On a Roadtrip

Being home is like heaven for your children: they can play around freely, watch TV, play with their pet, toys and be relaxed in general. But there will be times where you’ll have to leave home to travel and visit someone or just for the pleasure of seeing new places. You as a parent, are aware of the condition you child has and know this won’t be easy for him. Luckily, we have some ideas on how you can help him having a good time when traveling: 

• Prepare yourself and your family for the trip: I mean mind preparation, for every member of the family, and for your children. He needs to know where he’s going, and you have to be prepared for his reactions according to the place you’re going.

• Let him bring his stuff: Anything that could help him not being so nervous for the trip, his favorite toy, a book he loves. The idea is to make the trip fun for him, or at least tolerable.

• New surroundings: Every time you make a stop tell your kid not to worry, tell him you’re on an adventure and tell him stories to keep his mind busy from the fear of being in strange places. If going to a crowded town or city try to have all the things you need ready for your child (earplugs, his toys), this can be hard, but with effort your child will embrace the situation.

•  Bad things can happen: You have to face the fact that your children won’t be behaving perfectly during the trip, have that in mind. Instead of making the situation worse for your kid, try to understand and don’t lose patience. He needs you as a parent.

 Do not stop yourself from traveling with your children, but always make a good planning for every single trip you’ll make in the future. You can always count with Autism Soccer to help your child develop social skills while getting in shape for those long trips.

Put on his favorite music, take photos with him, do all you can and be patient.

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How to Explain Special Conditions to Other Parents

For parents of a child with special needs, one of the hardest things to do is explaining their child's condition to other parents. This happens because of many things that might interfere with the perception that others have regarding the situation of these children. It’s important for other people to understand how the condition not only affects the child but also everyone around them in the close environment of their home, as well as their community. To take the charge of that fact and assume the role of their child's advocate is hard work.

These children rarely have the chance to show others how they feel and what makes their condition different, that’s why for their parents explaining the situation to other parents it’s important. Why? It often sets the behavior of these special kids, as adults explain to them how they are unique and should be respected. It also helps them showcase their children in the best light, not making them the target of jokes, but instead, a learning experience for others. Parenting, in this case, is vital, as it makes the difference between a well-adapted kid with a special condition and a child that’s bullied and it’s not a part of the environment in the activities outside their home.

Here you have some advice on how to make explanations easier for parents of children with special needs:

Be positive: Let others know that although their condition is a challenge some days, you take it as a great experience and a unique moment in your life. That positivity sets their behavior towards your child in a better way.

Explain it simply: Yes, your child might have a thousand little medical conditions, but for parents that are not well-versed in the medical terminology, the simple explanation works better to make them understand your child.

Portray them in a good light: Once again, the way you talk about your child's condition is going to be the main factor that other people are going to consider when processing that information. Talk about your child in a good way, and good reactions will come.

Be proactive: When explaining what your child goes through, make sure to set them into action. Whether by inviting them to a talk if they show special interest, or introducing them to your child. Remember that you are their advocate!

Shake away the fear: Feeling guilt, remorse, failure, and such emotions might come to a parent of a child with special needs, but don’t let that stop you from showing others the wonders of your child. Don’t be afraid, the world is harsh but you can accomplish everything with a good attitude.

Show correct behaviors: Some children react strongly to other people, so when you are explaining their condition to other parents, it's a good idea to tell them about behaviors that are correct when it comes to interacting with your child.

What are you doing to let other parents know how you feel when it comes to your child? Remember that you are their first line of defense against the world and with your help, they can happily be a part of it. Some organizations bring together parents as well as children, helping kids reach out to others in similar conditions by sharing their unique stories. One of those is Autism Soccer, an organization that’s inclusive for both adults and children. Visit their website to know more about their initiative!

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What is Autism Awareness?

Autism is a condition that has different important lessons to teach for parents and children.

April 2nd is one of the most important days for the people within the Autistic Spectrum, as it sets in motion the Autism Awareness Month all over the world. These days are vital for the people who live with this condition who want to spread the knowledge of the branches and limitations of said condition with the people they interact with, as well as with the general public. Why is this important? Well, in most situation, autistics people doesn’t show the symptoms of his condition as well as others, and they want the world to understand that intrusion in their personal space can be very uncomfortable for them or even trigger behaviors that can cause them distress. Also, they want people to understand this condition is not a limitation for their everyday life, growth, and love, and that they deserve the same loving comprehension they offer others.

