My question is about my adopted Russian daughter, now 12 but adopted at 2, with issues regarding social interaction as she was always behaving about 3 or 4 years younger than her peers. Now she is in middle school and getting more withdrawn and ostracized by peers. These seem to be developmental problems and she has been in after school …
Q&A: What is the Best Chew Toy for Kids?
What is the most heavy duty chewy toy in your opinion? I have a 14 year old who will chew on and crack open pens, metal pull tabs and uses his front teeth to shred a yellow chewy tube. The speech therapist’s recommended always trying to guide chewy items to back teeth since there is more chewing input there than …
Q&A: Adopted Son Doesn’t Want to Eat or Drink
My husband and I just adopted a 17 month boy from Russia. He is at the 25 percentile for both height and weight. However, since arriving home he has begun refusing to drink or eat. He acts hungry, but then only takes a few sips or a few bites then turns his head, arches away from me, seals his lips …
Q&A: Best Early Intervention Program For Asperger Syndrome?
My son has Aspergers. We found out 2 months ago. What is the best early intervention program for my son? He is 3-1/2 years old. Most children with Aspergers benefit from a combination of therapies depending on the severity of their disorder. The National Institutes of Health in the USA recommend the following based on their Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet: …
Early Intervention Playgroup Session – October 25th, 2013
At this playgroup session, the children enjoyed playing with oatmeal in the sensory table. They loved driving cars through it and using cups to scoop and dump. It was a wonderful tactile sensory experience! We also engaged in free play and allowed the children to choose an activity to participate in. These activities included: playing with cars and trucks, engaging …
Early Intervention Vision Services Available for Your Baby
As a part of Early Intervention, your child may be evaluated for his or her visual functioning. Tests help to determine a diagnosis and appraisal of specific visual disorders, delay, and abilities. Once an assessment is made, you may be referred to medical or other professional services ready help your child. Additional related services include communication skills training, orientation, and …
The Early Intervention Treatment Team
Understanding the Different Members of an Early Intervention Treatment Team Here is a list of the different professionals who might be called upon to help your child. Developmental Specialist With a background in child development, your developmental specialist works with your family to help your child achieve skills in a typical developmental order. They are able to assist children in …
Are Walkers & Exersaucers Good for Your Baby?
Walkers, Exersaucers & Jumpers: Is There an Impact on a Baby’s Development? More and more baby “exercise equipment” becomes available to parents every year and often parents ask us questions during therapy sessions and evaluations such as “Should I get a walker for my baby?” or “Will using a bouncer help strengthen my babies leg muscles?”. You will find varying …
Support Your Adopted Child in Developing New Eating and Sleeping Habits
Developing New Eating Habits When you adopt a child, there is usually an adjustment period as the child gets used to their new surroundings. If you have adopted an older child, it is important to consider their previous living situation when helping them settle into their new home. If the child came from an environment where they did not have …
Developing Healthy Attachments with Your Adopted Child
Steps to Help an Adoptive Child Develop Healthy Attachments While adoption has a positive effect on children, the child doesn’t know this when he or she leaves the institution. The child only knows that they are leaving behind everyone and everything they have ever known. It is typical then, for the child to react with unexplained crankiness, clinginess, or crying. …