|
TOYS 'R US
Differently Abled Toy Guide
Are you having a hard time deciding what to get your child for the holidays? Or are you looking for gift ideas to share with family members?
|
|
Surviving
The Holidays:
Don't overbook. Its okay to say "no" to an invitation if you think it will be too much for your family.
Make a social stories book. Provide your child with a "story" on what to expect from your holiday and what behavioral expectations you have for your child. Include photos of family members that you will be visiting or will be visiting you.
Keep your routine as consistent as possible. It might be worth it to agree to host the family meal yourself.
Allow your child to wear clothing that is comfortable for them. That nice, new outfit, might be "adorable" - but if it causes your child to be distressed, it won't be "adorable"; especially if your child has sensitivities to certain fabrics.
Allow your child to sit where they are comfortable. Sometimes the sounds and smells are overwhelming.
Create "escapes" for your child. If you have to travel to Grandma's, find a spot (a room or a corner of a room) that can be used for your child to safely escape from the chaos. Allow your child to use headphones to escape from the noise and remember to bring a few of your child's favorite things to help them feel comfortable.
Bring a few of your child's favorite foods. As considerate as your family members might be, they may forget that your child has very specific preferences. Be prepared.
Explain to family members ahead of time what your child's difficulties are and how to best interact with them. A sample letter for family members is available here.
And last but not least, remain calm! Remember, your child can pick up on your energy and will act accordingly.
~Jacqui
|
|
Holiday Survival Guide for Families with Special Needs
We all could use a little help during the holidays! This guide for families provides parents helpful tips and resources during this busy and stressful time of year. It will help you navigate the change in schedules to finding a sensory safe Santa to how to explain to the grandparents why your child may not eat grandma's stuffing.
|
|
The Psychologist's
Corner
From Guilford County Schools
The week of November 12-16, 2012 is National School Psychology Awareness Week. The theme this year set by the National Association of School Psychologists is "Known Your Own Strengths. Discover them. Share them. Celebrate them". This theme helps our students and schools focus on finding and knowing the strengths within themselves and sharing and celebrating those strengths within the school community, their academics, and their lives.
During the week, GCS school psychologists have shared a series of resources and activities to reach out to school staff, students, and parents to help students realize their strengths and how those strengths can help them develop relationships, deal with stress, and promote optimal development. Activities such as schools' service learning projects help students recognize and use their strengths to help others. We also want to encourage all students to recognize and compliment the strengths that we see in others.
School Psychologists collaborate with other school personnel and parents to enhance learning, social-emotional development, and adjustment of children. They promote the application of research-based psychological principles to assist in program development, instruction, and evaluation. They also serve as problem solvers in facilitating positive changes in learning environments, attitudes, and motivation in order to assist children to succeed academically, socially, and as good citizens.
In Guilford County there are over 50 School Psychologists on staff and one available at every school. They are trained specialists in human growth and development, educational psychology, education, mental health, and learning and behavioral change.
To learn more about GCS School Psychologists, visit
Feel free to reach out to your School Psychologist soon to meet them or for more information.
|
 |
|
|
|
The holidays are a special time for families that don't see each other all year, but get to come together to share love, food and gifts this time of year.
The holidays can also be difficult for families raising a child with different needs.
I've included some basic, but helpful information to help you through this exciting and yet possibly difficult time of the year.
|
|
Family Holidays
Asking The Right Questions
by Dan Coulter
What's their secret? How do some parents of special needs children seem to sail through family holiday gatherings without feeling like they're going to lose their hair or their minds? I'm not talking about natural managers whose brains tell them the right thing to do in just about every situation. I'm talking about the rest of us.
One secret can be asking the right questions ahead of time. You may not know what you know until you organize it in your head and let your brain present you with solutions.
Here's a list of questions you can ask yourself and others before a family holiday gathering:
- Where is the gathering going to be held?
- Would it be better for your child to hold it somewhere else, perhaps in your home, where he feels comfortable?
- How have such gatherings affected your child in the past?
