Sailing The Spectrum
Jul 26, 2018
Having a constant visual gives me the motivation I need to keep trying new things with my son, even when it seems like nothing is sinking in.
Jul 19, 2018
This video shows our attempts at feeding my son at 10 months old, before we knew about his Sensory Processing issues, before Autism was even a notion.
Jul 12, 2018
If your ASD kiddo is like mine, they totally need a sensory diet to keep their minds and bodies feeling comfortable and regulated.
Jul 5, 2018
How could I possible explain what our day looked like? How could I help someone understand 'his' spectrum?
Jun 28, 2018
How other people view Autism affects how my son is treated, so it’s very important that I do my best to explain "his" Autism to the people in his life.
Jun 21, 2018
Around 10 months, we knew something wasn’t quite right with Simon’s development. He was meeting his milestones, but just... strangely.
Jun 17, 2018
You know who else works just as hard as me? My husband. Basically what I’m saying is, my husband is the greatest Dad!
Jun 7, 2018
For parents of children on the spectrum, identifying whether the situation is a tantrum or a meltdown can mean the difference between a fast recovery or an intense and exhausting situation.
May 31, 2018
Like many Mamas with ASD kids (Autism Spectrum Disorder), we’re always looking for ways to help our little ones cope with sensory overload outside of the home. Here’s a few of our survival items.
May 24, 2018
I showed my son how to tell Google to set a timer for 30 minutes and promised when the timer goes off, we will have playtime.
May 17, 2018
My son constantly reminds me that his experiences are his, not my expectation of experience.
May 10, 2018
"Look at that unruly child hitting and the parents doing nothing." A statement I never expected someone to say to me as a parent.
May 3, 2018
Superheroes, Rock Stars, and Pirates can put together their own capes, masks, cuffs, and then open a secret scroll which takes them on an imaginative adventure in their new identities.
Apr 26, 2018
For a child with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), any combination of those things could just be too much to handle, too much to process. They need a life line, a steady object to help them find their place in their environment.
Apr 19, 2018
During our sensory play through Early Education, at some point I realized I may have some sensory issues too…
Apr 18, 2018
Watch this adorable rendition of Elle King's Xs and Os about the real life struggle and motherhood.
Apr 12, 2018
And with the specific needs of children on the spectrum in mind, many of these toys encourage imagination, socialization, while increasing the development of play and motor skills.
Apr 5, 2018
I’ve always prided myself on being an exceptional multitasker. I love having tons of projects going on at the same time. Even when my life becomes stressful and hectic, there’s nothing better than the feeling of relief and accomplishment when I can check off my To-Do list. I’ve always worked 2...
Mar 29, 2018
Imitation was a super hard skill for us to learn. Until I found a wonderful video series on YouTube called Super Simple Songs.
Mar 23, 2018
Gund has been gracious enough to gift us with a Julia doll that we would love to give one of our readers.
Mar 22, 2018
In the heat of the moment, when those “terrible two’s” begin to take hold of your child for the first time, it can be really hard to recognize what is actually happening versus what it “feels” like is happening.
Mar 15, 2018
This particular shop in New Paltz doesn’t have a drive-thru window which I didn’t think much of until I started seeing a really amazing thing happening….the customers, and tons of them, smiling and laughing with the staff like they were all friends. Every. Single. Morning. I felt like I was watching an episode of Cheers.
Feb 22, 2018
My son is not a fan of other kids. When we go to the park he likes watching the other kids run around, but he doesn’t want to play with them. And that’s okay. We’re working on helping him have fun in a social settings without getting upset at the chaos, noise, and unpredictability of other child...
Jan 18, 2018
I would LOVE to take time off to just relax somewhere, getting a massage, listening to peaceful sounds of the rain forest, drinking exotic teas in peace, but that’s not my life
Jan 11, 2018
When I was pregnant I had it all figured out....but my toddler made me eat all my sanctimommy words like he inhales dinosaur chicken nuggets.
