You may be thinking, “No! Of course not!” But yes, you may be undermining your child’s success. How do I know? We ALL do it! Need an example? I have plenty. I first noticed it during math homework, but, as much as I wish it wasn’t true, math wasn’t the only problem. It was happening
Are you undermining your child’s success? Read More »
…and why it sabotages their parenting In my job as a behavior analyst, I have a front row seat to people’s parenting behavior. The parenting mistakes and the wins. I get to be in the trenches with people as they are working on being the best parent they can be and it is an honor—and
Six parenting mistakes I wish parents would stop doing… Read More »
Being a mom is a full-time gig…actually, what’s MORE than full-time? Full and three-quarters? Being a mom is something like that. And when you’re a special needs mom, caring for an atypically-developing child, it can feel even more draining at times. We all need to recharge our batteries, but how? If you’re reading this as
Self-care for special needs moms Read More »
Deciding to medicate your child for ADHD, autism, or depression is a huge decision and one that is usually a last resort for most parents. Starting meds for kids is a decision that definitely needs to be taken seriously. Personally, I waited longer than I should have to use meds for depression and meds for
5 questions to ask before starting meds for kids Read More »
Parenting is hard. Special needs parenting is harder. If you’ve been there, you know that it can get intense. And serious. And it takes a lot of reading, research, and dedication. But you know what? Special needs parenting doesn’t have to be a totally serious endeavor all the time. Sometimes, we can take a lighthearted
Five lessons I learned about special needs parenting from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Read More »
Look around any classroom and you will see plenty of squirming and movement that looks like off-task activities. While some of these kids are just being kids, many of these little wigglers have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. For those students, the wiggles are not behavior problems, but rather the coping mechanisms they have developed to
Five fidget activities that increase focus for kids with Add/ADHD Read More »
…and what you can do about it! Why are social skills so important? Because the ability to socially interact can enable learning. We live in a social environment, and our kids are missing out on key educational opportunities if they struggle with social skills. Identifying social skills your child may be missing (early on) can
Five social skills your child may be missing Read More »
If your child has an IEP, you need these IEP hacks for your next meeting. What is an IEP? Essentially, IEP is an acronym that stands for Individualized Education Program, or Individualized Education Plan. IEPs are designed to support kids who learn and think differently. An IEP can do wonders for a child with autism
IEP hacks to ensure your kid gets the best accommodations Read More »
Toilet training readiness can start earlier than you might think! There are skills you can teach before the first birthday to make potty training a breeze. Every parent has feelings about potty training. Some parents can’t wait to get their kids out of diapers. Some are hesitant to even start, and some are just plain
Toilet training readiness: skills to teach before the first birthday Read More »
You might think that the sooner you accept and embrace an official diagnosis of autism, the better. After all, knowledge is power, and the sooner you know, the sooner you can get your child the help and services needed. But knowledge does not have to be tied to a label, and there are circumstances in
When to embrace an official diagnosis of autism (and when to delay it) Read More »