My Dentist Trip & Your Child

Fiona Goodall • May 1, 2022

Say Ahhhhh!!

This week I cracked a tooth. On a jelly baby of all things. My regular dentist wasn’t available, so I reluctantly agreed to another. The change of specialist was unnerving, yet I obediently lay in the chair, folded my white knuckled hands over my chest and tried to think of whale song and rainforests. However, as my heart raced and stomach churned hopes of tranquil visualizations were drowned by thoughts of root canals and dentist drills…

Yet surprisingly, the experience wasn’t so bad after all. Why? It was a series of small yet significant measures my dentist put in place to make my experience more bearable. For instance, she used a little chock to keep my mouth open – a far cry from the usual fear of lock jaw and constant, ‘A little wider please Fiona’. She used a rubber dam to prevent water running down my throat – reducing the fear of embarrassing coughing fits and that dreaded spit vacuum. She asked me to choose the Netflix show on the overhead screen – instead of my usual guy’s deafeningly silent photos of his in-laws’ trip to Europe, on repeat (yawn fest at its best!). She even offered noise cancelling headphones so I could block out the sound of her mining equipment excavating the insides of my mouth. She counted down and softly narrated what was happening and throughout the procedure told me how long each stage would last. The day after I received a check-in text with reassurance that what I was feeling is typical but who I could contact if worried. Although I won’t be calling her for Round Two and I will be avoiding jelly babies from now on, I found the event a lot more tolerable than previous dental experiences… And, I am confident my dentist wasn’t making this up on the spot. She clearly had her bag of tricks ready and waiting.

So, what does this have to do with your child?? It’s a reminder that no matter the experience, it’s the forethought and the ‘little things’ that can make all the difference. Instead of the mouth chock, does your child need something to make their body comfortable, such as their well-worn pair of shoes or seamless socks? Instead of the mouth dam, can the task be adjusted to reduce the scary element (e.g. assistive technology instead of writing)? Similar to Netflix, can they be given some control and provided with simple choice, or provided with distraction by bringing along a personalised bag of tricks (e.g. favourite items, books or music playlist). Similar to the noise cancelling headphones, can the sensory load be reduced - anything from headphones and fiddles to purposefully choosing a time when sensory input is minimised (e.g. going to the shops outside of crowded times)? Similar to the narration, how can predictability be provided – perhaps a Google search beforehand, a step-by-step app, visual schedules or social story? Similar to my dentist communicating end points, can your young person complete tasks in small steps to reduce the load and make each stage achievable? Or during the event, can you provide time limits or use countdowns and timers? Just like my dentist’s post visit check-in text, can you speak with your child afterwards, and discuss how they felt, what strategies worked or what could be tried next time or make sure they know their safe place or safe person when they’re in a new or anxiety-provoking context?

Although the examples are endless the message is clear. Spending time and effort beforehand can empower you and your young person with a host of ‘little things’ that have potential to make a very big difference.

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The Importance of Catch Ups in Making Quality Friendships

By Fiona Goodall • April 27, 2025

The Importance of Catch Ups in Building Quality Friendships At Making Connections Toowoomba (MCT), our social skills programs focus on helping young people understand the characteristics of a quality friendship. One important element we teach is the value of catching up . Friendships, like all meaningful relationships, require effort from both people – and catching up in person plays an essential role in maintaining and strengthening these connections. Why Catch Ups Matter Catching up gives us the opportunity to share experiences, deepen trust, and reinforce the bond between friends . It’s during these moments that friendships are nurtured, mutual interests are explored, and memories are built. For neurodivergent young people, learning the purpose and benefits of catch ups can help make social connections more intentional, rewarding and long lasting. Understanding Individual Differences Catch ups come with an important reminder: just as no two friendships are identical, catching up looks different for everyone. Some people enjoy catching up weekly – or even more often – while for others, the occasional catch up is enough. It’s important to recognise that we all have different social needs and varying " social batteries. " Some young people recharge quickly and look for regular connection, while others need more time between social interactions. Pushing beyond our social limits can lead to fatigue, burnout and social avoidance, which can affect the quality of the friendship, and our ability to consolidate an emerging friendship. Making friends with people who respect our individual social thresholds helps build sustainable, quality friendships. It’s also important to remember that the way we catch up can look different too. For some, a catch up might mean doing activities together the entire time, while for others, simply sitting near a friend, sharing space quietly, is enough to feel connected. Both are valid ways of nurturing friendships. Catch Ups vs. Hanging Out It’s important to distinguish between "hanging out" and "catching up." Hanging out is often more spontaneous and casual, with no set structure or time limit. It usually relies heavily on ongoing conversation without a clear shared activity, which, while enjoyable for some, can sometimes feel overwhelming or stressful for neurodivergent individuals (not all, but often). In contrast, catching up usually has a more intentional purpose: connecting and spending time together, often through a shared activity around a common interest. Planning a catch up around something specific to do provides a natural focus for conversation and interaction, which can ease social pressure. For those learning to build friendships, an intentional, structured catch up can often be a more comfortable and successful way to strengthen connections — especially in the early stages of a new friendship. For catch ups to be successful, especially for young people learning these skills, it helps to have a few strategies in place: Plan ahead – agree on a time, place, and activity and communicate this clearly Choose an activity-based meet up – having something to do can ease social pressure (e.g. if you both like bowling, movies, or art/craft) Set time limits – keeping catch ups short can help manage social energy and have everyone leaving wanting more Have a backup plan – having a Plan B ensures there’s still something to do if things don’t go to plan or if someone gets bored At Making Connections Toowoomba, we believe teaching these strategies helps young people feel more confident in making and keeping friends. If you want to learn more about how to support your child, teen, or young adult in developing meaningful friendships, explore our social skills programs: Prep and Grade 1: PEERS for Early Years Primary School Grades 2 to Grades 8: Social Skills Program Teens 14–18: PEERS for Teens Young Adults 18–30: PEERS for Adults