Question of the Day: MySpace
Tuesday February 28, 2006
When I drove my daughter and her friends to their bowling league on Friday, her friends were going on and on about MySpace, the Web site that allows kids to ... Read More
Free e-Book offers information, strategies for dealing with ADHD
Tuesday February 28, 2006
Dr. Martin L. Kuscher, a pediatric neurologist and the author of Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Asperger's, Tourette's, Bipolar, and More, has made a free e-Book on ... Read More
Peanut-free school debate moves to forum
Tuesday February 28, 2006
The poll on whether schools should be peanut-free, originally posted in July and mentioned again last Thursday when a surge of new votes came in, now stands at 621 responses, ... Read More
Site of the Day: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 Beyond Play
Tuesday February 28, 2006
Maybe you're looking for the perfect gift for your child, one that will stimulate imagination and learning and not end up in 300 tiny pieces under the sofa. Or maybe ... Read More
Question of the Day: Breakfast
Monday February 27, 2006
Winter break's over, and this morning my family was back to the normal morning routine of oversleeping, rushing around, grabbing something inappropriate for breakfast (for my son, hot-dog casserole left ... Read More
New memory game added to the Love Notes family
Monday February 27, 2006
It's fun and inspiration all in one: Play the Love Notes Memory Game and click on hearts to find the upbeat, inspirational messages underneath. Find two that match, then two ... Read More
Baby Charlotte's doctors again allowed to refuse treatment
Monday February 27, 2006
The up-and-down saga of little Charlotte Wyatt has taken another downturn as the two-year-old, who was born severely premature and has had a series of serious health problems that have ... Read More
Site of the Day: Monday, February 27, 2006 My School Journal
Monday February 27, 2006
Communicating with teachers and school therapists is something most parents would like to do more consistently and effectively. But notes sometimes seem to get lost in transit, and separate booklets ... Read More
Question of the Day: Winter Olympics
Sunday February 26, 2006
The Winter Olympics are over, and I've enjoyed watching them with my kids. So often, though, in listening to the news coverage, I've been reminded of some of the cardinal ... Read More
Your Sunday Quiz Break: Week ending February 25
Sunday February 26, 2006
The weekly quiz has been updated to feature questions from the last week of entries in this Parenting Special Needs blog. Can you remember the answer to this one?
What accessory ... Read More
Footage of autistic basketball player tugs heartstrings
Sunday February 26, 2006
On Friday, I mentioned the story of an autistic high school senior and basketball team manager who got to suit up for the season's last game, got put in the ... Read More
Site of the Day: Sunday, February 26, 2006 Challenge Air
Sunday February 26, 2006
Would your child like the opportunity to build model airplanes, try out a flight simulator, explore a real airplane, and go for a flight? If your child is physically challenged ... Read More
Question of the Day: Time-out spots
Saturday February 25, 2006
Time outs can be an effective disciplinary technique for children with special needs, and a useful bit of breathing room for their parents. But where does your tyke do his ... Read More
Survey reveals teens' top source of information on sexuality
Saturday February 25, 2006
Hard to know whether this news is more reassuring or terrifying: A recent survey indicates that teens are looking for information about sex not from their buddies, not from movies ... Read More
Missing autistic boy found dead near home
Saturday February 25, 2006
Many parents of children with special needs felt a special kind of anxiety when news headlines first mentioned an Amber Alert for a missing 8-year-old with autism, even more so ... Read More
Site of the Day: Saturday, February 25, 2006 The #1 Song on This Date in History
Saturday February 25, 2006
Once again, something silly for a Saturday. Click on your month and then your day of birth, find your birth year on the list, and this site will tell you ... Read More
Question of the Day: Flu shot
Friday February 24, 2006
The CDC is recommending that all children under 5 should have flu shots next season. Another shot: Maybe that makes you feel glad to be living in a time when ... Read More
Asperger's romance coming to theaters
Friday February 24, 2006
A movie about a romance between two people with Asperger syndrome made its debut earlier this month at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. The official Web site of Mozart and ... Read More
Autistic player scores big in basketball game
Friday February 24, 2006
Here's a story that's a joyful opposite to last year's tale of a T-ball coach who paid a player to bean an autistic teammate so he wouldn't be able to ... Read More
