What is Occupational Therapy for Kids?
OT and school-based occupational therapy help students with disabilities develop the skills they need to participate in daily activities at home and school.
1
Hundreds of posts. Thousands of IEP Goals and IEP accommodations. Tons of advice and tips after attending 100s of IEP meetings.
The ‘Family Resources’ category is dedicated to providing valuable and informative content for families. Here, you will find a wide range of resources aimed at strengthening family bonds and improving the overall well-being of families. From parenting tips to fun family activities, this category has something for everyone. Our expert authors share their knowledge and experiences to help families navigate the challenges of modern life and create a loving and supportive environment for all members. Stay up-to-date with the latest family resources and make your family life easier and happier!
OT and school-based occupational therapy help students with disabilities develop the skills they need to participate in daily activities at home and school.
Task paralysis is the inability to start or complete tasks, affecting productivity and causing stress. It can be caused by various factors, not just ADHD.
From motivational quotes and positive news stories to fun games and brain teasers, we’ve got you covered. Start your day on the right foot with our helpful suggestions.
Easy DIY Slime Recipe: How to Make Slime with Glue, this step by step slime recipe and instructions will have your kids having gooey fun in just a few minutes!
Teens can be hard to buy for, especially at holidays geared for little kids. Here are some Easter Basket Ideas for Older Kids, including egg hunts for older kids.
Encouraging healthy eating habits in kids can be challenging, but it’s essential to promote their overall health and well-being.
Discover effective ways to help your child gain weight quickly and healthily. From nutrient-dense foods to exercise tips, learn how to support their growth.
Shame spiraling is a distressing experience that can lead to self-criticism and negative self-talk. Learn how to recognize and break the cycle here.
Time Blindness is a phenomenon associated with ADHD, but it is not exclusive to ADHD. Read what it is and how to manage it if you have time blindness.
Use this list of teen life skills to see where your child is, and what they need to work on before going on to college or living independently.
Learn what an Executive Functioning Coach is, what an EF coach does and how to become an executive function coach. Plus, video tips from an Executive Function Coach.
AAC devices can be liberating for autistic children and others who lack verbal communication. A list of the best, and how to get an AAC device for your child.
Inside: What is a sensory bin? Are there benefits to using sensory bins? What are they used for, and for what ages? Plus, we’re sharing…
A list of children’s books about inclusion, from teachers and parents. Add these inclusive children’s books to your home library.
In this article, we will explore what kinetic sand is, what it is made of, and what it is used for. And then, I have…
This article provides a comprehensive guide to legal guardianship for adults with disabilities, including the benefits and considerations for families and caregivers. Learn how to navigate the process and ensure the best possible care for your loved one.
The Ultimate Guide to Special Needs Travel: Adequately (and safely!) prepare for a vacation when your child has a disability or special needs. This can save you some headaches and hassles!
Pathological demand avoidance in autism explained Listen to this story: Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is a contentious term. Over the past 40 years, some clinicians…
Activities to Teach About Disabilities What better day than today to publish this post! Today is the first day of Developmental Disabilities Awareness month. I…
Weighted Blanket Causing Pain Weighted blankets. They seem harmless enough, right? So we started using them. I purchased two for our household. In less than…
Learning numbers in ASL is one of the easiest ways to get started in learning ASL. Free worksheets for numbers 1-10 in ASL, coloring pages, free PDF.
Colors in ASL If you are trying to learn sign language, learning clusters or groups of words is a great way to start. Many people…
Sign Language Animals This past year, my son went through a full Assistive Technology evaluation. One of the two modalities that we are going to…
Learning the ASL Alphabet is a quick way to get started in sign language and fingerspelling.
Football Bingo Are you planning a Super Bowl party or another football-themed event? Looking for some free football bingo cards to print? Well, welcome! This…
Free Sign Language Flashcards for 25 Basic Sign Language Words in ASL. Get this free PDF download and begin learning sign language today.
Valentine’s Day in Sign Language What a cute idea! Valentine’s Day cards in ASL. Did you know that ASL is the 4th most used language…
Worried about reinforcing speech and language skills at home? Here are 5 Tips from a Special Education Teacher.
The White House Easter Egg Roll | 2023 | What to Know Before You Go: Here’s how you get tickets, travel tips for parking and eating, and accessibility information.