Jan 4, 2018
Our faces tell so much about who we are and how we interact with others, and if a child is not looking for those clues, they will never truly understand how to communicate.
Dec 28, 2017
The big difference between me and Google Home is our cute little speaker can’t guess at what my son is trying to say. This lack of intuition is actually pushing my son to speak.
Dec 21, 2017
We can debate whether this movie was awesome or awful later, but for now, this theme is resonating with me as a parent. I want so much to do the right thing for my son, to give him the best life I can, but ultimately, the person he becomes will be his choice. Just as it was my choice growing up.
Dec 14, 2017
A Christmas tree is always our biggest concern. They can be climbed, pulled down, and of course bare treacherous terrain with broken bulbs and sharp-edged ornaments.
Dec 7, 2017
A few weeks or months after we have worked through a challenge, it would suddenly reappear. We learned that although this appears to be the same situation, it’s not.
Nov 30, 2017
Sometimes asking a child to “Be Quiet”, “Sit Still”, or “Pay Attention” can be an impossible request. They don’t yet understand how to. A Sensory Diet will help them transition their energy throughout the day.
Nov 21, 2017
These five words could have several meanings so I’ve decided to explore each one in hopes to break my emotional ties.
Nov 16, 2017
Although he can’t express why he likes or doesn’t like different foods, I understand that my son does have a reason and that reason is valid. I was the same way growing up!
Nov 9, 2017
So what do with do with bins of rice and play-doh and beans and kinetic sand? We stored all of these bins in a closet and created an activity photo library.
Nov 2, 2017
My son is Autistic, with or without technology. Here's how we've used TV and his tablet as tools for learning.
Oct 26, 2017
We started practicing signs with our son around 9 months and it has made all the difference in our relationship, his communication development, and his overall behavior.
Oct 19, 2017
Everyone told me I would be more tired than 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.
Oct 12, 2017
One of the hardest things I’ve had to do in Early Intervention is teach my son flexibility, but it’s so very important for us both, to learn how to cope when things aren’t the same. If your child, like mine, is rigid with reading time, here’s a few ways to broaden their reading experience.
Oct 5, 2017
What’s the point in going to the zoo if not to check out the cool animals? Well, to Simon, there were other attractions that he really enjoyed, we just weren’t listening.
Sep 28, 2017
My little boy, you are growing up so fast. I want you to know, that no matter what, you are safe and I will always be here for you, so I hold you hand. I wish I could hold onto these moment forever.
Sep 21, 2017
Children with SPD struggle with regulating their senses. In an effort to normalize what they are feeling, children will modify their play and actions depending on how much or how little sensory input they need.
Sep 15, 2017
My son is moving on and transitioning well into his first week of Preschool, but there’s no transition for parents. What am I supposed to do now?
Sep 14, 2017
SPD is so much more than just an “over sensitivity”. For some children on the spectrum, it can also mean that their bodies aren’t sensitive enough and may even get hurt because they don’t feel pain. Sensory Processing Disorder, in the very basic of terms, really means that there’s a breakdown of how the person is receiving and filtering stimulation.
Sep 8, 2017
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. Using multiple reinforcements through play and social stories is the approach that helped my son.
Aug 28, 2017
Music class has such a positive impact on a child's mental, social and emotional growth in so many ways.
Aug 17, 2017
Through Early Intervention, we learned lots of techniques that have helped reduce barrier Stims while giving Simon more appropriate activities to address his sensory needs.
Aug 10, 2017
Despite all of our daily struggles and tears, my son always makes me laugh and reminds me to take it easy. Simon never lets me forget to just chill and laugh, especially at the most inopportune times.
Jul 21, 2017
Stims can also develop as a means of escape and further prevent development.
Jul 20, 2017
Based on portrayals of Autistic children on TV and in movies, I thought stims were always either hand flapping or spinning in circles.
Jul 12, 2017
Even before my son received the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) diagnosis, life was very challenging. Way more challenging than it should be for first time parents and a new baby.