10 Reasons To Build Our Children's Moral IQ

 Dr. Michele Borba

Moral Intelligence is what helps youth act right with or without our guidance, and the best news is that this critical intelligence can be nurtured, modeled, reinforced and taught. Here are 10 reasons why we must build our students’ Moral IQ and recognize our children must have hearts as well as minds!

7 Tips To Build A Strong Parent-Teacher Relationship

The relationship between a parent and their child’s teachers is important for that child’s development and fostering a life-long love of learning. It helps children relax when they know the various people they spend all day with are on the same page. Also, you don’t want to be known as a rude, absent or obnoxious parent!

Apparently there are many parent-teacher relationships that go well, but there are also many others that go very, very badly.

Robots Help Teach Social Skills to Kids with Autism

Researchers believe robots hold the key to early diagnosis, as well as teaching social skills. What can they do that humans can’t?

It is well known that individuals with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) often have social anxiety. Experts explain that learning social interactions via a less threatening interface, a robot, may help individuals with autism better identify emotions and use specific social skills with humans, like holding a conversation. 

How Do You Help Your Child Develop His Creativity?

Creativity might be defined as putting things together in novel ways, or seeing the world, or a given problem, with fresh eyes. All of us need access to creativity to solve the problems of daily life, and  everyone is creative, although some people are born with talent in certain mediums: an artist’s eye, for instance, or perfect pitch, or a writer’s way with words.

We can’t give people talent, but we can train the eye and the ear and the mind, and we can help our children gain access to a creative way of seeing. We can also help them gain the concentration, competence, perseverance, and optimism necessary to succeed in creative pursuits.

Recognizing ADHD Warning Signs in Kids

Observe Your Child’s Behavior for these 4 ADHD Warning Signs

Kids with ADHD often show warning signs and symptoms early in life before they are diagnosed with the disorder. Brain Balance Achievement Centers recommends that parents look for the following ADHD warning signs in kids with behavioral issues. These signs of ADHD should be observed frequently and to a degree that is not developmentally appropriate for the child’s age:

"The Misunderstood Child"

 A poem about children with hidden disabilities,  

by Kathy Winters

 A great poem,  with such true words, fantastic for autism awareness, to show people who just don't understand these special children. And so important as well, to always have it in the back of your mind. Because every child is precious and born to be loved no matter what...

I am the child that looks healthy and fine.
I was born with ten fingers and toes.
But something is different, somewhere in my mind,
And what it is, nobody knows.

How to deal with Tourette syndrome in children

By Sarah Stacey for The Mail on Sunday 

A six-year-old boy has multiple tics and has been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. His behaviour is challenging and his parents are worried about the  boy's future, but they don’t want to go down the medication route. How can parents help their child cope with the condition?

The key feature of this inherited neurological condition is uncontrollable and entirely involuntary movements (such as blinking, facial twitches and shoulder shrugging) and sounds.

Does My Child Need Special Education?

Which children can get special education?

The law is very clear about when children can get special education.

• First, your child must have one of the disabilities in the law.
• Second, the disability must cause your child to have trouble at school.

How do I know if my child has a disability?
The following chart lists the disabilities that are in the law.
If you think your child might have one of the problems listed in the chart, talk to your child’s doctor and the school.  Ask them to test your child for special education.

Why You Shouldn't Let Kids Use iPads

 Surely you've given a bunch of thought as to how to raise your own children in this day and age. Especially with technology, so much has changed since our childhoods in the 90s or before...

Well, here's one question: Would you introduce the technological wonder/heroin that is the iPod and iPad to your kids? Steve Jobs Apple CEO wouldn't, and for good reason too. In a Sunday article, New York Times reporter Nick Bilton said he once assumingly asked Steve Jobs, “So your kids must love the iPad?” Jobs responded: “They haven't used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.”

The Top Ten Qualities of a Good Teaching Candidate

by Lori Soard, Demand Media

Principals seeking a teaching candidate may have a hard time deciding between several highly qualified people. Fortunately, there are some qualities that skilled teachers tend to possess that school administrations can look for during the interview process. These qualities may not guarantee that the teacher is the best fit for a particular school, but they show a propensity for the teaching profession and make the likelihood of a good match more likely.

Assistive Technology for Children with Autism

by Susan Stokes Autism Consultant

For years, different modes of technology have been used to improve the quality of life of people who have various developmental disabilities. However, the varied use of technology for children with autism continues to receive limited attention, despite the fact that technology tends to be a high interest area for many of these children.

Structured Teaching: Strategies for Supporting Students with Autism

North Carolina TEACCH Autism Program

 by Susan Stokes Autism Consultant

Structured teaching is an intervention philosophy developed by the University of North Carolina, Division TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children). Structured teaching is an approach in instructing children with autism. It allows for implementation of a variety of instructional methods (e.g., visual support strategies, Picture Exchange Communication System - PECS, sensory integration strategies, discrete trial, music/rhythm intervention strategies, Greenspan's Floortime, etc.). The following information outlines some important considerations for structured teaching to occur. It is one of many approaches to consider in working with children with autism.

Effective Programming for Young Children with Autism (Ages 3-5)

by Susan Stokes Autism Consultant

Introduction                                          

The positive outcome of early intervention programming for any child with developmental delays/disabilities has been documented in numerous research articles and publications. However, unlike many other developmental disabilities, children with autism are typically not diagnosed until between the ages of two and three, as there are no medical tests to make a definitive diagnosis of autism at an earlier age. Many medical professionals prefer to take a "wait and see" approach, due to the wide range of "normalcy" in early developing children. Thus early intervention programming can often be delayed for these children, resulting in the "loss" of several critical years of intensive intervention during which significant developments in the brain are occurring. Due to this time factor, once a diagnosis is given, early intervention programming becomes crucial to appropriately address the child's needs in all developmental areas and, most importantly, to develop the child's ability to function independently in all aspects of his life.

Features of successful intervention strategies for children with autism

An intervention programme developed in Manchester which focuses on teaching social communication skills to autistic children at an early age, has actually been shown to reduce the autistic symptoms of the children. 

Effective interventions for young children with autism are based upon the presence of certain fundamental features.