What happens during Autism Awareness Month?

During this month, non-governmental organizations that work with people in the autistic spectrum kickstart activities to bond families of patients with others, as well as to create the sense of community that works in benefit of the situations that these people live in. During this period of the year, it’s normal to see rallies, benefit events such as games, fundraisers, and even walks that allow them to raise funding to help organizations that work with people in these conditions.

Some of the events that occur during this month are:

• Bake sales (with products prepared for the needs and limitations of autistic spectrum diet).
• Seminars about the autistic condition.
• Public talks.
• Sales of thematic t-shirts (to raise funds and create awareness).
• Rallies.

Be a part of these wonderful events in your community and work with the organizations to create awareness and generate the necessary drive to make people in the autistic spectrum feel welcomed and loved! If you want more direct participation, head out to Autism Soccer, as they can show you alternatives to participate in fun events that will help raise awareness. Contact them and see how you can be a part of this wonderful cause!

It's important for all people to understand autism, and this is the ideal time to learn about it. 

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What is a Developmental Disability?

This is a condition that will accompany your children throughout their lives. Teach them to live happily with it.

Physical development is measured by established standards in the medical field. These standards are mostly similar and often work as guides for the children’s growth, both physical and psychological. But genetic and diseases usually work against these developments, which turn into the developmental disability. More often than not, this is a condition that affects mental abilities, such as learning disorders in several respects. It’s fundamental for parents and caretakers to know the true implications of this sort of conditions in order to be prepared to work with children with special needs.

What comprises a developmental disability?

Most people think that developmental disabilities are reduced to a certain set of symptoms but in fact, this term is used to group a set of different conditions within a category. That’s why you must know that the variety of development of this condition depends on each child because it might be caused by genetic or other factors.

The symptomatology will vary from one condition to another, which causes a problem with creating a perfect definition of what comprises a developmental disability diagnosis, but doctors often define it as “chronic conditions that impair the physical or mental development”.

Like mentioned above, there are measures of growth that are standard, like: physical and psychological, which work as indicators to study the particular ailment in each case. After these tests, doctors grade the overall conditions, depending on the age of each child to determine the severity of the condition in each individual patient.   

Some of the conditions listed under this term are:

• General genetic disorders.
• Down Syndrome.
• Edwards Syndrome.
• Spina bifida.
• Autism spectrum.
• Fragile X.
• Tourette Syndrome.
• Fetal alcoholism.

Parents and caretakers should have a close connection with their children with this kind of conditions to give them a better and healthy life. That’s why it's important to work with professionals that will help your children with their condition. One of the greatest choices you will ever have is to introduce them to sports. That’s when Autism Soccer comes into play. AS is skilled and prepared to work with a variety of developmental disabilities. Make sure to check their social media to learn what they have for you! What are you waiting for? Contact them now!

The more people know about this condition, the more they can understand it.

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Should You Homeschool Your Children?

Both sets of academic education have their pros and cons, and you need to consider them before you make a decision. 

Homeschooling is a great option for parents and children. But there is a ‘mantle of doubt’ when it comes to making the decision, because most parents don’t know what to do when they have to assume the responsibility of homeschooling their kids. Also, many parents are terrified to take the first step to give this type of education to their children, because many people judge this way of educating. In addition, it is hard for them to work and follow their children's activities all the time. Despite this, most parents and caretakers are already taking this alternative more seriously.

There are a lot of reasons why they consider this, one of them is the fact that it’s a great option when it comes to being part of their children's lives. They have the chance to work as parents and teacher at the same time.

This is what you need to know if you want this for your kids. But more than that, you are the person that knows better what your child needs; that is why I ask you this: what is the best alternative to educate your child? Here are some reasons why this might be an excellent alternative for you:

• Less traveling time consuming: Transporting yourself from one place to another it's a hassle, not only for you but also for your children. That’s why homeschooling is a the best alternative for you to spend more time with your kids.

• More control: Traditional schooling methods are often characterized by the lack of motivation in general terms. But when you take the homeschooling alternative, you have more control over the things that you do and you take advantage of your time.

• Better education: Although, normal education at school provides excellent academic notions, when you homeschool your children are more prone to have time to develop a sense of fulfillment that can not be achieved otherwise.

