Kid Companions- Chewelry

Facts About Aspergers and Interview with Julie Clark, author of Asperger’s in PINK

2011-02-15T13:12:00.008-04:00

Asperger's in PINK is on
Facebook

“Asperger’s in PINK" is going to be both lighthouse and life raft for parents, giving them something to aim for and the way to get there. Parents of an AS child (whether girl or boy) who are trying to procure a diagnosis or who have a diagnosis but don’t know what to do next, Ms. Clark has provided you with a map. … Thanks to books like this and the parents and professionals who take the time to read them, many more little Aspergirls will have the future they deserve." From the Foreword by Rudy Simone, Asperger's self-advocate and author of Aspergirls and Asperger's on the Job.

Asperger's On the Job
has a forward by
Temple Grandin

A quote from the star of Asperger’s in PINK, Kristina, sets the tone of the book: “I feel like any other ordinary kid and I want to be respected like one.” In her section, Before You Begin, Clark writes about Aspergers (AS):” …both males and females share certain traits…lack of eye contact, inadequate social ability, strict adherence to routine, sensory integration difficulties, lack of empathy, intense interest in a limited number of subjects, rigidity, and a literal way of thinking.” However many people feel that this neurological condition does not have to be cured but has to be accommodated and respected.

Asperger's Syndrome is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is only in 1994 that Asperger’s Syndrome was recognized in the United States and added to the DSM-IV.

In The Pattern of Abilities and Development of Girls with Asperger’s Syndrome by Dr. Tony Attwood - September 1999 we learn: “The boy to girl ratio for referrals for a diagnostic assessment is about ten boys to one girl. However, the evidence indicates that the actual ratio of diagnosed children is 4 boys to one girl (this is the same ratio as occurs with classic autism). Why are so few girls referred for a diagnosis? In general, boys tend to have a greater expression of social deficits, whereas girls tend to be relatively more able in social play and have a more even profile of social skills. Girls seem to be more able to follow social actions by delayed imitation because they observe other children and copy them, perhaps masking the symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome.”

Today in preparation for our tweetchat on The Coffee Klatch (TCK) : http://tweetchat.com/room/tck Feb. 21st, 9am EST, Julie Clark, artist, mom of a daughter with Asperger’s and author of Asperger’s in PINK kindly answered a few questions.

1. What made you decide to write Asperger’s in PINK?

Julie Clark author is on Twitter

When Kristina was diagnosed, there wasn't very much out there regarding Asperger's - especially anything relating to having (or being) a daughter with it. I wanted to provide a voice for girls on the spectrum, and allowed our story to be that voice, as well as let others learn from our experiences. If our story prompts others to share theirs - to get the conversation going - I'd be thrilled.

2. Who was your target audience?

The hope is that the book would speak to families, to let them know there are other families out there who are walking the same path as they are. They may feel alone, but they are not alone. School professionals and extended family are another audience I'm trying to reach. By personalizing the journey, the hope is that they will gain a view into the world of families like ours, and know that many of us really are trying to do the best by our kids. But we also could use loving, (patient) guidance, and acceptance along the way.

3. How has your book been received?
There are many who have been so kind, and related their own stories to me. Some have expressed that it has been a huge help to know there are other moms (and dads) out there who are walking the same path, even if the steps don't exactly line up. But not everyone relates to the book, and they've made that pretty well known, and that is ok. We each have our own stories, right? What is important is that we choose to learn from each other.

4. Any comments/reviews that made your writing effort worthwhile?
At my first book signing, I had a mom come up, with tears in her eyes. I can't begin to tell you how humbled and touched I was at that moment. As I mentioned, there are those who have quite a differing opinion of what I present in the book. But meeting that mom reminded me of why I wrote the book in the first place, and reenergized me as to the mission behind the book - to increase understanding and awareness of girls on the autism spectrum, and to turn up the volume of the "pink end" of it.

5. Do you find that girls with Asperger’s now have more support in schools than when Kristina started?
That's hard to say. From a purely analytical perspective, knowledge of Asperger's has increased dramatically since then, but the truth is, it is still often misunderstood. So, overall, I'd like to say yes, but I do not think that applies everywhere.

Dr. Tony Atwood in “The Pattern of Abilities and Development of Girls with Asperger’s Syndrome” found that: “Girls are more able to verbalize their emotions and less likely to use physically aggressive acts in response to negative emotions such as confusion, frustration and anger. We do not know whether this is a cultural or constitutional characteristic but we recognize that children who are aggressive are more likely to be referred for a diagnostic assessment to determine whether the behavior is due to a specific developmental disorder and for advice on behavior management. Hence boys with Asperger’s Syndrome are more often referred to a psychologists or psychiatrist because their aggression has become a concern for their parents or schoolteacher.”

Also Dr. Atwood, in his paper about girls with Asperger's, noted that girls "are more motivated to learn and quicker to understand key concepts in comparison to boys with Asperger's Syndrome of equivalent intellectual ability." As such, he predicted that girls would fare better in the long run, if they're properly diagnosed.

There we have it – the magic words- ‘properly diagnosed', what Julie Clark and countless other parents are working so hard to receive. Julie says of the official diagnosis: “The combination lock opened, the fog lifted, darkness no longer enveloped us. .. At last, we knew what we needed to know to help Kristina grow."

We hope Julie’s book, our posts and The Coffee Klatch sessions will motivate parents to continue their struggle to but a name to their child’s unique behaviors and open the eyes and heart of others to accept and respect all individuals. As Julie Clark wrote: " What I am saying is that "the village" contributes to the growth or stagnation of all of us."

Purchase Asperger's in Pink at Future Horizons
Purchase Asperger's On the Job at Futrue Horizons

Where to connect with Julie Clark:
*JulieClarkArt Artisan Studio at ArtFire
*JulieClarkArt.blogspot.com
*Asperger's in Pink on Facebook
*I'm on twitter
*Julie Clark Art, artisan studio on Facebook

Related Posts:

*Asperger's in PINK by Julie Clark ~ Book Review

*Asperger's On the Job by Rudy Simone ~ A Review

*Three Book Reviews Dealing With Guides For Kids With ASD

*Shonda Schilling's Frank Account of Son With Asperger's Syndrome

*Jodi Picoult's House Rules

Celebrate and Decorate Together

2011-02-11T08:44:00.004-04:00

Confident, Capable,
Contented Child

Make a special day more memorable, or build a lasting family tradition, by creating a decoration or gift together with your child. Even if you’re craft-challenged, don’t give up - we found an inspiring web site filled with ideas – http://www.familyfun.go.com/ ! We’ve included a few of our fav offerings below from that site, and added some other great sites, all with projects easy to enjoy with children of different abilities.

FamilyFun is chock full of inspiration! You’ll find craft projects for every season and even back-to-school ideas. Planning a birthday celebration? Check out their “Birthday Parties by Theme”, where unusual ideas abound. Would your child adore a birthday party with a music theme? How about bugs, a cooking party, or a complete guide to creating a birthday carnival? You’ll find it there, and so much more!

Gift Box – Perfect for Mom and Dad

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/holiday-seasonal-crafts/mothers-day-cards-gifts/mothers-day-gifts/mothers-day-box-661242/

This idea was developed for Mother’s Day, but it’s perfect for any other celebration, from Father’s Day to birthdays or Valentines Day. Decorate a shoe box, fill it with a variety of small, inexpensive, wrapped gifts, write a fun schedule for the day that includes when or where a gift can be opened. Simple yet appealing on so many levels. The entire day becomes special! It’s an easy-to-do gift that most children can manage and creates special memories from the child to mom, dad, family and friends.

IlluStory

http://www.creationsbyyou.com/kit/IlluStory.asp

What could be more fun than turning your child’s art and creativity into a real book? This kit comes with everything you need to do just that, including “Story Web” that helps children plan their story. (Great for honing executive functioning skills!) Once your work is done, submit it online or in the mail and they’ll turn it into a professionally typeset, hardbound book with a title, dedication and “About the Author” page. Use it just for fun, to motivate creativity, improve your child’s verbal and written expression, to preserve memories, or to make a unique gift for family and friends.

Creations by You

http://www.creationsbyyou.com/products.asp

The same company that delivers IlluStory has a variety of kits for making treasured keepsakes using your family photographs and children’s art, including clocks, mugs, calendars and watches.

Paint Chip Photo Frame

http://www.bhg.com/crafts/home/accessories/easy-crafts-with-photos/?page=16

So easy and so colorful…just pick up paint chips in your favorite colors and use them to create mats for photos. Use the matting that came with a frame as your base, or cut your own cardboard base to create an entire frame.

This article is taken with permission from www.autismdigest.com, where readers can go online and, by signing in, can access free copies of the magazine’s eGuide, which is packed full of more information on holidays and gift giving for children on the spectrum.

Articles were amended to fit the present season of Valentine’s Day.

*Gifts From the Kitchen, GFCF

*Gift Tips and Ideas for Our Children with Autism
*Spread Valentine’s Love: Help Children with Autism Celebrate!
*Special Valentine’s Day Gifts for Parents and Teachers
*Learn to be Flexible: Reduce the Anxiety of Getting Gifts

Meet Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman Authors of Growing an In-Sync Child

2011-02-10T19:26:00.006-04:00

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On Feb 14th we have more than Valentine’s Day to be happy about. The Coffee Klatch tweetchat at 9am EST features Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman authors of Growing an In-Sync Child: Simple, Fun Activities to Help Every Child Develop, Learn, and Grow. Join us to learn and share how early childhood motor development is the foundation for a child’s physical, emotional, and academic success. Discuss how even skipping, rolling, balancing and jumping can make a world of difference for our children.

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Countless special needs parents, educators, therapists, and of course kids have been touched by Kranowitz’s successful book The Out-of-Sync Child : Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder. This reader-friendly book that makes SPD understandable to parents and teachers was published in 1998, revised in 2005, translated into a dozen languages and has over 600,000 copies sold.

Terri Mauro's Review

The sequel, The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with SPD, was published in 2003 and revised in 2006. It has sold more than 200,000 copies. In her other books and DVDs and in national and international workshops, Carol explains to parents, educators, and other professionals how sensory issues play out and suggests enjoyable strategies for addressing them at home and school.

In Growing an In-Sync Child, the authors, both Bethesda, Maryland residents, show how simple movement in their “In-Sync Program” of 60 adaptable, easy and fun activities will enhance a child’s development, in just minutes a day. Kranowitz and Newman demonstrate that children at any age and stage, not just special needs kids, can benefit from time to explore, play, engage in lots of physical activity and do things for themselves and they will get the basic skills they will need.

“We have cut out the things that are important for development that everyone used to have: the play, the work, the chores," said Kranowitz, who taught music, movement and drama to preschoolers for 25 years. "We use this darn video to teach a kid how to count, and play dates where the children come together and they sit and play video games. Living in a 2D world doesn’t exercise the muscles and brain centers needed to learn to live in a 3D world.”

Meet Carol Kranowitz, MA

Up-coming Events

Carol was a teacher at St. Columba’s Nursery School in Washington, DC for 25 years. In the 1980s, Carol and an occupational therapist began screening preschoolers for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), a common developmental problem causing difficulty in interpreting and using sensory. They guided children with probable SPD into occupational therapy, the primary treatment for this disorder.

They steered other children with perceptual motor problems (and possible SPD) into purposeful physical activities, best found at organizations such as Joye Newman’s Kids Moving Company. Joye and Carol met and have been buddies ever since.

In 1995, Carol earned her master’s degree in Education and Human Development at The George Washington University. She created a course of study about her special interest in sensory processing and turned her thesis into her book, “The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder”

Carol is Editor-in-Chief of “S.I. Focus” magazine and a board member of SPD Foundation. Her website is www.out-of-sync-child.com

Meet Joye Newman, MA

Joye is a perceptual motor therapist. Perceptual Motor Therapy (PMT) helps children, and also adults, to develop and enhance basic movement and learning abilities. Integrating studies in behavioral optometry, occupational therapy, and psychology into her graduate work, she developed her unique method of PMT.

Recently, Joye closed her Kids Moving Company studio to focus on in-school programs, individual evaluations, and consultations with parents to help them understand how they can help their children become more confident and competent in everything they do.

Joye lectures on school readiness, creative movement, and perceptual motor development, and she consults to area preschools, helping them develop and refine their movement programs. Her website is www.kidsmovingco.com

Books mentioned in this post are available here: http://www.fhsensory.com/carolkranowitz.html

The Coffee Klatch Tweetchat:

Parents, if you want to know what an in-sync child looks like, and if your child is a bit behind, how to help him/her catch up, click to The Coffee Klatch tweetchat Feb.14th at 9 am EST Chat Room: http://tweetchat.com/room/tck

Related Posts:
*The Goodenoughs Get in Sync ~New Edition~ 5 Family Members Overcome their Special Sensory Issues by Carole Kranowitz

*2010 Book of the Year Award by Creative Child Magazine ~ Winner, Runners-Ups and Procedure

Five Ideas for Successful Celebrations: Management Strategies Throughout the Year

2011-02-10T15:17:00.003-04:00

1. Simplify. Keep change to a minimum – reduce decorations, limit visitors, keep travel to a minimum.

2. Themes Outside the Box. Pick party ideas that truly fit your child – night at the museum, movie night at home, or an environment you might rule out due to noise and chaos sometimes is a great success (think Chuck-E Cheese).

3. Countdown the days. Use visual aides to show the day until the big event. (Go to Decorate Together for some ideas.)

4. Photographic Memories. Take extra photos at holidays and birthdays with an eye toward using them the following year to remind your child of fun times and to prepare for changes. Photos can illustrate how the house looked when decorated for any holiday or how the room was rearranged for the Christmas tree.

5. Detailed Schedules. Create a special schedule, especially for the winter holidays. On a plain calendar use pictures and simple words to show the schedule for the season. Include when you’ll put up (and take down) the tree, outings, school events, concerts, church, cookie baking, making decorations, and plans for visitors or travel.

This article is taken with permission from www.autismdigest.com, where readers can go online and, by signing in, can access free copies of the magazine’s eGuide, which is packed full of more information on holidays and gift giving for children on the spectrum.