Site of the Day: Friday, February 24, 2006 S.I. Focus
Friday February 24, 2006
There's a lot to like about the S.I. Focus site. You can read articles about sensory integration. You can subscribe to a magazine on the subject. You can submit your ... Read More
Question of the Day: Bicycle helmets
Thursday February 23, 2006
My son is the Helmet Police, always pointing out when some child is riding a bike without a helmet. This is, in part, because I'm the Most Overprotective Mom in ... Read More
Browse the Harried Parent's Book Club shelves
Thursday February 23, 2006
If you like the reviews in our Harried Parent's Book Club but wish you could get a larger look at those book covers, here you go: Sixteen covers of book ... Read More
Peanut poll still going strong
Thursday February 23, 2006
A poll posted last July on the question "Should schools ban peanuts if a student is allergic?" has received a recent surge of votes. If you missed it the first ... Read More
Site of the Day: Thursday, February 23, 2006 Diabetes Teen Talk
Thursday February 23, 2006
You may be used to managing your child's diabetes, but as kids get into their teen years, they both need to take over those responsibilities for themselves and want to ... Read More
Question of the Day: Standardized testing
Wednesday February 22, 2006
Standardized testing is hitting my kids' school next week; can low self-esteem be far behind? My daughter does fine in class with some inclusion help, but tanks on exams that ... Read More
Standardized test anxiety
Wednesday February 22, 2006
Standardized tests are one of the many reasons I'm glad I'm not a schoolchild today. The fill-in-the-bubble, number-two-pencil exercises of my youth have been replaced by exams with endless reading ... Read More
Financial software keeps track of medical bills
Wednesday February 22, 2006
Looking for a better way to keep track of your child's medical bills? Shelley Elmblad, the About.com guide to Financial Software, has a review of a program that may be ... Read More
Site of the Day: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Who's Shoes
Wednesday February 22, 2006
Here's an ingenious way to make sure your child's identification is always present and available to those who need to provide assistance. The Who's Shoes Child ID is a Velcro ... Read More
Question of the Day: Your doctor's gender
Tuesday February 21, 2006
A news item mentioned earlier today suggested that doctors should stop wearing neckties lest they spread supergerms from one patient to the next. This is, of course, less of an ... Read More
Learn more about teens and self-injury
Tuesday February 21, 2006
Self-injury is a baffling behavior in which young people struggling with depression and low self-esteem may cut or burn or otherwise harm themselves in a ritualistic way. If you're concerned ... Read More
Doctors' neckties can be deadly
Tuesday February 21, 2006
If your child's doctor suddenly turns up in an examining room or at a hospital bedside without a necktie, don't assume it's a sign of unprofessionalism, slovenliness or disrespect. According ... Read More
Site of the Day: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Down Syndrome Webring
Tuesday February 21, 2006
Take a trip around the Down Syndrome Webring and meet some special kids and their families. Most of the ring's 83 individual sites are the personal expressions of parents, and ... Read More
Question of the Day: President's Day
Monday February 20, 2006
A day off from work and school -- nice. A day when all routine goes out the window -- not so nice. And so, President's Day -- fun family day, ... Read More
Homework from hell: Memorizing the presidents
Monday February 20, 2006
For kids with learning disabilities, normal childhood rituals like learning the names of the U.S. presidents, in order, can seem an insurmountable challenge. Since it's President's Day today, check out ... Read More
More learning fun from Talking Fingers
Monday February 20, 2006
If your child has used the Read, Write & Type Learning System, which gives kids a good base of phonics under the guise of a fun computer game, it may ... Read More
Site of the Day: Monday, February 20, 2006 Chicken Soup Stories
Monday February 20, 2006
If you like the "Chicken Soup for the ____ Soul" series of inspirational books, you'll be happy to hear that there's one coming out for the special-needs community. Just a ... Read More
Question of the Day: Fever reducer
Sunday February 19, 2006
A recent study indicates that the best way to treat fever in children is to alternate between acetaminophen and ibuprofen rather than sticking with one or the other. That may ... Read More
Your Sunday Quiz Break: Week ending February 18
Sunday February 19, 2006
The weekly quiz has been updated to feature questions from the last week of entries in this Parenting Special Needs blog. Can you remember the answer to this one?
