Comments for Stars for Kids

Comment on Put Down Your Cell Phone and Talk With Your Children by Australian Chiropractors

Australian Chiropractors — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:39:16 +0000

Hey great article about our kids and cell phones.

Comment on Helping Our Children to Help Themselves by Charlotte Reznick PhD

Charlotte Reznick PhD — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:18:32 +0000

Thank you for this post. I am also familiar with Sarah Wood who has also supported my work. I teach the “Balloon Breath” a simple form of meditation for kids that easy to learn and practice. I invite you to my website http://www.ImageryForKids.com for several articles and information on my new book, The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success. I have found over the years as a child educational psychologist that children can learn many simple meditation techniques to tap into their imagination and develop their intuition helping them face the challenges of life in a positive way.

Comment on How can I help a child with autism manage his behaviour? by bethikinz

bethikinz — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:14:59 +0000

Social stories are wonderful. Look up Carol Gray.

Also look up ‘The incredible 5 point scale’ for a great method to help a child learn how to control their behaviour (amongst other things).
References :

Comment on How can I help a child with autism manage his behaviour? by cocoabear

cocoabear — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:08:59 +0000

Children with autism have severe nutritional defeciencys.Foods allergys can cause headaches,joint pain,muscle pain.Unless these things are being addressed,you probably won`t get much improvement with their behavior.The parents need to understand this,and want to do something about it.You could refere them to the autism research institute.Kirkman labs sells suppliments especially for kids with autism,and ADHD.These kids have problems with gluten,artificial ingredients in the food.There body does not absorb nutrients.Heavy metal toxitity may very well be an issue as well.1 in 6 american children has a learening disability.Being put on ritilin or an antidepresant,is not helping these kids at all.There is virtually no cases of autism in the amish population,except in a couple of cases where the children had been adopted and were vaccinated.Besides the mercury content in the vaccines,they are administering live virusis that severely damage the childs immune system,and digestive system.Dr. Andrew Wakefield has discovered the live measles virus in the gut and bowls of autistic children.Why can`t these kids behave?They have a viral illness,attacking their immune system.You could also check out some autism bio-med groups on yahoo groups.
References :

Comment on How can I help a child with autism manage his behaviour? by Jill B

Jill B — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:19:59 +0000

I would use a social story with him…..they are simple short stories that help the child learn to self monitor his behavior. I would also try a token system of reinforcement, something that you can show him easily and discreetly to let him know that he is displaying appropriate behavior, keeping hands and feet to self, for a small discreet reward. If he does start to have a tantrum or start to display negative behaviors and can’t calm down try removing him from the situation, and letting him have a small area, "break room" where he can deal with his frustrations. hope this helps, i included links for information on social stories.

http://autism.about.com/od/treatmentoptions/f/socialstorydef.htm

http://www.polyxo.com/socialstories/

http://www.autism.org/stories.html
References :
2 years working with preschool students with autism

Comment on What do you do to overcome dyslexia when studying? by Georgie

Georgie — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:41:59 +0000

Oh my goodness I am dyslexic and currently studying, and due to another medical condition the dyslexia is causing me some real issues, I have to do a lot reading for research assignment.

However these are the things that I am currently using, to help a little.

A list of the most commonly misspelt words
Spelling rules such as I before E except after C (I only learnt this a few years ago).
Homophones is handy too, as it is not unusual to confuse similar sounding words such weather/ whether. (Laminate them and keep a copy on the fridge, and a copy to keep in my folder).

Ask teachers to write each paragraph in different colours, so I can keep track of were I am if copying from the board. (Some teachers were more than happy to do this, other not so).

Class handouts to be on coloured paper, for my daughter and I its a cream or buff colour. I now take coloured paper so my note taker can copy assignments and class notes onto the coloured stuff, which really does help with reading.

For reading text books etc, I use a coloured overlay. When reading I take my time, but at the moment it has been extremely difficult, because after half an hour of reading causes nausea and a mean headache.

I start on assignments as soon as I get it. Most teachers are happy to check on progress if asked. This year I have asked for one extension for an assignment.

I use a computer to do assignments etc, ensuring I use spell check to keep spelling mistakes in check.

Dragon Naturally Speaking is an excellent computer program which does word processing, and uses speech recognition, that allows you to dictate your work. (My daughter used this program and loves it).

Another is Read & Write gold which I am trying to get, for my self, and I can scan in text books etc, and it will read it to me.

When doing tests/exams, ask if I am allowed to take note paper in with me, if its a multi choice test, ask if I can mark the question sheet, this helps by crossing out the incorrect answers. Or ask for a verbal exam is done, or for extra time to complete the exam.

Thankfully my lecture is very supportive, and has granted me an extension for the research assignment. And have only had a few exams, which I passed with very little help.

The link below shows what dyslexics see when trying to read.

Edit;
The coloured overlay comes in different colours, because no person is exactly the same. I know someone who uses a yellow colour which makes me feel sick, but a pink & blue work for me.
This the same for printing out notes etc on coloured paper, I use a cream or a light blue.
References :
Youth & Disability support worker, with a special interest in learning disabilities, especially dyslexia.
http://www.dyslexiaservices.com.au/

Comment on How can I help a child with autism manage his behaviour? by atigirl

atigirl — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:39:59 +0000

If he has no language, this is his way of communicating that something isn't right with him. It could be he can't be in a crowd, its to loud, ext. Not for sure where on the scale he is. But this may help. You take a simple index card and write in red,,I need a time out. He won't be able to read this, but once you start using it he will catch on. If he is starting to act up, give it to him and say "I need a time out" then take him to a quite area where he can do a puzzle or something like that. Never reward his bad behavior. But help him be able to get away from whats bothering him. If you find he is only doing this behavior when in a group activity, don't take him away from it right away. He will keep doing the behavior as a task avoidance and you don't want that. Try some strategys first. Have him sit behind or away from the other children, and sit behind him. Re-inforce him when he is sitting with quite hands and being good. You can use skittles, or fish crackers ext. In the ABA program I work in we use count down timers too. It gives the child an idea of how long they will be there. Just make a card with 5 numbers you can take off with velcro. Put them on card 5,4,3,2,1. Show him the card, tell him he has this much time untill he is all done. I would start out taking the numbers off quick the first time just for him to understand. remove 5, tell him good sitting, maby a fish cracker. minute later, take 4 off. great job! only 3 more to go and we are all done. ext. You can drag the time between numbers as you need it. These are great for alot of things. sitting on the Potty, when its time to come in from playground, ext. Hope some of these ideas help. Good luck!!
References :

Comment on How can I help a child with autism manage his behaviour? by darren s

darren s — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:08:59 +0000

i agree with heidi, train him like you would a dog.
References :

Comment on What do you do to overcome dyslexia when studying? by oo_siouxsie_oo

oo_siouxsie_oo — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:02:59 +0000

I'm not dyslexic but I had a dyslexic flatmate last year. To help her read she had a coloured sheet of plastic to put over the pages and read through, I think it was a purple colour? I know that some people say this is just a placebo effect but others swear by it.
References :

Comment on How can I help a child with autism manage his behaviour? by Heidi

Heidi — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:02:59 +0000

get your son a one to one for school and and one to one for after school. when he doesn't act up give him a reward over time he'll get the flow of the method and decrease his bad behaviors. thats what we did with my brother, he still acts up sometimes but its decreased a lot over the years.
References :