I came across this Eye Can Learn website years ago, and it dawned on me that I have never blogged about it or announced it in any way. So, today, I am changing that. The official website is https://eyecanlearn.com/.  "The purpose of this website is to provide parents with fun eye exercises to enhance their children's visual processing skills for better school performance and improved attention. If you know a child who struggles to read, learn, or remain on task, the underlying cause may be vision–even if the child has 20/20 eyesight." Sometimes in OT, I evaluate a child and discover th ..read more

Budget-Friendly Activities the Whole Family Will Appreciate When the Weather Keeps Them Inside ​ Warmer weather usually provides kids with many outlets for physical activity. Of course, with spring comes rain, and some summer days are too hot for outdoor play. When the weather drives them inside, most children will just take the day off from physical exercise, opting instead to spend time in front of the television or their phones/tablets. A day indoors doesn't have to end up as a lost day, though. There are many opportunities indoors to flex muscles and stimulate brains. And to help with th ..read more

Keeping a toddler entertained is a full-time job. As a parent, it can get exhausting. While you may be tempted to set up your little one with a TV, tablet, or similar device to keep them amused, you may also be worried about the dangers of screen time. In fact, some screen time can be good for kids. The right type of screen time can support healthy development, promote parent-child togetherness, and promote school readiness.   Many parents are surprised to learn that screens aren't all bad. DragonFly Pediatric Therapy is dedicated to educating parents on topics like these. With helpful r ..read more

A few of the questions I get asked all the time is, "How do I discipline my child with special needs? Don't I need to take into account their diagnosis?"  So, I asked a couple of the parents of the OT kids I have on my caseload who have the most well behaved kids with autism I have ever seen. I want to share with you some of the things that they have conveyed to me. 1. Discipline is different for every child. 2. Be consistent, keep discipline going. It's not always easy! 3. Keep trying for what works. 4. Yes, you will be frustrated and yes you will cry. 5. An example of what was done i ..read more

Powerful Ways Parents Can Take Financial Control   Parenthood is all about making the best choices for yourself and your family. Sometimes, however, it can feel like important opportunities have gotten away from you. It’s easy to convince yourself that if you don’t start parenthood with your finances in hand, that getting them on track is impossible, and this can create quite a bit of stress.   Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s too late to take control of your money. Whether you’re a soon-to-be parent or are teaching your child to drive, you can still make powerful financial choic ..read more

Well, it has been entirely too long since I have posted a blog and I am so sorry. A lot has happened since I last wrote. One of the big things is that I now have 3 clinics that I work at. I'm still at my main clinic and still at my school clinic but I have added a third clinic which is the reason for this blog post today.  My third clinic is located at Silver Linings Neurodevelopment and I am thrilled to pieces to be a part of such a unique and fabulous place! I work with several types of people, something I have not been used to as I have been solo for nearly 20 years, hence it was ti ..read more

Click on the title below for a direct link to this awesome book!! How to End the Autism Epidemic Let me just say this from the start of this blog, I did not have to read this book to already know what is causing autism because it has been smacking us in the face for many many years. If it smells like poo, looks like poo, and feels like poo, than it is poo.  I will also say this, if I had to do it all over again, I would have asked my mom from the womb to keep vaccinations out of my body and I would have kept vaccinations out of my kid's bodies once I became a mother myself 19 years ago ..read more

Safe Summer Fun: Teach Your Children to Observe Water Safety Precautions ​ If there’s one summer activity that kids look forward to, it’s strapping on the swimsuit and splashing around in the nearest pool, lake, or pond with friends. It’s a beloved ritual of summer for kids of all ages, but enjoying the water means knowing how to stay safe. Approximately 1,000 children die each year by drowning, with most accidents taking place in home swimming pools. Drowning is also the second-leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 5 and 24. So, before you get the pool noodles and ..read more

By: Dana Brown of Health Conditions Losing weight is hard at any age, but there are specific challenges for kids. For starters, junk and fast food seem more acceptable for children than adults, and are oftentimes given as rewards. Activity levels in children have decreased over the years as technology has increased. Statistics also suggest that isolated or bullied kids, as well as those in single-parent, low-income, or domestic violence households, tend to overeat (or eat poorly) in response to stress.    Considering one-third of American kids are overweight or obese, it’s about time t ..read more

Over the last several months, I have been studying and researching why there is autism, leaky gut, the poisons in our food, the rise of autoimmune diseases, the rise of genetic disorders, and how all of this relates to diet.  I myself have leaky gut and it hurts like heck if I don't stay on my incredibly strict diet because I have inadvertantly done so much damage by eating the foods that I buy at the grocery store, I have decreased what I can eat to very minimal. I cannot eat foods with gluten, casein, sugar, GMO'S, and all the other poisons that have been added so that the food indus ..read more