A new ... Read More
Writing letters that get results
Sunday February 19, 2006
When there's something serious you have to write to your school district about -- requesting a Functional Behavior Assessment for your child, protesting bullying, demanding a revision of your child's ... Read More
Site of the Day: Sunday, February 19, 2006 Which Sci-Fi Crew Would You Best Fit In?
Sunday February 19, 2006
In the mood for something silly today? Take this quiz to find out which science fiction spaceship you'd feel most at home on. You'll be asked to rate 48 statements ... Read More
Question of the Day: Play with me!
Saturday February 18, 2006
I meant to post this question earlier, but my son kept saying, "Play with me!" All day long, every time I settled in to write, "Play with me! Play with ... Read More
Behavior Issues category now easier to get around
Saturday February 18, 2006
The face-lift of the categories on this Parenting Special Needs site is continuing, with the Behavior Issues category now more easily organized with a folder for strategies, a folder for ... Read More
Consumers fried by McDonald's revelation start lawsuits
Saturday February 18, 2006
Well, that didn't take long. As word has spread about the fact that the McDonald's Web site is now listing wheat and dairy deriviatives among the ingredients for its french ... Read More
Site of the Day: Saturday, February 18, 2006 Special Child Exchange
Saturday February 18, 2006
If your child uses equipment like wheelchairs, walkers and toilet chairs, you know how hard it is to keep replacing these items as your child outgrows them -- or to ... Read More
Question of the Day: Doctors as heroes
Friday February 17, 2006
So the AMA is all about doctors being "Everyday Heroes," and surely some of them are. Others? Not so much. For many parents, thinking of doctors doesn't make them feel ... Read More
Got a good doctor story? The AMA wants to hear it
Friday February 17, 2006
Have you seen those new commercials for the American Medical Association? The ones in which doctors are lauded for being "Everyday Heroes," as apparently real-life patients praise the medical professionals ... Read More
What special needs parents really want
Friday February 17, 2006
The Special Needs Parent's Wish List that first appeared on this site for the holiday season has been revised and designed as the latest addition to the "To-Do Lists" mini-poster ... Read More
Site of the Day: Friday, February 17, 2006 Six Great Ways to Start Your Day
Friday February 17, 2006
Alright, so it's a little optimistic to think you'd be able to do anything stress-relieving in the hectic crazy get-your-act-together mornings. But these ideas for morning stress-relievers from Elizabeth Scott, ... Read More
Question of the Day: IEP schedule
Thursday February 16, 2006
My daughter's IEP meeting that was snowed-out on Monday is rescheduled for tomorrow morning, and then I'll be done with these dread-filled things for another year. Have you had your ... Read More
Make a paper-bag book cover
Thursday February 16, 2006
I've been back in the business of making paper-bag book covers for my kids in the last month or so; some sort of mid-year textbook switch seems to be upon ... Read More
New resource on Tourette Syndrome
Thursday February 16, 2006
Whether you're seeking information about Tourette Syndrome, support for your child with TS, ways to explain the disorder to your child and his friends, or first-person accounts of living with ... Read More
Site of the Day: Thursday, February 16, 2006 Gak's Snacks
Thursday February 16, 2006
"So good, you won't believe what's not in 'em!" is the slogan of this online store that offers baked goodies with no peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, dairy, artificial colors, ... Read More
Question of the Day: Handmade Valentines
Wednesday February 15, 2006
Boy, I remember how Valentine's Day used to be -- big construction paper greetings coming home from school, covered with poorly cut out and roughly pasted hearts and carefully copied ... Read More
Mini-poster offers reminder to take a little time for you
Wednesday February 15, 2006
Your kids get days off right and left, snow days, half days, winter break, but you? When do you get a day off? Have you been following our Realistic Resolution ... Read More
Reading problems cause behavior problems
Wednesday February 15, 2006
It's not unusual for reading problems and behavior problems to be found in the same child, but is there a connection between the two, and if so, what? A study ... Read More
Site of the Day: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 OZMO
Wednesday February 15, 2006
Ever wish you could find a toystore filled with only the things your child is most obsessed with or fond of? This one may come close. Started by parents to ... Read More
Question of the Day: Winter break
Tuesday February 14, 2006
So my kids got a snow day yesterday, they have a half-day tomorrow for evening conferences, and next week they have off for winter break. Routine? What's that? We don't ... Read More
Simple ways to say "I Love You"
