9 places left The Empowered Mum: six months of one-to-one support for you, not just your child. See what's included

12 places October half-term camps are open, ages 4 to teens. See dates

London and SurreyAnimal assisted therapy for neurodivergent children

One-to-one therapy, intervention programmes, school workshops, holiday camps and parties.

Elysian Awards Silver Winner 2026 Enhanced DBS Animal Activity Licence 059485
What makes this different

The animal is matched to the child

Most animal assisted therapy runs on one species. A dog, or a horse. They are warm and responsive, and for a great many children that is exactly the right thing.

For a child who finds sensory input overwhelming it can be the opposite. A dog approaches. It makes eye contact. It wants to be stroked a particular way, and it notices when you get it wrong. For a child already spending all day being read and responded to, that is one more demand in a long line of them.

Some children need a dog. Some need the opposite of a dog.

So Kids Critters keeps twenty-one animals, not one species. Jupiter and Violet, the dogs, are there for the child who wants something warm to lean on. Fudge, Jessie and Luna, the cats, come to you and then leave you alone again. Nigini, George, Poppy and the rest are there for the child who needs an animal that asks nothing back: a bearded dragon that sits still and lets itself be looked at, a gecko that is fascinating without ever needing anything in return, a tortoise that moves too slowly to startle anyone. And for the child whose interest is the whole point, there is a tarantula and a scorpion to be looked at and never touched.

The pressure comes off, and quite often that is the moment a child starts talking. Not about themselves, but about the animal, which is very much easier.

A bearded dragon resting on a towel beside a chess board
Getting started

How it works

No assessment, no waiting list, and no commitment until you have actually met her.

  1. 1

    You get in touch

    Tell us your child's age and roughly what's going on. As much or as little detail as you want to write.

  2. 2

    A free phone call

    Fifteen minutes with Tiffany about what's already been tried and whether this is likely to help. If it isn't, she'll say so and try to point you somewhere better.

  3. 3

    A first session

    Fifty minutes. Nothing is compulsory. Your child doesn't have to come in, hold anything, or speak. You can stay in the room or wait next door.

  4. 4

    You decide what happens next

    An honest account of what she saw, and no pressure either way. Some families come weekly, some monthly, some once.

In their words

What families say

Parents and professionals, on work spanning anywhere from two years to fourteen.

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.

ParalegalParent · Surrey

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. They always look forward to Tiffany's next visit.

Deputy HeadteacherAdolescent mental health unit

Tiffany's presence has been the backbone of both the boys' progress, development and well-being for 14 years. We cannot be grateful enough.

Resort OwnerParent · Vanuatu

Read them in full →

For parents

And something for you

There is provision for your child. Assessments, plans, interventions and a great many meetings. There is almost nothing for the person holding all of it together, chasing the referrals and translating the world to their child every single day.

You are not a difficult parent for asking.

The Empowered Mum is six months of one-to-one support for her. Not therapy, not a parenting course. Time with someone who knows the system, knows the language, and is entirely on your side. It runs online, so it does not matter where you live.

A mother, outdoors in the sun
Tiffany Grimley, founder of Kids Critters
Who you'll actually meet

Kids Critters is one person

That's deliberate. Tiffany meets your child in the first session, writes to their school, and is still there two years later. No handovers, no associates, no starting again with someone new.

She is a specialist in special educational needs, a parent, and the holder of an enhanced DBS check, full insurance and Animal Activity Licence 059485.

Enhanced DBS, on the Update Service Animal Activity Licence 059485 Elysian Awards Silver Winner 2026 Fully insured

Come and meet her first

No commitment and no assessment. A conversation about your child, what's been tried, and whether any of this is likely to help.