After the presents are unwrapped and family dinners are devoured, what’s on your calendar? Sleep! Sugar detox! Penny-pinching! And, most importantly, keeping your darling with autism occupied and engaged while school’s out. No need to stress about the what, where and how much – we’ve got that covered. Here are super-fun and almost-free holiday activities that promote learning.Read More »6 Holiday Activities That Are Inexpensive
Stuck on what to give your sweetie this holiday season? Consider wrapping up presents that improve your sweetie’s mood and skills, create memories and promote independence. When Kevin can learn to brush his teeth like a pro or walk home from school safely, his self-confidence will soar. Priceless! Here are our favourite prezzies that help your kiddo do things independently.Read More »Gifts That Promote Independence
You’re a real-life superhero. Seriously! It takes unimaginable strength, love, energy and patience to parent a child with special needs. You give everything you have to give to your sweetie, as you should, because Sam is incredible and he deserves simply the best. And so do you! You work around the clock and, in order to keep going full-throttle, you need to recharge. Sounds luxurious and also impossible with your to-do list? Here are a few ways to make time for yourself.Read More »How to Make Time For Yourself
Dear Caregiver,
How exciting that your child is about to receive ABA therapy for the first time! If you’re still in the process of picking out a team, be sure to ask these questions to help you pinpoint a quality provider.
We know that it can be unnerving as you welcome unfamiliar professionals into your lives and home. How will your kiddo react to these strangers? What will the therapists demand of your sweetie? We’re writing to let you know that, when you have a top-notch team, the early days of therapy should be fun with zero pressure. You can and should expect your therapists to be solely focused on pairing with your precious at the beginning of starting ABA.Read More »Building Rapport: The Importance Of Pairing
Remember Simon? The kiddo is going through a tremendous growth spurt! Along with getting taller, the 8-year-old with autism is making monumental social, behavioural and academic gains. He’s blossoming into a humorous, mild-mannered chatterbox who reads like a pro and loves to play games with his peers. One of his favourites: Zombie tag with the kids at summer camp. Thrilled with his progress, his parents asked us to update his story here:Read More »Simon’s Story Part 2: How ABA Has Helped Him Soar
Greetings from the seaside! As I write this blog, my daughter is playing in the waves with her dad. They just finished counting the birds in the sky and now they’re talking about what swims in the ocean. Unbeknownst to her, my four-year-old is strengthening and developing skills as she has fun splashing my husband. Not only is the beach a blast, it’s good for our babes’ brains! There are lots of things you can do this summer to foster learning while your precious squeals with delight. Here are our top picks and tips. Read More »4 Fun Activities To Make Summer Sensational
Classrooms are closed for the season but that doesn’t mean learning should stop. Your little sponge is ready to soak up knowledge, know-how and skills all year round! So dust off those books and help keep Suzie’s learning alive this summer at home. Practicing math, reading or social skills for a short time every day will boost her abilities, and, still in habit of studying, make the transition back to school in September a little less stressful. Here are some of our favourite programs that you can easily do with your kiddo at the kitchen table between swimming and playing at the park.Read More »5 Summer Learning Programs To Do At Home
If you’re stuck in a getaway rut, do something different this summer. How about a beach holiday? One that allows you to sip a cocktail by the ocean while your child on the spectrum participates in fun resort activities? Dreamy! And, fortunately, possible. More destinations are offering autism-friendly vacations, providing services, accommodations and meals that help your whole family feel relaxed and happy. Here are a few places to check out if you’d like to build sandcastles with your sweetie by the sea rather than at your local public beach.Read More »4 Autism-Friendly Vacation Destinations
ABA provider
So, you’re in the market for an ABA provider for your child. Maybe that’s because his psychologist recommended ABA therapy for autism; maybe it’s of your own volition, seeing that your kiddo needs help strengthening skills that are challenging for him, such as personal care, emotional regulation, social skills, communication or spelling and math. The fundamentals of ABA can help your child flourish! But for it to be really effective – to get the best results – the right person has to be at the helm, developing and guiding the ABA-based programs. How do you know if you’re selecting a superior behaviour consultant? Ask these questions to help zero in on a top-notch professional that’s a good fit for your family. Read More »Ask These Questions When Picking A Quality ABA Provider
As parents, you and I know that our sweeties need sleep – lots of it. Without enough, they wake up cranky and groggy (your morning routine will be rougher), have a hard time concentrating at school and are more prone to negative behaviour. Plus, getting enough Zzzs is important for their memory and overall health and development. Despite the benefits, many of our cuties fiercely fight going to bed. My daughter used to be a master staller and I had to be on my A-game not to give into all her requests and dawdling (seriously, she does not need to line up her 20 stuffed animals for 20 minutes!). For whatever reason kiddos are so resistant to getting ready for and going to bed, it’s our jobs as parents to make the process positive so they develop healthy sleep habits.
Over the last year, I’ve become more diligent about bedtime rituals. My husband and I stay firm with our rules – consistency is so important – and fill the routine with love and affirmations. The result: My sweetie doesn’t put on her boxing gloves to fight bedtime like she used to. She looks forward to story time and snuggles and she sleeps more soundly. If you want Timmy’s tuck-in time to go more smoothly, too, follow these tips. Promise that your evenings will be a lot calmer and easier.Read More »6 Tips For A Calmer, Easier Bedtime
