Welcome to “On the Horizon”
Issue 44: A Journey Through Infant Development: The Seventh Month
On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.
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Help for the New Year
 A Note from Nicole: Thank Your Spouse
Idea of the Week: Snow Painting
Feature Article: A Journey through Infant Development: The Seventh Month
The Horizons Team Recommends: Flex Your Brain DVD; RDI Program
Upcoming Events: Sibshop; CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar; Parent Chat
Hi Everyone!
It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Dallas. If I have to be away from home for work or school, it’s nice to be somewhere where the weather is more enjoyable. I picked a good time to get out of Michigan, where I hear it is in the single digits with lots of snow. My kids have been keeping me updated on the weather situation and their hopes for school cancellations! I want to give a big shout-out this week to my amazing husband who has so willingly taken on the role of single parent for 2-weeks while I finish my school requirements. It is such a blessing to be able to leave for this long and not have to worry about the kids or what is going on at home. Having support from our spouses is so important. If you haven’t lately, take a moment to thank your spouse for something they’ve done recently.
This week’s feature article is the long-awaited continuation of Michelle’s son’s development. Now in his 8th month, he is doing all kinds of new and exciting things. If you forgot where the saga left off, you can read it here to refresh your memory. For me, these articles are a great reminder of the importance of savoring both the big and little moments of growth I observe in my children.
Have an amazing week!
Looking to the horizon,
Snow Painting
Here’s an idea for having fun with snow! Get a spray bottle and fill it up with water. Add some drops of food coloring until you get the desired color intensity. Head out to the snow and spray away. You can make any designs you want with the colors you have. See what crazy designs end up in your yard and how long they last!
A Journey
Through Infant Development: The Seventh Month
By: Michelle VanderHeide, BSW
It’s been another wonderful month with my son. Each month I see him increasing his desire for independence. There is already an instinctive attitude of “I can do it!” With this attitude comes frustration, perseverance, and ultimately a sense of growing competence. Allowing him to go through the times of frustration helps to build the perseverance, which is all worth it when I see that look of “I did it!” Many of the milestones written to him below are a direct result of allowing him to fail, persevere (with or without a little support), and succeed.
- You are so busy discovering new things. Your old toys are no longer fun, and you find so much more enjoyment out of strings, boxes, spoons, and other non-toy items. I love sitting back and watching you find something you want and go after.
- Because of your increased curiosity, you have found new ways to move around to get where you want to go. You started off rolling everywhere, but that wasn’t always such an effective method. At church one morning, I watched you eyeing a little girl your age as she crawled around and pulled herself up to stand. You watched intently. It wasn’t but a few days later that you began to move forward and try to pull yourself up. Although you are only making small strides, you are beginning to get where you want in a forward but awkward motion. It’s really cute. Your left arm reaches out, and then you pull yourself forward over that arm. The right arm offers little asistance. Grandma found that to be very funny, as you are taking on the same strange crawling patterns that your daddy used.
- You know your name now. We have lots of little nicknames for you too, and you respond to all of them. I’ll be sitting on the couch watching you play, and I’ll call your name. You stop what you are doing, and turn with the most beautiful smile. It melts my heart, so I interrupt your play a lot just so I can see that precious face.
Flex Your Brain
DVD Program
It’s Here–A Simple Way to Build Flexibility and Thinking Skills in Your Students!
Help your preschool and elementary students learn to: think creatively; flexibly adapt to change; notice similarities and differences; and compare and contrast perspectives
This fun and effective learning tool has two components:
The “It is a _____” component uses colorful inkblot paintings to promote creative and flexible thinking. Spend a few minutes looking at a different inkblot each day, and think about what it could be. This can be done as a great morning warm-up activity, in an individual therapy session, or as a discussion with the whole class.
The “Daily Differences” component provides teachers with simple ideas to incorporate variations into the day. Ideas include:
- Change the location of items in the classroom
- Sit in different shape configurations at “circle” time
- Serve “chilly cookies” from the fridge instead of the cupboard for snack time
- Take different routes as you travel throughout the building
Note to Parents: These make great gifts for the teachers and therapists in your child’s life!
For more information, click here
CORE Approach Program!
Finally – Hope and Real Improvement is Possible for Individuals with Autism and Their Families!
If your child has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum, or with a related neuro-developmental condition, you simply cannot afford not to investigate the CORE Approach Program. If you are ready for a change; ready to step away from the status-quo; ready to stop doing things that aren’t getting you where you want to be; ready to really understand the core deficits creating obstacles for your child; ready to significantly impact your child and your family for the better – then you are ready for CORE Approach.
Watch the video and learn more here
Please join us!
- CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar with Nicole & Erin – Get your Questions Answered (Horizons Families Only)
Thursday January 29 2009, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
- Horizons Parent Chat: Objective Support with Michelle & Courtney (Horizons Families Only)
Monday February 2, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM EST
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday March 14 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
- HANDLE® Intermediate Training
April 6-11, 2009 and May 4-9, 2009
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday May 16 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday July 18 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
See our Event Calendar for more details…
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