Article amended to fit the present season of Valentine’s Day.

Related Posts:
*Celebrate and Decorate Together
*Gifts From the Kitchen, GFCF
*Gift Tips and Ideas for Our Children with Autism
*Spread Valentine’s Love: Help Children with Autism Celebrate!
*Special Valentine’s Day Gifts for Parents and Teachers
*Learn to be Flexible: Reduce the Anxiety of Getting Gifts

Personalized Children's Book ~ First Time Books by Guest, Monika Puzelyte

2011-02-07T13:03:00.001-04:00

Getting your child to read is often times just as frustrating as trying to get them to eat their vegetables. Sometimes children just need some motivation. It is important that from a young age your little one views books as a form of entertainment instead of a task. Teaching your child that reading can be fun is easy through personalization. Personalized books are a great way to encourage children to read because they can relate to the characters they recognize in the books.

First Time Books was created in 2007, by John Burke and Chad Case. One of the business partner, John Burke, and his wife were having trouble potty training their daughter, Molly. With 25 years of printing and book binding experience, a light went off in John’s head one night. He devised a potty training book that represented the characteristics of his daughter, such as ethnicity, gender, and hair color. With his business partner, Chad Case, they created and programmed a distinctive, unique and special story book about Molly and her potty training adventure. Needless to say, after receiving her own potty book, Molly never entered the bathroom without it. Within 2 weeks, John was living in a diaper-free home.

First Time Books offers personalized books that go beyond customizing your child’s character. All of the characters are personalized such as parents, siblings, and friends, while still keeping your child as the star of the book. Every book is unique because it features characters that are personalized by their gender, ethnicity, hair color and length, skin color, and much more! The technology available at First Time Books offers a new frontier in children’s books publishing. First Time Books offer an array of educational products that excites children to read and motivates them to learn. Parents can bond with their children while customizing a book’s characters and a storyline. Personalizing books at First Time Books is really easy; a child can do most personalizing online by themselves.

This is a perfect gift for any occasion because First Time Books has a variety of books that will amuse any child. They have products such as, a Potty Training and an ABC book, Zoo, Halloween and Christmas Adventure books, Birthday books, and many more. Take a look for yourself at www.FirstTimeBooks.com and find the perfect personalized book that will put a smile on your little ones face.

Gifts From the Kitchen, GFCF

2011-02-06T14:28:00.003-04:00

Gifts from the kitchen are usually associated with the holiday season, but these wonderfully personalized gifts are a welcome way to celebrate birthdays, special occasions, work promotions, a new home, and everything in-between. Treasured as a gift from the heart, as well as a gift of our most precious commodity…time, there’s no reason to avoid creating an edible gift because of special dietary needs. Any of the GFCF recipes listed in this section are bound to delight the heart, soul, and taste buds of the lucky recipient!

New to GFCF Baking?

Consider investing in one of these cookbooks to guide you in creating that gift from your kitchen. “Cooking without” comes with a learning curve, and “baking without” can be even more of a challenge, discovering (sometimes too late) those tricky little places where gluten and casein can hide (spices, jelly beans) or what works – and doesn’t - when using substitutions. We’re not trying to scare you here! Rather, we want to suggest you learn from the best: those cooks, chefs, and bakers who have tested and retested recipes to make sure your experience is both successful and delicious!

Bake Deliciously! Gluten and Dairy Free Cookbook by Jean Duane

http://www.alternativecook.com/

Special Diets for Special Kids, Vols. I and II Combined by Lisa Lewis

http://www.fhautism.com/

Carol Fenster Cookbooks:

*1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes
*100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes

*Gluten-Free Quick and Easy

*Gluten-Free 101

http://www.1000glutenfreerecipes.com/

Lori Karavolis Cookbooks:

*Lori Bakes Gluten Free

*Lori Bakes Gluten Free for Kids
*Lori Bakes Gluten Free Breakfast and Lunch
*Lori Bakes Gluten Free Sweets and Snacks

http://www.loribakes.com/

Running Short on Time to Bake?

Consider packaging time-saving GFCF quick mixes in an attractive mixing bowl or basket as a gift from you to the mom of a spectrum child following a special diet. Add in some GFCF tidbits like sprinkles, or chocolate, or spices to make the gift even more special. Companies offering GFCF products abound now, and GFCF products can be found in many regular grocery stores. But for that truly special gift, think about browsing some of the online retailers, who offer hard-to-find and/or unusual food items. We’ve listed a few below.

Bob’s Red Mill

http://www.bobsredmill.com/

The Gluten Free Mall
http://www.glutenfreemall.com/

Gluten Free Pantry
http://www.glutenfree.com/

Namaste Foods
http://www.namastefoods.com/

Kinnikinnick Foods
http://www.kinnikinnick.com/

Food Allergy Gourmet
http://www.foodallergygourmet.com/

The Really Great Food Company
http://www.reallygreatfoods.com/

GFCF Quick Mixes – 6 different quick mixes sold as a set
http://stewartdehart.stores.yahoo.net/item1.html

Mixes from the Heartland
Assorted mixes packaged together by type of food: cake, dessert, meal, muffin, pancake, soup, side dish, etc.
http://www.mixesfromtheheartland.com/

GFCF Emergency Food Kit

It’s not exactly a gift from the kitchen, but we couldn’t figure out where to put this interesting and potentially life-saving gift idea. It’s an emergency food kit of GFCF products. Natural disasters can strike in a moment, leaving families who rely on GFCF eating experiencing an even worse state of affairs. The 72-hour gluten free emergency kit feeds a family of four, with a five year shelf life.
www.glutenfreeemergencykits.com/

Super-Delicious Edibles to Bake and Give Away

Cookies, bars, truffles, sweet breads, or something out of the ordinary – like fruit leather – are easy, delicious gifts to make and give away. Package them in attractive tins or holiday gift boxes (find less expensive versions at outlet stores like Big Lots), add a ribbon or star garland and you have the perfect made-with-love gift to share with family, friends, teachers and service providers. Involve your spectrum child in the baking and decorating; it may take a little longer, but that look of pride in your child’s eyes coupled with being able to say, “I helped make it!” is worth every extra minute.

The Perfect Holiday Bread

This fast, easy recipe for Cranberry Walnut Bread works well with dried cranberries, which are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. Make several batches of the “dry” ingredients and just add the “wet” when you want another loaf of delicious, warm bread. If you can find them, dried cranberries infused with orange are wonderful in this recipe.

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Wet Ingredients
2 egg whites or one egg

⅓ cup walnut oil

2 tsp. vanilla

½ cup plain, gluten-free soy yogurt

⅓ cup rice, nut or seed milk

Dry Ingredients

¾ cup whole grain sorghum flour

¼ cup whole grain brown rice flour

¼ cup tapioca flour

½ cup Sucanat® or brown sugar

1½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. xanthan gum

⅔ cup dried cranberries (generally sweetened)

½ cup chopped walnuts

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. fresh ground nutmeg

¼ tsp. salt

Beat wet ingredients together. In a separate bowl, whisk dry ingredients together, then combine with wet. Place batter into an oiled 8.5” x 4.5” loaf pan. Let sit a few minutes to allow flours to absorb moisture. Bake 45 minutes, covering with parchment paper after 20 minutes to prevent over-browning. Remove from oven and turn out on rack to cool.

Compliments of Jean Duane, Bake Deliciously! Gluten and Dairy Free Cookbook. http://www.alternativecook.com/.

Sugar Cutout Cookies

1 cup GFCF margarine

2 egg yolks

¾ cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup white rice flour

½ cup sorghum flour

¼ cup potato starch

¼ cup tapioca flour

½ cup almond meal

1 tsp xanthan

½ tsp salt

½ tsp baking powder

Assorted colored decorator sugars or icings

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a small bowl, combine the flours, almond meal, xanthan, baking powder and salt; set aside. In the bowl of your mixer, cream together the margarine, egg yolks and sugar until fluffy. Add in vanilla. Gradually beat in dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

Divide dough in thirds and roll out one third of the dough to ¼” thickness on a generously white rice-floured board. Using desired cookie cutter, cut dough into shapes; reroll scraps. Place cut-outs on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. If decorating with sugar, brush cookies lightly with water and sprinkle with sugar. If you will be decorating cookies with icing, bake first, cool, then frost.

Bake at 350° for 13 -15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheet to a wire rack and cool completely. Yield: 42 (2 1/2”) cookies

Compliments of Lori Karavolis, Lori Bakes Gluten Free Snacks & Sweets
www.loribakes.com/cookbooks.htm

Chocolate Ice Cream Cake Roll

1 ½ TBS brown rice flour

½ TBS teff flour

½ TBS sorghum flour

1 ½ tsp tapioca flour

1 ½ tsp cornstarch

1 ½ tsp potato starch

4 TBS dry baking cocoa*

½ tsp guar gum

¼ tsp salt

1 cup sugar, divided

6 eggs, separated

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp cream of tartar

GFCF powdered sugar

GFCF vanilla ice cream, softened

GFCF hot fudge sauce (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 325°F.

In a small bowl, sift together cocoa, flours, guar gum and salt; set aside. In the bowl of your mixer, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until stiff but not dry. Gradually beat in 1/2 C of the sugar; set aside. In another bowl, beat the egg yolks until thick and lemon colored. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/2 C sugar and vanilla extract. Stir in sifted flour mixture. Carefully fold this mixture into the beaten egg whites.

Spread batter into a 15x10x1” baking pan that has been lined with greased and brown rice-floured wax paper. Bake at 325° for 20-25 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Run knife around edges and turn cake onto a clean kitchen towel that has been dusted with powdered sugar. Peel off wax paper. Roll up cake in towel jelly roll style, starting at the short side. Cool on a wire rack. Unroll cake once cool and spread with a 1/2” layer of softened GFCF vanilla ice cream to within 1/2” of edges. Roll up again. If desired, cut off a small slice from each end for a neat appearance, place on a serving tray and cover top with hot fudge topping. Place in freezer until ready to serve. Yield: 8 servings.

*Most cocoa is free of gluten and casein, but always check the label to be sure the brand you’re purchasing is GFCF.

Hot Fudge Sauce

½ cup GFCF chocolate chips

4 TBS GFCF margarine

½ cup golden syrup*

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Place chocolate chips and margarine in a medium saucepan; melt over LOW heat. Add in golden syrup and salt; stir until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in extract. Yield: 11/2 cups sauce.

*Golden syrup is sugar cane juice that has been boiled down. It’s found in most grocery stores with the honey, but can be replaced with agave or light corn syrup.

Compliments of Lori Karavolis, Lori Bakes Gluten Free Snacks & Sweets

www.loribakes.com/cookbooks.htm

World’s Easiest Chocolate Cookies

Everyone has a recipe for these little brownie-like cookies. Usually they are rolled in powdered sugar before baking and called “Krinkles” or “Crackles.” They do not need extra sugar, and taste the same without the messy extra step. I decided to see if I could make them really fast using a GF cookie mix. I did, and I have to admit to being a little miffed when my husband ate one and said it was the best chocolate cookie I had made in ages! With three ingredients, this hardly qualifies as a “recipe,” but give it a go and try not to blush over the praise you will receive.

Ingredients

1 (18-ounce) package GFCF chocolate cake mix

¼ cup oil

2 eggs, beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine cake mix, oil, and eggs until well mixed. Shape dough into walnut-sized balls, and place on lightly greased (or parchment lined) baking sheet. Bake cookies for 10 minutes, or until set. Cool for 10 minutes before moving cookies to wire racks. Makes 36 cookies.

Compliments of Lisa Lewis, Special Diets for Special Kids, Vols. I and II Combined.

Blueberry-Applesauce Fruit Leather

Fruit leather is a chewy, delicious dried-fruit treat. The sugars, acids, fiber, and nutrients found in fruit become concentrated when the water is removed. This makes dried fruits high in sugar, but the vitamins and mineral content is also high. Dried fruits provide a nutritious way to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Ingredients

Blueberries, pureed to make 1 cup

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tablespoon honey

Directions

Preheat oven to 140°F if oven-drying fruit leather.

Combine all ingredients, and spread evenly on plastic wrap. Dry fruit using a food dehydrator (follow manufacturer’s instructions) or your oven. To oven-dry, use an oven thermometer to test temperature. Too high of a heat will melt plastic. Leave oven door ajar so moisture can escape. It takes about 6 hours to dry fruit leather in oven, but always test for dryness.

To make sure fruit leather is completely dried, try to pull leather from plastic wrap. If it peels from plastic and holds its shape, it is dry. (Insufficiently dried fruit will not keep well.) When dry, roll fruit leather loosely in plastic wrap. Place fruit leather in an airtight container. It will keep for more than 1 year if refrigerated or frozen. Makes 4 servings

Compliments of Lisa Lewis, Special Diets for Special Kids, Vols. I and II Combined.

This article is taken with permission from http://www.autismdigest.com/ , where readers can go online and, by signing in, can access free copies of the magazine’s eGuide, which is packed full of more information on holidays and gift giving for children on the spectrum.

Article amended to fit the present season of Valentine’s Day.

Gift Tips and Ideas for Our Children with Autism

2011-02-05T14:27:00.007-04:00

Fun-Filled Activities for Kids 3-8
by Barbara Sher, MS, OTR

Finding just the right birthday, holiday, or congrats gift for anyone can be a challenge! If you have a child with an autism spectrum disorder on your list, the task may seem overwhelming. We’re here to help with a few general tips on how-to choose gifts, and the other selections in this publication can jump start your creative juices. But… just in case you find yourself needing more inspiration, we’ve assembled some of our favorite products from Internet sources.

Gift Giving Tips

• Target special interests. The key to finding a great gift is to target the child’s special interests. Kids on the spectrum tend to have little-or-no-desire for gifts outside their area of interest, making other well-intentioned gifts a source of anxiety. Remember that holidays and special occasions are difficult for children with autism because they’re filled with surprises and bring changes to the normal routine. This is not the time to experiment with gifts intended to expand their horizon of interest.

