How to Engage an Early Reader

How to Engage an Early Reader

Do you have an early reader on your hands? Here’s how to engage an early reader with Pathways 2.0 in your homeschool. I have always loved to read. As a young child, I enjoyed being read to. And when I was old enough to start reading on my own, I consumed books. All the time. It shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise that my youngest would be the same way. I just wasn’t expecting for her to show that much interest. And while we had intended to at least formally homeschool Kindergarten, I wanted to start a little bit early. We are doing an adapted year round schedule, with language arts and math making up the core of our program. *This post was…

Autistic children will eventually become autistic adults. Here's a few ways to support an adult with autism.
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An Autism Moms Guide on Where to Find Support for Parents of Autistic Adults

Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism. But that doesn’t mean that they still don’t need support. Here’s how to support not just autistic adults but also parents of autistic adults. As parents of autistic children, we know that there are several truths in life when it concerns our children. Autism is a part of life, not always a welcomed part some would say, but a very solid part. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure the highest quality of life by advocating for our children daily. We also know that eventually our children will grow up and become autistic adults. Some may go on to live independently and some may need continued support throughout the rest of their lives. Some…

5 Ways to Encourage a Loving Relationship with a Special Needs Sibling

5 Ways to Encourage a Loving Relationship with a Special Needs Sibling

As a parent of children with special needs and without special needs, sometimes I just had to wonder as to if they would have any sort of relationship. Here’s what I’ve learned when it comes to encouraging a loving relationship with a special needs sibling.  When Squeaker was born, it was like a whole new world of parenting had just opened up. Of course, it would weigh at the back of my mind, that maybe she would also be on the spectrum. I knew that it was entirely possible so I tried not to get too ahead of myself. But, as she continued to grow and develop on a typical level; my worries ceded. Now, however, I knew that I was going to be faced with…

How To Help Your Autistic Child with Santa

How To Help Your Autistic Child with Santa

Seeing Santa Claus can be a challenging task for any child. I have several pictures of myself with Santa when I was younger- and in all of them I’m either crying or wiping up tears. For autistic children, seeing Santa Claus can be a downright nightmare. Both for the parents and the child. In fact, Sweet B stopped seeing Santa Claus after she turned 5. Even at school, she just did not like dealing with Santa. It just wasn’t worth the struggle or the meltdown that came with it. But is there a way to make it easier? Here are some tips and advice, along with a free printable letter, for how to help your autistic child with Santa. And if you’re looking for help…

10 Tips for Playdates with ASD Kids

10 Tips for Playdates with ASD Kids

When my autistic daughter was younger, playdates weren’t really something that we did. Part of this, I admit, is because I found the task to be daunting. Not only for her, but also for me. There was definitely a time in my life when I didn’t want to leave the house or deal with people at all. Now, I’m somewhat home bound by choice but nothing like I used to be. Sometimes I think she may have benefited from play dates or going to birthday parties with NT (neurotypical) peers. Other times, I’m not sure. She’s never really shown interest in children her age and seeks out adults instead of peers when she wants to play. That’s just how she’s always been. But that’s not…

19 Ways to Support Children with Autism or ADHD at School and at Home

19 Ways to Support Children with Autism or ADHD at School and at Home

I have received emails in the past about how parents have used my autism printables for their child with ADHD. And that got me wondering and that got me researching. I wanted to find out more and I wanted to see the differences, but also the similarities.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized how similar autism and ADHD are. Of course, I acknowledge that they are separate disorders. However, I also recognize that there are several similarities in how they present. Because of that, I wanted to start offering more resources for parenting children with ADHD. I figured that starting with ways to support children with autism or ADHD would be best. And we’ll start with how to support them at school. These ideas…