CARE

19/10/2026

"Look at me when I'm talking to you." Most of us grew up hearing it, and we often assume eye contact is a sign that someone is listening and engaged. But for many autistic children, that simply is not true. Making eye contact can feel intense, even overwhelming, and here is the important part: they often listen and concentrate better when they are not forced to hold your gaze. Looking away is not rudeness. It is not disinterest. It is frequently how a child manages the sheer amount of information coming at them, so they can focus on what really matters, your words. When we insist on eye contact, we can accidentally make connecting harder, not easier. So let it go. Let your child listen in the way that works for them. Connection is not measured in eye contact. It is felt in trust, comfort and understanding, and those can grow beautifully without a single glance.
Seen, heard, valued.
The C.A.R.E. Centre
Junior Campus: 30 Raglan St, cnr 9th Ave, Orange Grove | +27 11 485 0335
Senior Campus: 31 Raglan St, Orange Grove | +27 66 208 1113
Emergency: +27 82 614 3080
[email protected] | [email protected]
www.thecarecentre.co.za

17/10/2026

A little permission slip for your weekend. Rest is not a reward you have to earn. It is not something you are only allowed once the washing is done, the emails are answered and every box is ticked, because let us be honest, that day never quite arrives. Rest is not the prize at the end. It is the thing that keeps you going in the middle. Especially for parents who give so much, running on empty is not a badge of honour, it is a warning light. So this weekend, put something down. Sit for a moment. Nap if you can. Do the thing that refills you, guilt-free. You do not have to deserve rest. You just have to take it.

Seen, heard, valued.

The C.A.R.E. Centre
Junior Campus: 30 Raglan St, cnr 9th Ave, Orange Grove | +27 11 485 0335
Senior Campus: 31 Raglan St, Orange Grove | +27 66 208 1113
Emergency: +27 82 614 3080
[email protected] | [email protected]
www.thecarecentre.co.za

16/10/2026

For a child who finds the world loud, bright and unpredictable, there is one thing that makes all of it bearable: you.

When everything feels like too much, you are the place they come back to. Your arms are where they exhale. Your calm is what steadies them. Your steady, unconditional love is the anchor that tells them, no matter how overwhelming the day has been, that they are safe now. You might not always feel like you are getting it right, but never underestimate this. Simply being their safe place is one of the most powerful things you will ever do. It is the foundation everything else is built on. So this weekend, hold them close. You are their soft landing, their home base, their calm in the storm. That is everything.

Seen, heard, valued.

The C.A.R.E. Centre
Junior Campus: 30 Raglan St, cnr 9th Ave, Orange Grove | +27 11 485 0335
Senior Campus: 31 Raglan St, Orange Grove | +27 66 208 1113
Emergency: +27 82 614 3080
[email protected] | [email protected]
www.thecarecentre.co.za

15/10/2026

Flapping. Rocking. Spinning. Humming. Repeating a favourite phrase. These are all forms of stimming, and for many autistic children they are not something to worry about or train away, they are something to understand and allow. Stimming is self-regulation. It is how a child soothes themselves when they are overwhelmed, expresses joy when they are happy, and finds focus when the world feels like a lot. Asking a child to stop stimming is like asking them to give up one of their most important coping tools, and it sends the message that a natural, comforting part of who they are is somehow wrong. So unless a stim is causing harm, let it be. Let them flap. Let them rock. Let them find their calm in their own way. It is not a habit to fix. It is comfort, and it is theirs.

Seen, heard, valued.

The C.A.R.E. Centre
Junior Campus: 30 Raglan St, cnr 9th Ave, Orange Grove | +27 11 485 0335
Senior Campus: 31 Raglan St, Orange Grove | +27 66 208 1113
Emergency: +27 82 614 3080
[email protected] | [email protected]
www.thecarecentre.co.za

15/10/2026

Everything about C.A.R.E. Remedial on one page, info pack, fees, forms and photos: www.careremedial.co.za/enrol

Is your child ready for a full graded curriculum but still needs real support to get there? Not quite mainstream, not high-support, somewhere in between? That gap is exactly where C.A.R.E. Remedial sits.

