Welcome to “On the Horizon”

Issue 95: Developing a Sleep Schedule That Works

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.

To keep receiving On the Horizon,
please add the email address “nicolebeurkens@horizonsdrc.com” to your safe address list.

Great Information for Helpings Kids

A Note from Nicole: Building Blocks

Idea of the Week:  Finding Shadows

Feature Article: Developing a Sleep Schedule That Works

The Horizons Team Recommends: Do Something Daily Calendar; Workshops

Upcoming Events: CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar; Sibshop

Hi Everyone,

This past weekend Alicia (the lead instructor at our center) and I had the pleasure of attending a
workshop with Sheila Frick about reflexes as the building blocks for sensory integration.  Sheila is such an amazing source of knowledge and it was a great two days of intense information and hands-on activities.  We’re excited to begin implementing what we learned with kids and families in the coming weeks.  Committing to ongoing professional development is critical to ensure we are providing the best and most current information and strategies to our clients and their families!

Speaking of workshops, we’ve got two great opportunities coming up in March for parents and professionals.  Click here for all the details about these events and how you can participate.  If you are a parent then I hope you are signed up for our no-cost teleseminar happening tomorrow (Thursday) called “Simplify Your Parenting: What most experts don’t know about how to make parenting children with ASD easier”.  I’ll be sharing some key concepts and strategies that are required for moving your child forward and making things easier for you at the same time.  You can register for this important call here.

This week’s feature article by Michelle discusses the important topic of sleep.  We all need sleep, and none of us can function well without it!  Make sure you check out her tips for better sleep.

Have a fabulous rest of the week!

Looking to the horizon,

Finding Shadows

Since today is Groundhogs Day it might be fun to see if you can help your children find their shadows (or at least on a day when there is sun).  Walk around and talk about what they see next to them – it might be a big or small shadow.  You may even want to stop and draw or trace their shadow to show them what it looks like.  Another fun thing to do with shadows is make finger puppets with your hands.  Shadows can be a hard thing to understand also a fun thing to play with so have fun with them.

Developing a Sleep Schedule That Works

By: Michelle VanderHeide, BSW

“I just want to have a quiet evening! Why won’t you just go to sleep?!?” Do you ever have those nights? Maybe this is your night every night! Whatever the situation, it makes life much more stressful when you are tired and can’t get your child or children to fall asleep and sleep well! Rest assured, you can have more relaxed evenings and get your household the way it was intended to be – kids in their own beds, at a reasonable time, for the duration of night.

In my several years of working with families, many different situations have arisen. Keep this simple acronym in your head to ensure a good night’s S.L.E.E.P.

Schedule: The most important thing you can do is develop a good bedtime routine. About an hour before bedtime (which should be the same time every night), begin calming your child with regulating activities. Maybe you would like to read books, take a walk, or play a quiet, noncompetitive game. Then go through the normal bedtime routine: get pajamas on, brush teeth etc. Once you have your child in bed, take a few minutes to help your child relax. Maybe read another book, or tell a story. Some kids calm quickly to touch, heavy pressure, or a head rub once they are in bed.

Continued…

HorizonsDRCWorkshops.com

You Have Questions.
We Have Answers.

Join us for learning experiences designed to provide you with the information, tools, and motivation you need to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Horizons Workshop Opportunities

• Evaluating for Autism: The Nuts and Bolts of Quality School-Based Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluations

• Autism in the Classroom: Simple & Effective Strategies to Learn Today and Use Tomorrow

• Day of Change: A Groundbreaking Workshop for Parents of Children with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders

• Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Edition

For more information, click here

Do Something Daily Calendar

Do you dread hearing your child complain, “I’m bored”?

Struggle to think of something fun you can do together?

Have trouble squeezing one-on-one time with her into your day?

That’s why we created the Do Something Daily Calendar.
The Calendar offers a daily dose of inspiration and ideas
for spending time together–whether you have 60 seconds or 60
minutes.

In addition, $1.00 from every calendar sold goes toward research to improve the quality of life for those with autism, through a donation to the Foundation for Autism Research and Remediation.

For more information, click here.

Please join us!

• CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar: Topic: Home Schooling

  Two home schooling Moms share their experiences
  (Horizons Families Only)

  Thursday, Feburary 18, 2010 from 11:00-12:00 PM EST

• Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
  Open to everyone!

  Saturday, Feburary 20, 2010, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST

• CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar: Q&A
  with Michelle and Courtney
  Topic: School
  (Horizons Families Only)

  Monday, March 1, 2009 from 1:30-2:30 PM EST

• Workshop – Evaluating for Autism:
  The Nuts and Bolts of Quality School-Based Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluations

• Workshop – Autism in the Classroom:
  Simple & Effective Strategies to Learn Today and Use Tomorrow

  Friday, March 12, 2009

• Workshop – Day of Change:
  A Groundbreaking Workshop for Parents of Children with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders

  Saturday, March 13, 2009

• Extreme Makeover:
  Autism Education Edition
  August 4-6, 2010