When you are homeschooling your children, it can be seen as if you are overprotecting them, so you can generate complications in the teaching process. You need to combine this educational method with other activities that allow them to interact with other kids. That’s why Autism Soccer is one of your best alternatives. They offer a great environment for children with special needs to interact with others while playing sports. What are you waiting for? Contact them now!

When your children are homeschooled, you need to make sure to offer a comfortable and serious environment to learn.

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Pick the Signs in a Behaviorally Challenging Child

Certain attitudes are clear indicators that the kid might be behaviorally challenging. 

In recent years, we’ve seen a statistic surge of kids with a particular condition: they are behaviorally challenging. Most of the time, this behavior was pinned down to poor parenting or just a spoiled attitude, but with the advance of paediatric psychiatry, doctors were able to narrow down this type of behavior as unrelated to the parents, because they were up in the same category as other cognitive conditions that can affect children. In fact, ever since this became public knowledge, parents, teachers, and caretakers are being encouraged to transform the notions of kids being a handful into a symptom of a deep set condition that could impact the rest of their lives if not treated and managed correctly. But to act upon these things, you need to be able to recognize these signs, as sometimes, a tantrum could be hiding something else. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the most frequent indicators for you to check:

• Frequent temper tantrums: While it’s normal for kids to stress and have tantrums, sometimes the frequency could be indicating an underlying problem. This behavior can occur in situations where such reaction might seem uncalled for or are an usual event in the child’s life.

• Challenging responses: Most of the kids compel to parents’ and teachers’ indications by nature, but to some, this is not adequate and would prefer to act up instead of doing the things they must. Dismissing and forgetting what they have to do and responding (sometimes even bad-mouthing) figures of authority is a frequent challenging behavior that needs to be assessed soon.

• Sudden withdrawal: Another red flag kids with challenging behavior have is the fact that they suddenly draw away from the things they normally engage in. Whether it is playing or doing other activities, when they refuse to participate and communicate there’s a cause that needs to be investigated as it often leads to bad responses when people try to get them engaged back in.

• Childlike responses: Small children have a set of behaviors that are normal for them, but when these continue to be their preferred coping mechanisms as they grow up, you need to consult with professionals. This can mean they haven’t quite surpassed those stages or that they have a particular reason to why these are they way of reacting to the world.

• Strong emotional responses: Happiness, sadness or anger are indeed part of a normal behavior but outbursts can indicate an underdevelopment in the control of emotions, which can lead to serious problems in the long run. If your child's emotions seem a bit on edge, it might be an indicator of something bigger. However, some kids get really excited about things, so this should not be taken solely as an indicator, but as a plus in the list.

These signs can clues of behaviorally challenging children but this diagnosis can only be given by professionals. If you think your child is showing these along with other behaviors that can be interpreted as red flags, it’s about time you got the right help to deal with this situation. If you want to incorporate your child (regardless of their diagnosis) in a physical activity that helps them drain stress, you can enroll them in Autism Soccer. They have a team of professionals who are ready to work hard to help your child unleash their full potential in a great environment!

Once you know the diagnosis, all you need to do is connect with them in a different way.

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The Importance of Understanding Non-Verbal Communication

Signaling, writing, learning sign language and other ways of expression are often behaviors of kids with special needs. 

Special children can show a variety of signs of their condition, but one of the most widespread ones is their lack of verbal communication. This means they are more likely to express their mind and feelings through other forms of communication, like body language or sounds. It is especially important for parents, caretakers and teachers to understand they are trying to convey messages through a different system that makes them feel more comfortable and why these ways of communication are vital for them to feel safe and understood by those around them. Sometimes these ways of relating will take the form of signaling, or something more complex like the utterance of sounds in a certain order without words in them.

They have something to say

Not being able to express things through regular ways we use doesn’t mean that they don’t have anything to share. Kids with disabilities often have creative ways to communicate, whether that is through signaling or interacting in a more active way than how they normally would. This helps them interact and it’s important for you, as a member of their close circle, to pick the signs right away.

Encourage them to express

Sometimes, these kids will feel misunderstood or frustrated by the fact they are not taking the usual path of expression others use. You need to assure them that regardless of how they do it, they are loved and the way they interact is correct. If the behavior is physically hurtful, teach them other ways to do it, but never tell them that it’s not correct to express. Just find different ways, but always let them know you are happy that they are assessing their opinions.

