London and SurreyWhat families say about Kids CrittersParents, schools and clinical settings

“The first professional in over seven years that my son dropped his mask to.”

Tiffany, as the face and person behind Kids Critters, was instrumental in our long and evolving process of working through my son's PDA diagnosis. She took time with him, very slowly gaining his trust and was, apart from immediate family, the first professional in over 7 years that my son dropped his mask to and fully allowed Tiffany to see him.

Anyone who understands PDA will know how absolutely central to progression this is. And, of course, the critters are pretty cool, too!

“Seeing her and the animals is the only thing my daughter will do each week, without hesitation.”

Our daughter is currently 16 and has been seeing Tiffany, one to one, for over two years now. At first my daughter was hesitant and reluctant to talk to anyone. Slowly and with incredible patience and understanding Tiffany gained her trust and has, quite literally, saved her life. I cannot bare to think where she would be as an individual or where we would be as a family without Tiffany.

Seeing her and the animals is the only thing my daughter will do each week, without hesitation. Tiffany has helped her gain confidence and knowledge in herself; has encouraged her to step outside her comfort zone and try; and has worked tirelessly with her to build an education and steps towards her future. Tiffany is a wonder woman!

“She helped him step back into the world, one small step at a time.”

Tiffany has been working with my son for 4+ years. Tiffany first met him when he was in autistic burn-out and out of primary school. The support she has provided to both him and our wider family has been incredible as she helped him step back into the world, one small step at a time encouraging him with understanding himself. She helped support him with his transition to a specialist secondary school setting and he always engages positively with her.

The animals are ‘his thing’ and Tiffany's knowledge of them definitely helped build their relationship, but more so as a parent it is her knowledge and understanding of the SEN world which has got my son to where he is now, happier, more confident, has emotional insight and is engaging in the world. Some may say it's a cliche but I feel my son's sessions with Tiffany literally changed his life, we were all in a very difficult place before we met her.

“They always look forward to Tiffany's next visit, and we as staff really value her work.”

We have used Tiffany for a number of sessions — she is excellent with our young people. We are an inpatient unit for aged 13-17 with acute mental health illness and she has a lovely way of working with our students, putting them at ease, and creating a positive, fun, educational and enjoyable environment.

The workshops are always well thought out and planned, and the young people love the engagement they have with the animals. They always look forward to Tiffany's next visit and we (as staff) really value Tiffany's work.

“Tiffany's presence has been the backbone of both boys' progress, development and well-being for fourteen years.”

Tiffany Grimley has been working with our two since 2012. They both have special needs, Autism and severe ADHD with traces of autism. Tiffany still today speaks to both young adults on a weekly basis to provide them with advice, support and ensuring that they are in a healthy mental state.

Tiffany was originally called in by our sons' international school in Vanuatu to support our younger son and implement a programme with the school and parents to support him both in the school environment and at home. Tiffany was monitoring this support, liaising with the school, my son and us as parents, from year 2 to year 7, the first year of secondary school, when she left Vanuatu with her family.