Need some Teacher Appreciation gifts but don’t have a lot of money? Check out this list of DIY and other inexpensive gift ideas.
Are you thinking about visiting the Grand Canyon with the kids? The national park is a beautiful place for vacation and will likely be one…
Summer doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Use this PDF printable summer bucket list for kids for over 100 Summer Fun Ideas for kids and teens.
SNTs are legal arrangements in which a trustee holds, manages, and distributes assets to a beneficiary. The beneficiary is the disabled person. In most situations,…
Whether you spell it Fastnacht Day or Fasnacht Day, it’s a day to eat donuts! Learn about this PA Dutch Holiday on Fat Tuesday, including a kids’ word search.
Pączki Day (Fat Tuesday in Poland) is one of my favorite holidays. And, we get to celebrate it twice! Read more about Pączki Day 2023. PDF Word Search for kids, too.
List of dozens of indoor playgrounds in the Philadelphia area, including Chester county, Delaware and NJ.
These FREE Groundhog Day activities for kids will help you explain Groundhog Day and its accuracy and make your own predictions. Perfect for preschool, kindergarten,…
The Christmas event gets all the fame, but any time of year is perfect. Local secrets including Restaurants near Longwood Gardens + Best Times to Visit.
Is Sensory Overload really a ‘thing?’ YES. It happens to people with anxiety, autism, ADHD, and other conditions. How to help and prevent sensory overload.
Here are the 3 things in Hershey PA that I recommend you not do. This is a must-read for autism families or those with sensory issues!
When your child is diagnosed with a specific learning disability, or you suspect a disability of some kind, many words are thrown at you. Until…
MLK Day Printables MLK Day can be fun, serious, educational, and thoughtful. Here are activities and projects for kids to make the day memorable, including…
Cortical Visual Impairment I recently attended a conference to educate myself on Cortical Visual Impairment, one of my son’s diagnoses. It was so enlightening and…
Adult Coloring Book Pages I love this new trend! It’s what moms have known for generations; coloring is fun! But it made international news when…
In 1936, Edward William Dolch published his list of what he called “Sight Words.” Dolch, an advocate of the ‘whole word reading’ approach, argued that…
10 tips to make your Valentine’s Day inclusive for all students, including some ideas for activities for special education.
I had the chance to attend a super cool event at Pennsylvania School for the Deaf to celebrate teh Xfinity Essentials program. Many of our…
New Year’s Resolutions for Moms. Pffft. Every year, many Americans set them. Yet, only 8% of us keep them. Crazy, huh? I’m part of the…
Kennedy Space Center The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is one of Florida’s top attractions, after the Orlando theme parks. The complex is located on…
Swim Diaper for Adults This has been a huge struggle and colossal waste of money for us. Finding an adult swim diaper for an older…
Can preventing seizures alter the course of autism? Delicate lines dance across a screen mounted on the wall of the operating room. Their peaks and…
Does your child repeat back words to you, often? Are they repeating words and phrases over and over? Or maybe reciting movie and TV lines?…
Pet Therapy vs Animal-Assisted Therapy “Is that a therapy dog?” The good news–more and more, we (society) are better understanding the human/animal bond, and using…
Pets in the Classroom Pets in the classroom are now easy for every teacher to get. The benefits students receive just by having a pet…
Does your child benefit from a visual reinforcer? Then take a look at these online and other visual timers for kids who have sensory needs.
Hyperfixation Lots of teens love video games. Everyone knows that. And many teens, autistic or neurotypical, play video games too often, which can interfere with…
Apps for Executive Functioning After preparing this blog post, I plan to go back to the Google Play store and get some of these apps…
Symmetry Drawing Worksheets When snow and ice come around, many schools move to an online format. It can be hard to keep kids engaged when…
PA Farm Show Right after the holiday season, I have my eye on one other thing-the PA Farm Show! The 2023 PA Farm Show is…
For the Newly Diagnosed With a Disability Welcome! None of us expected to be here, but here we are. And I’m here to tell you,…
Zero Waste Christmas Ideas I’m sad that we’re not going to see some family members this Christmas. But I have to admit, I’m a little…
Brain Breaks for Kids As adults, we know we need brain breaks. It’s why the phrase “water cooler chat” became a thing. Workers realize they…
Start a GoFundMe Page GoFundMe has become increasingly popular in recent years. It makes sense. Times are tough for a lot of people. It’s no…
These cool noise-cancelling headphones can help with Autism or ADHD focus issues, avoid sensory overload and reduce stress. Decibel ratings too.
