New Beginnings — Setting Intentions And Routines For The Year Ahead
Welcome to the very first issue of The Thrive — we are so glad you are here. January is a month full of possibility, and for families raising neurodiverse young people, it can also bring a mix of hope and anxiety as the new school year approaches.
This month invite yourself to pause before the rush sets in. Before the homework, the meetings, and the reports — take a moment to set an intention for the year. Not a goal list, not a plan — just one question to carry with you: what does thriving look like for my child this year?
Book a Week 1 teacher meeting before routines set in
Review your young person’s learning adjustment plan and request a meeting with their new teacher in the very first week of school — before patterns are established.
The start of the year is your greatest window of influence. Teachers are fresh, open, and forming their understanding of each student. A 15-minute conversation in Week 1 can shape the entire year ahead.
Come prepared with a simple one-page summary: your child’s strengths, their key challenges, and three things that help them succeed. Keep it warm and collaborative. You are not there to demand — you are there to partner.
T — Tune In: Where Every Journey Begins
The T in T.H.R.I.V.E. stands for Tune In — and it is the foundation of everything. Before strategies, before school meetings, before planning for the future, we begin by truly understanding your learner as they are right now.
Tuning In is about curiosity, not correction. It means setting aside what we think should be happening and genuinely observing what is. Start with these questions this January:
- What does my learner look like when they are genuinely comfortable and engaged?
- What has shifted for them since last year — in confidence, in learning, in relationships?
- What is one thing I want to understand better about my young person this year?
“I feel like every new year we start over from scratch. Will it ever get easier?”
This is one of the most common feelings we hear from parents — and it makes complete sense. Transitions are genuinely hard for neurodiverse learners, and watching your young person struggle to find their footing again each year is exhausting.
What we can tell you is this: the foundations you build do not disappear. Each year your learner carries forward more self-knowledge, more strategies, and more resilience than the year before — even when it does not feel that way.
Have a win to share? Email admin@targetingtomorrow.com.au — your story may help another family in the future.
QCAA — QUEENSLAND CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY
The parent guide to individual curriculum plans and learning adjustments in Queensland schools. Essential reading before your first school meeting of the year.
Visit qcaa.qld.edu.au
The Targeting Tomorrow community is just getting started — stay tuned for resources:: student workshop, clubs, camp, social groups, and event announcements coming your way in 2026: targetingtomorrow.com