iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app

Special Needs Children

Why Trying to 'Fix' Your Child Is Not a Good Idea

Anat Baniel | Posted 05.23.2013 | Parents
Anat Baniel

We always want the best for our children. And part of my philosophy in life is to recognize that all we can do for our children is to provide the conditions and context for them to grow and face the challenges that they came into this world with.

We Tithe, Pay Our Bills, Are Deep in Debt and Want to Buy a House

Steve Rhode | Posted 05.23.2013 | Business
Steve Rhode

Reader Question My husband was without income or on reduced income for 3 years. We accumulated debt during that time in the name of "just surviving",...

Message for All Parents: Love Your Kids

Suzanne Perryman | Posted 05.21.2013 | Parents
Suzanne Perryman

Tragedies that take kids too soon are always unexpected. As busy moms, we just forget that we are all fragile. We sometimes forget that the messy room, the lapse in homework, the bad grade, aren't the important things about mothering.

The Big Parenting Mistake We All Make

Suzanne Perryman | Posted 05.20.2013 | TED Weekends
Suzanne Perryman

2013-01-18-TEDplayvideo.jpgAdults are really good at understanding the thoughts of others. Children -- not so much. Rebecca Saxe tells us the part of the brain responsible for thinking about others' minds reaches maximum growth during adulthood.

Beating the Odds of Divorce When Your Child Has Special Needs

Anat Baniel | Posted 05.17.2013 | Parents
Anat Baniel

It's often said that parents of children with special needs divorce at a higher rate than the general population. So, I asked John Gray: What do you think are the causes and what suggestions can you give to these parents?

Are You Really Offering Different Foods To Your Picky Eater?

Katja Rowell, M.D. | Posted 05.17.2013 | Parents
Katja Rowell, M.D.

Clients tell me they offer a variety of foods "all the time" and are frustrated by constant rejections. Many parents don't understand and are grateful to learn what a better "offer" looks like.

A Mother's Day Secret: This Is How She Does It

Jessica Fein | Posted 05.09.2013 | Parents
Jessica Fein

When people say, "I don't know how you do it," the implication is that they wouldn't be able to. And frankly, I don't buy it.

This New Bill Would Put Cameras In Texas Classrooms

The Huffington Post | Rebecca Klein | Posted 05.09.2013 | Politics

A bill that would require video cameras in all special education classrooms was passed in the Texas Senate in April and is currently being considered ...

A Mother's Day Letter For A Special Needs Mom

Suzanne Perryman | Posted 05.09.2013 | Parents
Suzanne Perryman

This letter is for the Special Needs Mom, whose child is unable to write or say the words this Mom may long to hear.

Mass. Problems for Kids

Bill Lichtenstein | Posted 05.08.2013 | Impact
Bill Lichtenstein

The lawsuit, filed by the New York-based Children's Rights, charges that Massachusetts has one of the nation's highest rates of abuse of foster children in the country.

Starting Over Is Easy To Do

Anat Baniel | Posted 05.02.2013 | Parents
Anat Baniel

When one partner becomes very committed to a specific path for his or her child and is deeply convinced that "we should do this, this, and this," and if the other partner is not in agreement, it can create huge tension.

How to Win in the Blame Game

Anat Baniel | Posted 04.24.2013 | Parents
Anat Baniel

It's so easy to take things personally. Instead, the next time you notice yourself feeling defensive or like you're a failure or that you're not good enough, practice using a buffer phrase.

If Everybody Likes You, You Are Doing It Wrong

Ben Michaelis, Ph.D. | Posted 04.22.2013 | Healthy Living
Ben Michaelis, Ph.D.

If about 85 percent of the people you meet like you, you are probably doing something right. In contrast, if much more than 85 percent of the people you meet like you, you are probably doing too much to get along.

Time Outs Are Not Just for Children

Anat Baniel | Posted 04.17.2013 | Parents
Anat Baniel

Normally, when thinking about communication, we think about verbal communication or some kind of physical communication. However, sometimes the best communication skill is to know when to take a time out.

Did the TSA Harrass Us Because of Our Special Needs Son?

Marla Murasko | Posted 04.15.2013 | Parents
Marla Murasko

My husband and I have traveled many places with our son, who is 7 years old and diagnosed with Down syndrome. We have traveled through many airports and have always followed the TSA policies. However, on this one particular day, we encountered rude and unpleasant harassment.

20 Tips for Parenting a Child With Special Needs

Anat Baniel | Posted 04.11.2013 | Parents
Anat Baniel

The blessing of a child can challenge a relationship. When the child has special needs, these challenges grow exponentially. With the right tools, parents of children with special needs can learn additional ways to relate to each other that will strengthen their connection and love,

The Misunderstood Face of Giftedness

Marianne Kuzujanakis | Posted 04.10.2013 | Healthy Living
Marianne Kuzujanakis

Contrary to common stereotypes, giftedness is not synonymous with high academic achievement. The gifted student archetype, while expected to be a mature classroom leader, does not fit all gifted students.

The Most Important Thing I Realized After My Son's Diagnosis

Megan Pillow | Posted 04.08.2013 | Parents
Megan Pillow

When the nurses took Atticus to the nursery a few hours after his birth because his temperature was low, it didn't occur to me to be afraid. Even when a nurse entered the room with a doctor who introduced herself as a neonatologist, it didn't trigger an alarm.

Mother of Two Special Needs Children Pens Memoir

Gregory G. Allen | Posted 04.05.2013 | Impact
Gregory G. Allen

Any parent with a special needs child would tell you of the joys and challenges of raising that child. Imagine raising two children with special needs as well as two other children. Deborah French has captured that in her powerful memoir A Brief Moment in Time.

A Little Investment for a Big Future

Amy Weisberg | Posted 04.03.2013 | Los Angeles
Amy Weisberg

If we want to make serious, positive changes in education and have the biggest impact on our future and the future of our children, we must demand lower class sizes.

When An 'A' For Effort Means Everything

Parenting.com | Posted 04.03.2013 | Parents
Parenting.com

It's easy to make fun of the A for effort, the trophy for participation, but the fact is, for Schuyler and countless kids just like her, those trophies are the ones that sit on their shelves. And they're not cheap tokens of faint praise, either.

Saint Judy

Leda Natkin Nelis | Posted 04.02.2013 | Parents
Leda Natkin Nelis

Raising a child with special needs has been challenging to say the least. Convincing the medical community that my concerns about my son were valid, and then attaining a proper diagnosis, was a gruesome battle. My mother has been right there in the trenches with me from day one.

What My Daughter's Diagnosis Has Meant For Her Twin

Denise Henry | Posted 04.02.2013 | Parents
Denise Henry

I try to capture these moments in a picture or on video because sometimes I'm not sure how often these moments will occur in the coming years. I want them to hold on tight to each other and lean on each other throughout their lives, as siblings should do for each other.

How I Found The Words To Advocate For My Daughter

Suzanne Perryman | Posted 04.01.2013 | Parents
Suzanne Perryman

There just isn't a teacher, a doctor or other well-meaning professional who definitively knows what is "best" for my child. As Zoe's mother, I see her as the whole child she is: her spirit, her strengths, her abilities.

Maximize Your Disabled Child's Government Aid

Jason Alderman | Posted 03.27.2013 | Business
Jason Alderman

Parents of special needs children have enough on their plates just tending to the needs of their kids. So it's not surprising that many of these parents haven't had time to hatch a long-term financial plan in case their kids need care after they're not around.