Re: Special-Needs Kids and Special Occasions.htm

[Guest guest]

Thanks

for sharing; I especially liked the link at the bottom for school behavior

plans

-----Original Message-----

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf

Of Laurie Kowalski

Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006

11:52 AM

;

DownsyndromeNEOhio ; Patty Csmitta; Curtis; Sherry

DelBalso; fanger@...; Tricia Goff; Goodman; Mickey Grano;

hanky@...; Charmane Harvey; E Heisler; Beth Horton;

jackmeg2001@...; Jadrych; Barb Janzen; jmichalski4@...;

Marie Koval; Mjoneill125; Kristi Orsagos; ; sewelldog1@...;

shalom36@...; sjgustavson@...; thomas.l.cope@...;

vecchio; yildizkoch@...

Subject: [ ] Special-Needs

Kids and Special Occasions.htm

Hi all--

I found this website and thought this article was

helpful. I hope you will too.

Laurie

[Guest guest]

Hi --

It follows my message--at the bottom, just scroll

down. If that doesn't work let me know.

How are you???

Laurie

--- <egerpatt@...> wrote:

> Hi Laurie,

>

> Thanks for the good links! This one, however,

> wasn't attached! Can you send the link?

> Thanks again.

>

> Your Sister-in-law :-)

>

> Laurie Kowalski <lyndhurstmom3@...> wrote:

> Hi all--

> I found this website and thought this article was

> helpful. I hope you will too.

> Laurie

>

>

>

z120=zpreC(120,600);z160=zpreC(160,600);z336=zpreC(2336,280);if(zp[0].m8){z336=0\

;f728=5;z120=0;z160=1}zItw=160;if(zp[2].d){z120=0;z336=0;f728=5}z728=zpreC(2728,\

90);z468=zpreC(2468,60);if(zIfw

> You are here: About>Parenting &

> Family>Parenting Special Needs

>

if(!z336 & z728>0){adunit('','',uy,ch,gs,728,90,'2','lb',1)}else

>

if(!z336 & z468>0){gEI( " adL1 " ).style.backgroundPosition= " 2px

> 0px " ;adunit('','',uy,ch,gs,468,60,'2','ba',1)}

> Parenting Special Needs [input]

> [input] [input] [input] [input] [input] [input]

> Parenting & Family

> Special Children

> Essentials What Are " Special Needs " ?Find a

> DiagnosisNewly Diagnosed: First Five Things to

> DoBehavior Analysis BasicsHoliday Survival Kit

>

> zob() Parenting Offers Catholic Parenting

> Kids Pledge Sick Kids Parenting Kids California

> Parenting What are offers?

>

> Topics Getting a DiagnosisEarly

> InterventionSpecial EducationIn the

> CommunityLong-Term PlanningMedical IssuesBehavior

> IssuesDevelopmental IssuesLearning IssuesMental

> Health IssuesFamily

> IssuesTherapiesEquipmentRespiteSpecial Needs

> Adoption

>

> Buyer's Guide Sensory Integration Tools and

> ToysCharity WristbandsGifts for a CauseAwareness

> Ribbon Car MagnetsHarried Parent's Book Club

>

> Tools Compare Prices Find a Job Mortgage Loans

> Travel Booking Yellow Pages

>

>

>

> Forums

> Most Popular Articles

> Latest Articles

> Help

>

>

>

>

>

if(zp[4].d){w(ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);Dsp(zp[4],'ip')}if(zp[5].d){w(ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]\

);Dsp(zp[5],'ip')}if(zp[6].d){w(ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);Dsp(zp[6],'ip')}

>

> [input] [input] FREE NewsletterSign Up Now

> for the Parenting Special Needs newsletter! [input]

> [input] See Online Courses

>

>

>

if(zp[1].d){Dsp(zp[1],'ip')}if(zp[3].d){Dsp(zp[3],'ip')}

>

>

>

>

if(z336>0){w(''+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'2','b\

b',3);w('

> ')} Advertisement

>

>

>

if(zIrb){w('');adunit('','',uy,ch,gs,110,45,'2','ls',4);w('

> ');}

>

if(zp[2].d){w(x5+ " dsp3C " +x1+q);adunit('','',uy,ch,gs,140,180,'1','i',1);w(x6)}if\

((z160>0) & (zp[0].m8) & zIfw

>

> Newsletters & RSSEmail to a friend

> if(window.print){w(x0+' " javascript:void(zipf2()) "

> id= " rTpr " >Print this Page')} Print this Page Add

> to del.icio.us

>

> More Holiday Help For ChristmasFor EasterFor

> Halloween

>

>

> From Other Guides Surviving the HolidaysTop 8

> Ways for Families to Reconnect This SeasonGetting

> Together with Family

>

>

> Holiday Shopping Special Needs

> Gift-GivingSensory Integration Tools and ToysBooks

> to Inspire You

>

>

>

>

if(zp[8].d){w(x5+ " dsp3Ca " +x1+q);Dsp(zp[8],'ip');w(x6)}if(zp[9].d){w(x5+ " dsp3Cb " +\

x1+q);Dsp(zp[9],'ip');w(x6)}

> Related Blogs Special Education Law BlogMOM

> - Not Otherwise SpecifiedTherapeutic

> HomeschoolingThe Diabetes BlogParenting A Complex

> Special Needs ChildDwarfblogBlogging BabyMore...

