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
- Visual Routine Builder — Create step-by-step visual routines for morning, bedtime, homework, and more
- Challenge Tracker — Log challenges in 30 seconds and spot patterns automatically
- Strategy Library — Evidence-based strategies tailored to your child's neurodivergent profile
- Daily Check-ins — Track mood, wins, and progress with quick daily reflections
- Shareable Reports — Generate reports for doctors, schools, and therapists
- The Hive — Community tips from parents who understand
Conditions We Support
Parent Guides
Glossary
Daily Challenges
Strategy Categories
Community
Sensory Overload Recovery
Your child has shut down or is in distress after sensory overload — which can be triggered by any combination of the eight sensory systems (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, movement/vestibular, body awareness/proprioception, and internal signals/interoception like pain or temperature)
Steps
- Remove the source of overwhelm if possible (leave the noisy space, move away from strong smells)
- Find a quiet, dimly lit space with minimal sensory input
- Offer ear defenders, sunglasses, or a hood/blanket to reduce visual and auditory input
- Be aware that smell, temperature, touch, and movement can also be overwhelming — remove any strong scents, adjust temperature if possible
- Don't talk or ask questions. Words are more sensory input
- Offer water and a preferred sensory item when they're ready
- Allow FULL recovery time before returning to demands — rushing risks triggering another episode
What you need
Quiet space, ear defenders, comfort items, patience
Why it works
Sensory overload happens when the nervous system receives more input than it can process. Recovery isn't about calming down — it's about reducing all incoming stimulation so the nervous system can return to baseline. This is a neurological process that takes time and cannot be rushed.
Age guidance
Critical at all ages. Younger children need you to manage the environment for them; older children can learn to recognise and manage their own warning signs.
Real-world example
A parent learned to recognise the early signs — their child would start covering their ears and getting quieter. By removing them from the overwhelming environment at that stage instead of waiting for full shutdown, they could recover in 10 minutes instead of two hours.
Troubleshooting
- Remember overload is often multisensory: a combination of noise, light, smell, touch, movement, and temperature can push them over — not just one sense
- Recovery can take 20 minutes to several hours, so don't rush
- After recovery, the child may need a lower-demand afternoon
- Keep a 'sensory first aid kit' in the car for outings covering multiple senses (ear defenders, sunglasses, fidgets, scent-free wipes, chewy tube)
