You might now know it, but our library of parent resources extends beyond the helpful articles I share here. If you check out cpcwecare.com you’ll see our Parent Resource section, and the archives of our CPC Presents television shows. The Resource section has many helpful links to information. The information covers autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, eating disorders, OCD, bio-medical interventions, dietary restrictions, Conduct Disorder, and information about support groups. Our CPC Presents program, hosted by Dr. Lowenstein, M.D. and I, ran for over three years on Channel 11’s PCNC. The archives on include 27 shows covering just about every childhood issue one can fathom including video game addiction, selective mutism, teenage cutting, ADHD, chronic hair pulling, and Tourette’s.
Are you looking for more information right now? You're in luck! On this site, you’ll find literally hundreds of posts and videos covering vexing childhood issues. Moreover, there is a Parent Resources tab that provides information about the facts and fallacies regarding ADHD, encopresis, ODD, a link to my book “The 5 Most Challenging Childhood Behavioral Health Issues of Our Day ”, as well as our “CPC Answer Series” on medication, autism, attachment disorder, ADHD and executive functioning, Dyslexia, Managing Your Child’s Public Behavior, Toilet Training, and a description of in-home and in-school services (formerly known as “wraparound services”).
Our goal is to provide useful and practical information in a convenient and easy-to-use format. We trust you’ll find just that at these two sites. While you’re at it, check out DyslexiaTreaters.com to learn more about dyslexia and AutismCenterofPittsburgh.com where there are a ton of autism resources, videos, and our interesting Q/A section.
Happy reading (and watching), and may God bless you and your family. Have a wonderful rest of your summer.
We talk a lot about dyslexia, or the difficulty with decoding or sounding out words. It’s obvious that any child struggling to decode individual words is going to have trouble with reading comprehension. In that respect, it’s difficult to ascertain what a passage is attempting to convey if one cannot read a portion of the words in that passage. In that instance, we target the child’s ability to decode words and, as that skill improves, so does the reading comprehension. However, some children actually read fairly well, but still struggle with reading comprehension; today’s post targets those children and that difficulty.
Once we rule out dyslexia, the next most common issue causing problems with reading comprehension is lack of attention. In that regard, children with ADHD tend to struggle with reading comprehension because, while reading, they lose focus and consequently don’t capture the information the passage is attempting to convey.
We target the attention problem issue. In doing so, we assess the length of time before attention begins to wane, use a timer, and break down the task into smaller segments to promote attention. Keep the work environment distraction-free, and summarize each paragraph before moving on to the next.
Improving one’s vocabulary, or the understanding of what words mean, is surprisingly fun and simple, gives a sense of satisfaction as your child learns the meaning and how to use new words, and is immeasurably helpful and instrumental in improving reading comprehension. In that respect, if one does not know what the words mean, then reading comprehension is going to suffer.
You can easily go online and download a list of grade-appropriate vocabulary words and simply begin the review. It’s actually fun to memorize the meaning of words; you can make a game of it. However, remember that one does not know the meaning of any word until one can explain what the word means without using the word in the explanation.
Use reading material your child finds to be fun and engaging. After each paragraph or page, ask for a quick re-cap; practice makes perfect. Start with material that is below-grade-level and work upwards. Sometimes reading aloud is helpful.
It’s often helpful to read chapter questions (at the end of the chapter in a textbook) before reading the chapter, which gives clues regarding the chapter content and helps to focus on important elements of the story. Or, a parent can pre-read the passage, make up questions, and present the questions before the child begins reading. Also, scan ahead to see the paragraph headings, graphics, and any clues and cues that provide a sense of the chapter content. Underline key words and phrases that often include names, dates, locations, facts, and figures.
Those are a few tips for improving reading comprehension skills. Please note that we’re available to help at the Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center where we help with reading problems including sounding out words and comprehending the reading material. If you think your child might be suffering from dyslexia, call 1 (724) 850-7200, or email me to set up or an evaluation. Or if you have any questions, feel free to email me at jcarosso@dyslexiatreaters.com. Happy reading!!
