Special Needs

By September of this year, we will have experienced four pediatric surgical procedures in four years. Thankfully our two major surgeries are behind us, and now we are waiting for two minor procedures that won’t require overnight stays. I also want to acknowledge all of the moms whose children have had multiple major surgeries and/or a long term medical issue. You are rockstars! For us, four surgeries is four too many, but I know that my children are healthy and I am so thankful for that. Any surgery is stressful. While I do feel less stressed about my oldest having an outpatient procedure than when my youngest had two cranial surgeries, it’s still not something I am excited about. Honestly, one of...

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Behavioral Intervention Group (BIG).  Experience BIG fun in our Social Skills Summer Camps! Although the weather has been hot for weeks now, the closing of school doors means summer is officially here for Baton Rouge families! From playdates in the park to family vacations at the beach, summer is full of exciting experiences for our kids. To get the most out of summer, we all want our children to enjoy playing with each other as much as possible, instead of playing with technology. How can you encourage your kids to get out and have fun in the sun, especially those children who may be shy and uncomfortable in social settings? While some children acquire social skills...

Since our second child was a baby, my husband and I noticed unique quirks about his personality. We chalked it up to idiosyncrasies that were part of his overall character, but as he grew along with our understanding, we began taking more serious notice of these character traits. He was always distracted. We affectionately referred to it as being "in La-La Land." Anytime we'd give instructions, particularly multi-step instructions, he'd get lost in his own thoughts. Sometimes he'd get lost in his own room. We evolved in our parenting to develop coping mechanisms on our end and his. One night, I eliminated as many distractions as I could before I made eye contact, told him to go brush his teeth, had...

My friend recently told me her daughter has been going home lately complaining about a girl in her class who has learning disabilities. Her daughter gets home and unleashes a vast amount of negative emotions due to all the pent up frustrations she has throughout the school day concerning her workload. But more specifically there's one girl in her class who seems to be getting frustrated every time she doesn’t understand the lesson. According to my friend, the child screams, yells, and acts out begging for immediate attention. Come to find out, she has learning disabilities. Now, why is a child with special needs in a regular classroom, you ask? Well, according to the teacher, they are trying to...

Disclosure :: this post is sponsored by Touchstone. Tips for Working with Pre-School Children with Autism Starting a new school can be scary for anyone — parents, teachers and kids are all adjusting to new routines and environments. If your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and is starting in a pre-school setting, your transition may be slightly different. Stay calm, and keep in mind some things you can do to help your child acquire the skills and resources they need for their ongoing development. Facing this challenge head on now is key as your pre-school age child will be advancing into a higher-level school setting before you know it. It’s crucial for parents to convey to teachers and caretakers exactly what...