole trip just for that part!! 🤩 I loved it so much it’s now my new hobby haha Think everything bubbles exists here at the @bubbleplanetexperience - —bubble waffles, a whole balloon room, a swimming pool sized ball pool with inflatables, bubble tea run by the best events organisers: @fever_uk In conclusion- this is my favourite place in London for kids, sometimes a relaxed session just won’t cut it for my son because they turn off lights and music often, so sometimes i need to seek out the sensory input for him 🥰 is your child the same? ✔️ Accessible toilet ✔️ ball pit isn’t too deep

AD @harpercollinsch Children’s Books have a new imprint, the Kumusha book series. It is a globally inclusive, empathy-led children’s books Kumusha is from the Shona language in Zimbabwe is a concept describing the place you are from, or tied to, and means ‘ancestral home’. Their aim is to create books for all children to see themselves as they are and as they want to be. The list acknowledges children’s ‘third’ culture – whose formative years are spent in a different culture to that of their parents’. They want children to find themselves in these books Two People Can Shingai’s father has gone and Shingai and his mum are all alone and feeling lost. Shingai can’t contain the whirlwind inside any more. He needs to let his feelings out. It’s a great reminder to families and children themselves, that all behaviour is communication and often feelings that children find hard to put into words. A stunning story, beautifully illustrated, about the complex range of emotions a child experiences when a parent leaves, told from the perspective of a young boy. An important book about overcoming sadness with hope, love and empathy, that will help children understand their feelings . . . and ultimately help them find a way forward. This book actually made me cry it was so moving and would be a brilliant resource for both children and adults to use to talk through a separation or grief The brand new release: A Book of People Like Me Kenny is on a journey of discovery! He likes riding his bike and loves his dog, Ketchup. Is there anyone else in the world like him? This book shows that despite being different children from different abilities and cultures, they have way more in common with each other than they realised, with common favourites and hobbies. Look out! Hungry lion and Look out! Hungry snake books are full of animated animal faces and a fun way to introduce how nature works and we had a ton of fun taking turns to pretend to be the lion an

Captured this pure moment of joy today! 😍 Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms FREE 5 Jun –⁠ 8 Sep, 10am Part of You Belong Here Riverside Terrace, Level 2 Art & exhibitions ✔️The ultimate place to cool down this Summer! 😎 #freethingsinlondon #londonforfree #londonfamily #artexhibition

PR Visit Wow wow wow!! This really should be renamed because I was just expecting circus acts and what we actually got was: 〰️Outstanding acrobats 〰️A contortionist that will blow your mind! 〰️A family friendly Magic Mike style moment that made me blush on the front row 🤣 〰️Major eye candy for the mums lol 〰️An immersive singing and dancing show 〰️Literally feeling transported into Africa in a theatre style performance that will keep you captivated 〰️ Drums and a live band We had the time of our lives! You must go see this and the tickets are ridiculously cheap at around £20 too! ✔️There are dedicated wheelchair spaces right at the front- although it can get a bit noisy so you’d be better off booking the ones further back if anyone in your group is sound sensitive ✔️There is an accessible toilet near the theatre ✔️The building has lift access via the main building ✔️The staff are really helpful This really is not one to be missed ❤️ So inspiring for the kids to see so much talent by these dedicated performers! ✔️ There is a choice of afternoon or evening showtimes #londontheatre #circusinternational #southbankcentre #showoftheyear #londonbylondoners #londonatnight

AD We were delighted to be invited to the official opening of one of our favourite places @gootopiaofficial in Wandsworth 🌈 🥳 The staff are so friendly, they were so patient and kind to my son and brilliant with all the kids, they were like proper children’s entertainers just like you’d find at holiday resorts! Co owner @stephlunch is the loveliest lady and the founders told us their story of how the business literally started in their home and it was so inspiring to see just how far they’ve come! They offer accessible birthday parties for £199 with party bags available too 🎈 it’s the perfect place to hold a sensory party with no mess at your house too! Perfect for SEN kids - Step into the enchanting world of Gootopia, where slime dreams come true! 🌈 - Immerse yourself in a realm of slime-tastic fun with various themes to choose from - Explore slime parties, original & glow in the dark slime workshops, drop-in slime sessions, school science workshops, and the magical Tropical Beach Slime experience. - Brace yourself for an all round sensory explosion with glow-in-the-dark slime, charms, glitter, and delightful scents. - Gootopia is committed to providing an inclusive sensory-friendly environment - Join the slime adventure at Gootopia and craft unforgettable memories together! 🌟 age 3+ 🚗 Parking is available at Lewisham Shopping Centre and Southside Shopping Centre Wandsworth 🥣 🌱 slime ingredients are CE certified, non-toxic, and child-friendly, with no food ingredients with biodegradable vegan approved mix ins ♿️ Wandsworth branch is fully wheelchair accessible Lewisham party room has stairs but alternative option is available 🚾 Brixton & Wandsworth have wheelchair accessible toilets #SlimeOfYourLife Support small sustainable and accessible business! DROP IN SLIME (WANDSWORTH & LEWISHAM) • £8.99
SCHOOL SCIENCE WORKSHOPS • £9.99 🌴 Tropical Beach Slime workshops• 20 JUL - 1 SEP WANDSWORTH Gootopia W