It is exciting and nerve-wracking enough to find out you’re expecting a child. Add in the additional pressure of balancing attention with older siblings, or even older siblings with special needs, and you’re on a roller coaster of emotion (probably every day). I was recently asked to help a family prepare their child diagnosed with…
I can’t promise that there won’t be days where you feel like ripping out your hair. Between doctor’s appointments, therapies, and school meetings, it’s no easy task being the best advocate for your child. However, here are some tips to stay organized with documentation and appointments to help you be your child’s number 1 fan.…
Everyone’s all about DIY: do it yourself. There are YouTube videos, television shows, and even whole channels devoted to creating things yourself. But what about DIFY? Do it for yourself. Self-care should be as important as your fight to get the services and resources your child needs to succeed. But if you’re burnt out, exhausted,…
Many parents take for granted having a child (or children) toilet-trained and wearing underwear throughout the day and night. For many parents with children diagnosed with developmental disabilities, not having to change a school-aged child’s diaper, bring a 12-year-old boy into the women’s restroom, or wake up in the middle of the night to change…
It would be great if we never had to worry about inappropriate, maladaptive, and/or challenging behavior. But then I’d be out of a job. And I really like what I do. However, I do have some secrets to share to decrease the likelihood of your child engaging in unwanted behavior, even if you’re not entirely…
One of the most common questions that I’m asked throughout service delivery with a family is “WHY is my child acting like this?” And, actually, the answer isn’t always as convouted as it seems. Remember the other post about the ABCs of behavior? Well, get ready, because it’s about to come full circle. Everything that…
As with many other variables in life, behavior can either increase/continue to occur or decrease/cease to occur. Determining if a behavior will increase or decrease is based on the “consequence” part of the ABCs of behavior (see related post). A reinforcing consequence will increase the likelihood of the behavior occurring in the future. A punishing…
For simplicity’s sake, everything a person does can be filtered down to a three-term contingency: something happened –> so someone did something –> and something else happened that will lead that person either to do that thing again or not. For example, you see a plate of cookies on the counter. Either you can ask…
Leisure skills are probably the second most important skills to target in developing children, behind social skills. Think of it this way: when you have nothing to do, what do you do? For kids who don’t have preferences or a leisure repertoire, the answer is usually something that’s getting them into trouble. A kid with…
Kids don’t always want to put on sunscreen. Here are some helpful ways to get your child on board with wearing sunscreen! Break the task into more manageable pieces. Start with making him/her touch the lotion. The next day have your child put it on their hands. Each day, push your child a little farther until (s)he can tolerate…