>

>

> Most Popular Last-Minute CostumesSchool

> Behavior PlansMake Behavior Charts WorkTea Tree Oil

> for Head LiceWrite a Good Paragraph

>

>

> Related Sites Autism Spectrum

> DisordersAttention Deficit DisorderSpecial

> EducationPediatricsAdoption / Care

>

>

>

> Special-Needs Kids and Special Occasions From

> Terri Mauro,

> Your Guide to Parenting Special Needs.

> FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

> Making family gatherings good, not ghastly

> Family get-togethers are the worst. Too many people.

> Too much noise. Too much food. Too many opinions on

> the ways you're raising your children. Never mind

> the fact that kids with special needs often go crazy

> during big family events -- they're often not

> exactly a shining hour for us as parents, either.

> How can you make it through the meal without chewing

> someone out, putting your foot in your mouth, or

> eating your words? If a quiet dinner at Mc's

> is out of the question, here are some ways to get

> through these gatherings without going crazy.

> Make an escape plan. Better to leave before things

> go bad than stick it out and live to regret it. If

> you're spending the holiday at a home other than

> your own, arrange a time limit or a signal ahead of

> time and observe it -- even if it means missing the

> pumpkin pie. If your child seems to be coping better

> than expected, you can always extend the deadline,

> but be ready to split at a moment's notice. If at

> all possible, when your holiday travels involve such

> a distance that you'll have to stay overnight, get a

> hotel room. Your child (and you) will need someplace

> quiet and chaos-free to decompress after so much

> family exposure. Then again, if everybody's coming

> over to your house for dinner, make your child's

> room off-limits to everybody but him or her, and

> encourage your child to use it as a refuge when

> things get overwhelming.

> Clothes don't make the kid. If your child has

> sensitivities to certain types of clothes, or just

> stubbornly insists on wearing something you (or, you

> suspect, your mother) will find inappropriate, don't

> pick a battle today. Eyebrows may raise if your

> kid's in sweats while every other little cousin is

> dressed to the nines, but you want to start your

> child out with as low a stress level as possible.

> Fussing over clothes, or putting him or her in

> clothes that you know will cause anxiety, is a bad

> way to start. And this way, when the inevitable

> spills occur, you'll be the only parent at the table

> who's not worrying about ruined outfits.

> Augment the menu. Whether you're bringing a little

> something to somebody else's party or planning your

> own repast, make sure there's something your child

> will enjoy eating. And then don't comment if that's

> all he or she will eat. The goal of the day isn't

> cleaning your plate or trying new foods or pleasing

> the cook. It's getting through the meal with a

> minimum of trauma. And, more importantly, it's about

> giving thanks for the good things in our lives. If

> your child only wants to give thanks for macaroni

> and cheese, so be it.

> Be the one who watches the kids. Keeping a close

> personal eye on your little one has a number of

> benefits. You can intervene in inter-child

> squabbles. You can assess your child's level of

> overstimulation and act accordingly. You can play

> with your child if no one else will, or lead the

> other children in a game your child can participate

> in. And, perhaps most importantly during these

> events when you feel every judgmental eye is on you

> and your family, you can avoid conversations with

> grown-ups. You'd sure like to discuss your

> child-rearing flaws with Aunt Gertrude, but -- oh,

> honey, do you need some help with that? Why don't we

> sit down here on the floor and do it together.

> Bring supplies. Fill a backpack with things your

> child finds reliably comforting or fun to play with

> -- toy cars, a stuffed animal, a tape and tape

> player, a few books. Having them available, even if

> he or she doesn't actually play with them much, may

> give your child a sense of familiarity that will be

> relaxing. If he or she gets overstimulated, find a

> quiet corner or a back room in which to spend a

> little time with the toys. If nothing else, toting

> the toy bag around and making it available when

> necessary gives you something to do that does not

> involve long conversations with unpleasant

> relatives.

> Beware of bribes. You may be tempted to offer some

> big reward for your child's good behavior at a

> family

=== message truncated ===