The Fourth commemorates the unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, by the second Continental Congress in 1776. This declaration culminated in our revolutionary war that ended in 1783. It was then that Britain recognized the United States as an independent and sovereign country. 😊
We want our kids to know our history, and how we ‘came to be.’ However, there’s more. The same principles on which our country was founded are the same characteristics we want to develop in our children.
Here is a run-down of those principles:
A primary goal of the American revolution was the pursuit of liberty. As was so eloquently phrased, “We hold these truths self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Liberty is different than freedom, with the former comes a measure of personal accountability and responsibility. Above all, our Founders strongly believed that with liberty, comes personal accountability. You want to instill those same values in your children – we have unimaginable freedoms in our everyday life, but we also have a responsibility to our family and fellow citizens and should expect to be held accountable for our actions.
Another founding principle is that we all have moral worth, and each should be valued to make one’s own decisions. This is accompanied by the principle of individualism; we are individuals apart from the collective and each has to make his or her own way in life. Yes, we have an obligation to behave morally and help our fellow citizens when we can, but each of us is responsible for our own well-being. We make our own decisions and therefore take responsibility for the outcomes, good or bad, and expect to be accountable for those decisions. It would behoove us to raise our children with this understanding and appreciation, which will serve them well into adulthood.
Appealing to Virtue, a Higher Power, and Morality
Our Founding Fathers believed that the ability to govern ourselves rests with our individual and collective virtue (or moral character). This virtue stems from a Higher Power, or God, from Whom originate our rights. As was written by John Adams, “it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.” We want our children to stand firm in the knowledge that without a strong sense of morality, a firm sense of ‘right and wrong’, based on a Power Who stands above us, we will fail on a personal level and as a society.
Our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution allowed for growth and a trend toward improvement as a society. The concept that ‘all men are created equal’ was among our founding principles. It provided a foundation that compelled our country in the direction of increasing freedom and equality. Has not the United States trended in the direction of increased inclusiveness and is a far different place than in the 1700s? How about compared to the 1800s? In addition, how have we grown as a nation since the 1950s? What about over the past decade? Is there any other country as diverse as the United States that has progressed as much and as quickly? Is there any other diverse country that is freer and with as much opportunity for all? If so, which country is that? – I suppose we’ll all move there.
We want our children to know that this unique and very special country has made immeasurable progress in a remarkably brief time. You want your kids to know that they too, as individuals, are expected to learn from their mistakes. They are expected to grow and mature, learn and evolve. Above all, they should aspire to become something better, and make their community better.
I hope you had a fun and relaxing Independence Day as you had cookouts with family and pondered the remarkable aspects of our country. I wish you the very best in your ongoing pursuit of teaching your kids these founding principles and helping them to live out these aspirations on a daily basis. If you need any help along the way, never hesitate to reach out; you can find out more at HelpForYourChild.com. May God bless you and your children, and this wonderful country in which we live.
Public outings with your child can be quite challenging and demanding, and there tend to be more excursions over summer vacation. Children sometimes find the new environment, whether it be a store or amusement park, to be over-stimulating, and want to carry out the outing ‘on their terms’ rather than on yours. However, if you make a plan in advance, there are some strategies to improve the situation and make the outing more tolerable, if not more pleasant.
Just like anything else, behavior during an outing is a skill that is learned over time. Role-play at home (set-up a mock store or restaurant). Start with short stints, then increase exposure. Quick daily outings (in and out, but longer over time) are better than long trips at first. For example: a brief trip to a local deli, then to a restaurant…
Outline an explanation of where you are going, expectations for behavior, and the rewards (or consequences) if things go well, or not so well. Make sure your child understands what your (achievable) expectations are.
What will happen during the trip, where you’ll be going, what they will do (park, walk, go to a particular store, ride in a cart, take a snack break, ride or not ride certain rides at a park…) and how long it will take? Show photos ahead of time of where you’re going, if possible. Remind them of what part you are at during the excursion, and what comes next. A picture schedule can be very helpful.