C.A.R.E. Specialised Remedial School is a new therapy-driven school for neurodiverse children in the Foundation Phase (Grades R to 3), opening in Edenvale in January 2027 and built on more than 15 years in the field. Small classes, a proper CAPS-aligned curriculum and the therapy woven into the school day rather than bolted on after it.

Enrolments are now open and places are limited.

If this sounds like your child’s story, or you know a family still searching, please share.

Call 011 453 0967 · 082 909 0054 · 082 614 3080
Email [email protected]
6, 7th Avenue, Edenvale (by appointment)

14/10/2026

Outings can be wonderful, and they can also feel daunting when you are not sure how your child will cope. The secret is not to avoid them, it is to prepare. A little planning goes a long way. Talk your child through where you are going and what to expect before you leave, so there are no surprises. Pack a small kit of comfort items, headphones for the noise, a favourite fidget, a familiar snack. Pick quieter times where you can. And always have an easy exit plan, so you can step out and reset if things get too much, with no pressure and no fuss. Preparation turns "we can't" into "let's try". With a bit of prep in your back pocket, the world opens up, one outing at a time.

Seen, heard, valued.

The C.A.R.E. Centre
Junior Campus: 30 Raglan St, cnr 9th Ave, Orange Grove | +27 11 485 0335
Senior Campus: 31 Raglan St, Orange Grove | +27 66 208 1113
Emergency: +27 82 614 3080
[email protected] | [email protected]
www.thecarecentre.co.za

13/10/2026

This one is for the siblings. The brothers and sisters of our autistic learners are quiet heroes in their own right. They grow up sharing the spotlight, adapting plans, and understanding far more than their years should ask of them. And through it all, they become some of the most patient, kind, protective and accepting people you will ever meet, because growing up alongside difference builds beautiful hearts. But here is the gentle reminder for us grown-ups: siblings need looking after too. A little one-on-one time. A safe space to share their own big feelings. And permission to simply be a kid, to play and squabble and not always be the helper or the hero. So today we say it loud and clear. To every sibling out there: we see you, we love you, and you are so appreciated. You are wonderful, exactly as you are.

Seen, heard, valued.

The C.A.R.E. Centre
Junior Campus: 30 Raglan St, cnr 9th Ave, Orange Grove | +27 11 485 0335
Senior Campus: 31 Raglan St, Orange Grove | +27 66 208 1113
Emergency: +27 82 614 3080
[email protected] | [email protected]
www.thecarecentre.co.za

13/10/2026

12/10/2026

Friendship does not always look the way we expect it to, and that is perfectly okay. For many autistic children, connection is not about constant chatter or big eye contact. It might look like sitting quietly side by side, each doing their own thing, perfectly content in each other's company. It might be a shared love of the same subject, lighting up together over trains or dinosaurs or a favourite game. It might be the comfort of a familiar face, a person who feels safe. These are real friendships, every bit as meaningful as any other. So let us not measure our children's connections against someone else's idea of friendship. Side by side is still together. Quiet company still counts. Connection is connection, in all its beautiful forms.

Seen, heard, valued.

The C.A.R.E. Centre
Junior Campus: 30 Raglan St, cnr 9th Ave, Orange Grove | +27 11 485 0335
Senior Campus: 31 Raglan St, Orange Grove | +27 66 208 1113
Emergency: +27 82 614 3080
[email protected] | [email protected]
www.thecarecentre.co.za

10/10/2026

OCTOBER 10th - Today is World Mental Health Day, and this is for the parents and caregivers. You spend your days holding everyone else together, anticipating, advocating, comforting, carrying. But you cannot pour from an empty cup, and your wellbeing is not an afterthought. It matters, just as much as everyone you look after. So today, we are asking you to turn a little of that care inward. Take five quiet minutes. Say yes when help is offered. Let someone carry a corner of the load. And if things feel heavy, please reach out, to a friend, a support group, or a professional. That is not weakness. It is one of the bravest, wisest things you can do. You matter. Your mind matters. Look after you too. (Our new blog goes deeper on this, head to our website to read it.)

Seen, heard, valued.

The C.A.R.E. Centre
Junior Campus: 30 Raglan St, cnr 9th Ave, Orange Grove | +27 11 485 0335
Senior Campus: 31 Raglan St, Orange Grove | +27 66 208 1113
Emergency: +27 82 614 3080
[email protected] | [email protected]
www.thecarecentre.co.za