Dec
17
When I was in high school I can remember seeing “special” kids in our assemblies with big brown headphones on that looked as if they came from the reading room. I didn’t understand what they were for until I had my own little sensory cutie. Headphones can be a huge help in reducing noise and …
Jan
10
Making a video diary of your child with special needs can serve several needs. From helping with diagnosis to your own personal sanity and encouragement, grab a camera and start today. Below are the top 5 ways I used a video diary with my daughter since she was 20 months old: 1. Help professionals diagnose …
Oct
12
Okay, this takes serious time and engagement! The best way I heard this explained in the service dog training class is that Truman needs to have the MOST fun with Sophia. In the early stages, every time he is around her he should be getting a treat, attention or praise. If you have other kids, you have the added …
Oct
09
I apologize for the delay in posting but it should be an indication that life at home right now seems a bit more complicated than life before Truman! We brought Sophia’s autism service dog home in the middle of August. Two weeks later all of our kids started school. For Sophia, it was her first …
Jun
01
This is a creative way to teach counting skills and build a new activity into your daily routine. It is called “The Counting Basket” and you can make it from everyday items found in your house. You will need a medium size basket dedicated to holding items for counting. You can change the items on …
May
30
Here is an example of the social story I created for my daughter Sophia about “Going to the Library.” Social stories work great for teaching social situations to children with Autism or Sensory Integration Disorder. Each story should be personalized to your child including the “sensory issues” they have along the way with that activity. …
May
20
If you are looking for activities to add to your morning routine, consider a Pillow Pile. As you wake up your child, ask them to help you find all of the pillows in the house. This task alone could take a serious amount of time for a child so you will need to adapt based …
May
14
Social stories are an incredible way to teach a social skill to your child. Children with sensory processing or anxiety disorders seem to have a difficult time learning most social skills. They just don’t come as natural they other children learn. There are many ways to create a social story. Here are the variations and …
May
07
Next time you are in your kitchen, sit down on the floor and put yourself at the same eye level as your child. Now imagine you are hungry. What do you see? What do you smell? Where are the dishes, snacks, water? On one hand we desperately want our Autistic child to gain as much …
May
07
While most young children find bath time fun and entertaining, a child with Autism or Sensory Integration Disorder can find it torturous and frightening. From the sound of the water pouring into the tub, the smell of the soap and shampoo, scratching their head to the difference between warm water and cold air, there is …