Holding an adult’s hand, stay close, etc. Frequently tell them how they’re doing and offer tons of praise and give little tokens for good behavior whenever you see good behavior, or every so often during the outing. They can trade in the tokens for desired items.
Ask questions! If shopping, your child can help find items – keep them occupied. You can even give them money to make their own purchases. Bring along favorite toys, food, or familiar item. Have them help plan out the day with you when you put together the outing.
Limit how often, length, and where you shop depending on your child’s tolerance level. Keep trips short, take breaks, and use a stroller. Make sure they are not tired or hungry (either of you). Be careful of your own attitude and fatigue (keep upbeat, happy…). Take along a wish list. If he sees something he can’t have, add it to a wishlist. Share enthusiasm for desired items. Try to avoid tempting places, or keep in small doses.
Sometimes it can feel frustrating, especially if the outings are to somewhere with challenging distractions. Develop ‘Social Stories’ about public outings, and encourage your child’s involvement with the process. Try to prepare with a visual schedule well in advance. Go at off-hours (6-7 PM or early in the AM, or early in the week). Know the store/destination layout in advance (bathrooms, exit, food, water fountain, babysitting, fire extinguishers (that was a joke)…). If possible, have another adult with you, especially if taking multiple kiddos. In certain situations, you can ask a psychologist to prescribe accommodations at an amusement park or similar destination.
Many children find even busy supermarkets to be stimulating, if not over-stimulating. Here are some things to think about if your child tends to get overwhelmed in some environments:
Problem behaviors can be a form of communication. Note the triggers, problem areas, and anything that makes it predictable. If you can predict it, you can prevent it! Some issues to look out for are boredom, overstimulation, hunger, and fatigue (it’s tough for those little legs to keep up).
Behavior management is the key; remain consistent and remember that what works at home, will often work in public as well. Try to be consistent with behavior management in all settings (between home, school, community). Reinforce good behavior (you get what you praise, and be specific in that praise). When misbehavior occurs, intervene and make eye contact as soon as it happens, and then redirect to replacement behavior. Use time-outs in the store, or take a break outside the store. Avoid losing your cool. A time out does not need to be a “punishment” but, rather a quiet moment outside the store to calm.
Here are some tricks to effectively redirect your child to what you want him/her to do, rather than what you don’t want:
Sometimes, when you are in a public place with your child, people find it necessary to put in their ‘two-cents’; especially if your child has a learning or behavioral difficulty. Here are some ways to deal with that frustration:
It’s important to stay safe while having fun excursions together this summer. It's important to remember snacks, sunscreen, & pool floaties, but what else?
I hope these tips prove to be helpful and make your summer outings more fun and enjoyable. Happy Travels!!
We all fully recognize the importance of a mom in a child’s life. Indeed, no one can surpass the love, compassion, caring, empathy, and tenderness of a mother. Dads sometimes can demonstrate those traits, but usually not on par with their female counterparts and, one could argue; that’s not what dads are for anyway. It seems clear that when God devised the family, He delineated very special and specific roles for each member that divinely complement one other to provide a child all that’s necessary to grow in a healthy and well-rounded way.
This post is an open letter to all fathers out there. Please share it with your husband or any male for that matter; to the dads who read these posts: I hope you find it informative. In any case, there are a few things dads need to know, and I aim to tell them. So, here it goes:
I’m not sure you realize just how important you are in your child’s life. You may think your wife picks up the slack, among other things, and that moms are the true nurturing force, and you may be right about that. However, your role is invaluable and irreplaceable.
In fact, your presence in your child’s life makes all the difference in the world for your child. For example, did you know that your engagement in your kid’s life results in your child being more engaged in school (almost 50% more likely to earn better grades and the same percentage less likely to repeat a grade; 60% less likely to get in trouble at school or drop-out, and twice as likely to go to college), are more likely to stay out of trouble (80% less likely to spend time in jail!!!), avoid high-risk behaviors, and to hold off intimacy with the opposite sex (75% less likely to have a teen birth!!).