• Think Outside the Norm. Chronological age is not a good gift-giving indicator for our kids on the spectrum. Neither is “what all the kids want.” Our kids follow their own unique developmental progress. They may not have the ability to use, or be interested in, “age-appropriate” items. On the flip-side, if it fits their interest, they may thrive with gifts that are beyond what seems appropriate for their age.

• Honor Suggestions. Do not ignore gift suggestions from parents just because you think they’re redundant. It doesn’t matter if you believe the child already has too many of a particular item. When it comes to a special interest, there’s never “too much,” and sometimes parents (and kids!) like to have the same item readily available in multiple rooms.

• Fun versus Functional. While there are lots of “therapy” type products that could also make great gifts for the spectrum child, including music and other creative type CDs or DVDs, our emphasis here is on fun, rather than “work.” Some of our suggestions have embedded learning – all the better because kids experience the joy of learning without it becoming drudgery. That said, for some kids, the “functional” gifts are the most welcomed, so check with a child’s parent if you’re not sure about the child’s personality and favorite type of gifts.

• Books. Spectrum kids relate to books on such an individual basis that we purposely did not include this type of gift on our list. The sheer number of good offerings is the second reason! If you like the idea of giving a book – and many adults do - check with the child’s parents about interests and suggestions. Many literal minded spectrum kids will not appreciate reading about animals who talk or wear clothes (they don’t really do that, after all…), and some who thrive on details and lists would be absolutely enthralled with one of those mega-compendium trivia books on a specific subject, or an educational textbook on, say, electricity or the solar system. Our kids are unique!

Valentine Gift Ideas to Get You Started

Fun Songs and Activities
to Improve Sensory Skills

Danceland CD

http://store.fhautism.com/p-280-danceland-cd-fun-songs-and-activities-to-improve-sensory-skills.aspx

Delightful music gets your kids movin’ and groovin’. This CD was designed by professional therapists and comes with a “travel guide” that provides movement suggestions to improve sensory skills and ideas for creatively adapting the music for games or theatrical performances.

28 Instant Songames CD
http://store.fhautism.com/p-277-28-instant-songames-cd.aspx

Delivering fun musical activities to address sensory issues for kids ages 3-8, these “songames” are creatively divided into animal realms to help develop body awareness, non-stress movement, feeling identification and self-expression.

Totally Kids for Furniture and Toys

http://thebeanbagstore.com/

You’ll find some truly unique items in this online store – not just toys – but also amazing furniture, such as “Retro Diner” furnishings and a unique selection of children’s beds. Different types of beds include stairway, bunk and loft beds and their styles range from traditional to themes like Sleeping Beauty, Lancelot and Secret Clubhouse. Totally Kids has books, toys and costumes for travel, education and just plain fun. Here are five of our favorites from their toy section:

BlastPad

http://thebeanbagstore.com/totallyblastpad.htm

Combines the fun of blasting foam missiles (adjustable for indoors or outside) with the physical activity of jumping and stomping on the launch pad.

Eco-Playdough

http://thebeanbagstore.com/totallyeco-dough.htm

An alternative, nontoxic, all-natural play dough in colors made from plant, fruit and vegetable extracts.

Dado Cubes

http://thebeanbagstore.com/onlinedadocubes.htm
A new twist on classic building blocks – these cubes interlock to create 3-dimensional structures. Made of heavy gauge plastic, the cubes come in different sizes and colors that encourage visual spatial play.

Rush Hour Traffic Jam Game

http://thebeanbagstore.com/totallyrushhour.htm

Commuting parents may need to be open-minded to fully appreciate this game but your kids will love it. Rush Hour Traffic Jam game teaches sequential movement and problem solving in a game where kids set-up the board according to pictures and then slide cars and trucks around to create a path that escapes traffic congestion. Voted one of the “Top 25 Toys of the Past 25 Years” by Parent’s Choice Magazine.

Monster Bowling

http://thebeanbagstore.com/totallymonsterbowling.htm

The image says it all! Who wouldn’t have fun with six textured monster pins and a beastly ball? They come in a zippered carrying case for bowling fun anywhere, any time. Great for team skill building, gross motor coordination, and turn taking.

Build-a-Robot Game

http://www.chinaberry.com/prod.cfm/pgc/11900/sbc/11906/inv/16582/tid/810092700

Large, colorful playing pieces are used to build a robot in a fun game that also encourages creativity and imagination.

Thomas’ Great Race Game
http://autismshop.com/store/product.php?productid=25737&cat=254&page=3
Another game that combines fun with learning…and it’s perfect for kids who love Thomas the Tank! Learn numbers, counting, sorting and color matching skills as you earn coal to shovel into your engine to power it across the finish line.

Interactive and Plush Dinosaur Characters

http://www.learningcurve.com/dinosaurtrain?icid=ddmenu&locale=en_US

These fabulous dinosaurs are based on the PBS Kids show Dinosaur Train, but they’re perfect for any dinosaur lover. Featuring Smart Talk Technology, the dinosaurs talk and interact with one another.

Little Dragon Karate

http://toysforautism.com/lil-dragon-karate.html

Kids learn karate with large training cards and a PVC mat that provide visual reinforcement. This set comes with a detailed instruction booklet as well as various memory and timed games.

iPad and iPhone

With practical and helpful applications for children with autism, the iPad and iPhone make great gifts that are educational, remedial, and enjoyable. Begin with these web sites to learn more about what’s available and how these products may help your child:

AutismHangout
http://www.autismhangout.com/video/default.asp?m=d&catID=0&id=396
Three videos to watch at the Autism Hangout: “The iPad and Autism: One Family’s Story of Success,” “Announcing Apps for Autism,” and “Apps for Special Needs.”

iPad Information
http://www.apple.com/ipad/

iPhone Apps Store
http://www.apple.com/iphone/apps-for-iphone/#heroOverview

Imagine-a-Box

http://www.imaginabox.com/home/products.php?product_catid=6

Choose one item from three categories (toy, accessory and DVD/CD/video game), they put them in a green, red, yellow or blue box, and send them off to the lucky recipient. While you can build your own box, they also have two ready-to-go boxes specifically for children with autism.

Twist ‘n Write Pencils

http://penagain.com/

For those who struggle with handwriting, Pacific Writing Instruments offers an ergonomically designed Y-shaped pencil that helps fine motor coordination by promoting comfort and extra control. The same design is available in adult-sized pens called Ergo-Sof Pens. Great for stocking stuffers!

MAKE BATH TIME FUN
WITH OCTOPALS

Octopals

http://toysforautism.com/octopals.html

Perfect for bath time fun! Floating mother octopus is a water sieve. Her 8 babies are squirting toys with suction cups. Cute, colorful, and fun for children 18 months+.

All About Learning

http://michiganlearning.com/default.php

Looking for a gift that motivates and turns strengths into valuable skills? All About Learning, Inc. offers two exceptional online courses for budding engineers and video game designers:

Elementary Engineering™

http://michiganlearning.com/classes.php?class=18&

Integrating engineering theory with their unique LEGO® kit (containing more than 1,000 pieces), your child enjoys building machines while learning about gears, motion, simple machines and problem solving.

Video Game Maker™
http://michiganlearning.com/classes.php?class=2&
Learn how to design and modify arcade style video games, including how to control characters, objects and outcomes, and increase difficulty level. For ages 10 and older, visit the site to be sure your computer meets the minimum requirements.

Weighted Blankets and Clothes

Some people on the spectrum crave the calming and stress-reducing hug of a weighted product, such as a bed or lap blanket, a neck wrap, vest or t-shirt. Here are a few sources. Important Note: be sure to check with the child’s parent before purchasing a weighted product, as the product’s weight needs to be matched to the child’s size and need for pressure.

Cozy Calm products are so soft and handmade to your desired size and color. Neck calmers, lap cozys and matching stuffed animals are also available.

http://www.cozycalm.com/

Prince’s Sensory Delights are fashionable, sensory-smart clothes, many of which incorporate weights without looking like weighted clothing.

http://www.princessensorydelights.com/

In Your Pocket weighted vest designs by Abilitations offer sturdy fabric and well-constructed vests that are fun and comfortable. Designed by a mom taking into consideration how young kids play and live.
http://www.weightedvest.com/

Sensory Critters weighted products include blankets, lap pads, vests, hoodies, neck wraps, and weighted animals.

http://www.sensorycraver.com/weighted-products-c-55.html

EZSox

http://www.ezsox.com/

For all of our kids learning to dress, these training socks are fun and put your child on the road to success, with whimsical animal faces that provide visual clues about which side is up and sturdy, built-in handles that make them easy to pull-up. This adorable video of kids using EZSox tells the story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVrqfzLgYu8

Table Top Theater

http://toysforautism.com/exclusive-expressions-table-top-theater.html

Create Your Own
Monster Puppet Package

For kids who love puppets, this beautiful table top theater will encourage them to perform plays they've created while learning to express feelings through the puppets. For kids who absolutely love dramatic expression, there’s a standing-size theatre also available.

Create Your Own Monster Puppet Package

http://toysforautism.com/create-your-own-monster-puppet-package.html

What’s a play without the puppets? Create hundreds of crazy creatures with this fuzzy friend and its interchangeable parts that include weird and wacky eyes, ears, antennae and more. Carrying case included for quick clean-up!

Glide Bikes

https://glidebikes.com/

Learning to ride a bicycle is safe and fun when those all important first steps -- learning to balance and steer -- can be accomplished with a glide bike. These "balance bikes" do not have pedals, a chain or training wheels. Instead, they're built small enough so children can "walk" the bike while sitting. Their feet touch the ground and can be used to balance and push the bike forward, until they're comfortable enough to let the bike glide while they balance with feet resting on foot pegs. These bikes won approval from professionals at the Easter Seals/UCP Preschool in Wilmington, NC. They recommend the bike as a therapeutic tool for strengthening, endurance and balance...not to mention the boost to kid's confidence!

Toys“R”Us® Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids

http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=3261680

If you need more ideas, tips or inspiration, this year’s annual Toys“R”Us® guide has 60 pages of toy recommendations for children with disabilities.

Article was amended to fit the present season of Valentine’s Day.

Related Posts
*28 INSTANT Songames ~Review
*Danceland CD: Fun Songs and Activities to Improve Sensory Skills~Review
*Celebrate and Decorate Together:
*Five Ideas for Successful Celebrations: Management Strategies Throughout the Year

*Gifts From the Kitchen, GFCF
*Spread Valentine’s Love: Help Children with Autism Celebrate!
*Special Valentine’s Day Gifts for Parents and Teachers
*Learn to be Flexible: Reduce the Anxiety of Getting Gifts

Spread Valentine’s Love: Help Children with Autism Celebrate!

2011-02-04T10:16:00.007-04:00

Children with Autism, even during holidays prefer
structure, predictability, schedules.

No matter how much we love the season or cherish the celebration, all special events come packaged with additional stress. Whether it’s finding the perfect gift, baking signature desserts, or entertaining, we all understand the extra demands of creating memorable occasions.

Now magnify that stress to an unimaginable degree and you will begin to understand how special events impact our children with autism. We know that children on the spectrum do not like changes – even those that may delight – as do neurotypical kids. Their core deficits compromise their ability to anticipate or tolerate change very well…if at all. They prefer structure, predictability, schedules.

Prepare child with Autism
way in advance
for family celebrations.

Yet holidays, birthdays, and special events mean:

• Change in social contacts

• Change in daily routine

• Change in expectations

• Change in sensory experiences

For children with autism, all that change pushes anxiety beyond being bearable. Some routine changes fly under the radar, such as rearranging the house to accommodate decorations or cooking seasonal dishes. Other plans, like parties and travel that involves hotels or homes with new beds, new people, new smells, new sounds, clearly signal huge stress-inducing changes. Whether the change is big or small, children with autism must be prepared so they have every opportunity to experience the joy and fun these situations offer.

Try these tips:

Define social expectations: Let your child know how many people and who will be there. Be specific about social pleasantries – keep them simple and be clear about what’s expected of the child not just at the onset (shake hands and say “hi”), but also as the event unfolds. Plan what your child should say if he does not want to talk or dislikes food being served.

Provide Quiet Area for
Cool Downs During Holiday Chaos

Designate a safe place and relaxing activity: Plan ahead for a place where she can go to retreat and relax. Be sure to bring along a favorite activity she can play alone and calming devices such as sensory toys or music.

Create a secret code. Pick a simple gesture or even a code-word that he can use as a signal if he begins to feel angry, anxious or overwhelmed. That’s your cue to step in and help when he’s unable to verbally express the need.

Prepare an event book. Make a book with pictures that show the place you’re going, where you’ll stay, and activities you’ll pursue while there. If you’re staying at home, the same concept can be used to prepare your child for visitors (photos of relatives), changes in routine, and decorations (include a photo of last year’s Christmas tree). Include extra blank pages for photos of this year’s activities. Involve your child in taking pictures this year, as much as his ability and interest dictates.

Maintain the routine. As much as possible, maintain her normal daily routine. Create a schedule showing not just which parts will change, but the regular routines that will remain the same. Knowing some things won’t change can be very important to your child.

Include friends and family. Make sure everyone knows about your child’s socialization, sensory, communication and dietary challenges. Ask them to honor your child’s request to stop talking, not to hug, or her need to be alone. Step in and kindly but firmly handle the relative who insists that “an itty bitty little huggie isn’t going to hurt him.”

It’s up to parents and family to give our kids with autism the tools they need to succeed. Helping them anticipate changes and cope with new expectations goes a long way toward reducing anxiety and building memories of joy and love.

Article amended to fit the present season of Valentine’s Day.

*Learn to Be Flexible: Reduce the Anxiety of Getting Gifts

*Holidays Ring "Hollow" For Special Needs Kids

Special Valentine’s Day Gifts for Parents and Teachers

2011-02-03T10:58:00.026-04:00

Buy at Angels for Autism Store

The tireless efforts expended by teachers, therapists, friends and family should not go overlooked during the holidays. Gifts that honor their commitment to children with autism, gifts that delight, even gifts that help can be a welcomed surprise and a treasured gesture. And some gift ideas we’ve assembled give back by donating a portion of the proceeds to the autism community. We hope you’ll find ideas and inspiration in this list of gifts for the parents, teachers and caregivers in your life.

