What Can We Help You Find?

We have all heard the saying “the family that plays together stays together.” This really holds true, but living a busy life often means it is necessary to cut something out. You may be tempted to cut down on playtime. Yet, cutting out playtime means cutting out an opportunity for the many health benefits that family togetherness provides.

Reviewing my previous five-gallon jug metaphor, I think the jug in my last blog post symbolized parents investing in the lives of children, who start out empty and dependent. Parents are like a full five-gallon jug, filled with resources (such as time management, emotional stability, spiritual connection, financial potential, ethics, and so on). Parents act as a resource, “pouring” resources into their children to help them reach adulthood as five-gallon jugs of happy, safe and healthy humans on the planet.

Like many holidays, Christmas can be a challenge for those on the autism spectrum. Holidays often disrupt routines and bring an array of new foods, sounds and smells – all of which can be overwhelming or distressing for individuals with autism. By planning ahead, you can help your child have an enjoyable holiday.

When you need to cool down, a wading pool just won’t do! The pool metaphor refers to adults in children’s lives, i.e. adults are pools full of sources to share, or provide resources, to children. Compassion satisfaction occurs when a child-serving person’s pool is full, meaning that there is a healthy work-life balance and giving and receiving are integrated while serving. Water coming out of the pool is similar to an adult having positive feelings associated with giving.

There is something magical about the effects of music. It enhances our creative expression. This factor is important because some children lose their creative refueling due to trauma or challenges.

Reading can be a powerful source of relaxation or stress. While the opportunity can create shared smiles, caring touch and emotion, the process is a work-in-progress for some children. For example, caregivers may expect children to sit compliantly and in a state of awe. The caregiver may prefer reading books from front to back. The child may, however, prefer turn to a favorite page or want to go back and forth. There is no right or wrong way to read a book; the key is to use the time together to co-create relaxation.

Hydration is gaining attention. We are learning water has so much to do with effective electrical and chemical processes in the body. For instance, our brains central nervous systems rely on healthy neurons to send messages about thinking, feeling and doing. Cortisol, or stress hormones, can deplete the body of necessary sodium. In addition, too much stress impairs sleep and sets off another bodily-health domino effect. Sufficient amounts of water are vital to helping govern those nerve impulses.

Relaxation skills are vital for good mental health. For children, it's important that they learn to master these skills at a young age. Not only is practicing these skills important, but the long term benefits help children build resiliency to face challenges. The ability to stay calm during a stressful situation is a lifelong effort.

As summer approaches and our children are drawn outside into the sunshine once again, protecting our children from sunburn is key. Now more than ever, sun protection matters. Episodic sunburns during childhood and adolescence have been shown to increase the lifetime risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In addition, sunburns hurt! Three ways to help your children avoid sunburn include sun avoidance, protective clothing and sunscreen. Try the tips below!

Sun avoidance