Many children, including those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, face challenges when discovering and adapting to new sensations and routines. This reluctance can stem from various factors, including fears, discomfort and sensory sensitivities.

To support caregivers as they help their children navigate these daily challenges, the EarlyBrain project has developed a series of storybooks that can help to increase the understanding of caregivers towards their children and provide strategies for empowering children. By normalising struggles and offering concrete solutions, these stories empower children and caregivers to manage transitions with confidence and care.

The first story, ‘The No Laces Club’ is one resource in a larger toolkit that supports parents and caregivers to understand and assist children with developmental disabilities in the process of adapting to new sensations and overcoming fears.

The story focuses on Alex who struggles with tasks like tying shoelaces and is often teased at school. When Sasha, a new classmate, arrives with adaptive strategies (elastic shoelaces, special pencils, and dressing techniques), Alex learns new ways to cope and gains confidence. They create a club to help other children facing similar difficulties. The key learning outcomes of this story are:

• Encouraging self-advocacy and self-confidence.
• Introducing adaptive tools to assist with fine motor challenges.
• Promoting peer support and inclusion.
• Demonstrating different learning styles and strategies.

To access the ‘The No Laces Club’ story in English, Italian, Spanish and French, click here.

Background

The EarlyBrain project aims to provide parents and relatives of children with developmental delays with specific knowledge and skills to promote the development of their children. It is characterised by a joint, transdisciplinary and coordinated action to understand the child from a biopsychosocial approach and to empower parents/caregivers. The project will promote good practice exchange and raise awareness on the need of early childhood interventions in line with the Child Guarantee, UNCRC and UNCRPD.