Puzzle Heart Pins
(photo right)

Puzzle Heart Pins

http://autismshop.com/store/product.php?productid=24037&cat=270&page=1

Perfect for the mom or teacher on your list, these exclusive handmade pins (no two are the same) are a blend of colors embellished with a miracle bead and gold-plated puzzle piece charm. Proceeds benefit autism research and support.

Angels for Autism Store

(top photo teacher #1)

If you live in or near Palm Springs or Cathedral City, CA, you’re in luck. Go shopping for all things autism-related at Angels for Autism, a new store that opened earlier this year. The retail store offers fun and engaging developmental products for all special needs children, focusing on Educational, Sensory/Tactile, Speech, Behavior, Fine & Gross Motor, and Living Assistance. Have a question about what to give that special person with autism in your life? Ask owners Dean and LaVeda Moore, and they’ll give you plenty of suggestions! The store is located at 27765 Landau Blvd, in Cathedral City. http://www.angelsforautismstore.com/

Gluten Free Meals Delivered to Your Home
http://www.gfmeals.com/

Time is a precious commodity and that’s what this gift delivers: extra time, along with tasty GFCF fare. Your Dinner Secret offers complete meal packages as well as individual entrees, sides, sauces and baked goods - all GFCF and delivered to your door ready to heat-and-eat. It's an exceptional gift for families dedicated to providing GFCF meals, or go ahead and treat yourself to GFCF meals with less time in the kitchen.

My Magnetic Responsibility Chart
http://thebeanbagstore.com/totallyresponsibilitychart.htm
A convenient, colorful and ready-made responsibility chart that comes with 134 colorful wood magnetic pieces depicting chores, behaviors and rewards, and a dry-erase surface for personalization.

Angela Moore Pendant
www.angelamoore.com/pri/mag2.asp?PRODUCT_ID=AMC40602
Beautiful pendant with a rainbow of puzzle pieces, Angela Moore also offers bracelets, necklaces and men’s silk ties. A percent of the proceeds go to the Autism Society of America.

Silk Ties for Men
with Autism puzzle piece

Silk Ties for Men and Scarves for Ladies

(photo left)

www.mountainandsackett.com/productcart/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=23
Handmade with a variety of puzzle designs, Mountain and Sackett donates 60% of the sales to Autism Speaks.

Autism Safety Kit
www.selectautismmerchandise.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1
Alert first responders using this complete kit with medical ID jewelry (necklace, bracelet, shoe tag, or zipper pull), autism ID card, “Occupant with Autism” car magnet and window decals, and autism encounter cards.

Autism Interaction Kit
www.selectautismmerchandise.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=22
Great for family, friends, your car, medical offices and first responder vehicles…these kits contain a variety of visual, auditory, tactile and oral items to help communicate, interact with, and engage children with autism. A sample of items includes picture communications symbols, motion toy, spiky puff ball and a chewy toy.

SchoolSpecialty (great for home too!) NO IMAGE
https://store.schoolspecialtyonline.net/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?minisite=10206§ion=35573
This web site may be called School Specialty, but their special needs products and school specialty brands are also perfect for home use. This is a one-stop-shop for sensory needs and mobility products, special needs furniture and educational items for the spectrum child in your life, or for that special teacher who always works above and beyond what’s required. Some items are expensive because they’re made to withstand school wear-and-tear, but you’ll find products in all price ranges.

Sky Panels™

http://usaskypanels.com/

A beautiful and simple way to diffuse fluorescent lights in schools, offices or at home. They reduce glare and create a calming view with panels designed to recreate the outdoors. Sky Panels™ come in a variety of designs; some are simply blue sky and clouds, while others include glimpses of the great outdoors, such as a tree branch or floating kites.

Gift Certificates
They sound uncreative and generic, but gift certificates can be a great gift if you make thoughtful, personalized choices. Does she love coffee at Starbucks? Perhaps he’s an avid reader and would love nothing more than a gift certificate to the local book store. What about a specialty store that caters to someone’s hobby, or some well-deserved pampering at a local day spa? They don’t usually advertise that gift certificates are available, but many restaurants offer them. Depending on how well you know the family, a gift certificate to a grocery store might make a difference in their holiday meal. And don’t forget that most of the GFCF stores and web sites we’ve included on our lists offer gift certificates.

Article amended to fit the present season of Valentine’s Day.

Related Posts:
*Learn to Be Flexible: Reduce the Anxiety of Getting Gifts
*Spread Valentine's Love: Help Children with Autism Celebrate!
*Holidays Ring "Hollow" For Special Needs Kids

Learn to be Flexible: Reduce the Anxiety of Getting Gifts

2011-02-02T16:00:00.008-04:00

Teach your child how to give a gift,
as well as receive a gift.

We assume that everyone enjoys receiving a gift, especially kids. Yet many parents report that getting a gift causes fear and anxiety in their children with autism. Simply put, it just is not fun for them. Rather than bubbling with excitement, they face increasing anxiety over the unknown. They fear opening a gift when they don’t know what’s under the paper. They truly hate surprises, even good ones. They may be uncertain about how to respond to the gift. Or they may worry about disappointment if the gift isn’t their one desired item. It’s more than enough to push our kids on the spectrum over the edge to a meltdown.

Holidays, birthdays, Valentine’s Day and celebrations … all represent a challenging change in schedules and environment. Do we really want to add more anxiety just because gifts should be wrapped, we want our loved ones to be surprised, or because that’s what tradition dictates? If your child shows stress and difficult behaviors over receiving gifts, maybe this is the year to explore new options. Rather than following traditions or expectations, let’s find ways to help kids with autism learn to enjoy getting gifts. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Use your well-honed parent radar to judge how each idea may/may not be suitable for your child.

• Don’t keep secrets. Let your child know what gifts he is receiving. This may be quite difficult as parents want their children to experience the magical joy of the holiday season, which includes delight as they open unknown presents. However, you can remove a lot of anxiety by telling them what gifts to expect. Giving hints without being specific may be enough for some children, and it can be made into a game. For example, let him guess which “category” a present is from. Simply knowing he’s getting a cartoon-related action figure may be enough to put his mind at ease.

• Create a picture board showing the gifts. Get a large piece of poster board in a color that fits the season or occasion. Cut the poster board into a fun shape, such as a large heart. Print or copy online images of the gifts she will receive and tape or glue them onto the poster board. This visual reminder of what gifts she can expect will remove fear of the unknown. Keep the picture board as a way to build memories and as a tool to remind her of the fun. PS. Surprisingly, some moms who tried this said it did not make their children want the presents right away. They were content to wait for the big day as long as they knew what to expect.

• Find alternatives to gift wrap. Skip the gift wrap or use gift bags without tissue paper. If you do use wrapping, don’t wind ribbon around the box, making it more frustrating to open. Instead of wrapping paper, use a card, picture or even simple shapes cut from construction paper and tape them on the gift. They won’t cover and hide the gift, but they’re fun and give the illusion of being wrapped.

• Proactively discuss gifts with family and friends. Don’t leave the door open to random gifts. Give people a list of items you know your child either likes or expects. Explain about your child’s special interests and assure them it’s ok to buy yet another train, dinosaur or whatever your child collects.

• Prepare your child for unexpected gifts. Write a social story teaching him how to respond and role play until he’s comfortable. (See accompanying article in this section.) Be prepared to deal with resistance to telling socially accepted “little white lies” about gifts he doesn’t like and work together to come up with responses that are truthful yet kind. Talk about what he can do with a gift he doesn’t like.

• Consider their interests. This seems like obvious advice, but holidays and birthdays often become prime time when family and friends think it’s “fun” to experiment with new gifts. While we all want to expand our children’s interests, high-anxiety occasions are not the best time to introduce new topics and toys.

• Don’t forget unique events. It’s easy to overlook the potential anxiety associated with typical yet infrequent events, such as receiving cards and candy on Valentines Day. Be sure to prepare in advance using picture cards, social stories, and schedules.

Gift-Getting Etiquette

Often overlooked in carefully laid plans to teach your child party or holiday gift etiquette is the art of opening a gift. Here’s how the gracious giftee does it:

1. Open and read the card first, then open the gift

2. Keep scissors nearby for the bow or ribbon that just won’t come undone

3. Find the seam in the paper to start tearing

4. Once it’s fully opened, thank the giver. Be sure your child understands 100% honesty is not always appropriate at times like this. Rehearse beforehand with your child a single, universal phrase, like “thank you so much” or “this is so thoughtful” that will work in all situations.

5. Set the gift aside gently, whether you like it or not. Flinging or throwing an undesirable gift hurts the giver’s feelings.

6. Open all his gifts before dashing away to play with a favorite

7. Post-party written thank you notes are a must. As long as they are personal, they can be dictated to you and signed by the child, handwritten or drawn by the child himself, or e-mailed. This further reinforces how much we appreciate the effort, thought and expense to which the giver went, and gives you and your child a chance to explore social thinking, handwriting and composition skills.

-Selection reprinted with permission from the 2010 revised edition of 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger’s, by Ellen Notbohm and Veronica Zysk. Future Horizons, Inc., publisher.

This article is taken with permission from www.autismdigest.com , where readers can go online and, by signing in, can access free copies of the magazine’s eGuide, which is packed full of more information on holidays and gift giving for children on the spectrum.

Article amended to fit the present season of Valentine’s Day.

Related Posts:
*Special Valentine's Day Gifts for Parents and Teachers
*Spread Valentine's Love: Help Children with Autism Celebrate!
*Holidays Ring "Hollow" For Special Needs Kids

Raising a Confident, Capable, Contented Child ~ Part 2

2011-02-01T08:42:00.014-04:00

This is a "Best of the Best" Post

First day of school stressful for child and parents

When a child starts school, parents feel they are loosing control over their child’s development and wonder and worry if their 5 year old is ready to open that classroom door. In the post Building Confidence and Self-Esteem Early on Education.com we read: "In first grade, children will start to understand who they are. They will also begin to recognize the feelings of others, and grasp how other people see them. Self-understanding combines these two concepts: developing confidence from the way in which you know yourself, and building self-esteem from understanding how others see you." So how can a parent work with the school in developing this self-understanding?

What Happens When Your Child Goes to School

Hopefully his teachers will constantly be trying to do the same thing as you have. And that is to nurture a self-advocating, confident, little person who acts independently and gladly accepts new challenges. A hint to his teacher about his interests and skill in certain areas will help the teacher know how to shine the light on your child to let him experience success to build his self worth.

Raising children with high self-esteem must be done as team work with the school. First, all must know your child’s weaknesses and his strengths so efficient intervention is arranged. Work with his teacher and know what both you and the school expect of this little soul under your care. Know what his potential is and work with that. Genuine appreciation for his efforts as well as his results will go a long way in the overall happiness and success of your child.

Lillian Katz writes in her article How Can We Strengthen Children's Self-Esteem? "A child's sense of self-worth is more likely to deepen when adults respond to the child's interests and efforts with appreciation rather than just praise. For example, if your child shows interest in something you are doing, you might include the child in the activity...In this way, you respond positively to your child's interest by treating it seriously. Flattery and praise, on the contrary, distract children from the topics they are interested in. Children may develop a habit of showing interest in a topic just to receive flattery."

Can the Bar Be Too High

Do not compare his results with his peers, with his siblings and even with his progress in other areas. He is his own man, strengths and weaknesses. I have seen too often, sullen, listless children in my classrooms who have completely given up trying because they feel nothing they do will be good enough for their parents who have set the bar too high.

Tollefson, N. (2000) in Classroom applications of cognitive theories of motivation. Educational Psychology Review recommends that we help children see success as improvement. With this approach, the child will see the value of small steps, of trying new strategies and will experience success that in turn will motivate him to try even harder.

A friend told me she believes in providing Step Stools instead of lowering the bar. Her step stools would include new paths, remedial help, counseling, after school and summer holiday tutors.

Many sites have tips
on starting school

These measures are all good and sometimes essential but the goals must remain realistic. I am talking of students as young as 8 or 9 years of age with no spark left, just despair as they think of the new, promised toy they will never get as a reward for better results.

What About Gifts for Achievement

What about gift giving as a carrot to get your child to strive for higher grades? Once more, focus on a reachable goal, one that is fun for the child, facilitated by the parents’ involvement and an attainable outcome for his teachers.

Celebrate small steps, reward daily effort and progress and do not wait for the big ending or there will never be one. Many special needs parents have coined a new word ‘inchstone’. They rejoice with each inchstone their child makes while lucky others can celebrate milestones.

Parents, Be Proactive and Present

This is not rocket science. Parents must interact with that little being every day. Formulate open-ended questions about his day so a response with emotions and thought is required as an answer. Know what your child finds difficult and figure out a way with him and his teacher to remedy the problem before it escalates. Know what he finds fun, what interests him and can do well and celebrate effort and minor achievements.

Carmen Y. Reyes, MSE wrote: "Learned helplessness is the belief that our own behavior does not influence what happens next; that is, behavior does not control outcomes or results... we need to help learned helpless children recognize and take credit for the skills and abilities that they already have. In addition, we need to develop in children the belief that ability is incremental, not fixed; that is, effort increases ability and skills." Therefore parents must be proactive to catch problems as soon as they arise; thus paving the road to 'incremental successes'.

Moreover, every school day, parents should check what is in their child’s school bag. This gives another occasion to discuss his day as you go over what he brought home.

We had friends from Switzerland who were paying us a visit. One day, when our young son arrived from school, he emptied his school bag on the table, like he always did, and I casually picked up a few drawings, made some comments and asked him a few questions all in French, the language of our home. Our Swiss, German speaking visitor came in the kitchen and said pointing to the opened school bag: “Parents in all countries, in all languages do the same things each day.” Taking these few minutes each day can make your child's whole day at school much better.

Why Checking School Bags Is Important

Children with high self-esteem are
proud of themselves,
assume responsibility for their own actions
and deal with frustration well.