Did you know if you have a disability, you may qualify for a FREE LIFETIME pass to our National Parks? Includes a printable list of activities for national parks.
Sports for Kids with Disabilities: List of Inclusive Sports Programs for Kids with a Disability, plus the benefits of sports for disabled kids.
Inspire your kids and yourself as you do a Kindness Challenge together. You can do these in November for World Kindness Day or anytime.
Many students learn better through movement and doing, rather than sitting and listening. Here’s how you can support your kinesthetic learner.
Here are some reader-recommended sensory toys for adults, including those with disabilities like autism, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities.
A Special Education Teacher, OT, and others share their recommendations for the best toys for autistic and disabled children; plus how to use them effectively.
Interoception and Interoceptive Skills Several years ago, I took my boys up to my Dad’s house. Kevin just walked into the room where we were,…
A sensory diet may help a child improve their self-regulation skills. Read how, why, and getting a sensory diet added to your child’s IEP.
10 Tips for you to have stress free holidays in your Special Needs Household. Ideas for both moms and kids…and everyone is happy!
These Christmas thank-you notes are fill-in-the-blank to make it easier for younger kids or those who struggle with reading or writing due to a learning disability.
Best Christmas Books for Teens and Middle Schoolers 20 minutes a day! That has been browbeaten into me ever since I was pregnant. I loved…
Great list of fiction books for kids with a character with autism, disabilities or just plain quirky. There are a few suggestions for each age group and ability.
Just because a dentist says they serve the disability population doesn’t mean that they serve all kids. Questions to ask and what to know about restraints.
My autistic child LOVES going to the barber. Yours can too. Here’s what to look for to find that perfect autism barber or autism haircut.
How to Successfully Manage Daylight Savings Time in the Neurodivergent Household: Autism | ADHD | Tips for Managing this stressful week (or weeks!)
These extra costs don’t occur because my child is disabled. They occur because our society is not set up to support disabled people.
Is your child struggling with pragmatics and other issues, but you just can’t find what fits their symptoms? Read about NVLD. It gave many parents that a-ha! moment.
15 Activities and Lifestyle Changes you can make to improve focus and attention and decrease anxiety.
Wheelchair and Hospital Elf Ideas I’ll admit, when Elf first came out, I loved him. Then I hated him. Well, not him, but I hated…
You’re in bed and you think “I forgot to move the elf!” No worries, here are 50 super simple last-minute Elf on the Shelf Ideas, with photos. And no props!
Crossing midline is often a skill that teams stop working on once the child hits tween years. But if your teen or adult needs the skill, here are some activities to practice crossing midline.
The Halloween Boo! tradition is a great way to have fun + celebrate Halloween with your neighbors. Plan now and start it in early October,
Gift for Disabled Teenager and Adults Teens and adults with autism and disabilities can be so hard to buy for! This post was crowd sourced…
What is the BEST PLACE for apple picking near me? Check out these 31 apple orchards in New Jersey, PA, Delaware and Maryland. Pick your own apples, yum!
The National Archives in Washington, DC is an amazing place to visit. We did the Archives Sleepover, and offering some local restaurant ideas too.
Tips for visiting the National Constitution Center especially if you are traveling with kids and disabilities. It’s a great outing, you should go!
List of what fine motor skills your infant or baby should be developing, and 19 fun activities to practice and help them grow.
Kalahari Water Park and Resort in the Poconos is definitely the best indoor waterpark in Pennsylvania. Here is a sensory friendly travel review.
Levels of Dyscalculia Dyscalculia is a condition that makes it difficult for people to understand math. Those with dyscalculia may find it challenging to solve…
Should you go the Atlantic City Airshow? In a word, absolutely! We just got back from our 3rd or 4th time attending the Atlantic City…
Best Fidget Toys I recently participated in a local consignment sale. My youngest son had quite the collection of fidget spinners. That was a short-lived…
Farms Near Me for Kids to Visit We just love visiting farms. Both of my kids love animals, Kevin in particular. There are many local…
Summer Camp and Anxiety Summer is here and for many kids, that may mean sleep away camp or sleepovers at a friend’s or grandparent’s house….
