Welcome to “On the Horizon”

Issue 102: Spring Break is Back

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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Getting Ready for Summer!

A Note from Nicole: Wrightslaw; Meeting Parents from Michigan & Neighboring States

Idea of the Week:  Staycation

Feature Article: Spring Break is Back

The Horizons Team Recommends: Exploration in Eating

Upcoming Events:  Summer CAMPS

Hi Everyone,

It’s a beautiful sunny Saturday morning as I sit here writing this note.  I have the privilege of attending a local autism society’s conference event featuring Wrightslaw (special education information and advocacy for parents) and a resource fair.  I’m meeting many wonderful parents from Michigan and neighboring states.  It’s a pleasure to be able to talk with parents about their children and the joys as well as struggles they experience.  If you attended the conference and are receiving this newsletter for the first time – Welcome!

I know some of you may have already had your spring break, but here in Michigan ours is just around the corner.  This week’s feature article by Courtney provides some excellent ideas for having some fun experiences over the break, even when you’re just staying at home.  Our idea of the week also provides some fun “staycation” ideas!

Speaking of breaks from school, summer will be here soon and our Summer Camps schedule is full of opportunities for families here locally as well as at a distance.  We’ve got themed camp week experiences planned for younger children all the way up to our great teen/young adult “Collaborate and Create” groups.  You can click here to check out all the dates and information.

Enjoy the week!

Looking to the horizon,

Staycation

Staying home for vacation can be just as fun as going away on vacation! In order for a staycation to feel like a vacation, consider planning it as you would a regular vacation. Have start and end dates along with daily planned activities. Include the whole family on deciding the daily activities; have each child pick what they want to do for their activity of choice and the whole family participates. Like a vacation make sure you take lots of pictures and/or video to remember your vacation at home.

Some suggestions for a staycation are: visit a local museum, go to the zoo, have a picnic at a local park, go on a bike ride adventure, explore new shops or restaurants, or even stop at a local gift shop to commemorate your staycation. Have a great staycation!

Spring Break is Back

By: Courtney Kowalczyk, M.Ed.

The weather is warming up here in Michigan, and it is hard to believe that spring break is right around the corner. Spring time can be a season of change for many children, and it is important to try and maintain some consistency and routine. Whether you are going away for spring break or staying home, here are a few fun ideas to help you and your family maintain consistency as well as to enjoy the time off.

Set up an indoor treasure hunt. We all know that the weather during the spring season can be somewhat unpredictable, which means that you may find yourselves stuck indoors whether you are at home or on vacation. Wherever you are, you and your family can have a great time with an indoor treasure hunt. Each family member can take turns hiding their own personal items, and giving clues to the other family members about where the “treasures” are hiding.

Camp out! Whether you sleep on the floor in your living room or outside in a tent, camping out can be fun for everyone. You can set up your own campsite indoors or outside with a tent, sleeping bags, and snacks. As a family, you could sit around a real or pretend fire and take turns telling stories to one another. You can even make smores over a fire or in the microwave.

Continued…

Explorations in Eating Audio Program, Calendar and Journal Set

Making Eating an Adventure and Expanding Your Child’s Food Preferences.

If your child is a picky eater or has feeding issues, mealtimes can feel like a battle zone. Try to introduce a new food and you’re surely buying a front row seat to a meltdown. His limited diet makes it difficult to enjoy a meal out or eat at friends and relatives’ homes. And you can’t help but worry about the impact such a limited diet will have on his health and development.

But there is hope. Over the years we’ve found that if a child has the opportunity to explore new foods in a non-threatening and playful way, she will eventually taste it—and often, ends up liking it. So, we’ve created a few easy-to-use tools to help you follow the same process at home.

Discover how to start broadening your child’s food preferences by ordering your Explorations in Eating Audio program, Calendar, and Journal Set for just $49.95 today!

For more information, click here

Please
join us!

• RDI® Parent Teleseminar: Topic: Parenting Special Needs Children
  (Horizons Families Only)
  Thursday, Apirl 8, 2010 from 11:00-12:00 PM EST
• Heart of a Spartan Health & Wellness Expo – Lansing
  May 1, 2010
• Walk Now for Autism Speaks – Chicago
  May 15, 2010
• AutismOne & Generation Rescue Conference – Chicago
  May 28-30, 2010
• Summer CAMPS – Red, White, & Blue
  (ages 4-7 morning  & ages 8-12 afternoon)
  June 28 – July 1
• Summer CAMPS – Let’s Make Music
  (ages 4-7 morning  & ages 8-12 afternoon)
  July 12 – 15
• Summer CAMPS – All About Pets
  (ages 4-7 morning  & ages 8-12 afternoon)
  July 26 – 29
• Summer CAMPS – Fun in the Sun
  (ages 4-7 morning  & ages 8-12 afternoon)
  August 9 – 12
• Summer Program – Collaborate and Create: Session 1
  Ages 11-18, 9am-12pm, Tues & Thurs
  June 29, July 1-15
• Summer Program – Collaborate and Create: Session 2
  Ages 11-18, 9am-12am, Mon-Weds, 9am-1pm Thurs
  July 26 – 29
• Extreme Makeover:Autism Education Edition
  August 4-6, 2010