I remember having worked long and hard on individual projects with my Grade 3 students. The students all had accomplished so much and were all excited to show them to their parents. The many hours of research, writing, editing, illustrating and coloring finished, the projects were safely put in envelopes addressed to their parents and tucked in the school bags.

The bell rings and my happy troupe trots of to the buses. Cleaning up after school, I found one of the projects crushed and dumped in the trash can. The next day, after a troubling, sleepless night, I discreetly sneaked a conversation with this child to know why he did not bring his project home. Answer: “I might as well dump it in the garbage here, my parents empty my bag into our home garbage without looking at anything!”

At 9 years of age, this little boy had loss the race even before leaving the stating gate… in University did I learn how to mend broken hearts and broken spirits?

Collaboration, Cheerleading and Caring will render your children, Special Needs or not, well adjusted, independent, resilient citizens of tomorrow.

Can you add to the list of what to do to raise a confident, capable and contented child?

Raising a Confident, Capable, Contented Child ~ Part 1

2011-01-31T14:05:00.034-04:00

Make your child feel special

Molding of a child’s self worth starts in his formative years where the parents are the major role players. The parent’s positive reinforcements will determine how a child feels about himself and the others around him. Lin Buress in her article entitled Improving Self-Esteem in Kids says: "The overall happiness and success of children primarily depends on parents building self-confidence in their children, as having high self-esteem will have tremendous impact on a child’s success and independence as adults."

Being your child’s selective cheerleader will help him have faith in his abilities and be eager to tackle new risks. Being overboard and cheering 24/7 will result in an arrogant or conceited individual that not many people will like. On the Kidshealth site their article Developing Your Child's Self-Esteem explains: "It's important for parents to identify kids' irrational beliefs about themselves, whether they're about perfection, attractiveness, ability, or anything else. Helping kids set more accurate standards and be more realistic in evaluating themselves will help them have a healthy self-concept. Inaccurate perceptions of self can take root and become reality to kids."

How Do Parents Achieve a Happy Balance Between Praise and Helpful Criticism

Accentuate the Positives

Remember there are no set moulds that fit every child. Each child is unique and your parenting techniques have to be adjusted for your situation. But giving your child feedback, both praise and helpful criticism, is necessary for your youngster. Praise will let him know he is on the right track. Helpful criticism will get him back on track, and if well done, will give him tips to avoid similar pitfalls and to apply to other disappointments or failures.

The golden rule in building self worth in a child is to start early and to always be truthful. Any event during childhood is a great opportunity to start boosting your child’s view of himself. You want the youngster to feel proud and pleased with himself not just to feel he pleased his parents. However, only give praise when it is warranted. The praise must be sincere because in his heart he will know if he has earned it.

Make sure they know
their strengths

When celebrating an achievement, praise the positive steps, the preparation, the persistence on your child’s part that made this a success. By pointing these out, it arms him with tools for the sub conscience for getting the next project done right.

Be selective and truthful with your praise as well as with your criticism. You must applaud your child’s efforts and improvements but be realistic. This constant pouring of praise can backfire and result in a spoiled, awful child who has no regard for others nor their feelings. At all times, strive for a healthy balance between praise, helpful criticism and knowing when to let it go.

How to Build Self Confidence

Let them be themselves

To tip the balance in your child’s favor, plan activities in an area you know your child is good. His skill in this activity will give you the opportunity to praise him and a feeling of accomplishment on his part. Age-appropriate responsibilities around the house will also provide opportunities to experience success. The Family Education site has many confidence-boosting activities, tips, and expert advice to turn things around if your child shows signs of low self-esteem.Look constantly to give positive affirmation of his qualities, attempts and achievements. Making your child feel loved and lovable paves the way to better relationships and success at school.

Related Post:

Raising a Confident, Capable, Contented Child ~ Part 2

Why Do Kids Bite Their Nails and What to Do About It

2011-01-30T13:14:00.046-04:00

Anxiety and Stress of School

Nail biting is one of the most common 'nervous traits' in children but if it is not stopped, many times it continues into adulthood. Some children bite their nails because of stress, insecurity, anxiety or boredom. For some, nail biting is a habit or a need for comfort. Like hair twirling, hair chewing, hair tugging, teeth grinding, thumb sucking and nose picking, nail biting makes you a target for teasing and is a health concern. A much more serious cause is Compulsive nail biting, called onychophaglia, a repetative behavior that results in the destruction of one's own fingernails and must be treated by professionals. Even though a third of school aged kids bite their nails, helping your child to stop is the right thing to do.

What Triggers Your Child to Bite His Nails

Find out what triggers your child to bite his nails. Observe your child before bringing up the subject about stopping. Most likely your child is not even aware how often he bites his nails. Communicate with your child’s teacher to find out what she observes at school. When approaching the subject of stopping, you must try to resolve the issues that made him start and make him continue to bite his nails. This could take some time and in the interim you should help him redirect his biting/chewing urge to a safer, more appropriate outlet.

Once you have narrowed down the events/times that your child bites his nails, discuss the issue with your child. Listen to his side of the story and together come up with a game plan. Point out the health issues, the annoyance it brings to friends and family, the unsightly bitten nails and the wasted time caused by having his fingers in his mouth.

Get Your Child On Board

Your conversation should not put more pressure on your child and exasperate the problem further. If your child in not being teased YET about his nail biting, perhaps it would be best not to mention this as a reason for stopping because this fact would put too much pressure on the youngster. Gently get your child on board so he wants this and will put an effort in stopping.

Pink Heart chewy fidget
Kid Companions Chewelry
worn like a necklace.
http://www.chewelry.ca/

Enlist Your Teacher's Help

Somehow convince your child that having his teacher aware of your plan to stop nail biting will help put an end to this more quickly. The strategies you will use at home, for the most part, can also be used at school. You could devise a signal the teacher can use to help remind your child to stop biting his nails. This can tactfully be done without any other student noticing. It could be a gentle tap on the shoulder or on your child's desk, a tug on the lanyard of his chewelry, a request to carry books to a shelf… The key, here, is not to nag or embarrass the youngster but to give him a discreet push of encouragement that says to the child, I know it is difficult to stop but give the alternative outlets another try.

If the nail biting is severe and the problem persists, you must dig deeper to find out the root cause of the biting. An evaluation from a health care professional might bring answers.

Tools, Tips and Tactics Used to Inhibit Nail Biting

The following are techniques and products to stop nail biting but they must be respectful of others around the child. As an example, kids with sensitive issues will never be comfortable sitting next to a gum chewing peer. So by weighing the pros and the cons and respecting the needs of others, the following are some tools, tips and tactics you can use to inhibit nail biting:

* Redirect biting to a chewy, Kid Companions Chewelry, chewing gum...

Kid Companions Chewelry
clipped to clothing
is a handy fidget.
http://www.chewelry.ca/

*Have crunchy, healthy snacks always close at hand and ready to eat.

*Use of a bitter tasting product applied on the nails: nail polish, lotions, perfumes or homemade potions made of pepper or soap.

*Apply a bitter substance such as ginger oil, easily obtained by soaking some ginger for two weeks in oil olive.

*Buy a commercial product available at most pharmacies.

*Keep your child busy and focused on fun activities.

*Reinforce positive behavior by praising him.

*Can establish a reward system to motivate the child for each small step made.

* Keep the hands busy with a fidget, silly putty, worry stone, stress ball, Velcro spot underneath desk table…

Know when a bad habit
is MORE than a habit.

* Plan to polish and decorate your girl's nails as soon as they grow back.

Nail biting seems to be such an insignificant matter when the lives of families are disrupted by more serious issues. However, by being proactive and getting nail biting under control before the teasing, the bullying and the bloody fingers repulse friends and classmates, you’re doing this child a great favor.

Do you know of other techniques or products to stop nail biting?

Related Posts:
What Goes In a Personalized Sensory Box
Passed Toddlerhood and Still Mouthing ~ Guest Post ~ by Emma Apple
Product Innovators Launch Unique Sensory Tool for Special Needs Youth
Fidgets Toys or Tools
Chewing and Biting Tip ~ Chewing Is a Form of Moving
There Is a New Kid Companion On Our Block

How Do I Teach This Kid? By Kimberly A. Henry ~ Book Review

2011-01-28T11:38:00.011-04:00

Great resource for teachers

We have a problem School Boards… parents of special needs children, especially the increasing number of parents with children who have autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are advocating for inclusion. All the students must reach their maximum potential in a regular classroom under your jurisdiction. Educational practices and program design must be tailored to meet the needs of all these differently developing students.

For inclusion to be successful, classroom teachers must have training sessions, teaching assistants, school-based therapists and lots of teaching resources. How Do I Teach This Kid? Visual Work Tasks for Beginning Learners on the Autism Spectrum by Kimberly A. Henry is one resource all educators of beginning learners or developmentally delayed student should have.

First Runner-Up in the 2006 Writer’s Notes Book Awards, How Do I Teach This Kid? utilizes the strengths of children with ASD to help them develop new skills and learn to work independently.

The Author

Kimberly Henry holds a Master’s degree and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Johns Hopkins University. With twenty years of experience working with students with autism, she is now a Teacher Specialist for a public school system, and an adjunct faculty member at several universities.

Kimberly Henry’s experience as a teacher shows through on every page. Kimberly knows that in a busy classroom, different learning outcomes cannot be reached without efficient teaching tools.

Budget restrictions often limit teaching material that can be bought each year. This book outlines simple classroom solutions for enlisting the parents’ help, making tasks boxes and setting up individual, independent work systems. Ms Henry’s sample Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and data sheets for tracking independence are added bonuses.

What Are Tasks Boxes

Tasks boxes are containers, like a shoe box, an egg carton, a coffee can…, that contain a single, well defined activity with a clear beginning and end. Each box contains all the task materials and its visual organization tells the child how to complete the task. For example, one simple task may have blocks and a shoe box with a hole cut in the lid. To develop fine-motor skills, the child places the blocks in the hole.

First Steps Towards Tasks Boxes

*The book has a sample letter to send to parents asking them to save and send to school 25 recycled items that will be used for creating tasks boxes and the manipulatives that go with them.

*There are tips and tricks on how to turn a shoe box, egg carton, ice cube tray into a task box and the countless recyclables (clothespins, blocks, legos) into manipulatives for the activities.

*Use of a consistent system for the construction of each task box is emphasized for the benefit of the child, to allow to interchange materials with other task boxes and to facilitate the use of the same task boxes for other students.

The Tasks

Research shows children with autism are strong visual learners and that they thrive on routine, consistency and clear expectations. Ms Henry’s user-friendly, guide details 82 tasks addressing six different areas: motor, sorting, matching, reading, writing and mathematics. Each task includes a photo, description of the task, what skills are targeted and ideas for differentiation or a construction tip.

The tasks emphasize the child’s visual learning strength avoiding the need for verbal instruction or auditory processing. The hands-on, efficiently designed tasks motivate the child to work independently and discourage play or stimming with the manipulatives.

The tasks are presented in small, progressive steps and as a child succeeds, the following tasks give him a new challenge that he should be able to execute independently. All the tasks are:

*structured for independent use and to be incorporated into the inclusive classroom

*designed for progressive skill building and evaluation

*inexpensive, easy-to-make and easy-to-implement

*practical, reusable and storable

*personalized to meet the child’s interests, repetitive and colorful

*adapted to the child’s unique abilities to experience success

*extendable to offer more practice or a slightly more difficult challenge

What Is a Work System

Kimberly clearly explains the HOW and WHY of the physical set up of the student’s work station. Readers will be reminded of the importance of consistency, visual organization, visual clarity and left to right movement of work flow. Tasks are only placed in the work system once the child can complete them independently.

Who Will Benefit From This Book

Many good resources
for helping kids

First and more importantly the children will be the winners. Nothing builds self-confidence and a feeling of well being like success and the tasks are structured to assure this.

Home schools, preschools, public schools, student teachers, special needs teachers and seasoned teachers should have this book on their shelves. Also home or school based therapists, private schools and early intervention programs will be able to incorporate these activities in their school bag of tricks.

How Do I Teach This Kid? Visual Work Tasks for Beginning Learners on the Autism Spectrum

Author: Kimberly A. Henry

Binding: Paperback

Pages: 139

Available: Future Horizons, 2005 –Education

Related Posts:
*Behavior Solutions for the Inclusive Classroom: See a Behavior? Look It Up! ~ Review

*Learning In Motion 101+ Sensory Activities for the Classroom ~ Book Review

*Danceland CD : Fun Songs and Activities to Improve Sensory Skills ~ Review

*28 Instant Songames ~ Review

Asperger's in Pink by Julie Clark ~ Book Review

2011-01-23T13:49:00.049-04:00

Review by Gavin Bollard

“One of the hardest things about raising a child with Asperger’s is the feeling that our daughter has something invisible. … It’s the old, old story of judging by appearance. It’s the old, old ending, of the cover not fully representing the book,” writes Julie Clark in Asperger's in Pink ~ A Mother and Daughter Guidebook for Raising (or being) a Girl with Asperger’s.

Twitter

Julie Clark, a writer, an artist, and a mom explains in detail the adaptations, alterations and perseverance needed to win their daily battles in raising Kristina with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS). These battles were sometimes with their immediate family, their friends, medical and school systems and sometimes with Kristina or even with their own insecurities.

Julie Clark will be joining Hartley Steiner and Lorna d'Entremont on the The Coffee Klatch ~ Twitter tweetchat Feb. 21 at 9am EST. Join us please!

The foreword by Rudy Simone, Asperger's self-advocate and author of Aspergirls and Asperger's on the Job, applauds Kristina’s mom for her tenacity in enlisting the aid of professionals, in documenting the progress of her child’s education and care and most importantly in getting the all important diagnosis.

Part of the title of this book is “A Mother and Daughter Guidebook for Raising (or being) a Girl with Asperger’s.” Julie Clark walks us through the lengthy process of getting the proper diagnosis and blames this partly on the fact that her child is a girl. In her forward, Rudy Simone also upholds the fact that the female gender often goes undiagnosed and even receives multiple misdiagnoses. This results in not having access to the proper care and support.