- What can you do to minimize or eliminate triggers that could make him upset?
- Who will attend the event and what are their individual needs?
- What could you design into the event that would make it special in some way for each person there, so you're not just asking everyone to accommodate your child?
- How can you prepare your child for what he's likely to encounter, such as Aunt Beth wanting to give him a hug?
- What social skills could your child practice to prepare for the event?
- What information could you share that could help extended family members know what to expect from your child and how best to react? (Perhaps Aunt Beth can be persuaded to offer a verbal hug instead of a physical hug.)
- Could you prepare a letter or email that asks for input on other children who will attend as you provide information on your child?
- Who are your natural allies? Who can you contact to help design and or influence the event so it's a positive experience?
- Can you enlist a cousin or other family member near your child's age to be a mentor for the event?
- How long will the event last?
- If your child can only hold it together for so long in a group of people, should you consider only attending part of the event?
- Can you sub-divide the event, so your child can participate in key social sections such as dinner, but retreat to a quiet place to play a video game before he becomes overwhelmed?
- If your child has a special skill, such as playing a musical instrument, could you organize a children's talent show that might help him look forward to the event?
- If your child has a special diet, can you contact the host in advance and offer to bring your child's food and coordinate incorporating it into meal plans?
- Can you designate different members of your family to trade off keeping an eye out for potential problems so you can take turns just enjoying the event?
- In case of a meltdown or pending meltdown, can you identify a room in advance that you can retreat to with your child to help him calm down?
- Can you have everything you brought together and handy in case you need to leave in a hurry?
- Can you bring favorite games or books on a long car trip and make frequent stops so your family isn't stressed out when you arrive or as you return?
If you can prepare both your child and your extended family in ways that help make an event positive for everyone, you may just have your kinfolk looking at you and wondering what's your secret.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dan Coulter is the author of the DVD "Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome" and the book, "Life in the Asperger Lane." You can find more articles and information on his website: www.coultervideo.com
Copyright 2012 Dan Coulter All Rights Reserved Used by Permission.
|
|
From Autism Society of NC - Guilford County: Mom's Night Out
Would you like to get together with some other moms for some drinks, food, and conversation? Please join us on November 27th at 7:00 PM at The PorterHouse Bar & Grill and Grill at 4608 West Market Street in Greensboro. The PorterHouse owners are part of our autism community and will be giving us specials on food and our own separate room.
If you'd like to attend, please RSVP by November 25th to
|
|
Northern Elementary PTA Presents A Two-Part Series On ADHD and Learning Differences
Part 1 - ADHD, Learning Differences, and the Grade School Mind: Understanding "Can't" vs. "Won't".... and the Fuzzy Gray Line In-Between
Thursday, November 29th
6:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Part 2 - So Where Do We Go From Here? ADHD and Learning Differences: Mindset, Approach, and Treatment
Helping Your Child Work towards Independence and Success
|
|
Holiday Jamboree
From FSNCC:
SAVE THE DATE:
Holiday Jamboree
For Families of Children with Special Needs and NICU Graduate Families
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
9:30am to 12:00pm
Haynes Inman Education Center 200 Haynes Rd., Jamestown
Join us for:
●Breakfast
●Arts & Crafts
●Games
●One family Photo
●A chance to meet old & new friends
|
|
Camp Royall 2012
Family Fun Holiday Party
On Saturday, December 15, Camp Royall will host a Family Fun Holiday Party from 12-5 PM. All families in North Carolina who have a family member on the autism spectrum are invited to attend this event. The gym and playground will be available during the day, as well as arts & crafts and other camp-related activities. Santa Claus will be offering sensory-friendly visits, including quiet space and assigned times so your child won't have to wait.
A donation of $15 per family is suggested for the day's events. Please RSVP to camproyall@autismsociety-nc.org or call (919) 542-1033 to let us know you will be attending. Don't forget to include the number of people attending, as well as how many members of your family would like to visit with Santa!
|
Sincerely,
Jacqui Hawkins
GCC of PTAs
|
|