A dangerous, yet common, misconception in regard to autistic kids is that they will eat if they’re hungry enough. The reality is that hunger, appetite…
Matthew Effect | Matthew Principle Ask any Special Education Advocate, and I bet they all will tell you that they have a huge chunk of…
Stim Toys Quality stim toys can be hard to find, since fidget toys and chewy jewelry, or chewelry, is trendy. Even the higher priced ones…
Self Injurious Behavior and Autism Self-injurious autistic behaviors do not illustrate why stimming, or self-regulatory behaviors, are bad. Stimming is harmless by default and crucial…
What is Summer School? Summer school has a terrible stigma in this country. And, wrongfully so in my opinion. First, the whole concept of children…
Summer Camp Activities (Note: this post was originally written during the 2020 pandemic, so the first couple of paragraphs may not apply. The summer camp…
Mental Health Tips for Moms Being an IEP mom is no easy task. In addition to all the other mom chores we do, we have…
Outdoor Activities for Autistics Today really reiterated to me that I need to get back to the outdoors and get my kids outside. I had…
Autism and Riding a Bike I get a surprising number of inquiries about this. Ever since I posted a photo of my son riding our…
Kids and Self Esteem All children are different and unique in their own ways, but one thing that all children have in common is the…
Sensory Friendly Philadelphia If you’re the parent of a child with sensory sensitivities, you know that it can be challenging to find activities and attractions…
Knoebels Amusement Park One of my favorite places to visit is Knoebels in Elysburg, PA. I have been going there ever since I was a…
ARFID “Mom, I don’t want another ham and cheese sandwich for lunch.” “Well, you don’t eat anything else for lunch. Give me something else to…
Google Organization Apps Let’s face it, when you have a disabled child, Moms and Dads become caseworkers. I’ve never seen one person, let alone a…
Fairmount Water Works I recently had the opportunity to visit the Fairmount Water Works. And I can’t believe I’ve never gone before! It has so…
Seizure Disorder I’ve been having some real “beat myself up” moments about Kevin and his risk for seizures. Things I should have known. Or could…
Cellulitis from a Bug Bite Can you get cellulitis from a mosquito bite? Cellulitis from an insect bite? In a word, yes! It’s happened to…
Tuckerton Seaport Museum This past Saturday, we were invited to a blogger event at the Tuckerton Seaport Museum. I knew my 4-year-old would love the…
Rocking Horse Ranch Over Labor Day weekend, my parents invited us to join them at the Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, NY. Rocking Horse Ranch…
DIY Weighted Doll File this under, “If I can make a DIY weighted doll, anyone can.” Because I am NOT crafty. I’ll show you step-by-step…
Hopewell Furnace Recently I took both of my boys up to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. It is located in Berks County, in Elverson. It…
Disability Moms Yesterday I had a lovely phone conversation with someone whose child was recently diagnosed with a disability. We have mutual friends who referred…
When your Child Lies As I often begin many articles, I state “this has been coming up in the Facebook group a lot lately.” And,…
Things to do with Kids in Orlando Right around Easter, my husband found out that his company was going to send him to Orlando for…
Easy Fundraisers for Schools It’s back to school time, and I swear, every time I turn around, I’m writing another check for this or that….