As if that’s not powerful enough, it goes even further: your presence and attention results in your child having a much greater chance of becoming a successful adult with a better-paying job and healthier relationships. Incredibly, with you being in your child’s life, your kiddo is more likely to have a higher IQ and be emotionally more stable than otherwise. You probably didn’t know that infants with involved fathers have been found to have higher cognitive scores by one year of age than those without their father’s involvement.
That’s not optimal, but clearly, it’s surmountable. Stay engaged with phone calls, letters (the old-fashion handwritten kind), emails, texts, attending games, regular visitation, and balanced custody arrangements. A child simply knowing their dad cares is huge and is super impactful. However, you gotta realize that there is no substitute for your presence; buying gifts simply won’t cut it, and likely will make the situation worse. It’s very simple; your child wants and needs YOU, not stuff.
Your child likely has a mom, and that’s immeasurably important, but you bring some special things to the table. Think about it: without you, how is your son going to know how a man is supposed to act? In the absence of watching how you treat her mother, how will your daughter know how she should be treated by her husband? Yeah, I know, this may sound stereotyped, but is it untrue? Without you, how will a boy learn to be tough and masculine and, at the same time, a gentleman? Of course, kids without fathers figure it out, but it’s not an easy path and doesn’t come as naturally.
What about my daughter, you ask? Well, you’re no less important to her. There is a general sense that a father’s presence is equally important for son and daughter till puberty; thereafter, your presence helps immeasurably to keep your daughter from being sexually active. Girls with dads in their lives have less of an internal drive to act out sexually, have more self-control, and are generally less inclined to become sexually active at an early age. Daughters with attentive dads learn lots of important things including that they don’t need to be sexual to deserve a male’s attention.
Moreover, your daughter sees you respecting her mother and learns how a woman is supposed to be treated in relationships. Your kids learn, directly from you, about dependability, work ethic, how a man is supposed to handle anger and emotions, and how to care for a family. You also have a profound impact on your child’s spiritual life. You are called to reflect God's fatherhood for your child; and to be a model of strength, leadership, love, faithfulness, grace, and mercy. Moreover, your child will follow your spiritual lead in that respect, which further shows the importance of your influence.
Your job as ‘father’ and ‘dad’ is the best and most challenging of positions. It can be daunting, may seem impossible, and you may feel like you’re failing at times, but staying in the game and ‘being there’ is how you win, and how your child wins.
Okay, so what if you’ve been out of your child’s life? That is a difficult situation. Re-engaging with your child is a worthy pursuit, but rebuilding trust is usually a process and there may be multiple barriers to overcome including some legalities. The process usually begins with writing letters, which can be effective. Remember: it’s very comforting for a child to know that their father cares, even if they don’t have contact. However, there are some situations where re-engagement can be counterproductive and even harmful; it’s important to be sensitive to the history between you and your child. If you’re not sure if or how to proceed, feel free to reach out to me and we can discuss the particulars at DrCarosso@aol.com.
I hope you find this letter to be heartening and inspiring. As a dad myself, I find it important to be reminded of our God-given role and place within the family, our paramount importance for our kids, and the need to strive to be our very best. I commend you for doing the same, and I wish you the best and Godspeed in your effort
Written by Dr. John Carosso & Mrs. Beth Coulson
Your child is in good hands at the Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center. Evaluation and treatment services are overseen by Dr. Carosso, Clinical Child Psychologist/Certified School Psychologist, Dr. Robert Lowenstein, Board Certified Child Psychiatrist, and Mrs. Beth Coulson, Certified Language (Dyslexia) Therapist and our Lead Teacher.
In addition, we have a fantastic team of Reading Specialists all of whom are certified in Orton-Gillingham, which is the foundational approach in treating dyslexia and have years of experience.
Our treatment process begins with a comprehensive evaluation that may culminate in you, the parent, being informed, “your child has dyslexia.” That information can be a welcome relief to hear. Finally, someone can tell you what is happening with your kiddo. However, for many, it’s also a scary place full of unknowns and what-ifs. No matter where you find yourself on this spectrum of emotions, your next question generally is, “So, what do we do?” The good news: there is an answer to that question!