Tuesday February 14, 2006
Here's a little Valentine's Day present from Parenting Special Needs to you and your family: our popular article "31 Ways to Tell Your Child 'I Love You'" has been revised ... Read More
McDonald's french fries not gluten-free after all
Tuesday February 14, 2006
If your child has wheat or dairy allergies or Celiac Disease, watch out for McDonald's french fries: the company has disclosed that a flavoring in the oil in which the ... Read More
Site of the Day: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 ACME Heart Maker
Tuesday February 14, 2006
Some people are all about the chocolate come Valentine's Day, but for me, it's Conversation Hearts all the way. If you're also enamored of those little heart-shaped nuggets of sugar ... Read More
Question of the Day: Valentine's readiness
Monday February 13, 2006
Hey, what happened to January? What's happening to February? Is it really Valentine's Day tomorrow? These holidays do just have a way of sneaking up, don't they? As one who ... Read More
Need some fun things to do today?
Monday February 13, 2006
Snow day keeping you home with the kids today? I feel your pain -- my two are here, too, and to make matters worse, the weather cancelled an IEP meeting ... Read More
Olympian doesn't let epilepsy keep her from her goal
Monday February 13, 2006
Coverage of the Olympics is always filled with inspirational stories of athletes beating the odds (or getting beaten by them), but the tale of U.S. women's ice hockey goaltender Chanda ... Read More
Site of the Day: Monday, February 13, 2006 The AWEtism Shop
Monday February 13, 2006
The philosophy behind this shop full of upbeat, brightly colored autism-related messages is neatly summed up on the opening page by shop owner Donna Cooper in her poem "It's Spelled ... Read More
Question of the Day: ADHD meds
Sunday February 12, 2006
The recent news that ADHD drugs like Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall may get a "black box" warning due to risk of heart attacks, strokes and sudden death is already igniting ... Read More
Your Sunday Quiz Break: Week ending February 11
Sunday February 12, 2006
The weekly quiz has been updated to feature questions from the last week of entries in this Parenting Special Needs blog. Can you remember the answer to this one?
Children with ... Read More
Ill-fitting masks cause problems for kids with asthma
Sunday February 12, 2006
If your child wears a mask when inhaling asthma medication, read this report on a study to be published in this month's issue of the journal Respiratory Care. Researchers have ... Read More
Site of the Day: Sunday, February 12 Winter Olympics for Kids
Sunday February 12, 2006
There are plenty of flashy Olympics sites with photos and breaking news and statistics at your fingertips. But today, enjoy the lower-tech pleasures of this Olympic site from the fourth-graders ... Read More
Question of the Day: Valentines at school
Saturday February 11, 2006
Valentine's Day can be a fun school day, with parties and cards exchanged and red shirts everywhere. Or it can be a sad day if your child's valentine box is ... Read More
Books with Heart offer help you need
Saturday February 11, 2006
It's that time of year to put your heart on your sleeve, or maybe on your bookshelf. Whether you're worried about your child's physical heart or spiritual one, Books with ... Read More
Periodontal disease a problem for diabetic kids
Saturday February 11, 2006
As if parents of children with diabetes don't have enough to monitor, a new study suggests that they'd better keep a close eye on their children's teeth along with those ... Read More
Site of the Day: Saturday, February 11, 2006 2006 Winter Olympics
Saturday February 11, 2006
Can't get enough of the Olympics? Stop by About.com's Olympics site for top stories, real-time results, TV listings, medal count, and related articles from all around the About network. There's ... Read More
Question of the Day: Valentine gifts
Friday February 10, 2006
Here's the same question from Christmastime, back again for Valentine's Day: Do you give gifts to your child's teacher and aides on this heartfelt occasion? Click on the answer that ... Read More
Frames feature items from Love Notes Gallery
Friday February 10, 2006
Sherri Osborn, the About.com guide to Family Crafts, has come up with a great use for the inspirational images in the Love Notes for Special Parents Gallery -- a framed ... Read More
ADHD drugs may get "black box" warning
Friday February 10, 2006
If your child takes Ritalin, Concerta, or Adderall, consider yourselves warned: an FDA advisory committee has recommended putting a "black box" warning on packages of these ADHD drugs stating ... Read More
Low-birth-weight babies grow into successful adults
Friday February 10, 2006
After bad-news stories about children who survived cancer and heart defects having problems again as young adults, here's a good-news story: A recent study has found children with extremely low ... Read More
Site of the Day: Friday, February 10, 2006 Kids Together, Inc.
