Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices in Early Childhood

""This book is a vital step forward in ensuring neurodivergent children are truly seen and respected for the brilliant, capable, playful people they are. Radical, thought-provoking and deeply researched, it is a must-read for parents and practitioners alike. Murphy seamlessly blends social justice, education theory, and practical exercises to create a book which is at once challenging, inspiring, and profoundly hopeful, showing us how nurturing and affirming early-years education could be."" - Eloise Rickman, author of It's Not Fair: why it's time for a grown-up conversation about how adults treat children ""With care, experience and a neuro-affirming perspective this book takes a stand against the pathologisation and suppression of the play of neurodivergent children in all its joy, creativity, mischief, normativity dismantling and beauty. Murphy writes with clarity and lays out actionable steps to enable supporting adults to improve the experience of neurodivergent children in their settings. She does this whilst holding onto the nuance required to grapple with complexity and perpetually unfinished nature of an inclusive practice. I look forward to referencing this text heavily when training early-years professionals on creating inclusive and authentically neurodiverse play and educational spaces."" - Max Alexander, Play Radical ""It is refreshing to read a book specifically focussed on children in the early years that simultaneously centres neurodiversity and play but does not shy away from the essential lenses of so many other intersections of a child’s identity including race and the impacts of systemic racism. Kerry has the ability to make her books accessible in terms of her writing style which is so important for everybody who is involved in the education and care of children. The general lack of understanding about neurodiversity means that there are a number of children for whom a positive experience of early learning and play is not granted. This book is a brilliant aid in helping educators engage and increase their understanding about the urgency of such a topic."" - Liz Pemberton, Early Years Anti-racist Trainer and Consultant and Founder of The Black Nursery Manager Ltd