A delayed diagnosis leaves the family struggling to prove that their child’s unique behavior is not due to bad parenting or willful misbehaving. Clark points out that one of the most difficult aspects of their journey has been the feeling of being misunderstood and under a microscope as a family unit.

Clark advises, in a Pink Pearl to Everyone, to throw out the cookie cutter! Do not expect girls with AS to mimic boys with AS. For that matter, don’t expect girls with AS to mimic their neurotypical counterparts…”

Even though this book fills the need for a resource for families and educators of girls with Asperger’s, it is also very beneficial for all parents of a special needs child because many aspects of the Clark’s family struggle apply to all. These parents will learn from Kristina's parents as they sift through the EAS (Educational Alphabet Soup) IEP, 504, PAT, FAPE, CSE, OT…

Unfortunately her dealings with the educational system, except for a few caring, capable individuals, make me shudder. Clark is Thankful for: “A 5th grade teacher, who taught more, gave more, than anyone else, and who has bestowed a lifelong positive impact on one little, super-special girl-and her parents.”

We read that as her daughter gets older the academic and special services component of school was solid but the social component crumbled as the days of knowing Kristina was a bit different had unfortunately begun. Like for so many of our special needs children, Clark says it so simply:“ Watching your daughter bloom in October, only to wilt in Spring in unbearable.”

I agree with the author on the topic of bullying. The emotional bullying girls can dish out is rather nasty and long lasting; more psychological than physical. The wish of many parents is for their child to find a true friend like Emma was for Kristina.

You will easily relate to Julie’s explanation on how they needed lots of perseverance, patience and prayers to deal with friendships, play dates, invitations to parties, school group projects, playground and lunch time friends and family outings and vacations. Follow the Clarks, armed with Social Stories in pockets, trying to interest Kristina in extracurricular activities to learn to interact with peers.

The chapter, Holding the Marriage Together, will make you realize how important it is to be a helpmate to your spouse, to make time to be together and to be a team dealing with the added stressors of a special needs child.

Interview with Danett Schott
S-O-S for Parents

After having read Asperger’s in PINK, you should be a stronger person, a better advocate armed with more knowledge and hope. A person, like Julie Clark, with a light at the end of your tunnel and with no regrets because you have figured out what is really important in life and with all your being you work to make this happen: “I so hope, with all my being, that she will grow up to be happy, healthy, successful and loved by others.”

Asperger’s in PINK is divided in four sections entitled, The Diagnostic Process, School, Community and Day to Day. Each section has short chapters that all begin with an interesting quote by Kristina and end with Julie’s Pink Peals for various people like caregivers, her husband, the couple, the extended family and other moms. Then she has what she is Thankful for in regards to the topic she covered in the chapter. The last part of each chapter is entitled Inside the Bubble, a moving story about an event that her family experienced. I especially loved Holidays Are Hard where she tells us the difficulties of Halloween.

The comprehensive index allows parents to use this book, after their first reading, as a resource that they can return to when they need guidance or simply for a ‘misery enjoys company’ read! Also this book makes a great gift for family members, friends and educators so that finally you can all be on the same page!

Asperger's in PINK by Julie Clark

Binding: Paperback

Pages: 273

Price: $14.95

Purchase: Future Horizons

Where to connect with Julie Clark:
JulieClarkArt Artisan Studio at ArtFire
JulieClarkArt.blogspot.com
Asperger's in Pink on Facebook
Twitter
Julie Clark Art, artisan studio on Facebook

Related Posts:
*Facts About Aspergers and Interview with Julie Clark, author of Asperger’s in PINK
*Asperger's On the Job by Rudy Simone ~ Book Review

*Shonda Schilling's Frank Account of Son With Asperger's Syndrome

*Jodi Picoult's House Rules

Mouthing Constantly ~ Is This Normal For Preschool Kids

2011-01-19T07:33:00.084-04:00

Hypo- or hyper- sensitivities
must be treated by professionals

Chewing and mouthing behaviors are a normal part of a healthy developing child. After 18 months of age, most children will not be mouthing objects or toys preferring to use their hands to explore or play with them. If a child is a frequent or habitual bitter of everything at his disposal past toddler-hood, parents should find out if this is normal. You should be looking for preferred activities to allow for oral stimulation past toddler years to replace sucking, licking, chewing and biting inappropriate objects that bring into question safety and hygiene.

Judith Hudson, developmental psychologist wrote: "Preschoolers don't have clear boundaries between edible and inedible things; putting something in his mouth is a way for your child to see if it tastes good. Visually, there's not much difference between a doughnut and a stacking ring, yet adults and older children know that one is food and the other isn't. To discourage your child from putting inedible objects in his mouth, emphasize the distinction between things that go in the mouth (namely food) and things that don't. When he mouths his train, say, "That's a toy. Toys don't go in our mouths," or, "We put food in our mouths, not toys."

If your child continues to mouth everything around him, your child’s behavior might be a red flag that warrants an early intervention referral. The ealier the intervention, the better the results!

Why Would a Child Mouth

Parents can find support at
SPD Blogger Network

• A child may have had sensitivity or medical issues in the mouth and missed his formative, infant mouthing stage, he/she might just be going through it late.

*A child may bite out of frustration, anxiety, stress or distress when he is placed in difficult situations or is surrounded by excessive noise and activity.

*A child may have sensory issues over/under-sensitivity to oral stimulation and his actions provide the necessary stimulation to the sensory system. Children with oral sensitivities, whether hypo- or hyper- sensitive, will need specific treatment and oral stimulation activities by a knowledgeable therapist.

What to do When a Child is Chewing or Biting Excessively

For all cases of excessive chewing or biting parents must be proactive. Parents must intercede before the mouthing problems get out of control. The time to act is now.

To prepare for a consult with professionals, parents should carefully observe and document when this behavior occurs and try to identify the causes. Does mouthing occur when the child is tired, angry, anxious, overwhelmed, bored…write it as a journal with lots of notes.

To stop the biting requires
getting to the root of the biting problem.

Many communities have Early Intervention Programs that give a head start to children 3 years and older. Take advantage of all these services offered before your child reaches school age. The goal of these programs is to get your child school-ready and to plan with the school what accommodations your child should receive when he gets there.

When a family has knowledge and support it increases their chance of success. In turn, early treatment can improve their lives and those of their kids at home, at school and at play.

Once a child turns 3 years old,
biting may indicate other
behavioral problems.

Disorders Having Biting and Chewing as Symptoms

(note that many disorders can co-exist)

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), including Aspergers (AS)

• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Related Posts:
*Canada Limiting Phthalates ~ Making Kids' Items Safer

*Kid Companions Chewelry ~ An Attempt At Restoring Sanity by Ali Foley Shenk

*Passed Toddlerhood and Still Mouthing ~ Guest Post ~ by Emma Apple

*There is a New Kid Companion on Our Block

*Product Innovators Launch Unique Sensory Tool for Special Needs YouthWhat would tip you off that a child is biting or chewing beyond the normal mouthing stage?

Canada Limiting Phthalates ~ Making Kids' Items Safer

2011-01-18T11:03:00.005-04:00

January 18th, 20

Kid Companions Chewelry
phthalates free

11, Leona Aglukkaq, Canadian Minister of Health, announced new regulations that will restrict the use of six phthalates in toys and child care articles in order to limit exposure to children and infants. "When the Consumer Product Safety Act comes into force in June, the Government will begin a new era of consumer product safety for Canadians," said Minister Aglukkaq.

"Canada's Phthalates Regulations are now aligned with measures taken in the United States and the European Union and will ensure our children receive the same high level of protection." said Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada.

Phthalates are chemicals that may hurt reproduction and fertility in children. Phthalates increase flexibility in plastic products, allowing them to bend without breaking, but they've been linked to genital and urinary malformations in boys, as well as prostate cancer. Phthalates limits will be placed in products that kids under four are expected to put in their mouths. The rules will also restrict the sale, importation and advertising of products over those limits.

Rick Smith, head of Environmental Defense, says if Canada lags behind, exporters will try to sell us “crappy poisonous stuff the rest of the world doesn't want anymore. Canada over the last few years has really put the pedal to the metal in terms of getting toxic chemicals out of consumer products, and this is just the latest in many announcements that are protecting consumers.”

Is Kid Companions Chewelry Safe?

Yes! Kid Companions Chewelry is a Food and Drug Administration, FDA approved product to be chewed and bitten by kids. With a lot of research we have made a durable, colorful and safe chewable pendant. Kid Companions are SAFE, bpa, phthalate, pvc, lead and latex free accessories made for children, tweens and teens. http://www.chewelry.ca/

Food and Drug Administration, FDA a federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

The breakaway is small and lays flat. It was designed specifically for children and conforms to ASTM toy safety standard! Though not meant to be chewed, it is also BPA, lead and phthalate free.

ASTM, the American Society for Testing and Materials, is a group of voluntary members that tests and specifies standards of materials and procedures. It is currently known as ASTM International and is now international in range.

Pierrette and Lorna's goal is to help special kids be themselves and thrive.

Our Kid Companions Chewelry gives parents peace of mind and support their special children. Mother and grand-mother of special needs children, we have dedicated many hours to assure our chewy fidgets are safe and non-toxic. We pride ourselves on our made-in-Canada, sourced in North America commitment and our social and environmental responsibility.

Words of Advice to Parents

Many children with sensory issues like to put things in their mouth. To keep them safe:

• Check if the product complies with safety regulations for child care articles!

• Avoid PVC and plastic items with enamel or paint. Especially those at economy stores.

• Do not rely on retailers or manufacturers to meet voluntary standards, or even to comply with mandatory standards. Request

Proof. Get informed. Supply chains notoriously have holes

• As with the Kid’s Companion, make sure the items are too large to be swallowed and can easily be sanitized (i.e. dishwasher safe or machine-washable)

• Replace any damaged products before they break, tear or can become small parts.

As always, if you’re introducing something new to your child’s routine, check with your child’s pediatrician, therapist or teacher first.

More words of advice for our readers?

Passed Toddlerhood a n d Sti ll Mouthing ~ Guest Post ~ by Emma Apple

There is a New Kid Companion on Our Block

Product Innovators Launch Unique Sensory Tool for Special Needs Youth

Benefits of Daily Physical Activity for Children

2011-01-15T17:20:00.003-04:00

When done regularly,
physical exercise has long term benefits.

All individuals benefit from regular physical activity and it is especially true for all children. The physical, mental and social benefits of keeping active also build a foundation for a better teen and adult life. Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living states: "Making physical activity a part of the day is fun and healthy. Encouraging kids to build physical activity into their daily routine helps to create a pattern that may stay with them for the rest of their lives."

Affects School Outcomes

Research has shown that children have a better attention span and learn better when their school days include active breaks. Moreover, active kids have a better appetite, usually have more hours of sleep and a better quality of sleep and that, in itself will improve their concentration and learning abilities. Active students often show improvement in all round behavior and self-confidence.

For kids, exercise means
playing and being
physically active.

Lessens Stress, Anxiety and Frustrations

Let kids JUST PLAY with NO schedules, rules, coaches, bells, whistles, timers, evaluations, penalties, trophies, best times, winners and loosers. Allow lots of time for free play so Kids can use their imaginations and invent games, fantasy worlds, imaginary friends, create songs and dances. No structure, no pressure just pleasure! And as often as possible have them play outside.

Exercise is scientifically proven to be a great stress reliever. Stress is caused by hormones and exercise decreases these hormones. At the same time, exercise increases the production of endorphins which help our bodies feel good. Also exercise is an outlet for physical energy that helps cope with frustrations.

17 percent of kids and teens
are overweight due to the
lack of time kids spend playing outdoors.

Builds Lasting Friendships

If your child loves team sports or individual sports, it is a great way to build lasting friendships. If this is not the case, good old fashion free play with play dates will do the trick.

You surely do not want your child to be the lone child in the corner of the school playground moping because no one lets him/her play. If your child is physically fit and has leaned the basic running, jumping, catching, throwing and kicking skills of childhood, this will boost his self-esteem and encourage him to make the first step in finding playground fun and friends.

All levels and different kinds of physical exercise bring long term advantages, including the following:

Did you know that obese kids
have an 80% chance
of staying obese their entire lives?

*See improvements in muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility.

* Improve exercise endurance, cardiovascular efficiency, and possibly increased life expectancy.

*Experience better balance, motor skills and body awareness.

Playing outdoors gives
a feeling of freedom,
unconfined by walls.

* Will have positive changes in health, quality of life and boost to self-esteem.

* Gets to experiences a sense of accomplishment and possibly the taste of winning.

*Will see a decrease in secondary health complications like obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol and diabetes.

Sedentary Teens More Likely
To Have Higher Blood Pressure

How Much Physical Activity Does a Child Need

Canada’s Physical Activity Guide for Children recommends 90 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Statistics, scientific proof and common sense should be enough motivation for parents to be instrumental in helping their children achieve this required amount of daily physical activity. If you are still not convinced it is time to get your ‘Couch Potato’ moving, picture yourself trying to comfort an overweight, bullied child for the umpteenth time!

What more can you say to parents to convince them of the benefits of being physically fit?

Related Posts:
*The Role Parents Play in Getting and Keeping Their Kids Fit
*Adaptive Sports and Physical Activities for Special Needs Children
*Girls Lack of Physical Activity Begins With the Way They Dressed
*Report Card On Physical Activity for Children and Youth

The Role Parents Play in Getting and Keeping Their Kids Fit

2011-01-14T12:12:00.011-04:00

Today, children in Canada and the United States are less healthy than children a generation ago. The data from the Canadian, 2010 National Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is extremely alarming, “ Kelly Murumets, president and CEO of ParticipAction, said. “Truly, if we don’t start addressing children and youths’ physical activity levels, we’re basically mortgaging their future and bankrupting Canada’s health care costs, which are no longer sustainable.”

Why Is Inactivity a BIG Deal

*Two-thirds of Canadian children are not sufficiently physically active for optimal growth and development.

* 25% of Canadian children are considered overweight.

*Obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years and obesity threatens the healthy future of one third of all American children.

