10 Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to celebrate with your kids but with a twist. I tend to be a bit different than what you learn in school. I’ll teach my children the truth about the relationship between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. But even with the sorted past, Thanksgiving has a lesson to teach …

14+ Halloween Safety Tips for Parents and Kids

Safety should be your primary concern every Halloween. It is amazing to have a fun holiday everyone loves, dress up, go trick or treating, celebrate with friends and family. Having the kids get into the spirit and enjoy the holiday as well. Focusing on safety while out trick or treating, visiting different events, and celebrating, …

31 Family Friendly Halloween Movies

Every year as October draws near I get in a mood to watch family friendly Halloween movies. Now, with a family this has become more of a wonderful family tradition. Here are 31 of my favorite movies that are wonderful to watch as a family for Halloween. Casper The Addams Family The Addams Family Values …

We Do Not Support Autism Speaks

While I was studying for my undergrad I was in a sorority. This sorority, about a year before I graduated, changed their philanthropy, and started supporting Autism Speaks. Before this moment I knew NOTHING of the organization. Really, until my daughter’s diagnosis I never really thought much of it. So, I do understand the many …

Common Comorbid Conditions with Autism

Autism has very specific traits. Many of the misconceptions around Autism have to do a lot with misunderstanding about what are Autistic traits and what are traits of comorbid conditions. That are many different conditions that are often comorbid (simultaneously present). Misunderstandings like the one I heard recently where a man was explaining that someone …

Disability is Not a Bad Word; We Don’t Need Euphemisms to Sugar Coat Disability.

Person first language is taught in most health profession programs. That is why doctors, teachers, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, will likely call your child or yourself a “child WITH autism.” This movement began in 1974, seeking to empower individuals by placing an emphasis on their individuality and personhood over their disability. Since this time …

Common Misconceptions About Autism

Before becoming a mother, I admittedly did not know a lot about Autism. When I thought about Autism, I pictured the very stereotypical blunt, robotic, routine driven individual. I did not understand how many of these are misconceptions about Autism. As my oldest daughter was creeping up on her second birthday it was suggested by …

We Don’t Need Awareness, We Need Acceptance

National Autism Awareness Month: We Don’t Need Awareness, We Need Acceptance. Many of you, whether or not you have anyone close to you who is autistic, have heard of Autism Awareness Month in April. Really, however, we do not need to be aware of Autism. So many are aware of Autism. What is needed is …

12 Children’s Books About Mental Health

There are many different situations kids go through that can be hard to understand. Emotions, anxiety, depression, behavioral and learning challenges, all creep into their everyday lives. There are many different ways to help your children work through these situations. Books are a wonderful way to teach your children about mental health. Don’t Feed the …

13 Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas

Easter is just around the corner yet again and if you’re like me, you like to try and limit the excessive candy intake of my children. I don’t say never, they can have candy, and they do, but I prefer when holidays come like Easter and Halloween that they don’t gorge themselves into sugar comas. …