There are moments when everything seems fine one second, and the next, the child is completely overwhelmed. I saw it often in my own home—usually when noise, emotions, and too much stimulation built up faster than one of my kiddos could process. In those moments, movement became one of the most effective tools in my parenting toolbox. I remember ...
ADHD
The Hard Reality and Hidden Purpose of ADHD Parenting
When Bubs was just a baby, I read a parenting book written by a mom raising a boy with ADHD. At the time, I didn’t know much about ADHD. I remember thinking how incredibly hard that must be—parenting a child who never slows down, who struggles to focus, who acts before thinking. I had no idea I was reading a glimpse of my own future. Bubs—our ...
13 Tips to Navigate the Holidays with Sensory-Sensitive Kids
The holidays are hard for most children and adults. But for children navigating Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, or ADHD, the large groups of people, over stimulation, and changes in routine can send the whole day into a downward spiral. I learned—many times after the fact—that the best way to help my children (and myself) was to prepare for ...
What to Do When Sensory Emotions Explode
Sharing a past post in the prayers that it will be helpful to many. It was the perfect scenario—or so I thought. We had just left church, and Grams was sitting in the backseat cuddling with Bubs (age seven). We picked up pizza and chatted about the fun day we had thus far with family. Once home, everyone gathered at the dinner table—except ...
Simple Sensory Strategies to Help Kids Focus and Calm Down
Have you ever watched a child spiral into a whirlwind of energy or meltdown, unable to focus or slow down? I’ve been there. Whether it’s sensory sensitivity, ADHD, or just an overwhelming day, sometimes kiddos need a little extra help to calm down and regulate their emotions. Through occupational therapy, I learned two simple strategies that ...
How Visual Perception Activities Would Have Helped Her
I thought we were done with diagnoses. Isn't Autism, ADHD, and Executive Function Disorder enough? I guess God has other plans. Let me back up a little. Things began falling apart for Sweet Pea in the 2nd grade. Her reading level decreased, her test scores dropped, and her spelling was atrocious. But she continued to be at the ...
How to Get a Child to Stay in Bed, Part 2
After 3 1/2 weeks of returning Little Man to his bed, we conquered the war! If you read Part 1 of this series, you know that this didn't happen without consistency. Some kiddos don't put up much of a fight at bedtime. But then there are those who are relentless. The above three key points made all of the difference with our spirited Little ...
How to Get a Child to Stay in Bed, Part 1
Kids don't want to go to bed, while adults long for bedtime. Oh the irony! And I think it is these contrasting bedtime goals that can make nights so challenging. But I have some easy tips that will remove the battle and will help your child stay in bed. To begin, let me share a blog post I wrote on May 10, 2010. Little Man was almost 2 and ...
Does Early Intervention Even Help?
Today I was reading through some past blog posts. What a journey it has been, especially with our oldest son after his dramatic start in life! I found this post from February 12, 2009, written when Bubs was 4.5 years old. Several people shared their opinions on our decision to place Bubs in Occupational Therapy. One of the negative comments ...
Teaching Emotions to Kids
I remember like it was yesterday. Bubs, age 9 at the time, was lying on the floor near me watching a friend's baby kick and choo. One could see the wheels turning in Bubs' mind as he was taking in every movement that Baby Annie made. With a puzzled look on his face, Bubs asked me, "What does this mean?". As he questioned, he circled his ...