Disabled Child Grandparenting Disabled Child Grandparenting? That’s a phrase you never heard even 20 years ago. Now, grandparents want to know. It’s their nature to…
Buying a Home While Disabled Buying a home while disabled may feel impossible but here are 11 programs available to help you. I’ve compiled a…
Chester County Special Education Omigosh, if I had a nickel for every time I was asked this! Ok, this is not the answer you want…
Wraparound Services As I’ve navigated my way through the disability community over the past fifteen years, I’ve noticed a trend. That is, NO ONE TELLS…
Ridin’ Hy Ranch Is Ridin’ Hy Ranch disability-friendly? Ridin’ Hy Ranch is an all-inclusive resort nestled in the mountainside of Adirondack State Park, in New…
Earth Day Scavenger Hunt Earth Day is a great time to get the family outside and learn about the environment around us! One fun way…
Earth Day Craft for Kids Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to get your kids involved in some fun and unique crafts. There are so…
Easter Egg Coloring Pages I recently shared another set of Easter coloring pages. Specifically, those free downloadable printable coloring pages were mostly Easter Bunny Coloring…
Easter Coloring Pages When holidays come near, any parent or teacher will tell you, kids get antsy! Especially if a holiday like Easter is associated…
Visual Schedules and Autism How stressed out are you by daily routines? What about your kids? I mean, it’s something that we do, as a…
Bumble Bee Activities I think everyone has a love/hate relationship with bees, right? I mean, they’re essential to the planet, but many are afraid of…
Easter Jokes for Kids Hey, here’s a fun little freebie for you–printable Easter lunch box jokes. These funny Easter jokes and jokes about the Easter…
St. Patrick’s Day Easy Crafts So, you all know that I’m not normally a fan of labeling things with a chronological age. When you’re working…
Recycling Worksheets All right, so before you download and print these recycling worksheets for your preschool or classroom…let me address the irony. Yes, it seems…
Earth Day Color by Number I am a huge fan of multi sensory learning, and surrounding kids with language and content. Numerous studies indicate that…
Daily Affirmations for Kids Honestly, the first and only time I really followed anything about daily affirmations was a satire account for Philadelphia. It just…
Mardi Gras Coloring Pages I honestly just love Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday, even though I’ve never even been to New Orleans or Rio. It’s…
Movies: Making a Difference and Giving Back I hate when I have to rework posts due to creeps. With all of the buzz out there…
Spot The Difference We love spot the difference worksheets. My whole extended family is really into worksheets and puzzles. They’re great when you need to…
Bird Watching Coloring Pages and Activities Calling all bird nerds! Here is a huge list of Backyard Bird feeders and bird watching activities for kids….
Sesame Place Travel Tips Let’s be honest. Sesame Place is an expensive outing and chances are, a special occasion trip for your family. So you…
Basketball Word Search We are just all about the basketball around here! My younger son loves it and plays in two different leagues. We love…
St. Patrick’s Day Activities Growing up, I don’t have great memories of St. Patrick’s Day. My dad would play record albums of Irish Folk Music…
Color by Number St. Patrick’s Day I have posted several other St. Patrick’s Day coloring pages, but kept this one separate. That is because the…
St. Patrick’s Day Arts and Crafts If you’ve been to a card store lately, you know how expensive they can be. So why spend $5…
St. Patrick’s Day Word Search Here we go with another fun activity to incorporate all kinds of skills with a fun holiday. This time, I’m…
St. Patrick’s Day Bingo Bingo is one of my family’s favorite things to do. Mind you, I’m a middle aged adult, and I’ve only recently…
Valentine’s Day Word Search Hi there and Happy Valentine’s Day! Sure, it’s a corny holiday. But, a holiday dedicated to celebrating love and friendship? Count…
Free St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Pages Happy St. Patrick’s Day! These free St. Patrick’s Day coloring pages will keep kids happy and occupied for an…
ASL for St. Patrick’s Day Depending on which set of statistics you look at, ASL, or American Sign Language, is the 3rd or 4th most…
St. Patrick’s Day Lunch Box Jokes Looking for a fun activity for kids for St. Patrick’s Day? Why not print and use these adorable lunch…
Fry’s First 100 Words I recently provided you all with some of the Dolch sight words and some activities to go along with the Dolch…
Teaching Music to Students with Learning Disabilities We all know that music has tremendous health and wellness benefits that extend far beyond just enjoying music….
