Mallory Knee, Author at Talbert Zoo

How To Reduce Sensory Issues for Kids During Car Rides

January 3, 2023 Mallory Knee

Many neurodivergent children struggle with sensory issues, especially those with ADHD and autism. This can make riding in the car difficult, as there’s a great deal of unfamiliar sensory input involved. However, never riding in a car isn’t a solution. Saying that your child can never ride in a car will limit them in the future. Instead, it’s important to learn how to accommodate your child. Here are some tips to reduce sensory issues for kids during car rides. Ask Them What They Need If your child is old enough,…

Ways To Help Your Special Needs Child Drink More Water

December 22, 2022December 22, 2022 Mallory Knee

Hydration is one of the most important components of staying healthy. The human body relies on water to function properly. When you don’t drink enough water, your body experiences symptoms like nausea, dry mouth, and headaches. Children are at a greater risk for dehydration than adults. They enjoy staying active and aren’t aware of how much water they’re drinking each day. If you have a special needs child who has difficulty consuming the proper amounts of water each day, take some time to review these helpful ways to encourage them…

When To Seek Professional Help for a Child’s Mental Health

December 14, 2022 Mallory Knee

Young children exhibit variances in development, expressing an individual temperament and experiencing a unique developmental timeline. But where psychological conditions are concerned, it can be hard to tell the difference between a developmental phase and a disability or mental illness. Know when to seek professional help for a child’s mental health. Persistence The defining element of a developmental phase is that it passes. Your pediatrician can help you track infant and toddler development and identify areas of concern. For many families, meeting developmental milestones simply means keeping a child within…

Kids With Autism and Their Special Interests

December 14, 2022 Mallory Knee

If you have a child or family member with autism, you’re likely familiar with their special interests, even if you weren’t previously aware of the technical term for them. Here’s what you should know about kids with autism and their special interests. What Are Special Interests? Special interests are unique to individuals with autism. A special interest can be an intense passion or focus on a specific topic for an extended period of time. Now-outdated research described special interests as “restricted interests” and heavily discouraged them. However, special interests are…

How To Support Your Disabled Friends and Family

November 30, 2022 Mallory Knee

Disabilities are as varied as the individuals who have them. If you have disabled loved ones, you’ve likely wondered how to be a better friend to them. Here’s how to better support your disabled friends and family. Remember That Disabilities Look Differently When you think of a disabled person, what do you think of? Likely someone with a visible disability, such as wheelchair users. These are people with whom you can physically see evidence of said disability. However, it’s important to remember that many disabilities are invisible. Many individuals experience…

5 Things a Mom With a Disabled Child Should Know

November 29, 2022 Mallory Knee

Raising a child with a certain type of disability is always challenging because the world is a complicated place to be in certain situations. Moms that deal with and live in unique circumstances that require special care and development for a child need to figure out how to make the best out of this. Figuring out things on your own as a mom can be challenging, but there are other moms who are going through a similar process and growing from the experience. These things a mom with a disabled…

Ways To Be an Advocate for Persons With Disabilities

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 Mallory Knee

When you have a child with a disability, you’ve been there when the world has been unwelcoming and even cruel. Learning ways to be an advocate for persons with disabilities can support your child and teach them how to advocate for themselves. Stay Informed Attend local government meetings. You can point out where proposed actions or policies may negatively affect or simply ignore the rights and needs of people with a disability. Speaking up at a public meeting can be a little scary. Don’t worry about what others will think.…

The Best Ways To Help Your Child With Behavioral Issues

October 17, 2022 Mallory Knee

Raising a child isn’t easy, but it becomes much more difficult when you have to manage behavioral issues. Children may exhibit problems with behavior for various reasons, so it can be hard to pinpoint the correct strategy for managing their behavior and getting them the help they need. Read on to learn the best ways to help your child with behavioral issues. Stay Consistent One of the hardest parts about raising a child with behavior issues is that their moods can vary from one day to the next, and the…

4 Tips for Road Tripping With a Child With Autism

September 28, 2022September 28, 2022 Mallory Knee

Change can be tough for individuals with autism because it means they are no longer able to maintain their old habits and routines. For children with autism, this change can be overwhelming and scary, particularly if they aren’t sure why the change is happening. Road trips are a great way to spend quality time with your family; however, they can be a source of stress for children with autism due to the change in routine and uncomfortable sensory input. Here are four tips for road tripping with a child with…

Planning a Party for a Child With Special Needs

September 12, 2022 Mallory Knee

Laws and regulations requiring accessibility and accommodation for children with special needs have been in place long enough for most kids of school age to have classmates and friends with disabilities. This should make planning a party for a child with special needs a little easier, but there are still lots of things to consider. Reach Out to Parents Families of typical kids may be perplexed about how to prepare their children to attend a party for a special needs child, or nervous about how to select a gift. Ideally,…