As a parent support specialist with Help Me Grow Utah, I sometimes get asked questions regarding receiving an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Frequent questions often sound like Does Help Me Grow screen for autism? My pediatrician administered the M-CHAT to my child and it said he is at high risk– doesn’t that count as
I love training in martial arts. There’s something really fulfilling for me to be able to master a new technique while getting a really great workout in. One aspect of martial arts that I really connect with is the need to breathe. We all struggle with different challenges. We are all more capable of handling
Nearly all children could benefit from social/emotional coaching. The purpose of social and emotional coaching is to help children learn social skills, emotional intelligence, and behaviors. These abilities can help children relate to their peers and regulate their own emotions. It might sound like a daunting task for parents and caregivers to teach children how
As humans, we are always experiencing sensory input, and everyone experiences times when they feel sensory overload. For children with sensory processing issues, those moments may be especially overwhelming. Experiencing sensory overload can happen to any child, but is often more common in children who have ADHD, autism, or other behavioral issues. It’s important to remember that
It’s been 10 minutes. You’re late for an appointment, but your toddler insists on putting on their own shoes. It would have been much faster to do it yourself, but they insisted. Relieved and ready to get out the door, you give them a high five and say, “Good job!” Let’s talk about that phrase, “Good
As humans, we are always experiencing sensory input, and everyone experiences times when they feel sensory overload. For children with sensory processing issues, those moments may be especially overwhelming. Experiencing sensory overload can happen to any child, but is often more common in children who have ADHD, autism, or other behavioral issues. It’s important to remember that
From the stepsisters in Disney’s Cinderella to Lotso in Disney’s Toy Story 3, it is not uncommon to see the role of bullies presented in family movies. Unfortunately, this behavior can happen outside of the screen. As your children take on the world, there are ways to teach them how to react to bullying, prevent
Do you remember the first pet you ever owned? I remember being 5 years old when I got my first pet; a blue betta fish named Rainbow Blue. I was thrilled to have this little fish that was all mine. Every day I made sure to feed it and attend to its needs. Eventually, I
Every parent has witnessed a temper tantrum at one time or another. Your child is screaming while you stand there trying to decide what to do. It can be even more daunting when you have an audience watching. Public temper tantrums can be difficult, but below you will find some positive parenting strategies to ease
I recently sat down with a mom who told me her story about parenting a child who has experienced living in an orphanage, foster care, and being adopted at two different times in his life. I was moved by her strength and the lessons she has learned as she strives to become a person of
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