Welcome to “On the Horizon”
Issue 48: A Journey Through Infant Development: The Eighth 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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Ideas For Parents
 A Note from Nicole: Update On Our New Book
Idea of the Week: No-Melt Snowballs
Feature Article: A Journey Through Infant Development: The Eighth Month
The Horizons Team Recommends: Parent Success Cards; Sibshop
Upcoming Events: CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar; Parent Chat; Sibshop
Hi Everyone!
Do you ever have one of those weeks where you wonder where the time is going? That’s the kind of week I’m having, as time seems to be moving quickly and my list seems to be getting longer! I’m very pleased to report that we are putting the final touches on our new book, and it will be available for purchase before the end of the month. Since I gave you a sneak peek at the title last week, I’ll give you another bit of information this week. Topics in the book include teacher/staff attitude and the impact it has on student competence, communication strategies, addressing obstacles, the difference between remediation and compensation, and many others. I’m really excited about the positive feedback we’ve gotten so far from people who have helped us with editing.
Interested in the developmental changes and achievements that happen in the 8th month of life? Michelle’s article in her ongoing series will remind you of the critical milestones that children accomplish that this stage. It continually amazes me that the deficits we see in many children with neurodevelopmental disorders have their roots in these early periods of development. By understanding this we can go back and fill in the gaps that prevent these children from moving forward.
Enjoy the ideas and information we’ve put together for you this week!
Looking to the horizon,
No-Melt Snowballs
Melt 1 stick of margarine and a 10 oz. bag of marshmallows until smooth. Stir in 6 cups of rice krispies. After this mixture has cooled a bit rub your hands with margarine and form balls with the mixture. Shake the balls in a Ziploc bag with powdered sugar to coat them. This makes about 24 2-inch “snowballs”. Enjoy this delicious snack together.
A Journey Through Infant Development: The Eighth Month
By: Michelle VanderHeide, BSW
Guided Participation is a concept that is not new, it’s the way we have always learned: parents supporting an infant as she learns to walk, a chemistry teacher demonstrating how to carefully mix chemicals, a college student observing through an internship, and a teenager in driver’s education learning the rules and steps to driving. Without guided participation, we’d have to learn everything on our own, rather than through others’ experiences; and we’d all feel lost and scared. Our world would be a mess! When I look at my 8 month old son, I’m amazed by all the things he has already accomplished through his ability to observe others.
- You are such a blessing in my life! Daily I am amazed at how much you’ve grown. Sometimes I look at you in bed and think, where has my little baby gone? Where have those opportunities of lying on the couch with you and getting cuddle time gone? I miss those times when you’d just sleep on my chest; yet I am so thankful that you have grown into the rambunctious little boy that you are.
- You know that you aren’t alone, and that if you are uncertain or confused about something you can look to me for help. The other day you were playing with a ball – like you often do – and it rolled under the couch. Instead of getting upset, you rolled your way over there and started reaching under the couch. You were unable to reach the ball, so you sat up and looked right at me. You had that look of “help me mom” on your face. I was happy to move the ball a little closer to you so you could successfully pull it out.
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- You are getting places pretty quickly with your army crawl, but you are intrigued by integrating your legs at the same time. On the one hand, I’d love for you to do a full crawl; but I don’t mind you helping to keep the floors clean either. When your sisters are crawling around on the floor, you are watching them carefully. It won’t be long now and you’ll get it! You also like to pull yourself up to see what’s on the table or couch. You try hard to stand, but you haven’t quite got it yet. You get up to your knees, and we can just see your beautiful blue eyes peering over the top of the coffee table. It’s so cute.
Parent Success Cards
For CORE Approach Program families, these cards provide reminders of the main principles of CORE Approach such as the importance of experience sharing, guiding, slowing down, staying focused on the marathon, finding small moments for remediation, and much more. You will find them an invaluable source of inspiration and guidance as you focus on remediation.
Set of 50 heavyweight full-color cards in a sturdy box with lid – $24.95
Purchase the set or view more samples here
Sibshop – Horizons
Sibling Network!
Next Session: March 14th, 2009
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at our center
We feel strongly that as part of our
family-focused mission we need to be attending to the needs of all of
your children, not just the ones with disabilities. Siblings of
children with disabilities have their own unique needs and experiences,
and we will be using the renowned Sibshop model that is designed to
provide them with support, education, and fun.
Limited to 20 children. Participants must
have a sibling with disabilities and be aged 7-14. Lunch will be
provided. The cost is $20.00 per child for Horizons families and $30.00
per child for non-Horizons families.Click on the links below for more
information or call the office with any questions!
To
sign up online, click here
Please join us!
- CORE Approach
Parent Teleseminar: An Overview of the HANDLE Approach with Sindy Wilkerson (Horizons Families Only)
Thursday, February 19, 2009, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
- Horizons
Parent Chat: Objective Support with Michelle & Courtney
(Horizons Families Only)
Monday, March 2, 2009, 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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