In line with this weeks celebration of Children’s Books I though I would share some of my favorite books as a child. Most of my adventures centered around beautiful princesses, rescuing princes, fairies, and girlish dreams of love. Here is my top 5, I would love to hear yours.
5. The Twelve Dancing Princesses by The Brothers Grim
4. The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base
3. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnette
2. Ramona Quimby age 8 by Beverly Cleary
1. The Value of Believing in Yourself: The Story of Louis Pasteur by Spencer Johnson, MD.
Autism seems like such a taboo word, something that gets tucked away or covered with a diagnosis that makes sense, when Autism rarely if ever makes sense. The good news is that the medical community is making progress in connecting the puzzle pieces that make up the way in which to better communicate with children who have different needs.
I asked some friends of mine to chime in here and share what they know and have learned with their children.
all kids are the same no matter if they have extra challenges or not.
autism is a label, one that tell others what to expect and how to change their form of communicating so that my child can hear/see/engage in what they are saying.
everyday is different
the best times are the time in which I can learn about my son when he is struggling. I know how to never let that happen again.
autism is the core of how he is but not who or what he is. he is a living breathing learning and growing human who has feelings that get hurt too.
outbursts will always seem foreign to those around him. but to him he is just doing what we all do, expressing emotion and sharing something we want others to know.
he will always be smarter than me. but will never say so.
there is beauty in autism, a beauty that can only be seen from the eyes of someone willing to never place it in a box.
teachers are scared at first but once they realize that it is really a simple thing - love . It will always smooth out the wrinkles.
Some days i will and have cried until i am red and until sleep comes wanting it to be easier and different for him and sometimes different for me.
it is hard, it s frustrating, it is more than a daily thing, it is a with every breath thing but he is my thing.
Those thoughts were from a couple moms I know who write about their kids on their blogs which I will share tomorrow. But here are some thoughts on what eases the struggles from myself as a mom with a son with Asperger’s and my other moms with their autistic kids.
finger reading… not saying the words but enjoying the feeling of the book and the way the words seem to be accepted without thought or phrase.
crafts - anything that is creative. I have a whole craft cabinet that Chandler can go to when he is stressed and get pipe cleaners, string, glue, foam and markers and just create. It calms him right down.
music - my kids love Phillip Glass. somewhat classical somewhat trance like
ebooks without the sound just them movement
audio books with the sound on low
water running
water painting - then he wont get upset buy the colors mixing or getting on him
my daughter loves silly putty, I always carry it. she squeezes and molds it when she is stressed.
Autism is more than just a label, it is way of opening the mind to what these kids already know. They are special, they have different challenges but they are smart and they just need some extra thought and experience to calm them and allow them to be free from the blockages places in front of them.
What are your thoughts, challenges and uses that help create harmony in your house??
Coke Fansare the 2nd largest “fan page” on Facebook (with 33 million fans), not surprising since Coca-Cola spends the most on advertising. What is surprising is that Coke had no clue they had Facebook fanpage. it was the young Dusty Sorg that brought people to this fan page and Coca-Cola to an epiphany, with the mear high resolution image.
User generated marketing. Give the people power and they will power your brand.
Now the greatest ebook site for kids is on Facebook. Keep up with news, new books and all the Wizards fun on the site you spend time on anyway. Checkus out and become a fan of Wizz-E.
Having trouble getting your kids off the couch, put down those video games and pick up those paper things with words? (books) You may want to pick up this book by Scott Langteau. Once a so called “gamer” and now he is telling kids that dangers of hanging out on the couch all day. You could even use the opportunity to introduce ebooks and online books. Show them ways to download books so they can listen to them on the way to school or while walking or riding their bikes. The important thing is getting our kids to read, anyway we can. Kids are using iPods and phones anyway, why not put books on them and give them the chance to get excited by something that can be more beneficial than just the new top 10 on the charts.
Read the article written by Sofa Boy author here: Scott Langteau