Story Map Graphic Organizer Most people have read a book, and then went to see the movie. Or, saw the movie and then went back…
What is a Frayer Model? A FRAYER MODEL is a graphic organizer that helps students clarify the meaning of vocabulary words they encounter while listening,…
Valentine’s Lunch Box Jokes Hey, here’s a fun little freebie for you–printable valentine’s day lunch box jokes. Print them, clip them….and put them wherever you…
Valentine’s Day Directed Drawing I like Valentine’s Day for a lot of reasons. Sure, I can concede that it’s partly a made-up holiday fueled by…
Lunch Box Jokes If you asked my son, he’ll tell you that he’s too old for me to be putting things in his lunch box,…
Calming Classroom Decor Look, I love teachers. They are totally underappreciated and the whipping boy for “all things bad” with society and schools. But classroom…
Snowman Snowflake Coloring Pages Once the holidays are over, it’s time to start thinking about snowflakes and snowmen. I find them just as festive as…
Virtual PlayDates The Covid pandemic has made some permanent changes in how we live. Doing everything from school to family dinners virtually started out as…
Healthy Marriage Tips My visiting mother-in-law walked away uncomfortably as my husband yelled at me. “WHY are you doing this?” What was I doing? A…
New Year’s Activities for Kids It can seem like such a drag to suggest that you print and do worksheets with your kids over holiday…
ID card for your Disabled Child Does your child (with or without disabilities) have a photo ID card? Why not? Have you ever thought of…
How to Talk to Children about Death “Mommy, can people die from surgery?” I’ve answered that question about 1000x in the past 2 months. Or…
6 Reasons Why You Should Tell Your Child About their Disability Over the years, I’ve had clients with all kinds of diagnoses. And yeah, some…
LeapPads Games Everyone loves a good freebie and a free Leap app is a great freebie. The free LeapPad app codes are below but just…
Got Cheap Pool Noodles? Pool noodles are like the simplest yet one of the greatest inventions ever. There are so many uses for a pool…
Vaccines Just saying the word Vaccines makes some people uncomfortable because they know a debate will ensue. This is something that I’ve been wanting to…
How to Create a Medical Care Binder I need to do a Care Binder. This is long overdue. I’m traveling across the country in 2…
Mindfulness Meditation for Kids Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness/definition…
Weighted Calming Plush Toys We tried the whole weighted blanket thing. And, I did an entire separate article on how my weighted blanket caused pain…
The Dreidel Game + Hanukkah Activities Happy Hanukkah! I like to teach my kids about all the major holidays and customs, even if we are…
Elkonin Boxes for Phonemic Awareness Just the other day, an advocate friend of mine was in an IEP meeting with a young-ish School Psychologist. And,…
ASL Christmas Activities How super cute is this ASL Christmas Tree Worksheet?! This is the best free Christmas printable worksheet you are going to find….
Santa Letter Template When your child has a learning disability, they don’t only have the disability from 8-3 on school days. Right? They have it…
Free Letters from Santa Claus by Mail Would your child enjoy a free mailed letter from Santa? Who wouldn’t? A letter from Santa can be…
Best Fantasy Football Team Names If you play Fantasy Football, you know that one of the highlights is when your league competitors start to reveal…
Direct Language We live in a sarcastic society. We also live in a society that uses clichés, innuendos, double entendre and other literary license. Even…
Social Emotional Learning Activities “Ugh!” (and insert eye roll) “You want to talk about feelings again,” is what my 12-year-old recently groaned. I hope that…
When Your Pet Eats Human Medicine My son takes several medications every day. We have a new dog in our house. He’s a border collie…
Christmas Social Story This list of Christmas Social Stories was compiled by popular request. Every year, I dig up this post and go over a…
Social Stories for Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is almost here! For most of the world, families anticipate and look forward to this time with happiness. Some of…
Evidence Based Games for Social Skills If you go out to bars frequently, or you’re in a phase of your life where you’re attending a…
{Review} How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. We had so much fun at the Grinch Musical last night! Honestly, I didn’t even think that…
Teen Advent Calendars I am so done with candy. I feel like from Halloween to Easter, it’s a non-stop barrage of candy and junk food….
Bayberry Candle Legend Have you ever heard the bayberry candle poem or tradition? Legend has it that a bayberry candle can bring you luck. I…
Halloween and Trick or Treat Social Stories With Halloween not that far off, I thought I would gather some Halloween and Trick-or-Treat Social Stories for…
Free Christmas Apps Are you looking for Christmas apps that are both fun and educational? Well, I was and found it nearly impossible to get…
Feces Smearing One of the most unpleasant parts of parenting is the gross stuff we sometimes have to encounter. It starts out fine, right? A…
Streaming Halloween Movies (that aren’t scary!) Do you like scary movies? I like the scary movies if there’s no possible way it could happen in…
Will Trunk or Treat Save Halloween? Trunk or Treating is a growing trend that has been popping up around the country as a replacement for…
Costumes with Helmets I am so tired today, I have a bad foot. So when I looked in Kevin’s room and saw him relaxing with…
Hey, let’s face it. Carving pumpkins makes a mess. You can have just as much fun with these, easy no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas.