Let them feel confident

Children with special needs are particularly prone to bouts of depression and frustration over their condition and you, as a caretaker, need to make sure these feelings are tackled down and smoothed as soon as they appear. Teach them they are indeed different but that it doesn’t make them less of a person. Let them know that their ways of expressing are correct and help them reach their desired goals. Remember confidence is a bridge to more communication with you and the rest of the world.

Non-verbal is great and verbal is great too

In some cases, kids can fear to take a different approach to their communication, and would rather stay in just one lane. If you see them struggling, let them know that their preferred form of expression is ok and that they are loved and should be proud of either way they chose to convey their mind and feelings. These assurances need to be frequent and strong, as they need to feel they are in total control of how they decide to get across their message.

Children with special needs have a different and unique way to see the world, and they love to do the things that draw their attention and expressing said love through different methods. You are responsible for making them feel loved and respected, and as such, you need to find ways to encourage their participation in physical activities that will offer them enjoyment and the necessary exercise. Here in Autism Soccer, you’ll have a team of professionals prepared to help your child reach their goals, regardless of their preferred form of communication. Be a part of this excellent initiative in Florida!

There are a million ways to express yourself through something else than verbal cues. 

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Things that Every Parent with a Special Child Needs to Remember

Most of the time, you can find a community that will help and support your whole family. 

Children are incredibly important for their parents, especially when they have special needs. It means trips to the doctor, making friends with the pediatrician, and being more than a parent to their kid, being their advocate in the world and their main source of comfort and calm. That can be an incredibly complicated pair of shoes to fill, but it’s all worth it for the child’s happiness and quality of life. But usually, this means they can get lost in their job as parents and lose themselves in the way, and this can be incredibly frustrating. However, even when it seems like the world is going to end, there are a few things you need to remember.

You are somebody’s hero

Your child is always looking out at you, and you need to remember that. More than their primary caretaker, you are their connection to the world, and they are grateful for it, even when it doesn’t seem that way. In the list of superheroes, you are closest to Superman or Wonder Woman for them, because even if you can’t fly or vaporize people with your eyes, you are the one they look for when their world is topsy-turvy.  

You have your own identity

Parents of children with special needs often get their identity defined by the fact that they are caretakers, and get their identity lost in those terms: Being legal guardian and responsible for their medications, doctor’s appointments, and many other things. But you are much more than that, and your essence needs to be preserved for you to live a happy life with your child. Yes, it’s great to mature and grow, but it’s important that you stick to your beliefs and incorporate them into your new life.

Trust yourself

Being a parent is challenging, but when a child depends solely on you and you have to make tough choices, sometimes your personal beliefs are shaken. These can be medical, personal or professional choices, and they can take a toll on your self-esteem and security. All you have to know is you are the only one with the context to make these choices, and while you can ask for advice or support, no one but you has the last word. Trust your instincts and know that regardless of the outcome, you did what you thought was best for your kid.

Be your child’s best advocate

Sometimes, people don’t get right away your child is different, and that’s what makes them unique to you. Their disability doesn’t have to define them, but it will shape how they react to the outside world, and you need to be prepared to teach people about it. Sometimes it’s okay for you to be blindsided by certain questions, or to be tired of the fact that you have to explain over and over again what makes them special. However, don’t let this stop you from presenting them in the best light, and always inform people that are just meeting your child about them needs and disabilities.

Enjoy your kid

Medical bills, appointments, and treatments can work as a vacuum for fun, but I can assure you it doesn’t have to be that way all the time. Enjoy the precious moments your child has to enjoy, laugh with them, and let them know you love them. Regardless of their particular need, they are children and need love and support that only a parent can offer them. Teach them things and be with them in every step of the way. Let them know they are unique and special to you beyond measure, regardless of their condition.

You are not alone

If there is something parents of kids with special needs have is a support system with other parents that are going through the same situation. Inform them of your needs, and talk to them about challenging situations, give helpful advice or just lend a much-needed ear or hug to show your support. Family members and friends are also there for you, and will gladly help you through the process of raising your child.  This means that regardless of what you might feel at a certain point, you are never alone.

These are the things you need to remember every day as you raise your child. I can assure you that you’ll have plenty of alternatives to enjoy life with them without having to think about their disabilities. If you want them to practice a sport that will make them feel confident and free, contact Autism Soccer. They offer classes with supportive and understanding professors who will make your child feel unique.

Some parents with special needs children forget that they belong to a community.

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