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Attention and ADHD: Tell them to Fix Their Feet!

  There are a lot of antsy kids out there.  Some of them have ADHD.  Not all of them get occupational therapy.  Most of my work with these kids centers on sensory processing treatments that improve attention and emotional regulation. But some of my treatment strategies concern  positioning.  That is a therapy word for how…… Continue reading Attention and ADHD: Tell them to Fix Their Feet!

Can Your Autistic Child use the Potty in a Public Place Yet?

What does it take to get a child with autism to completely independently, and calmly, use the toilet in a public place?   Solid skills at home, comfort with being in an unfamiliar bathroom, and no option of using a Pull-Up. Get your child so good at using the bathroom at home that they could…… Continue reading Can Your Autistic Child use the Potty in a Public Place Yet?

Sleepless ADHD/ASD Kid Taking Stimulants? A Drug-Free Solution

  This happens all the time; the drug that is supposed to be metabolized doing the day can still disrupt sleep at night.  One of my clients is begging his father to make his brain “turn off” so he can sleep at 11:30PM!  It only has a half-life of 12 hours folks.  It is still…… Continue reading Sleepless ADHD/ASD Kid Taking Stimulants? A Drug-Free Solution

Why That Sippy Cup Could Damage Your Child’s Teeth (Hint: its not what you think!)

No, the cup isn’t deforming the positioning of their teeth. But that is a good guess. Most therapists know that the prolonged use of these covered cups slow down learning the mouth and jaw control needed to drink from an open cup.  So that is a terrific reason to ditch the Sippy cup as soon…… Continue reading Why That Sippy Cup Could Damage Your Child’s Teeth (Hint: its not what you think!)

Reduce Your Autistic Child’s Chances of Being Sexually Abused by Toilet Training Them

No parent wants to think about this subject. Not one. But it is essential to realize that abuse happens.   The statistics are concerning.  The majority of abuse continues to happen in the same locations as for neurotypical kids:  the child’s home, relative’s homes, and the homes of family friends.  But because autistic children also…… Continue reading Reduce Your Autistic Child’s Chances of Being Sexually Abused by Toilet Training Them

Need to Pick a High Chair for Your Preemie? I Got You!

    I just wrote a new set of handouts for  Your Therapy Source.  This time they are about going BEYOND Tummy Time, picking high chairs, booster seats, and getting baby wearing right when your child has special needs. These are great for therapists in Early Intervention, but parents can also buy them on the…… Continue reading Need to Pick a High Chair for Your Preemie? I Got You!

Make Life with Your Special Needs Child Easier: The Special Needs Toileting Handout Pack is Finally Here!

After writing The Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child  I got a lot of feedback on how great the book was.  And how long.  It seems that some professionals and a lot of parents are so crushed for time that they wanted a “Cliff Notes” version (showing my age, I guess…!)  So I decided…… Continue reading Make Life with Your Special Needs Child Easier: The Special Needs Toileting Handout Pack is Finally Here!

How Early is TOO EARLY to Potty Train?

I have been asked this question twice by friends in the month since my new book, The Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child:  Sensory-Motor Secrets to Success, came out. My answer hasn’t changed, but my awareness of how other people view readiness has. The short answer:  You can train successfully much earlier than…… Continue reading How Early is TOO EARLY to Potty Train?

Can You Prevent Pelvic Floor Issues by Changing Everyday Habits?

So many hypermobile kids and adults develop pelvic floor problems.  They surface as issues with bowel and bladder control, mobility problems, and when kids become sexually active, a host of sexual dysfunctions. Wouldn’t it be better to prevent problems than solve them?  Of course it would. That was a rhetorical question, posed out of frustration…… Continue reading Can You Prevent Pelvic Floor Issues by Changing Everyday Habits?

The Secret Weapon To Get Your Autistic Child Sleeping Better

You will need to address your own sleep skills.  This is more than the classic “Put your mask on before trying to place a mask over your child’s mouth” on an airplane.  Raising a child with autism is a lot of work.  A lot of love, but a lot of time and effort.  Nothing is…… Continue reading The Secret Weapon To Get Your Autistic Child Sleeping Better

Can You Successfully Treat Sensory Issues in Gifted Kids?

The short answer is:  Yes, sort of. The long answer is that without understanding the source of the sensory issues as a brain difference instead of a brain disorder, you will not make the gifted child’s functioning better, and you could contribute to lowered self-confidence and performance. Gifted individuals process their world slightly differently than…… Continue reading Can You Successfully Treat Sensory Issues in Gifted Kids?

The Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child: From Diapering Differently to Using Public Facilities

    Toilet Training a child with autism is not easy. It just got easier for you.   The Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child:  Sensory-Motor Secrets for Success is finally done!  I wanted to share everything I have learned as a pediatric occupational therapist for over 25 years.  And everything I have…… Continue reading The Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child: From Diapering Differently to Using Public Facilities

Why Learning to Get Dressed Is Such a Challenge For Autistic and Sensory Kids

Almost all young children are little natives; they often prefer to be naked or almost naked. Even when chilled, a lot of kids balk at putting on clothing. If your child has an ASD diagnosis or a sensory processing issue, their desire to stay undressed may not be just a preference. They may find the…… Continue reading Why Learning to Get Dressed Is Such a Challenge For Autistic and Sensory Kids

Why Does Autism Create so Many Toilet Training Struggles for Kids (and Their Exhausted Parents)?

It isn’t that parents and professionals think potty training an autistic child will be easy.  They know it could be a challenge and it could take longer than training a neurotypical child.  They simply don’t expect it to be so consistently tough and to have so many unexpected twists and turns. Some of them can…… Continue reading Why Does Autism Create so Many Toilet Training Struggles for Kids (and Their Exhausted Parents)?

Why Hydration is Your Superpower When Potty Training an Autistic Child

Hydration…a fancy name for drinking enough water. It could be the key to successfully potty training an autistic child. Why?  Because if nothing much is going in, or nothing healthy is going in, nothing good will come out. A child who has a history of struggling to nurse or feed from a bottle often turns…… Continue reading Why Hydration is Your Superpower When Potty Training an Autistic Child

Toothbrushing Tools For Autism That Work!

Families ask me to come to their homes and teach their autistic kid how to correctly brush and floss their teeth.  As an occupational therapist, I know good tools can do half of my work for me (Shush:  don’t tell anybody that it isn’t always my many years of training and experience that make the…… Continue reading Toothbrushing Tools For Autism That Work!

A Simple Strategy to Manage an Autistic Child’s Fear of Practicing New Skills

Novelty can be very difficult for kids with autism. Very.  Difficult. Learning a new skill is only one type of novelty in the life of an autistic child.    But it can go badly, and without much warning. The meltdown from being asked to switch things up can be substantial.  Mostly out of proportion to…… Continue reading A Simple Strategy to Manage an Autistic Child’s Fear of Practicing New Skills

Why Letting Your Child Snack All Day Can Damage Their Sleep Quality

I wanted to make the title stronger, more click-able.  But in the end, I am not writing this blog to grab views.  I am writing it to help people support children’s health.  So I couldn’t use words like “destroy” or “torpedo”.  But I wanted to.  Because something as simple as snacking every hour or so…… Continue reading Why Letting Your Child Snack All Day Can Damage Their Sleep Quality

How To Decide Between “Boot Camp” and Gradual Potty Training

  Whether or not you are training a special needs child or a neurotypical child, you will have to think about exactly which methods you will be using.  The two general categories for training strategies are the “boot camp”, in which the child spends days living near the potty, focusing on toileting, and the gradual…… Continue reading How To Decide Between “Boot Camp” and Gradual Potty Training