Friday February 10, 2006
A feisty site on inclusion, Kids Together lets readers post good, bad, and ugly stories about their school districts, and "Notes from Dopes," those jaw-dropping letters home from teachers and ... Read More
Question of the Day: Music makers
Thursday February 9, 2006
iPods are a big hit in my house, both because I can tote one around in my purse to keep my son calm, and because those 99-cent iTunes songs serve ... Read More
iPods are calming, amusing, and a little bit cheaper now
Thursday February 9, 2006
If you've thought about getting an iPod to be a little source of portable calming and amusement for your child, but been put off by the price, now's a good ... Read More
Botox helps kids with CP (no, not with wrinkles)
Thursday February 9, 2006
Although it's mostly known for smoothing the faces of aging movie stars, Botox may have a more noble use: helping children with cerebral palsy gain normal movement by weakening stronger ... Read More
Site of the Day: Thursday, February 9 Quiz: Is Your Teenager Stressed Out?
Thursday February 9, 2006
From the About.com guide to Parenting of Adolescents, Denise Witmer, comes a quiz on assessing your teen's stress level. In addition to helping you know whether your child is stressed ... Read More
Question of the Day: Exercise
Wednesday February 8, 2006
A study that will appear in Pediatrics this month indicates that one reason for rising levels of obesity in children is a lack of places for kids to get exercise. ... Read More
Book helps kids with Crohn's disease
Wednesday February 8, 2006
Crohn's disease, an inflammation of the digestive tract that typically afflicts the small intestine, is most often thought of as a problem for adults. Yet the disease frequently starts in ... Read More
Adenotonsillectomy makes kids less hyper, more hefty?
Wednesday February 8, 2006
Does fidgeting and hyperactivity prevent obesity? Most parents would have a hard time deciding which is the lesser of evils in that equation, but it's the question begged by a ... Read More
Site of the Day: Wednesday, February 8 Myself Belts
Wednesday February 8, 2006
Have a child who can't fasten his belt, and also can't keep his pants up? The cool belts at Myself Belts will have you cheering. One end of the belt ... Read More
Question of the Day: Negligence, or murder?
Tuesday February 7, 2006
Parents of children with special needs bear an awesome responsibility, especially when their child's physical health is at stake. Parents of children with diabetes may be charged with constantly monitoring ... Read More
FDA issues Public Health Notification on cochlear implants
Tuesday February 7, 2006
The Food and Drug Adminsitration has issued another warning about the risk of meningitis for children with cochlear implants. The alert mentions an upcoming study in the journal Pediatrics as ... Read More
The Love Notes for Special Parents Gallery is complete
Tuesday February 7, 2006
The final 10 designs have been posted to the Love Notes for Special Parents Gallery, for a total of 28 inspiring and empowering messages. Added to the previous selections are:
• ... Read More
Site of the Day: Tuesday, February 7 Dream Catcher Blankets
Tuesday February 7, 2006
Weighted blankets can help children with sensory integration issues get a better night's sleep, and be a calming force at other times of day. You could probably put together your ... Read More
Question of the Day: Special-needs adoption
Monday February 6, 2006
Special-needs adoption was the topic of a story earlier today about children with Down syndrome, and it's also the story of my life -- I adopted both my special-needs kids ... Read More
Down syndrome children in demand for adoption
Monday February 6, 2006
Would you like to adopt a child with Down syndrome? Get in line. According to an Associated Press story, children with Down syndrome are in demand, with waiting lists months ... Read More
Love Notes Gallery expands
Monday February 6, 2006
Nine more designs have been added to the Love Notes for Special Parents Gallery. These designs, featuring text from our Love Notes for Special Parents pages, celebrate the unique strengths ... Read More
Site of the Day: Monday, February 6 Dove Self-Esteem Fund
Monday February 6, 2006
Did you see that ad on the SuperBowl last night? No, not the one telling you which kind of car to drive or which kind of beer to drink or ... Read More
Question of the Day: School dances
Sunday February 5, 2006
My son is looking to go to his first school dance on Friday. It's the sort of experience I would usually shield him from -- something at which he has ... Read More
Golf swing research to help disabled kids
Sunday February 5, 2006
In the world of medical research, you never really know where your next big advance is going to come from. Here's one unlikely-sounding study that may bring big results for ... Read More
Your Sunday Quiz Break: Week ending February 4
Sunday February 5, 2006
The weekly quiz has been updated to feature questions from the last week of entries in this Parenting Special Needs blog. Can you remember the answer to this one?