Today, we will be outlining dyslexia remediation: what should be included in a successful program, who should be facilitating those programs, and how long you can expect to have your child in remediation.
When you are looking for a successful dyslexia remediation program, you should look for the following characteristics:
Proven remediation methods always use all three learning tracks to teach children: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic-tactile. Any proven dyslexia remediation program will have extensive practice in all three modes. This helps create stronger links in the brains of dyslexic learners!
Those with dyslexia thrive on structure when they are learning. The more predictable and systemized the lesson, the easier it is to retain the knowledge. In addition, the more predictable the systems and procedures, the less brainpower necessary to determine “how” to practice and, as a result, your child can direct all the extra resources to practice the “what” of the lesson. All successful remediation programs will include a structured and systematic lesson plan.
Proven and successful remediation programs will ALL be individualized in their approach. This is arguably the most important part of a successful program – there are no cookie-cutter lesson plans here! Each lesson will be planned for your child specifically: highlighting their strengths, practicing their weaknesses, and using both to create a beautiful learning environment for your child!
Who is teaching your child is almost as important as what they are teaching. Dyslexia Reading Specialists are NOT tutors. In fact, they are often called dyslexia therapists and they have been through an extensive training program. Generally, this is many hours of training plus a supervised practicum. It is even better if your child’s therapist has an official certification, given through the International Association of Dyslexia or the Academic Language Therapy Association. Anyone with less training will ultimately be unable to effectively remediate dyslexia.
There is no “quick fix” for dyslexia but research shows that students with dyslexia can be remediated (reading at grade level) in 1-3 years though progressive improvement is evident from the beginning of treatment; as one would expect, more severe cases take longer. Many things affect this rate including the level of severity of the dyslexia and the number of sessions per week. It is advised that your child has sessions no less than two times a week, although 3 or 4 are even better.
Remediating your child’s dyslexia is an investment in both time and money. Our students often come to us feeling dejected and frustrated but are discharged from services feeling more confident in their reading ability and happier with their classroom performance, which is priceless.
The Dyslexia Diagnostic and Treatment Center is committed to fulfilling all these requirements and more. Our therapists are certified, trained, have vast experience and all use a version of the Orton-Gillingham curriculum. Our remediation services are intensive and effective, and can really help turn around your child’s academic life! If you would like more information on dyslexia remediation and options that The Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center offers, please email Beth Coulson at bethcoulson13@gmail.com or click this link: https://forms.gle/pE5fdLeSJy2hVMZX8.
Hurry, spots for our summer intensive program are filling quickly!
You can check out my eBook that explains why many traditional discipline or behavioral management practices fail. In that respect, it’s vital to fully understand what works, and what can sometimes not work so well. Yes, we all know, as parents, that being able to effectively discipline your child is vital to their well-being. However, surprisingly, there is something that trumps discipline - there is something more important; a foundational element that, without which, you’re in a very difficult position.
So, what is that foundational element? It’s your relationship!! The key to parenting and discipline is you and your child doing things together, laughing and enjoying each other’s company, and spending time (quality and quantity time) in fun activities. Now that Spring is here, and Summer is approaching, there are many more opportunities for such relationship-building fun, so go for it! Even ‘not so fun’ activities can be quite bonding and reinforcing such as helping with homework or school projects, assisting in getting your child ready for bedtime... In any case, without a healthy relationship, there is no glue to connect a parental directive to the subsequent (hopefully) compliant behavior. We want our kids to comply because, ultimately, they love their parents, want their parents to be happy, want to get along and have a good relationship and realize that ‘we’re all in this together’ so I might as well do my part.
If your child is complying predominately due to a fear of punishment, then you’re in trouble. In that case, your child’s “compliance” is based on manipulation and fear, and tasks are often completed superficially and marginally.
Instead, build the relationship and you’ll have a “disciple” (a willing follower) and be less reliant on discipline. Don’t get me wrong; both are vital, but the former is a lot more fun 🙂
At the Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center - DyslexiaTreaters.com – we assess for and treat dyslexia. This process includes explaining the nature of “dyslexia” and what a parent can do to help.
