Tips to foster a happy holiday season for children with autism during the COVID-19 pandemic

Amid stay-at-home orders, remote learning and other changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many families are faced with finding different ways to celebrate the holiday season than they’ve done in years past. The holiday season can still be a joyful time of the year. For families with a child who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), following a few tips from the Thompson Autism Center at CHOC can help ensure everyone enjoys the festivities in their own way.

Face Masks And Hearing Loss In School: How To Support Your Child

 

For children with hearing loss, this year has created new challenges in the classroom. First there was the switch to online learning, and now as some schools return to in-person teaching, a new challenge has emerged: Face masks and hearing loss. 

Masks prevent lip reading, restrict visual cues and even dampen speech transmitted from the mouth. All of this can make listening harder for children with hearing loss and cochlear implants. Here are some ways you and your child’s teacher can help support their listening experience.

11 Ways to Make Your Autistic Child's Life Easier

 

Loving that autistic child of yours with all your heart is a wonderful, precious experience. If you’re not autistic yourself, though, even the purest love won't help you understand how being autistic affects your child’s body, their senses, and how they interact with the world.

You don't want to inadvertently make your beloved child's life harder than it has to be, so please consider the advice below -- advice I’ve gleaned about autistic experiences, gathered during twelve years of listening to autistic people, professionals, and parents. Some of these factors are common knowledge in autism communities and circles, but others are really not talked about enough, and every last one bears repeating.

Tips to Help Children with Autism Wear Face Masks

 

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Shares How to Build Tolerance for Face Coverings for Kids on the Spectrum.   

COVID-19 has led to many changes in daily life and routine. From “sheltering in place” to social distancing to wearing a face mask, it is a lot for anyone to absorb. These changes in routine can be especially challenging for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Behavioral problems and Down Syndrome

Behavior

Behavior can sometimes be a concern for families. Please remember that there are no behavioral problems unique to Down Syndrome and most children with Down Syndrome are capable of behaving in an age-appropriate way.

Here are some practical tips to help you support your child to behave well:

Help Your Students Adapt to COVID-19 Safety Guidelines in the Classroom

Returning to the classroom in Fall 2020 will be a challenge for both teachers and students. Here are some tips and questions to consider for maintaining COVID-19 safety guidelines in your classroom this year.

The 2020-2021 school year will be unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. Going back to school will look completely different for our students, and we need to be prepared to help them adapt to these changes. The tips in this post will help your students make a smooth transition back to the classroom, whether it’s full-time or a hybrid model.

Should Children Wear Cloth Face Coverings During COVID-19?

To protect ourselves and others from COVID-19, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a national public health institute in the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services) now recommends ​wearing cloth face coverings out in public. But what about children? Read on for answers to some frequently asked questions about cloth face coverings and children during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

During the pandemic, are the little kids all right?

During the pandemic, people are talking a lot about children.

They're talking about the older kids who've been robbed of proms and graduations, of levity and closure and in some cases plans for their futures. There's been plenty of talk about kids missing out on school, the ways in which they may fall behind, the challenges of remote learning ahead. Frustrated parents have repeatedly lamented the hardships of working at home with kids – scrambling for time, desperate for space, leaning heavily on screens they've long tried to limit.

What has received far less attention, child development experts say, is the impact the pandemic is having on the youngest children: babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners.

This Year’s Must-Have Back-to-School Item: Masks for Children

Coronavirus Schools Briefing: The pandemic is upending education. Get the latest news and tips as students go back to school.

Fall is drawing near, and right on schedule, ads offering discounts on backpacks, notebooks and pencils are beginning to pop up on television and online.

Coronavirus and the Classroom: What a Teacher Can Do

Worried about the potential spread of coronavirus and COVID-19 among staff and students at your school? A veteran teacher shares some tips for promoting good hygiene in your classroom during this uncertain time - and they're also applicable for cold and flu season, too.

Toddlers at risk of tech addiction as parents rely on gadgets to entertain kids

Parents are resorting to tablets and smartphones to keep their toddlers entertained in the car, before bed, and even at the dinner table.

 Toddlers who spend up to three hours a day staring at smartphones, tablets and TVs could be at risk of developing screen dependency disorders later in childhood, it has been claimed.

The More You Hug Your Kids The Smarter They Become

 “Hugs Matter! One hug from the right person takes all your stress away.”

We all love hugs, especially our children, and new research has shown yet another benefit to sharing a warm hug with those you love. The loving affection a baby receives through the touch of a hug triggers their developing brains to grow, and helps them become smarter.