Which was ... Read More
Site of the Day: Sunday, February 5 Love Notes Gallery
Sunday February 5, 2006
The "Site of the Day" feature here on About Parenting Special Needs is generally a way to point you to interesting, exciting, or fun spots on the Web that deserve ... Read More
Question of the Day: Online games
Saturday February 4, 2006
While researching Wednesday's Site of the Day on the special-education student character in the comic strip "For Better of For Worse," I found a cute little cache of games on ... Read More
Valentines for the vision-impaired
Saturday February 4, 2006
Tactile Vision was a Site of the Day in December, when their Christmas gift-able raised-line books, coloring books, calendars, and stickers for children with vision impairments were most of interest. ... Read More
Site of the Day: Saturday, February 4 Bedside Craft Projects for Sick Kids
Saturday February 4, 2006
Whether your child's confined to bed with whatever's going around or due to surgery, treatments, or disabilities, these fun craft ideas from About Family Crafts guide Sherri Osborn can make ... Read More
Question of the Day: IEPs, again
Friday February 3, 2006
One IEP meeting down, one to go ten days from now. Both my children have IEPs, so I'm in pretty good practice. Does your child have an IEP? Click on ... Read More
Childhood cancer survivors at risk for adult cancers
Friday February 3, 2006
Last week, there was a story on how children who have congenital heart defects repaired are having heart problems again when they reach young adulthood. This week, there's similar bad ... Read More
Site of the Day: Friday, February 3 The Interactive Mona Lisa
Friday February 3, 2006
If you're working with your child on understanding emotions and facial expressions, here's another site to add to your list. As you wave your mouse over a series of possible ... Read More
Question of the Day: IEP alert
Thursday February 2, 2006
Tomorrow, I have my son's IEP meeting. Oh, joy. In a way, I look forward to these meetings -- always happy to have a captive audience for talking about my ... Read More
Two moms seek help with RAD
Thursday February 2, 2006
Two posters in our Reactive Attachment Disorder Forum are looking for advice. The stepmother of a 10-year-old with RAD is the victim of triangulation two ways -- from her stepson, ... Read More
Site of the Day: Thursday, February 2 Well Baskets
Thursday February 2, 2006
Looking for a Valentine treat to give a child with health or nutritional issues? Well Baskets will serve you well. With special collections for kids, for Valentine's Day, for health ... Read More
Question of the Day: Best documentary
Wednesday February 1, 2006
"Murderball," the rollicking, R-rated documentary about wheelchair rugby players, made the cut to become one of the final five nominees for a Best Documentary Oscar. If you want to get ... Read More
Golden Globe garb auctioned for charity
Wednesday February 1, 2006
It's award season in Hollywood, and that means lots of celebrity goodies are being auctioned through Clothes Off Our Back, with proceeds going this year to autism research, UNICEF, and ... Read More
Site of the Day: Wednesday, February 1 "For Better or For Worse": Shannon Lake
Wednesday February 1, 2006
If you're a fan of the long-running comic strip "For Better or For Worse," you've probably met Shannon Lake, a special-education student at April's school who has become a recurring ... Read More