Most people think learning begins when a teacher starts speaking, but for many children, learning doesn’t even begin until they feel safe. Imagine walking into a noisy classroom, bright lights flickering, children laughing loudly, chairs scraping, and your heart beating faster because every sound feels like thunder. For children with autism, that’s not imagination; it’s reality. Kalpana Singh’s book “Unlocking the School Day” reminds us that before we teach children how to read or write, we must first teach ourselves how to make them feel safe enough to stay.
The Fear Behind the Smile
There’s a reason some children resist going to school, cry before class, or hide under desks when things get loud; it’s fear. Autistic children experience the world with heightened sensitivity. What seems small to others – a change in teacher, a loud bell, or a surprise group activity – can feel like losing control. Their body reacts before their words do, and all they want is for the world to slow down, even for a moment. But here’s the truth that Unlocking the School Day makes us face: these children aren’t “problematic”. They’re trying to survive an environment that doesn’t understand their rhythm. When we recognise that, everything changes.
What the Book Teaches Us About Safety
Kalpana Singh doesn’t just write as a professional; she writes as someone who has truly listened to children with autism. Through her seventeen years of experience, she’s seen that emotional safety is the first step to real learning. Her book gently explains that comfort, not compliance, is where education begins. She walks us through real school situations and shows how small changes can make a world of difference.
Predictable routines, Keeping the day structured helps reduce anxiety and build trust.
Sensory awareness: adjusting lights, sounds, or textures can prevent overload. Visual supports, Using pictures and charts helps children prepare for transitions. Gentle communication, slower speech, a softer tone, and patience help children feel seen and heard.
Each page of the book whispers one message, “Belonging before learning.” Because once a child feels safe, their natural curiosity takes over , and that’s when real learning begins.
The Woman Who Builds Bridges
Behind this message is Kalpana Singh, a paediatric occupational therapist, parenting coach, and founder of Rollick n Frolic Child Development Clinic. For over 17 years, she has worked with children, parents, and schools, building inclusive environments that go beyond labels and diagnoses.
Her approach isn’t about fixing children; it’s about fixing systems. She helps adults see the child beneath the behaviour and the fear behind the frustration. Kalpana’s workshops and therapy sessions have touched hundreds of families, helping them understand that every child can thrive when given time, patience, and safety. She reminds us that inclusion doesn’t start in a policy or a classroom rule; it starts in a human heart that chooses empathy over judgement. What We Can Do to Make Inclusion Real If we truly want to build schools where every child belongs, we don’t need complex plans, we need compassion in daily actions.
Here’s where to start:
- Listen before teaching — Ask children what feels hard or scary about their day.
- Comfort before correctness — Soothe the child first, guide them later.
- Create safe corners — A quiet space or sensory zone can help children self-regulate.
- Train teachers in empathy — Understanding autism helps prevent misinterpretation of behaviours.
- Celebrate small wins — Every smile, word, or moment of participation matters.
When we focus on connection before correction, schools transform from stressful spaces to safe havens. Belonging isn’t a reward for good behaviour; it’s a human right. Kalpana Singh’s “Unlocking the School Day” teaches us that children learn best not when they’re pushed harder, but when they feel understood. Safety opens the door to confidence; belonging opens the path to growth. So before we rush to teach, let’s pause to connect. Because for every child, especially one who experiences the world differently, feeling safe is the real first lesson of the day.
