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Setting Your Child Up for Success ~ Shadowing Tips for Parents

March 24, 2014

As parents, we all want our kids to do a good job in all their pursuits.  And as parents, we want to give our kids access to all kinds of activities in hopes of finding something that they will enjoy and excel.   For parents of special needs children - whether autism, learning disabilities or behavioral issues - we want those things all the more.  Parents of special needs children are always in search of therapies, classes and activities to expose their children to new experiences in hopes of improving their skills, self-esteem and opportunities.  Some such programs are designed to provide a very controlled environment with 1:1 child to adult ratio to address behavior, attending and compliance issues.  These programs are great, but sometimes parents choose for a variety of reasons (cost, time, availability, etc.) to send their children to less restrictive programs, especially those with typically developing peers.  In those types of situations, 1:1 aides are not provided but parents may still be required to "shadow" their children.  For example, I teach arts and crafts classes to special needs children in a variety of settings - some are in school/therapy settings (strictly...

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Tags: activites, autism, mainstreaming, shadowing, special needs


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Adventures in Meditation ~ Power of the Group

March 2, 2014

For those of us in the northeast, it has been a tough winter.   Lots of cold temperatures.  Lots of grey skies.  And lots and lots of snow.    Even in the mildest winters, we are ready to say good riddance to winter by the time February draws to a close in NJ.   So this year, I decided to give winter a good send off by doing something I’ve always wanted to do but have never been brave enough to try:  hosting a group meditation.   As a way to prepare for spring – the time renewal and growth –  I invited friends to join me for a meditation retreat during which we would sit and be still.  We would do “nothing”, a change from what we usually do – running around and doing everything.  Of course, we would learn that we did something far from “nothing.”  We made time for ourselves. . . To explore and replenish our body, mind and soul.   To relax.  To be open.  To share our thoughts, feelings, impressions and energy with others.  To be brave and do something different.  To... [More]

Tags: group meditation, meditation


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