Who Is Responsible For Getting and Keeping Kids Fit

The National Association for Sports and Physical Education explains the new, US initiative: “The goal of Let's Move in School is to ensure that every school provides a comprehensive school physical activity program with quality physical education as the foundation so that youth will develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime.”

There are many key players responsible to get and keep our kids physically fit. The ball has to pass from our policymakers, to the schools and to the parents.

What Should Parents Do

*Know your child’s interest and do not push a sport or activity because you liked it.

*Choose physical activities to match your child’s abilities and ensure success.

*Keep your expectations reasonable. If your bar is too high your child is doomed to failure and frustration from the start.

*Be supportive and respect your child’s emotional and physical maturity. Each child is unique and should not be compared to others and siblings.

*Set limits on sedentary activities including watching television, computer use, phone and texting and playing electronic games.

*Have equipment on hand like balls, skipping ropes, basketball hoop, bikes, sleds, swings, slides, bean bags, electronic interactive active games…

*Encourage free play and playing outdoors if possible.

*Organize active family outings, weekends and vacations.

*Strive for being fit, having fun and laying the foundation for an active adult lifestyle.

All individuals benefit from regular physical activity and special needs children especially could all gain from these physical, mental and social benefits. Read related post below.

There are so many things in life we cannot offer our children because of time constraints, other responsibilities, the unavailability or inaccessibility in our area, the expense, our lack of skills or the disinterests of our children but parents can all be role models for an active lifestyle and dependable allies in their children’s physical fitness.

How is your family getting and keeping fit? What are your challenges?

Related Posts:
*Benefits of Daily Physical Activity for Children
*Adaptive Sports and Physical Activites for Special Needs Children
*Girls Lack of Physical Activity Begins With the Way They Dressed
*Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Meet Gabrielle Kaplan-Maher ~ Writer, Cooking Instructor and Educator

2011-01-10T23:36:00.004-04:00

Gabrielle Kaplan-Maher author of The Kitchen Classroom: 32 GFCF Recipes to Boost Developmental Skills was our guest on The Coffee Klatch. Gabrielle is a freelance writer, educator, and cooking instructor based in Philadelphia. She is the author of several nonfiction books for adults, including Insulin Pump Therapy Demystified, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planner, and The Creative Jewish Wedding Book.

Hope you enjoy our Tweetchat interview between Pierrette and Gabrielle with its 140 character limitations. A few of the questions and comments that were pertinent to this post come from others who joined us. We wish to thank Gabrielle and all who dropped by for an absolutely, cool session!

The Kitchen Classroom is a special project for you. Can you explain a bit about this book?

*"The Kitchen Classroom" is a GFCF cookbook for kids but is also a guide for parents/teachers about connection and communication.

*I started writing it about four years ago when I started cooking with my son, George, who has autism. He was 4 years old then.

*My son is about to turn 8 and my daughter is 5. For both kids, cooking together has been a way that we connect.

*Cooking was one of the best ways that I found for us to enjoy time together and to work on communicating together.

*Because my son is on a GFCF diet, I started creating recipes that he would like that are GFCF.

*Cooking together has been very grounding for us.

*For my son, cooking is very organizing and he looks forward to our cooking time.

*During the week, when we are all busy, we might do something simple, like he will help me chop up fruit for a fruit salad for dinner

What did you find as you applied this with your son? I believe cooking is indeed a large part of your professional life as well?
*Yes, I teach cooking to teenagers and work with kids with various disabilities--autism, down syndrome, intellectual disabilities.
*I discovered that my son felt really competent being in the kitchen with me. It was easy to engage him. We got to work on developmental skills while getting dinner made!

What do you mean: "Parents don't need to be "perfect chefs" or have special cooking background--everyone can cook"

*Absolutely! We live in a "celebrity chef" culture so some people are intimidated to cook. My recipes are very basic with good, fresh ingredients.

*It is not just for kids with special needs. My neurotypical daughter is 5 and has been cooking with me since 18 mos.

*With the teens, whom I teach, many don't know any basic cooking skills like chopping.
*Everyone needs to know these skills to prepare healthy food for themselves and it's better if kids are taught as they're growing up,
*If people don't learn to cook, they may rely on fast foods more.
*Cooking together and sharing meals together should be a vital part of home life!
*Clearly there is a connection between the rise of obesity and people not spending time in their home kitchens.

What do you have to say about ingredients to parents? I live in a rural area but can still find basic healthy items.

*That's great...look for fruits and veggies at farmer's market. If you can't find GF flours, order at Amazon. Good prices!

How has cooking helped with Sensory issues?

*I have an extensive section in the book about cooking and sensory issues because my son is a sensory seeker.

*Simple things like tearing lettuce leaves, breaking celery or pounding pizza dough give him the input that he's seeking.

Do you have any tips or tricks for parents with kids that find cooking hard? How would one start?
*Start with basics and keep in mind your child may have a short attention span and that's okay.
*In the book, I have my recipes labeled "easy" to "hardest" so you can pick an easy one to start out.
*Maybe your first cooking experience is just washing some fruit or veggies together.
*Maybe the next day you wash and then peel.
*The next day you wash, peel and pull grapes off the stem and pluck them into a bowl.
*Within a week you're making a beautiful fruit salad!

Any tips on engaging a tween? Our 11 old daughter seems to like feeling in charge. She has special "spices" for her carrot "recipe".

*Cool! Yes, that feeling in charge feeling is so important at that age! He/she can help you make the grocery list.

*For engaging a tween, you want the child to feel like he/she has an important role.
*Give him/her some choices: if you're making cookies, let him/her compare the smell of different spices and choose what he/she likes.
*He/she can help you find the ingredients at the store or if you're ordering at Amazon can help you search for the items.
*Learning to cook can be both nutritionally beneficial in keeping away from fast foods. And at the same time good family fun.
*Cooking together and sharing meals together should be a vital part of home life!
*Cooking also incorporates reading, math, science, and sometimes social studies and writing.

In your book, can all kids, readers and nonreaders, follow along?
*It includes a book for parents and teachers with 32 quick and tasty gluten-free (GF) and casein-free (CF) recipes.
*It has specific teaching tips and a color photo of each finished dish.
*Oh yes! The book comes with a CD-Rom with all 32 recipes with step by step instructions for the kids.
*CD has 500 color photos illustrating the process of each recipe in detail.
*You can use the photos on a laptop, print them out, put them in a binder, whatever you prefer!

Can you speak a bit about your website, http://kitchenclassroom.squarespace.com/ ? I see it ties well with the book. I see there are lots or interactions possible. Even recipe of the week :-)
*I set up my website to create a place for ongoing conversation like this one.
*Visit me at http://www.kitchenclassroom4kids.com/ , share your stories and pictures, and ask me any questions!

*Yes, a recipe of the week and you can sign up for my monthly e-news with more tips and ideas.

Teaching teens must have its' challenges. What lessons have you learned that transfer to all settings?
*On my web site, I have a link to a podcast of one of my teen cooking classes--check it out!
*There's some "immediate gratification" for TEENS too!
*(I have always cooked with my kids. They each pick a menu and shop for and prepare it each week. Easier on Mom, too!)
*Oh yes, teens love to taste what they've cooked!
*(It translates well into my work with developmentally disabled adults. The confidence boost is awesome!)

Any GFCF tips you'd like to share for parents feeling a bit nervous?
*Sure, I include extensive resources in the book, like links to the taca plan for removing gluten/casein over 14 weeks.
*That's how we did it. One of the best things is to slowly introduce GF foods as you begin to remove gluten-based foods.
*GFCF Tip: think outside the box, literally. real food like fruits and veggies are GFCF and are cheap.

You follow the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) model for autism - tell us about it.

*We've been doing RDI for about 4 years. It teaches parents how to work with their kids to work on developmental milestones.

*RDI is about "framing" experiences for success. That means as a parent I am thinking about setting up an activity for optimal success.

*I discovered that when I clear my kitchen counters, there was no visual distraction for my son and he could focus on cooking.
*RDI is all about that kind of thought--it's very common sense, which I love.

*I write extensively about framing in the book (which includes a long intro for parents).

*(Spending time doing enjoyable Experience Sharing activities like cooking would be it.)

*Yes! Experience sharing is one of RDI's foundations. When we cook together, I often take pictures so we can go back and remember the experience together.

You do workshops, can you speak about that?

*Yes! I love doing workshops for parents or parents/kids and can come to your community.

*I do a demo focusing on everything we talked about this morning--how to begin, framing, roles for kids, following recipes.

*Just email me gabrielle@kitchenclassroom4kids.com if you want more info on a workshop.

*I live in Philly and will post local events here; I’m happy to come to your communities.

Once again The Coffee Klatch has been instrumental in introducing you to another great resource. Now your family can have the satisfaction and fun of making meals together and building healthy eating habits for life.

We are delighted Gabrielle Kaplan-Maher shared her book The Kitchen Classroom (Woodbine House). You can check out The Kitchen Classroom at www.woodbinehouse.com or at her sight, www.kitchenclassroom4kids.com

Tell us about your experience cooking with your child/children.

Related Posts:
About The Eating Game and Jean Nicol, the Inventor
Why Is Your Overweight Child Eating When He Is Not Hungry

My Child Does Not Like Sports or Any Physical Activity ~ Now What?

2011-01-10T12:58:00.008-04:00

Whether your child is completely well or you have a special needs child with a visible disability, like Cerebral Palsy or Down Syndrome, or an 'invisible' disability like Autism or Asperger’s, chances are you're constantly advocating for doors to open to a better life. A fit child has the odds stacked in his favor for a better life. Also physical activity is important because usually inactive children are likely to become inactive adults. Parents can be role models for an active lifestyle. Lead by example, make it a family affair and best of all play and have fun!

What if your child thinks nothing about physical activities is FUN?

So your child finds no form of sports or physical exercises interesting. You know the many benefits being physically fit would bring to your child; therefore, you must disguise physical activities in another form. Promote other activities that involve moving/movements that will have the same end results. The following come to mind and many are great for all the family and relatively inexpensive. Can you add others in the comment box?

* Collecting rocks, leaves, flowers, insects…

*Photographing the objects others would collect or different balconies, unique door knockers, various signs, windows, roofs, birds…

*Gardening...flowers, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, berry bushes, small green house...

*Watching birds, squirrels, bugs, frogs….

*Playing with games like the interactive Wii games.(see note below)

*Playing catch with a dog, throwing a ball back and forth with a friend.

* Sitting on huge balls and keeping your balance.

*Learning to juggle, stacking cups, arm wrestling...

*Flying kites, making huge soap bubbles...

*Using hula hoops, gymnastic ribbons, dancing,

*Skipping ropes, hop scotch games, playing hide and seek.

*Bowling, table tennis, swimming pool games.

*Enjoying a playground, playing in your back yard on swings, slides...

*Sledding, building snowmen, snow forts, snow houses, snow shovelling.

* Making homemade eductional games that involve moving. Indoor Hopscotch, replace number with math or words-Make learning fun!

Physical, mental and social benefits derived from sports participation or any physical activity for all ages and abilities are widely accepted. Also, “Play builds the kind of free-and-easy, try-it-out, do-it-yourself character that our future needs.” ~ J. L. Hymes Jr. The above activities are Fun, Fascinating and Easy to do for everyone. Enjoy!

Note:

* WiiFit yoga and balance games

*Dance Dance Revolution, abbreviated DDR, is a music video game series produced by Konami. Players dance and hit colored arrows laid out in a cross with their feet to musical and visual cu

es. DDR is generally considered the first "machine dance" game, followed by games such as Pump It Up by Andamiro and In the Groove by Roxor. DDR celebrated its 10th anniversary on November 21, 2008.

Please add, in our comment box, to our list of fun, physical activities for kids.

Related Posts:
The Benefits of Daily Physical Activities for Children
Adaptive Sports and Physical Activities for Special Needs Children
Girls Lack of Physical Activity Begins With the Way They Dress
Report Card on Physical Activity for Chidren and Youth

Adaptive Sports and Physical Activities for Special Needs Children

2011-01-09T15:34:00.007-04:00

To begin the new year on The Coffee Klatch Tweet Chat, Pierrette d’Entremont’s topic was : “ Adaptive sports and adaptive physical acitvities for the special needs child. My post today will bring out the benefits of physical activity for a special needs child and what is available to make this happen.

Going in the Tweet Chat session, I was certain it would prove how disadvantaged rural Special Needs families were in regards to adaptive sports and physical activity. This is still true in many areas especially with sport teams because the Special Needs community and the support and funding are not there in numbers great enough to make it work. But rural areas have wide open spaces offering ample orpportunities for families to enjoy walks, bike rides, horse back riding and lots of unstructured physical activities.

Surprisingly what IT technology has done to social communication it has also opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for helping your Special Needs child to exercise right in your home. Furthermore, these new, interactive electronic games/activities can be played with more than one player helping foster social skills.

If families find it too expensive to have these games in their homes, schools and community-based fitness centers and programs, like public gyms or local YMCA’s, already have Wii games and exercise modules in place for the use of their members/students. There are also other such games available and new ones coming out all the time.

My Child Does Not Like Sports or Any Physical Activity

So you say no form of sports or physical exercises interest your child...promote other activities that involve moving/movements that will almost have the same end results. These come to mind and they are great for all the family and some are relatively not expensive. Can you add others in the comment box?

* Collecting rocks, leaves, flowers, insects…

*Photographing the objects others would collect or different balconies, unique door knockers, various signs, windows, roofs, birds…

*Gardening...flowers, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, berry bushes, small green house...

*Watching birds, squirrels, bugs, frogs….

*Playing catch with a dog, throwing a ball back and forth with a friend.

* Sitting on huge balls and keeping your balance.

*Learning to juggle, stacking cups, arm wrestling...

*Flying kites, making huge soap bubbles...

*Using hula hoops, gymnastic ribbons, dancing,

*Skipping ropes, hop scotch games, playing hide and seek

*Bowling, table tennis, swimming pool games

*Enjoying a playground, playing in your back yard on swings, slides...

Where to Start?

