The Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) was created by autistic individuals who understand the disorder, and who has a way to determine whether the child will develop a certain skill or not. The Autism Behavior Checklist was created by someone with an understanding of autism. This person has created an ABC that is used as a guideline for the development of autistic individuals. The purpose of the ABC is to give direction to how autism progresses. It also gives a sense of order to the chaotic chaos that accompanies autism. By…
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Depression in Teens – Symptoms and Treatment Options
Depression in teens is one of the most dangerous issues facing our youth today. But while depression in teens is treatable, many teenage depressed teens simply do not get treatment. Teen depression goes well beyond moodiness. It is a serious disorder that effects every area of a teenager’s life from diet to sleep to exercise. Teens are at greater risk than most adults for depression. There are biological and psychological reasons why this is so. A depressed teen has low self-esteem and low self-image. Low self-esteem interferes with relationships and…
Read MoreKeeping Kids With Special Needs Safe and Happy on Long Trips
Traveling with kids is often demanding, and traveling with a child with special needs can add further challenges. Don’t let that be an obstacle to having fun with your kids on a long road trip. With a little planning, any journey can be a fun and exciting chance to connect and experience everything the road has to offer. Here are several tips for keeping kids with special needs safe and happy on long trips. Plan Your Itinerary (and Then Plan for Surprises!) A vacation is a time to relax, but…
Read MoreFun Family Bonding Activities
You likely have a strategic approach to communicating with your special needs child. Whether you emphasize non-verbal cues or engage with them indirectly, your quality time with them may be a challenge, but it is meaningful, nonetheless. If you want to expand your options for communication, here are a few fun family bonding activities to try. Watch Their Favorite Movie Together Your special needs child may be non-verbal and have a difficult time talking with you. Instead of putting pressure on them to communicate during quality time, give them the…
Read MoreHow Safe Is Your Child’s School Bus?
It’s hard to trust anyone with the safety of your children, but it’s particularly tough to watch them march onto a school bus packed with rowdy kids and a driver you don’t know. How safe is your child’s school bus? The answers to these questions should help you breathe easier. Are There Many Bus Accidents? Not many, but we haven’t been able to eliminate school bus accidents entirely. The bad news: Each year, four to six school-age children die on school vehicles. But if it’s any comfort, that’s less than…
Read More4 Road Trip Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs
Parents of children with special needs, particularly autism, know their child’s happy place is at home. Home is dependable and full of their usual food and activities, and it forms a barrier from the unpredictable outside world. It’s good that they’re comfortable somewhere, but they can rely on home too much and dread going out—and the prospect of not just going out, but spending days away from home can be terrifying for them. This makes road trips a challenge for parents and their kids with special needs. If you’re planning…
Read MoreI Can’t Do Everything
I can’t do everything but I can try. Stress seems to be an ongoing theme when I write a Talbert Zoo Story. It seems like it controls my life. Now that it is 2020, I need to try harder to prevent that. I always feel pressured to be the best at everything. I need to be the best sports mom and make sure Monkey is registered for wrestling tournaments every weekend. I need to be the best music mom and make sure Kitty and Parrot practice their instruments every single…
Read MoreMarriage enrichment initiative geared toward military couples
Washington D.C., Dec 31, 2019 / 11:05 am (CNA).- A global marriage ministry is launching a new initiative to provide resources, encouragement and enrichment opportunities for military couples in Canada and the United States. The project is part of Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME), in conjunction with the North American Military Services Outreach (NAMSO). Worldwide Marriage Encounter, which originated in the 1950s with Spanish priest Father Gabriel Calvo, is a marriage enrichment program that offers weekend retreats to help couples foster communication skills, inspire family life, and promote friendships with other…
Read MoreWhite House summit on family leave follows new House bill
Washington D.C., Dec 12, 2019 / 12:00 pm (CNA).- The White House hosted a summit on paid leave Thursday, hours after the House passed a bill with 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers,. “We’re here today to support the heroic calling of working moms and dads,” President Donald Trump said Dec. 12 at the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House. Attending the summit on paid leave and child care were members of Congress and business leaders. Trump called families the…
Read MoreYoung Moms May Be More Likely to Have Kids with ADHD
A new study finds that young moms, particularly those under the age of 20, are more likely to have a child with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For the study, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) explored the genetic relationship between female reproductive traits and key psychiatric disorders. They found that the genetic risk of ADHD in children was strongly associated with early maternal age at first birth, especially for women younger than 20. ADHD is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder which affects a person’s ability to exert age-appropriate self-control.…
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