Thriive — The App for Neurodivergent Families

Free to start. Thriive helps parents of neurodivergent kids (ADHD, autism, dyslexia & more) track what matters, spot patterns and advocate with confidence.

Features

Conditions We Support

Parent Guides

Glossary

Daily Challenges

Strategy Categories

Community

30-Minute Wind Down

Your child is wired at bedtime and can't settle

Steps

  1. Set a 30-minute wind-down alarm (same time every night)
  2. Screens off. No negotiation on this one
  3. Dim the lights in the house
  4. Offer calm activities: colouring, audiobook, gentle play
  5. Follow the same sequence every night

What you need

Timer, dim lighting, calm activity options, audiobook app

Why it works

Children with ADHD, Autism, and Sensory Processing differences often have dysregulated circadian rhythms. Their brains don't naturally wind down the way neurotypical brains do. A consistent 30-minute wind-down ritual helps train the body to anticipate sleep, creating a neurological bridge between activity and rest.

Age guidance

Works for all ages from 3 upwards. Teenagers may need 45-60 minutes and will resist the screens-off rule, but it's worth holding the boundary.

Real-world example

One parent described their first week as 'a disaster' — their child fought the wind-down harder than they fought bedtime. By week two, the child's body started adjusting. By week three, they were asking for their audiobook. Consistency is everything with this one.

Troubleshooting