Dear Officer.... Being a new mom is super hard. I mean, everyone told me I would be more tired that I’ve ever been and have crazy “mommy brain,” but I didn’t truly understand the gravity of that term until my first week home with my newborn. Lack of sleep was an understatement. I was getting … Continue reading That Time Mommy Brain Made Me Shoplift
Reading is so important. It develops listening skills and models conversations. As parents of children on the spectrum, we try to make life as easy as possible for our children. They desperately need routine so we try to make accommodations to keep them happy and keep their world calm and safe. One of the hardest … Continue reading Flexibility 101: Reading
The animals didn't even make the list! LOL We’ve been to the Bronx Zoo with our son a few times in the past, none of which have been very successful trips. Each time he seemed very scattered, very serious, and was not interested in looking at any animals. Although he would repeat “animal zoo”, as … Continue reading My Sensory Son’s Top 10 Favorite Things At The Zoo
So what do you do when it’s a billion degrees outside and your child is bonkers bored? Plan an indoor camp-out, obvs. I was lucky to win two of Mimish Designs awesome Sleep-N-Pack bags to make our camp out even better than I could have imagined. These super compact backpacks fold out into cozy sleeping … Continue reading Sleep-N-Pack Backpacks Made Our Indoor Camping Adventure Awesome
My little boy, you are growing up so fast. I try to hang on and let you grow in sweet balance. Your baby cheeks and dimples remind me of how little you once were, and how that time feels so long ago. I want you to explore the world, to make new friends, to learn … Continue reading When You Hold My Hand
For over two years my life has been all about Early Intervention and now that it’s over, I feel so very lost. This post has taken me awhile to write. I have so many emotions about transitioning my son from Early Intervention to Preschool that I really needed time to organize my thoughts. For over … Continue reading Who Am I Without EI?
Children with Sensory Processing Disorder Can Be Sensory Seekers or Defensive, or Both. Children with Sensory Processing Disorder can be sensory seekers or defensive, or both. In the simplest of terms, children with SPD struggle with regulating their senses. In an effort to normalize what they are feeling, children will modify their play and actions … Continue reading Sensory Seeking vs. Sensory Defensive
Sensory Processing Disorder is more than difficulty coping with bright lights and loud noises. The clinical definition, according to WebMD is “a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. Formerly referred to as sensory integration dysfunction, it is not currently recognized as a distinct … Continue reading What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Children on the spectrum often have challenges expressing and understanding emotions. The subtle social cues, that we take for granted, can be met with confusion or missed entirely. Teaching emotions isn’t like learning to count or identifying colors. Using multiple reinforcements through play and social stories is the approach that helped my son. Through Early … Continue reading Teaching Feelings To Children On The Spectrum
Musical Munchkin provides wonderful opportunity for toddlers to learn play and socialization skills. Socialization and pretend play are often difficult concepts for many children on the Autism Spectrum, and our Early Intervention teachers urged us to get involved in a play group to further work on these skills. Musical Munchkins seemed like it might work … Continue reading Learning Play & Socialization Through Musical Munchkins