Sensory Break Ideas My son recently gave me his Garmin Vivofit. He no longer uses it and I was interested in one. I’ve been wearing…
Trick or Treating Alternatives Many kids love to go trick or treating. But, maybe your disabled child does not enjoy it. Or, maybe we’re in…
Matching Pictures Matching is a skill that many take for granted. And, I hear from parents who want IEP goal suggestions or printable matching pictures…
Including Kids in Fantasy Football Leagues My husband has been in a family Fantasy Football league for several years. In recent years, he allowed our…
Halloween Activities for Kids Pennhurst is one of the Halloween things to do near me. I hate it. For those of you who do not…
South Philly I’ve lived near Philadelphia most of my life. As a kid, we had obligatory field trips to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and…
Deep Creek Lake I live west of Philadelphia. My family enjoys almost all outdoors activities-fishing, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding and more. Because of where we live,…
Halloween Facts Halloween is almost here and as one of the most popular holidays (it ranks above New Year’s and Valentine’s Day), it seems only…
Sequencing Pictures Sequencing is an important executive function. It is a foundation skill that children must develop before they can move on to more complex…
How to Teach Kindness and Empathy Research shows that teens today are 40% less empathetic than they were thirty years ago (Dr. Michele Borba), and…
Allergy Free Candy for Halloween Have you heard of the Teal Pumpkin Project? Fantastic idea! Tips and treat lists so your house can be a…
Sensory Activities for Teens It often feels like when it comes to sensory activities and cool crafts, older kids get left out. Like their sensory…
Printable Chore Chart for Kids Parents from all regions and cultures of the world remain divided whether they should or should not hand out chores…
30 Book Challenge My son hates to read. Nope, no dyslexia or ADHD. He’s actually several years ahead in all of his reading skills. My…
Physical Activity for Kids Being physically active is important for all ages, kids included. Do you have kids who drag their feet when it comes…
Wheelchair Accessible Beaches As I am sitting here putting together this post, it is 90 degrees, sunny and humid outside (and only April!). Mentally, I’ve…
Parent Communication Log One common method of parent-teacher communication is the use of a daily home to school communication log. My son has used one…
ADHD and Sleep Have you ever walked into your child’s room to find them sleeping on the floor? I mean, you put them in bed,…
Sepsis and Children I’m a worrier. It’s my nature. Having a disabled child, and one who is both non-verbal and medically complex only exacerbates my…
Educational Apps | Pros and Cons According to NPR, 53% of American kids over 11 have their own smartphone, and 84% of American teenagers. But,…
Math Apps With so many more kids learning at home or on a hybrid program, I am finding more parents frustrated at math. It’s just…
Making Sensory Bottles Sensory Bottles or Calm Down Bottles are a huge trend right now. And why not? They are great for all ages and…
Benefits of Playdough Play Dough is such a great thing for kids and adults. There are many ways to foster development in many skill areas….
Amazon Echo for Disabled People Look, I love reading to my kids. But the thing is, it is never enough for them. One book or…
Autism Apps It’s kind of hard to remember life without tablets and smartphones, but it did exist. When the iPad was introduced a little over…
Medical Assistance PA When I moved from Canada to the Philadelphia area, I was a bit confused as to what services I could receive for…
Easy Daily Routines “Come ON! You’re going to miss the bus!” you scream up the stairs. Or, you answer another barrage of the same questions-Where’s…
Benefits of LEGO Lego bricks are an excellent way to encourage creativity in our kids. You can purchase Lego bricks and pieces by themselves. Or…
All About Me Worksheet Sending any young child out into the world is scary. Meeting new teachers can be nerve-wracking for kids, and for moms….
Books About Siblings of Special Needs Children Yesterday was not a great day. It wasn’t terrible, just not great. I picked B up from preschool…
Special Needs Adaptive Clothing Accessible and Adaptive Clothing for kids and adults with Special Needs is really having a moment, isn’t it? (and yes, I…
Dolls with Disabilities Kids need dolls and toys that resemble them. Sure, it’s great to have toys that you aspire to be, like an astronaut…
Work for People with Disabilities We vote with our dollars. When you buy something, you aren’t just saying that you like or need the product….
