Oftentimes parents are unsure of how much or how little to share with their child about their disability, and all that comes along with it. The assessment process, services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and specialized academic instruction, accommodations they receive in class, meetings held to discuss their goals on progress…This is a lot …
At the very start of the evaluation process the first factor to consider is a child’s physical health. Has their vision and hearing been tested? If the child has a prescription for glasses, or a hearing aid, are these being worn consistently during work time, and are the prescriptions up to date? If the child …
First Thing’s First: Before requesting an evaluation… Read More »
Orthographic processing is the ability to recognize spelling patterns, understand spelling and punctuation rules, and recall letters and words in sequence. Children with difficulties in this area often over-rely on sounding out words, thereby impacting their fluency, and written expression. Difficulty in orthographic processing can also lead to letter reversals, and difficulty discriminating between similar …
Orthographic processing: What is it, and how can it be supported? Read More »
Research shows that reading with your children is hugely beneficial, to their immediate development, and to their long-term success. Reading to your children exposes them to new vocabulary, allows them to develop their skills in concentration/focus, provides opportunities to develop their imagination/creativity, it gives space for bonding/connection, and it can contribute to the development of …
Sensory bins! You might have seen them on your newsfeed or while scrolling on IG, but what are they exactly, and what are the benefits of using them?Sensory bins are containers of different materials (i.e. rice, beans, sand, flour, etc.), and tools (i.e. shovels, spoons, cups, etc.) that a child can explore. They can be …
Numerous studies have shown that music can help develop cognitive skills in areas such as memory, language, and executive functioning. It can also be used to help remember certain material (think ABCs or “these are the continents”), reinforce social-emotional learning, and ease transitions (“clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere,” for example). So, how can you …
Distance learning has been challenging for many. Here are some simple strategies that might help make it more successful. Fidgets. Keep a basket accessible to your child while they are “in class”. These can be bought by the bundle on Amazon, or they can be things that can be found around your house (some examples …
So, you’re seeing a new behavior in your child, and you’re not quite sure the reason. The cause of some behaviors is more obvious, while others might require a little observation before a cause, or function, can be determined. By keeping the ABCs of behavior at the forefront of your mind during your observations, and …
Let’s talk routines, schedules, and checklists. Routines and schedules can provide a sense of calm to children, because they know what to expect, and what is coming next. Routines and schedules are helpful for many kids, but they are especially important to have in place for those kiddos who demonstrate difficulty with executive functioning skills, …
To teach a child to swim, we’re not just going to through them into the water, and let them figure it out, right? No way! First we’re going to hold onto them, then we’ll give then a flotation device while they practice their kicking, then we’ll model and use gestures to show them how to …