On the Horizon – 05/04/2010

Horizons Developmental Remediation Center

On the Horizon
On the Horizon

Welcome to “On the Horizon”

Issue 106: Slowing Down to Speed Up

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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please add the email address “nicolebeurkens@horizonsdrc.com” to your
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In This Issue

Great Information


A Note from
Nicole: Camps and Workshops


Idea of the Week:  Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Feature Article: Slowing Down to Speed Up

The Horizons Team Recommends: Explorations in Eating Audio Program, Calendar and Journal Set; and the Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Workshop

NEW! Allergy-Free Recipe of the Week: Pizza Crust

NEW! Allergy-Free Product of the Week: Gluten Free Dreams Pancake Mix

Upcoming Events:  Summer CAMPS; Workshops/Conferences

A Note From Nicole

Nicole Beurkens

Hi Everyone,

It’s May already – where does the time go?!  Before we know it the kids will be done with another year of school and the summer will be upon us.  We’re gearing up for Camps season around here, and are excited about seeing our summer friends again soon. If you’re interested in checking out the Summer Camps programs we will have available this summer, you can get the details here.

We had an awesome turn-out for our teleseminar last week called “He Did What?!  How NOT to Respond to Behaviors of Students with Autism!”  Hundreds of people were registered for the call, and it was great to share this important information with everyone.  On the call I shared the details of our upcoming 3-day event in August called Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Edition 2010.  This event was such a hit last summer that we are holding it again this year.  This is an amazing opportunity for education professionals and parents to learn the information and strategies needed to move students with autism to the next level, while minimizing stress and obstacles in the process.  You can get all the details at www.ExtremeMakeoverAutism.com.  By the way – there is a special bonus available for people who register by June 4th, so register early to get in on that!

As you read through the newsletter this week you’ll see that we’ve added a section on allergen-free cooking.  We know that many of you have kids with various allergies and sensitivities, so we’re providing you with some recipes and resources to help you on that journey.  Let us know what you think about these new features.  Enjoy!

Make it a fabulous week!

Looking
to the horizon,

Idea of the Week
Editable Lady Bugs?

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

A nature scavenger hunt is always a great way to get the whole family outdoors and enjoying the warm weather. It can be done in a park, at the beach, in the woods, or even your very own yard.  Before you being, though, there are several things to keep in mind when starting to prepare for your outdoor scavenger hunt.

  1. Pick a location that is appropriate for your family.
  2. Decide if they will go looking for a list of objects that are already in the location such as a leaf or a pine cone or if you will be hiding objects in the playing area. You can also decide to do a combination of the two.
  3. Make your list. Examples of items found outside include: a leaf, a pebble, three types of grass, a feather, smooth bark, rough bark, a ladybug, etc. Examples of things that you can hide in the area include: a crayon, a comb, a lifesaver, a plastic cup, a book, a tube of toothpaste, salt shaker, a votive candle, etc
  4. Gather together your lists and anything you might be hiding and get the site prepared.
  5. Begin your search and have fun!
 
Feature Article
Educating

Slowing Down to Speed Up

By: Erin Roon CCC-SLP

Why does it seem that everything has to be done at warp speed these days?  Everyone is in a rush to get where they are going and to do what needs to be done.  It seems the older a person gets, the faster the years fly by.  Is it because we get so busy and are in such a hurry that we miss whole periods of time, caught up in meaningless tasks?  Why, when we were children, did it seem like there was so much time and it went so slowly? 

Think back to when you were a child, and summer vacation seemed to stretch on forever.  Was that because our lives weren’t packed with things to do from the time we got up until the time we went to bed? Was it because we had the whole day just to play, have fun, and be creative?  No schedules, no responsibilities, no worries all seem to have played a part in the “time” we then had.

Continued…

Feature Article
Educating

Pizza Crust

(From the cookbook Eating for Autism by Elizabeth Strickland)

Whether you have just started a special diet with your child or you have been following one for years, it can be difficult to come up with what to serve. We decided to try to make that just a bit easier by providing you with a new allergen free recipe each week. While it is impossible to meet every person’s unique food sensitivity needs, we hope you will find these recipes helpful and delicious. Please feel free to adapt the recipes to meet your needs and taste buds; we do it all the time. In addition to the weekly recipes, we will be highlighting a specific allergen free product of the month. Enjoy!

Pizza Crust Recipe

This recipe makes one large or four individual crusts. You can actually see the soft, breadlike texture of this crust as you pat out the dough. When its spread to 10 inches, it yields a hand-tossed crust. Spread thicker or thinner according to your own taste.

Get the rest of the recipe ...

Feature Article
Educating

Gluten Free Dreams Pancake Mix (plain or chocolate chip)

Get this pancake mix and other allergen-free products at CherrybrookKitchen.com.

The Horizons Team Recommends

Extreme Makeover

Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Edition Workshop

 

August 4-6 • 2010 Grand Rapids, MI

Put together the soaring increase in children diagnosed with autism and related impairments, a group of dedicated educators seeking solutions to the challenges they face daily, a team of been-in-the-trenches experts, three days of amazing content and hands-on experience, and what do you get?

An amazing 3-day workshop that will transform how you understand and educate students with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Click here for more information!


 

Feeding Products

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

 

Upcoming Events

Please
join us!

  • 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 ProgramCollaborate and Create: Session 1
    Ages 11-18, 9am-12pm, Tues & Thurs

    June 29, July 1-15

  • Summer ProgramCollaborate 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

On
the Horizon

is a weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental
disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress,
support their child¹s development, and improve quality of life
for the whole family.

Our mailing address is:

Horizons Developmental Remediation Center
3120 68th Street SE
Caledonia, MI  49316

Our telephone:
(616) 698-0306

Our email address:

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