Tips for parents as more children need speech and language support

I saw a recent article on the BBC that showed the number of five and six-year-olds who need speech and language support at school has risen by 10% in England over the past year. As a parent of two children with speech and language and communication difficulties, related to their autism diagnoses, I know of the huge stretch this must create on the system.

Taking an online 'ADHD' test

Every now and again, there is a test published to help the reader see if they might be on the autism spectrum.  Often they coincide with an article on the subject.  Last year published research showed that parents of autistic kids often have autistic traits too.  Most times that I see a test like the one in The Telegraph online but I've also seen a few for ADHD recently too, and yesterday I filled one out. 

Three Diwali craft ideas for our autistic kids

It's Diwali!  This is a wonderful tradition originating in India, known to many as the festival of light.  But it’s not just about lights and legends –– Diwali is a time to have fun with friends and family! People exchange gifts and sweets, enjoy delicious feasts, watch firework displays and wear new clothes.  For us, it's a time to learn and we can celebrate with some fun Diwali themed activities. 

Some advice from others for additional needs parents

Parenting a child with additional needs comes with a unique set of challenges. Most of my experiences come from my amazing kids but it' means I most understand things from parenting kids with autism and ADHD. Here's some tips from others that has a focus on supporting those with cerebral palsy. Like autism, cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, however if affects the individual in a different way.

Five things that cause stress for my autistic kids

My kids can become frustrated for a variety of reasons and it isn’t always easy to pinpoint the underlying cause of their emotions.  Once a few of these things start piling up it can ending causing them a stress they can no longer cope with.  Two of them have communications difficulties, but even our daughter can struggle sometime to explain what she's feeling or why.   As a parent of autistic kids I've learned to behave like a detective and have found several things that cause my kids to escalate   

Preparing our autistic kids for a trip to the dentist

 We all know just how important it is that we take good care of our dental health at every age. Children need to have a good oral hygiene routine in place as soon as possible if they are to grow up with healthy teeth and gums. But it's not always easy, in fact for some of my kids it's anything but. 

Helping our autistic kids stay safe when using the internet

The internet is a great and exciting place filled with opportunities to explore new ideas, stay in touch with friends, and find new interests. My kids had been playing a variety of age appropriate games on gaming consoles for years before they really needed and wanted to use the internet.  As a parent, we want to ensure our kids use the internet safely and responsibly as it's a viral source of information for them. 

Some simple sensory activities for autistic kids

Whether you’re raising a child with autism, a family member or friend’s child has autism or you’re starting to provide childcare for someone with autism, you may be wondering what activities you can engage with that help them to enjoy themselves without lending them towards sensory overload. Here’s some information on the subject that can help get this journey started out in the right direction.

Tips for restarting a self-care routine

As a parent and someone who likely has a very busy schedule, I nearly always put my wellness on the backburner lately. If this is your situation then it may be time to re-evaluate and try a new approach.