
Welcome to “On the Horizon”
Issue 32: A Journey Through Infant Development: The Fifth 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.
To keep receiving On the Horizon, please add the email address “nicolebeurkens@horizonsdrc.com” to your safe address list.

Understanding How Children Develop
A Note from Nicole: What Does Infant Development Have to Do with Autism?
Idea of the Week: Wardrobe Changes
Feature Article: A Journey Through Infant Development: The Fifth Month
The Horizons Team Recommends: Do Something Daily Calendar; CORE Approach Program
Upcoming Events: CORE Approach Parent Chat; CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar; Sibshop
 
Hi Everyone!
It’s really starting to feel like fall here in Michigan. We had some frost over the weekend, and the leaves are starting to change. Last week there were a few days when my kids needed jackets at the bus stop, and I was running around the house trying to find them since we haven’t used them in many months! So, this weekend I decided I had better tackle the project of getting all my kids’ closets and drawers organized with fall/winter clothes. Not my favorite task, but it’s done!
We’ve gotten great feedback about Michelle’s article series following the development of her infant son. I’ve also gotten a couple of emails asking what these articles have to do with autism, and why we’re including them in our newsletter. It’s a good question, and one that I want to take a moment to answer here for everyone. Looking at development from birth through the first months and years of life highlights the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical developments that are necessary for more advanced skill development. The social, cognitive, and communication deficits we see in individuals on the autism spectrum occur as a result of development going “off course” somewhere in the first years of life. Even though the diagnosis may not be given until further into childhood (or sometimes even adulthood), we can trace these developmental foundations back to early childhood and see where there are deficits. Understanding how these areas develop in typical children provides us with a guide for what we need to go back and work on in order to correct the deficits we see in autism. That, by the way, is the essence of what we do through the RDI® Program. Hopefully that helps everyone to see how important it is to understand typical development when attempting to address the problems we see in autism.
On that note – enjoy Michelle’s article this week about her son’s fifth month of life!
Looking to the horizon,


Wardrobe Changes!
Now that the weather is getting colder outside, it is time to put away those summer clothes and bring out the fall / winter ones. Have your child help decide what clothes are worn in warm weather and what clothes are worn in cold weather. Don’t forget about cold weather coats, boots, and other things in your coat closet!


A Journey Through Infant Development: The Fifth Month
By: Michelle VanderHeide
This has been an amazing journey, and I thank all who have joined me in it! The feedback has been great, and I’m so glad to have you share this amazing adventure. This past month has proven to be a time of even more milestones in my infant son’s development. How is it that infants can grow so much in such little time?
- You continue to grow so quickly. The thing that amazes me most about your last month of development is your ability to notice everything around you, and then grab for any and everything! What once used to be an easy trip to a restaurant now proves to be much more of a challenge. Your ability to seek something out and then grab it in an instant is amazing! My beverage, plate of food etc. must be on the other side of the table, or you are diving forward to grab it.

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.
$19.95 (Per Calendar) Calendars are assembled by clients in our EmployAbilities program. $1.00 from every calendar will be donated to FARR.
Click on the image below to visit our store!


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 RDI® 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 RDI®.
Watch the video and learn more here

Please join us!
- CORE Approach Parent Chat – Spotlighting
Horizons Families Only
Tuesday October 7, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
- CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar – with Elizabeth Hagen
“Organize with Confidence – Simplify Your Life
and Make Every Moment Count”
Horizons Families Only
Tuesday October 21, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday November 1, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
- CORE Approach Parent Chat – Holiday Ideas
Horizons Families Only
Tuesday November 4, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
- CORE Approach Parent Day
Remediation-Friendly Treatments for Feeding Problems and Sensory Processing Disorders
Friday November 7, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST
- Beginning CORE Approach 4-day Parent Seminar – Chicago, IL area
November 10-13
Registration and Location Information To Be Announced…
- CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar with Jennifer Wolf,
“The Dangers of Media for Children”
Horizons Families Only
Tuesday November 18, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday January 17 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 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 2009 – Dates TBA!
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday May 9 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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