Dyslexia is largely inherited. In that respect, if a parent has dyslexia, there is at least a 60% chance that offspring will also have the condition.
“Lexia” refers to “words” and “dys” means “poor” such that dyslexia is a “difficulty with words” or a difficulty in the reading of words. Think of it this way: when you see a page of text, it’s not really a page full of words; actually, it’s a page full of letters. In that respect, all those letters are like a big code and it’s our brain’s job to ‘decode’ the letters by associating sounds to the letters and blends. That’s why we refer to reading as using ‘decoding’ skills. People with dyslexia have trouble with that ‘decoding’ process. However, it’s no different than any other strength or weakness; some of us are good, or not so good, in math, athletics, music, art, reading, or whatever.
At the Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center, we conduct a thorough evaluation that will include an assessment of intelligence, which reflects a person’s ability level. We then compare that ability level to measures of reading, spelling, phonetic ability, and reading comprehension among other assessed areas. We then look for the telltale signs, namely in the areas of difficulty with specific decoding skills and we diagnose based on evidence of such difficulty and severity level.
You can find more information at our website, DyslexiaTreaters.com, that we can provide treatment online in the convenience of your home. We have the best Reading Specialists who are vastly experienced and certified in treating dyslexia. We rely on a structured, systematic, and ‘multi-sensory’ approach that incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning processes. The Orton-Gillingham Approach is foundational and incorporates this multi-sensory approach.
Read to your child daily. Books on tape can be helpful and Kindle, Audible, and Bookshare is a valuable resource (read-aloud option).
When reading to your child and taking turns, use the ‘two-second rule’. When your child struggles to read a word, wait two seconds, then quickly pronounce the word for your child and move on with the reading. Otherwise, the reading experience becomes burdensome, boring, and your child will resist. Moreover, basic reading passages have lots of repetition of words, so you’ll re-encounter that word soon enough. You want to choose reading material with which your child can read at about 90% accuracy.
Practice writing by tracing and progressively moving to freehand. Tracing and writing problem letters (b’s, p’s, d’s…) is helpful. There are also various helpful tricks (“bed” featuring a picture of two people – pictured as the ‘b’ and ‘d’ – holding between them an ‘e’ on which a person is sleeping…).
Use off-white paper or background, larger-size (14 pt or more), and sans serif fonts to reduce the letters appearing to “move around on the page” (a common complaint from kids struggling with dyslexia).
Practice phonics online; simply google “free phonics games” and plenty of sites will be available for daily, fun-filled practice. There are also inexpensive ‘apps’ that can be downloaded. I also refer parents to any number of commercial software products that provide comprehensive instruction, in a child-friendly manner, for the computer.
Simply email me at jcarosso@dyslexiatreaters.com and ask for our Dyslexia Packet that outlines these strategies, helpful websites, website addresses for software, and a host of other treatment options.
Also, inquire about our online treatment. We are excited about our upcoming intensive summer treatment program beginning in June.
I hope that this was helpful for you and your child. If you found this article informational, please share it with a friend. Thanks!
It’s May and summer recess will be here before ya know it, so it's best to start planning and preparing now. There are lots to think about, and I would hate to have you awaken that fateful day in early June with the incessant “I’m bored”, or loud screaming that typically accompanies siblings being home together all day.
Oh, the joys of summer.
I know it may sound a bit OCD-ish, but a very effective way to plan for the summer, and to get every drop of fun you can, is to get a calendar and plan the entire summer week-by-week, if not day-by-day. You may have some day and week-long camps that you can easily plug in; the annual summer vacation to the beach or Disney, your kid’s sporting events, the trip to Aunt Rhoda’s… Once you have those regular events scheduled, you can start getting creative. Oh, by the way, if your child has special needs, contact the Park (Disney…) they formerly provided passes to avoid long wait times.