Do it right and have peace of mind. Check with your family doctor, have your child evaluated and find out what sports/physical activity would be suitable for him or her. Be sure you're aware of any risks your child faces, get familiar with the proper safety precautions needed and familiarize yourself with any equipment needed. Almost any kind of disability can be accommodated with adaptive exercise/sport equipment or certain technique adjustments.

Benefits of Physical Activity for Special Needs Children

All individuals benefit from regular physical activity and special needs children especially. We could all gain from these physical, mental and social benefits of being active.

*See improvements in muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility.

* Improve exercise endurance, cardiovascular efficiency, and possibly increased life expectancy.

*Experience better balance, motor skills and body awareness.

*Will show improvement in behavior, academics, self-confidence and building friendships.

* Will have positive changes in their health, quality of life and boost to their self-esteem.

* Gets to experiences a sense of accomplishment and possibly the taste of winning.

*Experience increases in attention span, on-task behavior, and level of correct responding.

*Will increase appetite and improve quality of sleep.

*Will see a decrease in secondary health complications like obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol and diabetes.

*Will find an outlet for their physical energy, will help them cope with stress, anxiety and depression.

Physical Education Programs Available in Schools for SN Kids

Children with Special Needs are children first with the same needs and desires as their peers. The difference is that SN kids need adaptations and extra support.

In the United States to support their ability to learn in school, three Federal laws apply to children with special needs:
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (1975)
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990).

PE Central site states: “Special physical education/Adapted Physical Education (APE) is a federally mandated component of special education services [U.S.C.A. 1402 (25)] and ensures that physical education is provided to the student with a disability as part of the child's special education services.” Physical education involves physical fitness, motor fitness, fundamental motor skills and patterns, aquatics skills, dance skills, individual, group games, and sports (including lifetime sports).

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Law 108-466 (2004), states that physical education is a required service for children and youth between the ages of 3-21 who qualify for special education services because of a specific disability or developmental delay. A personally designed program will be outlined in the child's Individual Education Program/Plan (IEP).

Under US federal law, SN kids are entitled to participate in organized sports, physical education and recreational programs unless their presence puts them or someone else in danger. Many cities and towns now offer adaptive recreation classes and sports such as basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, swimming, bowling, and tennis…SN kids can enroll in summer camps, Scout groups, dance groups, yoga classes...which now cater to all groups of youngsters.

Whether your special needs child has a visible disability, like Cerebral Palsy or Down Syndrome, or an 'invisible' disability like Autism or Asperger’s, chances are you're constantly advocating for doors to open to a better life. A fit child has the odds stacked in his favor for a better life. Also physical activity is important because usually inactive children are likely to become inactive adults. Parents can be role models for an active lifestyle. Lead by example, make it a family affair and best of all have fun!

How do you make sure your Special Needs child gets his required daily amount of physical exercise?

Related Posts:
Benefits of Physical Activity for Children
My Child Does Not Like Any Sport or Any Physical Activity ~ Now What?
Girls Lack of Physical Activity Begins With the Way They Dress
Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Kid Companions Chewelry ~ An Attempt At Restoring Sanity by Ali Foley Shenk

2011-01-05T12:17:00.002-04:00

Out of the blue during a busy day in December, I was alerted that someone in cyber space had written about our sensory Kid Companions Chewelry. Upon reaching the site, two photos of a child chewing on our chewelry and a detailed photo of our blue, heartshaped chewable pendant on an undyed, organic landyard graced the page. Best of all, was Ali's post describing how Kid Companions Chewelry was helping her son with his teeth grinding problem.

Thanks to Ali who agreed to share her post with our readers.

Original post:

I might have mentioned before how badly Dean grinds his teeth. Cole did it too, but it only lasted a month or so and that was it. Dean has been doing it on and off for almost a year! I guess more than grinding it's more like "flicking" his teeth back and forth.

Obviously it's not *just* a PWS (Prader-Willi syndrome) thing, but I've heard of other kids with PWS doing it a lot. We've approached it from a boredom perspective, sensory perspective, whatever.... We've tried vibrating brushes and toys for his mouth, cold teething rings/toys/cloths, adding more crunchy foods to his diet, offering other chewy things (including the infamous Chewy Tube that is always recommended). He cares about none of them to any great extent. If we tell him "no grinding," he sometimes will listen, but more often will smile and do it again. Little stinker! Even Cole can be heard throughout the day saying, "Mommy, Dean's grinding!" or reminding Dean himself not to do it.

Recently though, Dean's been grinding (or whatever you want to call it) so much that his gums are bleeding by the end of the day. :( The dentist said that there's really nothing we can do about it except try to encourage him to stop. His OT said we're doing everything she could think of to try to get it to stop.

But there has to be something. So I searched online and found Kid Companions Chewelry. It's a Canadian company that makes necklaces with chew objects attached. This way it's always available for him to chew on. I was a little nervous about putting something around Dean's neck, but obviously we won't use it if he can't be supervised. It comes with a string that detaches if too much force is put on it, so that's another safety feature.

I purchased it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z3EU5Q/ref=oss_product. If it works, it's easily worth the $20 in my book! We tried it today and Dean seems to like it so far. When he grinds or even wants to chew on something that he shouldn't, I put the heart in his mouth to remind him that he has that to chew instead. We'll see how long it works!

The follow-up post a few days later:

Kid Companions Chewelry necklace - Dean's been wearing it for a few days now and overall, I'm quite happy with it. When he wants to chew and remembers that he's wearing the necklace, he can pull the heart into his mouth and gnaw on it. Trouble is in situations where we can't remind him to use the necklace instead of grinding his teeth - the car, during naps/nighttime (even with the safety release, we don't let him sleep with it on... just seems like a bad idea), etc. But overall, I think having an outlet for his chewing needs that is accessible to him almost always is a great idea. I would recommend these necklaces!

Ali

www.divingintothewaves.com

www.livingwithspecialneeds.com

Please note:

*Kid Companions Chewelry can be bought at http://www.chewelry.ca/

*Lanyards are available in undyed or colorful 100% organic cotton.

*A clip version is also available.

*All lanyards can be personalized with contact, medical or allergy info.

*Other pendant colors available include a black heart and a blue circle.

Hyperactive, Impulsive, Inattentive Children

2011-01-04T12:44:00.004-04:00

Is your on-the-go child always on the brink of danger running and climbing, always in trouble, always fidgeting, always talking, wiggling and jiggling…?

Do you have a child whose teachers tell you he cannot sit still, he cannot stand in line, he cannot keep his hands to himself, he cannot stop blurting comments, he often has angry outburst and temper tantrums …?

Are you worried about your child who always seems to be dreaming, who is always behind in his school work, always seems to be late, to be moody, to be forgetful and has, once more, lost or misplaced his homework, toys or books?

Are you asking yourself if your child can control himself, can snap out of it and if this is just ‘kid behavior’ that he will outgrow? Are you wondering what a parent can do to help such a child?

What is Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention are signs of a common neurobiological condition called Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children who have ADHD do not make enough chemicals in their brain for organizing thought. Without enough of these key chemicals, the organizing centers of the brain do not work well. It affects between 5-8 percent of school age children, and between 2-4 percent of adults. ADHD makes it difficult for people to control their impulses—responses that can involve everything from movement, to speech and attentiveness.

Can My Child Just Snap Out of It or Outgrow ADHD

Naturally one person does not exhibit all of these symptoms. But as soon as you notice some, seek help. ADHD has serious consequences including your child’s ability to learn, risks for accidental injuries, family stress and disruption, problems making and keeping friends. Moreover these problems will manifest themselves at home, at school and at play. Your child cannot control himself. It is much more than a young child’s antics and these individuals can and should be helped because they will become adults with the same problems.

How to Help My ADHD Child

~Family Doctor First

The first place to look for answers or for ruling out other problems is with your family doctor. There is no single test to diagnose ADHD but research clearly indicates that ADHD tends to run in families and that it sometimes co-exists with other conditions like anxiety, depression and other learning disabilities. To determine what your child has and how best to treat him is a multifaceted process requiring time and effort.

A medical exam including tests of your child’s eyesight and hearing will probably be the first steps. His sleep patterns, food intakes, general health and physical exercise regimen will be discussed. Your doctor may recommend that you see other health care professionals and give you suggestions to try at home and at school. Leave his office with a follow-up appointment already planned as soon as the results of the other tests and reports from other professionals get back to your family doctor.

~Research, Read and Document

In the mean time, read up on ADHD and familiarize yourself with the type of treatment/accommodations/medication your ADHD child might receive. Start journaling your child’s behavior and the events you think might influence this behavior. Save and file all reports, recommendations, names and contact information of every one you see about his problem. Get and give signed permission notes so information about your child can be shared with the team that is working with your child.

~Learn Behavior Management Techniques

Learn about Behavior management techniques that will help you as a family to cope with the demands and disruptions of your child. Have strategies, like being consistent in your discipline, using rewards and consequences, having a routine for homework, bedtimes, mealtimes and free times that include physical activities. Give structure, love and positive reinforcement to your child who will often not find enough of it “out in the world” because of his ADHD behavior.

~Meet With Your Child’s Teachers

Next, get the child’s teachers on board. Schedule a teacher conference and together draw up a plan, to help your child feel comfortable, feel in control and feel successful in the classroom, in the gym and on the playground.

~Get and Sign Permissions Granting Information Sharing

Your family doctor, the school and other professionals will ask for a free flow of information/results from one to the other. Work as a team, cover all bases and you, the parent, will be the glue that holds all this process together and pushes the right buttons to get solutions.

Children who have ADHD and are supported by their parents, are accommodated at school and have professional counsel will have a much better chance to succeed as a child and as an adult.

What symptoms did your child have that led you to believe he had ADHD?

Related posts:
ADHD Body and Brain Work in Tandem
Fidgets Toys or Tools
Tactics Tackling Homework With Your ADHD Child
Children and Teens With ADHD and Depression
Michael Phelps ~ ADHD Did Not Stop Him

Chewing and Biting Tip- Chewing Is a Form Of Moving

Asperger's on the Job by Rudy Simone ~ A Review

2011-01-02T11:40:00.003-04:00

If you are a person with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) or with High Functioning Autism (HFA), a parent or spouse of such a person, an employer, a co-worker, an educator or an advocate, Asperger's on the Job by Rudy Simone is a must read for you. Simone’s unique, fun way of expressing herself makes it very entertaining and her first hand knowledge with Asperger’s makes it very educational. The advice Simone shares will stay with you no matter who you are.

Rudy Simone was born in upstate New York and lived in Europe, Asia and California. Simone, an accomplished author, AS consultant, a jazz singer and stand-up comedian now living in San Francisco, also has AS, a diagnosis she only received when she was in her 40’s. By then she had walked out on jobs, apartments, friendships, and relationships and had haunting memories of being bullied and never fitting in. This book is based on her own experiences and the experiences of over fifty adults with AS from around the world.

At first glance, the book only seems to be a resource to help employers accommodate their employees with AS or HFA and for these employees to find and keep gainful employment. Once you start reading, you quickly realize the valuable insight Rudy Simone reveals about Asperger Syndrome and about many aspects of the daily challenges Aspergians face. Her practical solutions for the Asperger population on how to choose and cope and her recommendations on how the neurotypical population could accommodate the growing number of employees on the spectrum make it a go-to book for all groups of readers.

Her twenty short chapters are often supported by true stories or quotes and always end with a list of what the employee can do, followed by a list of suggestions to employers and advocates. Simone finishes each chapter with a few thought provoking or self-searching questions and she has even left blank spaces for your answers. To quickly locate information, if you cannot find it in the table of contents, you will surely zero in on exactly what you are looking for in the detailed index.

Simone brings a bit of humor to her serious topic through her play on words. For example these are two of her chapters:
*Polyester Prisons, Neck-Tie Nooses, and High-Heeled Hell
*A Little R&R Goes a Long Way: Ritual and Routine

The author has a wonderful way of explaining things. Here is how Simone explains to a person with AS to get their point across to a non-spectrum person: “If you shoot your words like an arrow (directness) at their recipient, that person will likely recoil from them. If you gift wrap your words (tact), the recipient will be more likely to want to accept your package (the point you want to make) and take it in.”

Simone addresses many controversial questions, one being her chapter: To Tell or Not to Tell, That Is the Question. She presents many arguments for and against disclosing that one has Asperger’s. Among the many different perspectives given, Lewis is quoted as saying: “It is best to let them know what it is so they don’t guess the worst. The vacuum of not being able to insert a label means others place it. …The term Asperger’s displaces ‘crazy’. Preemptive strike—fill the vacuum before someone fills it for you…”

This book should raise the self-esteem and hope of Aspergians and parents of children with Asperger’s. Simone never misses her chance to validate the attributes of individuals with AS. Here are a few:
*“People with AS possess a diligent, perfectionist attention to detail; these two factors will ensure that as long as your AS employee knows what you want or need, you can trust them to do the job right.”
*“The Aspergian ability to focus on tasks for a long period of time without supervision or incentive is legendary.”
* “Yet those with Asperger’s possess some extremely useful, important, creative, and marketable skills that employers are missing out on.”

Parents and educators, who can now read about the challenges Aspergians meet in the workplace, as apposed to the generation who grew up without diagnoses and guidelines, will be better equipped to point their child/student with AS in the right direction when choosing a field of education leading to a satisfying career.

In the section Finding the Perfect Job for YOU- The Personal Job Map, Simone states: “One way to optimize success is to choose one (career) that works with your strengths and interests and which doesn’t involve too many of your shortcomings.”

Hopefully, the valuable lessons learned when reading Asperger's on the Job by Rudy Simone will go towards a positive change to the number in this quote “Up to 85% of the Asperger’s population are without full-time employment, though many have above-average intelligence.” If there is one author whose counsel we can believe and follow, it is Rudy Simone’s “Been there, done that” take on choosing a career, the work place and the interdependant roles we all must play.

Asperger's on the Job by Rudy Simone

Publisher: Future Horizons

Binding: Paperback

Pages: 156 Price: $19.95

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Three Book Reviews Dealing With Guides For Kids With ASD
Shonda Schilling's Frank Account of Son With Asperger's Syndrome
Jodi Picoult's House Rules