How to Recognize the Missing Signs of Autism in Girls
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How to Recognize the Missing Signs of Autism in Girls

ByKori
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As the parent of an autistic child, there are many things that I have studied, read about, and looked into. One of those things was raising an autistic girl. And moreover, it was about learning to recognize the signs of autism in girls. Why Autism in Girls Is Often Missed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has historically been diagnosed more frequently in boys, leading to significant underdiagnosis in girls. The reasons for this include: ✔ Camouflaging Behaviors → Many autistic girls learn to “mask” their symptoms by mimicking social interactions. ✔ Subtle Repetitive Behaviors → Instead of obvious stimming (like hand-flapping), girls may engage in small, unnoticed repetitive actions. ✔ Different Special Interests → Girls often have intense interests in socially acceptable topics, such as books, animals, or…

Free Printable Autism ID Cards for Parents of Autistic Children
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Free Printable Autism ID Cards for Parents of Autistic Children

ByKori
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I am a mom of an autistic child who has a history of eloping. It was one of the scariest things that I’ve ever gone through and I wouldn’t wish that kind of fear on anyone. That’s why I created these free DIY printable autism ID cards. It’s one of those things that I wish I’d had when my daughter was younger. It’s one of those things that I (almost) wish I didn’t have to make. They are a long time coming and go along nicely with a few of my other free printables for autistic children and their caregivers. How to Use Printable Autism ID Cards I’ve spoken, in the past, about my daughter’s history of wandering or eloping. It is an incredibly nerve-wrecking situation…

The Benefits of Getting a Support Dog for Your Autistic Child

The Benefits of Getting a Support Dog for Your Autistic Child

ByKori
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Over the years, I’ve contemplated whether or not getting a therapy dog for Sweet B would be worth it. Certainly yes, I’ve always seen the benefits of having a dog. My dog was my best friend until he passed away several years ago. I still get teary eyed thinking about it because yes, he was part of the family. He was more than just a dog to us, he was family. You have to choose carefully when it comes to getting a dog. Some people love a little dog that stays little and others love to buy from a litter of newborn chocolate lab puppies for the children to grow up with. It’s so important that you pick the right breed for your dog,  even…

Autism can be difficult to explain or understand. Here are 20 books about autism just for kids.

20 Books About Autism for Kids

ByKori
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We are a family of readers and we absolutely love having books in our house. I have a bookshelf in practically every room of the house and books are located nearly everywhere. To help my neurotypical child understand, we turned to books about autism. It’s also given me some thought about eventually writing my own book about autism. But, not just yet. For now, we will rely on this list and supplement as we go. I’ve posted my Top 10 Books for Parents of Autistic Children and I’m working on a post specifically for parents of girls on the spectrum. But today I wanted to share a list of books about autism for kids. If you have children who are not on the spectrum, they may not…

Self Calming Strategies and Techniques for Kids with Autism
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Self Calming Strategies and Techniques for Kids with Autism

ByKori
2 Comments

Learning calming strategies and techniques for autism meltdowns is necessary as a parent and caregiver. It helps us help our children in any given situation. Over time, you will learn and implement many calming strategies. Some may be beneficial for a shorter period of time and others will be used throughout the lifespan. We certainly have our tried and true techniques that have served our family very well. Then there are others that we have tried that just didn’t work. It’s all about being willing to try and to see what will help. As my daughter grew older, we started to incorporate more self calming strategies for autism. Why teach Self Calming Strategies and Self Calming Techniques for Autism? In the past, I’ve shared calming strategies…

These sensory friendly Valentine's Day activities are perfect for an indoor playdate or preschool.

Sensory Friendly Valentine’s Day Activities for Autistic Kids

ByKori
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When it comes to planning holiday parties or even everyday activities for autistic kids, there’s a tendency to look for sensory friendly activities. This holds true when you’re planning a sensory friendly birthday party or just looking for an afterschool or school break activity. I want to start sharing some of my favorites with you and we’ll begin with sensory friendly Valentine’s Day activities. What is a sensory friendly activity? So you may be wondering just what makes a sensory friendly activity sensory friendly. Well, while I can’t say for certain; I look for the following qualities. It needs to be an activity that involves the senses. Sight Touch Taste (sometimes!) Smell Sound For autistic kids, some sensory activities may be preferred over others. For example, a sensory…