News on Behavior Issues
Setting Your Child Up for Failure, or Success
Try making the sole goal of your outing to be getting your child through it without a meltdown.
Springing Ahead and Coming Unsprung
What to do when good weather brings bad behavior.
Keep Tantrums Off the Holiday Party Guest List
To you, it's a party. To your child, it's a home invasion. (11/23/11)
Don't Set Your Child Up for Mall Meltdown
By, for example, going on Black Friday. (11/23/11)
Childhood Meltdowns: Triggers and Coping Strategies, Pt. 2
More advice from the blog Different Dream for My Child. (9/8/11)
Be a Behavior Detective
Why does your kid DO that? Here's how to sleuth it out. (8/4/11)
Deal With a Child's Aggressive Behavior
From HealthDay: "Children can behave aggressively as they learn how to appropriately express their emotions.The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions for parents when children behave aggressively." (12/15/10)
Special-Needs-Sensitive Santa
I was interested to see on the Disability Scoop blog today that some malls are making adjustments for kids with special needs, providing an autism-aware Santa and scheduling his visit before mall hours to somewhat control the environment. It's a nice idea, and I hope it catches on the way sensory-friendly movie showings seem to be. (12/7/10)
Hitting the Holiday Highway
Going over the river, through the woods, and into the traffic jam this holiday season? These tips can help you arrive with your sanity intact. (11/23/10)
Practice 'Flights' Help Kids With Disabilities Prepare For Airplane Travel
From Disability Scoop: "An innovative program in Philadelphia is helping children with autism get comfortable with air travel by simulating everything from check-in to security and boarding procedures.Under an agreement with the local airport, security personnel and several airlines, kids with autism and their families are being invited to a series of test 'flights.'" (11/17/10)
Escalator Awareness Week Brings Up Old Fears
If your child is freaked out by having to step on moving steps, I've gathered some expert opinions on why escalators can be scary, and some helpful tips for helping your child adjust (or not, if you're into choosing your battles). (11/17/10)
Is Hoarding a Problem for Your Child?
A post about hoarding from a few years ago has been getting some good comments lately, maybe thanks to the way AMC's Hoarders has made people more aware of compulsive collecting, and driven a lot of parents to wonder whether the inches of receipts, papers, found objects, shopping bags, freebie magazines, and other stuff in their child's room might be something to worry about. (11/15/10)
When Bad Weather Brings Bad Behavior
More unsettling than the unexpected shift of seasons is the way that wild weather, drops in temperature, and changes in light and time brought about by yesterday's "fall behind" clock change can discombobulate a kid like my son, one whose behavioral grip depends on the safety of routine, routine, routine. (11/9/10)