Nicola Killops, founder of NeuroParenting Hub, supports parents navigating their children's school years with 20+ years of educational expertise.
Two months from now, my son will walk out of school for the last time. I should feel light, relieved, ready to exhale. Instead, I’m burnt out. Not in the ordinary sense, but in the way that comes from years of treading water — never drowning, but never allowed to
Remember the excitement of turning 17? For many of us, that learner’s license was our first taste of freedom. Learning to drive in the ‘90s was a rite of passage — slightly terrifying, yes, especially with minibus taxis treating lanes as suggestions — but still something we looked forward to. We
Let’s talk about something that trips up even the most switched-on parents (and I say that with total empathy, because I’ve been there too). When we see our kids responding to the world with intense emotions, deep questions, and what feels like a turbo-charged imagination, it’s easy
There’s a particular kind of heartbreak that many parents of twice-exceptional (2E) children know too well. Not the heartbreak of diagnosis. Not even the behaviour reports, suspensions, or the relentless “parent meetings.” It’s the moment you realise that the school system—mainstream, remedial, holistic, even the ones that
This isn’t a tips-and-tricks post. It’s a soft landing. If exam time is a battlefield in your house — doors slamming, heads dropping, shame creeping in — you’re not alone. And you’re not failing. Some kids genuinely can’t do the “just study” thing. Not because they don’
This wasn’t something I planned to build. It grew out of evenings with students who had the ideas — but couldn’t get them down. It grew out of watching my own child struggle to show what he knew in a system that couldn’t hold the way his brain
He was six when his Grade 1 teacher told me, “He’s just so arrogant.” She didn’t say it to be cruel — in fact, I think she meant well. It was said with a kind of frustrated affection, like she couldn’t quite figure him out. He corrected her
By Nicola Killops It doesn’t always start with a perfect report card. In fact, it rarely does. It starts with the child who feels everything. The one who couldn’t tolerate tags in their clothes as a toddler. Who noticed when you changed shampoo. Who melted down in noisy
For too long, intelligence has been boxed into rigid definitions—reading speed, written output, memory recall under pressure. But what if those measures don’t capture the true depth of a person’s mind? What if someone thinks faster than the tools designed to express it? I’ve spent years
Ever had a conversation with a teenager who blurts out whatever’s in their head—before their brain even has a chance to weigh in? Or watched them make a split-second decision that leaves you questioning whether they have any self-preservation instincts at all? If you’re parenting a teen
Choosing subjects at the end of Grade 9 can feel like standing at a crossroads with no clear signposts. Parents want to make the right decision, schools have their expectations, and students often feel caught in the middle. And when it comes to maths, the pressure can be overwhelming. But
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your child with ADHD seems to experience emotions on a whole different level, you’re not alone. Emotional dysregulation is one of the most challenging—and misunderstood—aspects of ADHD. It’s not just about getting upset easily or being "too