Surgical and EEG Glue Removing EEG glue from your child’s hair-is there anything worse? I cannot believe that we have the technology to actually do…
Text to Speech This past year has had our kids accessing technology more than ever before. Even those who didn’t previously use Assistive Technology now…
Educational Board Games Board games are a great way for children to learn skills without even realizing that they’re learning. And, with so many families…
Talking about Race with Kids Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Kyle Boyer about kids and race relations. I am eternally grateful that…
Behavior Contract My 11-year-old definitely needs a behavior contract. Ah, summer. I am dreading it just as much as I am looking forward to it….
Patriotism for Kids Patriot. It’s a word that gets tossed around a lot lately. And misused a lot, in my opinion. Yes, here in America…
Gross Motor Activities for Special Needs Does your child have sensory breaks in their IEP? Or need them? Are you worried about loss of PT…
Social and Emotion Regulation Apps Did you know that there are apps that can help your child rehearse for social situations? Or help them learn…
Speech Therapy Apps Ever since iPads and devices came on to the scene about a decade ago, our kids have been benefiting from apps. If…
Accessible School Playgrounds It always surprises me how often this comes up. That a mom asks what she can do because the school playground is…
Light Play at Home Last week I went to a special thank you dinner at my son’s school. We were thanking a group because of…
Disability Parenting Books “My brain is always sending me off on little missions, whether or not I want to do them. And if I don’t…
Chemical Free Sunscreens If you subscribe to my newsletter, you know that I’m a little freaked out about this chemical sunscreen thing. What chemical sunscreen…
Tube Feeding Options So, here’s a weird case of foreshadowing. Several years ago, for Tube Feeding Awareness Week, this small business asked if I would…
Autism Safety I want my son to increase his fine motor skills. I do not, however, want him to be able to unbuckle a seatbelt….
Resilience Books “It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any…
Insurance Appeals “I just know you’re going to do a blog post about this!” my friend Lisa told me. Yes, I knew I would. After…
Philadelphia Mummers If you live in Philadelphia, you know what a Mummer is. But if you’re not from around here, you are probably wondering, “what…
Fishing with Disabilities I grew up in a fishing family. My dad and my brother are both avid fishermen and I married one as well….
Valentine’s Day Social Stories I have mixed emotions about Valentine’s Day. Sure, I see the whole “fabricated holiday” thing to generate sales on candy, flowers…
Social Stories about Friendship Ah, friendship. I had a mom once say to me, “I want my child to have a friend, not a buddy.”…
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! I just love this time of year, don’t year? And having kids has made it so much better….
Family Dude Ranches in Upstate NY Please note: In March of 2022, Pine Ridge Dude Ranch announced that they are closing the facility. I’m sorry…
Special Needs Mom Friends Maybe your child has significant time and energy draining issues. Perhaps you are a parent, but you also have your own…
Disability Advocacy Organizations If you are looking for organizations that help disabled people, you’re at the right place. This will give you a starting point….
Disciplining a Special Needs Child. Several years ago, I was in Juvenile Court with a teen client. I was her IEP advocate, but on this…
How to Tie your Shoes. I hear it often. Does your disabled child know how to tie their shoes? And are they past the age…
Things to do in NYC with kids. I am in love with New York City. And fortunate to live only 100 miles from it. I…
Shark Week Crafts and Activities for Kids Do you love Shark Week? We do! My husband says that the newer Shark Weeks aren’t as good…
Chester County, PA Fireworks 2020 Note: I do not think that ANY of the below places are having fireworks this year. Sorry! I looked up…
Planning a trip to Washington, DC with your family? Then these 5 travel tips from a seasoned Mom and Lobbyist are a must-read!
10 Best Websites for Special Needs Parents. I have a friend who is older than I am. Her son was born a year after I…
APS Schools So many times, parents ask me for a list of IEP, APS and private school placement options in Chester County. I always say,…
Last week I was kinda down. Kevin was in the hospital overnight as we struggle to get his seizures under control. The winter blues had…
End of content
End of content