Category - Articles

I recently read the book “Growing Girls: The Mother of All Adventures”. Jeanne Marie Laskas, a mother of two little girls adopted from China, writes this story. What an adventurous life this family has, and what a fun book to read. Her writing style has kept me interested in what is going to happen next, …

In a culture where our lives have become inundated with electronics, it is important for parents to teach children the value of spending “unplugged” time together.  Whether your children are toddler or teens, here are some simple electronics-free ideas you can implement to encourage the development of relationships, communication, and thinking skills:

What constitutes a good decision?  It depends on the person(s) involved in, or affected by the decision.   It can be very difficult to determine the best choice, and some decisions are not always popular.  It is my belief, however that when making a decision whether it be which pair of pants to wear in the …

Living in our dynamic, fast changing world can be extremely stressful — even for those who are processing information at a normal rate. Imagine moving to another country where you know only a limited amount of the language that the nationals speak. It could be overwhelming! Now imagine trying to keep up the same lifestyle …

Winter is well underway here in Michigan, and the snow sure has been falling.  It is such a wonderful sight to see children, young and old, out and about enjoying the wonderful scenery.  My young son has become increasingly aware of the seasons, and it has been amazing for me to watch him make discoveries …

With the dawn of a new calendar year comes the urge to make big changes in our lives.  There is something about starting a fresh calendar with the entire year ahead that gets us thinking about all the things we might do over the next 12 months.  If we are honest with ourselves most of …

What is a food jag? Children with feeding difficulties tend to eat the same foods every day, even at every meal. Typically they require that the foods be prepared in the same way each time. For example, your child may only eat a hot dog for lunch every day. S/he will only eat the hot …

One of the thing adults often struggle with when trying to engage a child with autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental issues in playing a game is helping the child stay oriented to them and not just the activity itself.  When an adult gets out a game the child may immediately become focused on looking at …

The title of this article, “Why is this important?” has been the subject of many conversations in the office lately. I have had this discussion with parents and with a few of the teenagers that I see. People, no matter their age, need a reason or a purpose for doing the things they do. We …

School has been in session for a few months now, and students are busily working on their studies. Teachers have dug into the content of their curriculum for the year, and everyone has had time to adjust to the new routine. As a former teacher, curriculum was an integral part of my day; and working …