Giving support to parents. Explore resources and articles helpful to parenting special needs.

June 6, 2013

Water Safety Skills ~ A Parent’s Responsibility

Asperger's, Autism, Blog, Parenting all kids, Special needs children

A summer family activity often means swimming at a pool, lake, river or beach. Regardless of the location, the same water safety rules apply. Many things that happen to our children are beyond our control but being safe around water IS entirely in the hands of parents. Water safety is a life skill that our children will in turn hand down to their kids. Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14. For every child who drowns, another five are hospitalized and another 16 are treated for submersion injuries. Take water safety seriously, teach it to your children and know your child’s safety near water is YOUR responsibility.

2 Comments

June 5, 2013

Hope For Evangelina a Child with Special Needs

Blog, Interviews, Parenting all kids, special needs moms

Are you parenting a child with special needs? We often get emails from families struggling emotionally and financially because of chronically sick children. Often these messages are emotional. Nothing can be worst for parents than caring for a very sick child.

My post today is about such a family. As a Canadian, I am usually stunned at the financial hardship that my neighbours to the south endure. This story is no exception.

Hope For Evangelina a Child with Special Needs was written by Mom Amanda, using a MOBILE PHONE. Complete with vivid images, her message brought up the memory of my own 30 wk premie. Their financial and family issues are unlike ours, but the helplessness of having to watch your child struggle, is shared. Many of you will also empathize, Evangelina pulls at the HeartStrings…

June 4, 2013

A Father’s Moment by Patrick Paulitz

Asperger's, Autism, Blog, Parenting all kids, Special needs children

All of us make daily choices in life. Most of these choices are trivial, like what to have for dinner or what color socks to wear. Other choices are more life-changing, like whom to marry, where to live, or what house to buy. Sometimes, choices are made which at the time seem to be in error, but allow us, if our ears, eyes, and mind are open, to learn about life, our children, ourselves. Sometimes a wrong turn can lead to nothing less than a miracle.

2 Comments

May 30, 2013

Benefits of Stress Relieving, Calming, Relaxing Music for the Whole Family

ADHD, Asperger's, Autism, Bipolar Mental Health, Blog, mental health, Sensory Processing Disorder, Tourette Syndrome

Life is too hectic and you don’t find time to slow down and smell the roses? Looking for a magic solution to defuse meltdowns and get your kids to wind down so they can go to sleep quietly and quickly? Are your older kids often at each other’s throats because sensitive ears cannot tolerate the surrounding sounds? Calming, stress relieving, relaxing music is perhaps just what is needed to manage inappropriate behaviors and bring smiles all around.

7 Comments

May 15, 2013

5 Ways to Ensure Your Child’s Obesity by Allison Foster

Blog, Feeding problems, Parenting all kids, Special needs children

We were pleased that Allison Foster contacted the folks behind KidCompanions Special Needs Blog to offer a guest post on a very important topic: child obesity! Recently I read an article that claimed that child obesity is a form of child abuse if the child does not have a medical condition that causes a child to gain wait or is taking medication with weight gain as a side effect.

May 13, 2013

KidCompanions Chewelry: Qu’est-ce que c’est? Qui en a besoin?

ADHD, Asperger's, Autism, Blog, IEP Accommodations School, Kid Companions Chewelry, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special needs children, special needs moms

Vous voulez en savoir plus, mais en français, à propos de notre KidCompanions Chewelry? Pierrette et Lorna peuvent vous servir en français aussi. Vous pouvez nous écrire ou nous parler au téléphone en français. Pierrette a fait ses études à l’Université d’Ottawa et vécu dans cette belle région de notre pays pour quelques années. Lorna a enseigné en français pour la commission scolaire CSAP. Alors, KidCompanions Chewelry: Qu’est-ce que c’est? Qui en a besoin? KidCompanions Chewelry est un accessoire mâchouillable pour les enfants, adolescents et adultes qui s’autorégulent en mâchant ou comme jouet antiagitation. En anglais on parle de “chewy” ou ” hand fidget”.

1 Comments

May 7, 2013

How One Teacher Made the Difference in this Autisitc Teen’s Life

ADHD, Asperger's, Autism, Blog, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special needs children

Pierrette and I thank Tracy Palmer for her guest post telling us her story and for sharing her beautiful poem for the teacher that made all the difference. Today I will post only part of her story, the part about how grateful Ms. Palmer is to the teacher that finally made a difference in their lives. During this first part of May, folks are sharing stories for Teacher Awareness Week and National Teacher Day and Tracy Palmer’s poem if perfect to show the positive effect one caring teacher can have.

May 1, 2013

Children with Special Needs: Benefits of Physical Activities and Adaptive Sports

Asperger's, Autism, Blog, IEP Accommodations School, physical activities, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special needs children

It is an undisputed fact that young and old must strive for a healthy lifestyle. This means kids, teens and adults must keep mentally and physically fit. Children with special needs most definitely benefit from having a balance in all aspects of their life: social, physical, and mental. My post today will bring out the benefits of physical activity for a child with special needs and what is available to make this happen.

28 Comments

April 25, 2013

Helping Kids with ADHD: Top Ten Ways on How to Increase Concentration Skills

ADHD, Blog, Special needs children

Folks at KidCompanions Chewelry Special Needs Blog are pleased that Patrick Del Rosario offered to write the following guest post, Helping Kids with ADHD: Top Ten Ways on How to Increase Concentration Skills. Patrick Del Rosario is part of the team behind Open Colleges. We know that parents of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will find his ten tips to help their kids concentrate very helpful.

6 Comments

April 19, 2013

My Child Does Not Like Sports or Any Physical Activities: Now What?

Asperger's, Autism, Blog, physical activities, Special needs children

If you’re a parent, chances are you’re constantly advocating for doors to open for a better life for your child. A fit child has the odds stacked in his favor for a better life everything from a hearty appetite, to increase attention for seat work, to a good night’s rest. 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 physical activities a family affair and best of all play and have fun!

2 Comments

April 15, 2013

Savvy Sensory Parenting! By Britt Collins, M.S., OTR/L

Asperger's, Autism, Blog, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special needs children

Are you looking for answers to help you understand sensory processing disorder (SPD)? Our site, Special Needs Book Review, found just the right parenting book to recommend. Sensory Parenting: The Elementary Years: School Years Are Easier when Your Child’s Senses Are Happy! by Britt Collins MS, OTR and Jackie Linder Olson. It is a sequel to their popular book, Sensory Parenting: Newborns to Toddlers published in October 2010.

April 10, 2013

Why Have an IEP? – Tips for Parents on Their IEP Role

ADHD, Asperger's, Autism, Bipolar Mental Health, Blog, IEP Accommodations School, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special needs children, special needs moms

Are you parenting a child with special needs? Has your child been evaluated and is eligible for special education? Most likely he will receive individualized support through his IEP? What is an IEP? The IEP, Individualized Education Program, is a written document that’s developed for each public school child who is eligible for special education.

This post will focus on the following:

◘TIPS for Parents on Their IEP Role

◘Who Develops the IEP?

◘Why Have An IEP?

◘What is the Role of the Parents on the IEP Team?

◘Who Makes Up the IEP Team?

The IEP identifies learning expectations that are modified and/or any accommodations and special education services needed to assist the student in achieving his or her learning expectations. It is an ongoing planning-tool that must be reviewed and revised on a regular basis.

14 Comments

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