Blog post author: Onna Solomon, MSW Giggle Time: Establishing the Social Connection by Susan Aud Sonders Giggle Time is not a new book (my copy is from 2003), but as a P.L.A.Y. Project Home Consultant, I continue to find it to be a wonderful source of ideas for play activities. As the publisher states: “It...
In this video, “The Science of Early Childhood Development,” Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D. of Harvard University discusses the science behind early intervention and the significant influence it has on the social and emotional development of children. Below are some quotes taken from the video that speak to this point. “Healthy development of young children in...
Although it is nearly impossible to create a comprehensive list of rules that parents can live by while trying to navigate through the world of special needs, there are some tried and true strategies that can have a big impact on both parents and their child. In the below article, Sarita Freedman, PhD outlines 10...
In honor and recognition of April as National Autism Awareness Month, we’d like to share some links with you to several stories about the challenges and joys of autism. From starting school to finding friendship to dispelling labels and starting a career, the following links lead to some great articles and resources, written from diverse...
What are you doing? What happened? Why did you do that? Why are you mad? These are some common examples of questions that many parents ask their children every day without necessarily thinking about their child’s ability to answer each question appropriately. Common child responses to these questions might include: ...
In the P.L.A.Y. Project, one of the most frequent suggestions Home Consultants (HC’s) give parents is to “get more circles.” The term circle refers to a circle of communication (COC), which simply put is the back and forth process of communication. This definition can be misleading to parents and professionals alike because it implies that a verbal exchange must...
With Kindergarten round-up just around the corner, this can be a very stressful time for families with children with special needs or autism who are near the age of 5. Parents and teachers need to determine the best placement and plan for each child. This typically starts with an IEP (Individualized Education Program) which is...
Believe it or not, a child’s social and emotional development begins at birth! The early experiences children have with their caregivers play a significant role in this process. The following link allows you to learn more about some of the skills and behaviors that are typically observed during each stage of social and emotional development....
By Ashley Case, OTR/L It’s that time of year again! It’s time for shopping, gift-giving, donating, and accepting gifts. With as much joy as this time of the year brings, there also seems to be an equal amount of uncertainty. The question on every parent, grandparent or family members’ mind is: what kinds of toys...
By Onna Solomon, MSW As a PLAY Project Home Consultant, one of my primary goals is to form a partnership with parents that grows out of trust, respect, and good communication. I learn so much from each family I work with, and I can only hope that I repay their wisdom with the expertise and...