I’ll bet your family has a bucket list of fun and ‘different’ things you all would like to do, but haven’t. Often, we don’t do fun things because we don’t plan for them. So, plan the activities and get that small flower garden planted, bake some cookies, go camping in the backyard, go on that day-trip to Gettysburg, project a movie on your garage door and have a homemade drive-in, do some star-gazing, start an annual neighborhood kickball tournament and, of course, can’t forget about getting a net (not a Wiffle bat) and catching lightning bugs.
You may include some things in the summer agenda that aren’t necessarily fun but are definitely worthwhile. Summer is an excellent time to get your kids boned up on things such as math, writing skills, or reading. If your child has special education services, talk to the Principal now about whether your child qualifies for Extended School Year (ESY). We also offer intensive summer online programming through DyslexiaTreaters.com. Teach the kiddos how to do various chores around the house (how to wash the family car…) or do a family project such as cleaning out that garage. In fact, sometimes those ‘chores’, if done as a family, can be quite a bonding experience especially when the final outcome (a really clean and organized garage) is achieved by everyone’s hard work. If your child is on the spectrum, the summer can be a time you may be a bit more indulgent in your child’s obsessive interests (sharks, star wars…) but only after nonpreferred is done, and don’t overindulge. Also, in the same vein, there can be a tendency to isolate and avoid social encounters; be sure to incorporate supervised social encounters into the calendar, and you may find it helpful to plan trips to the zoo, local library, autism-friendly theatre, and bookstore. Also, don’t forget for all kiddos, daily running around and lots of physical activity.
Babysitters and childcare tend to get filled up pretty quickly, so don’t delay in connecting with that local teenager who does a great job with your kids, or that daycare provider who comes highly recommended by your friends. Reserve the spots and make deposits, based on that schedule mentioned earlier. Also, start now to reserve spots for summer camps; they fill up very quickly. If your child has special needs and will be attending a therapeutic camp, call your child’s case manager for an updated list of camps, and contact your child’s psychologist to obtain a current prescription. If you want to enroll your special needs child into a typical camp or activity, and believe he’ll need individualized attention, you may be able to obtain IBHS (formerly ‘wraparound services’) to provide such attention. Contact this psychologist to further discuss this option.
Summer is time for relaxation, being laidback, and being more flexible and free-flowing. However, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Maintaining some semblance of routine can be helpful, especially if it involves getting past the less favored tasks (chores, academics) to move on to more fun, sun-filled activities. If your child has special needs, then maintaining a consistent routine is even more important. In fact, be sure he knows about the schedule, what to expect, and answer any questions ahead of time. A picture schedule is also advised.
I hate to write about the summer ending when it hasn’t even begun, but keep in mind the importance of getting more and more into a school routine as the summer comes to a close. The last week of summer should be very close to the school routine in terms of bedtime and wake-up.
Okay, that about wraps it up for now. Have a wonderful summer!!!
In my latest book, Managing the 5 Most Challenging Childhood Behavioral Problems of Our Day, I devote a chapter to Applied Behavior Analysis, or “ABA”. This ‘ABA’ approach is seemingly mysterious, frequently cited, but mostly misunderstood. Put simply, it is a systematized and regimented series of approaches to analyze, understand, and modify behavior. The approaches are applied to daily life demands and circumstances.
Applied Behavior Analysis is typically geared toward the treatment of autism. However, ABA is used to treat any type of behavior and any condition we want to understand and modify. This can range from a child being off task during math class to a child exhibiting self-stimulatory behavior during free time.
You can read the interactive eBook on my Substack!
For more parenting resources, or to set an appointment, check out the Community Psychiatric Centers' website. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions at DrCarosso@aol.com.
Dr. John Carosso's ebook: The Steps to Improving Your Child's Behavior
Dr. John Carosso's ebook - How We Treat Series: Depression and Anxiety, Autism, ADHD, and Emotional Outbursts.
Dr. Carosso’s eBook: The Most Common Discipline Methods Don’t Work: Here’s Why and How to Make them Work
Dr. Carosso’s eBook: The ADHD Diagnosis, Severity Level, and Treatment Options
