As someone with no previous experience of Autism or Asperger Syndrome, I wanted to share this book with you all, because now that I have an "honorary niece" who has been diagnosed with Asperger's, I was SO glad that Monicka recommended I read it.
The book is called "Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome", and is a very personal account by a wonderful young man called Luke Jackson.
In the book, Luke writes in detail about experiencing adolescence when you're a kid with Asperger's, and it is both fascinating and endearing.
If there is someone important in YOUR life who has Asperger Syndrome, I would urge you to read this book, especially if they are approaching teenager-hood!
Cyberhugs,
Cassie
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Theme for April
April is National Autism Awareness Month (NAAM)—an awareness initiative established in 1972 by the Autism Society of America (ASA)—and ASA’s national headquarters and its network of nearly 200 local chapters across the nation are preparing to increase autism awareness throughout the month.
In support of this great cause the theme for the blogs and newsletters for the month of April will be concerning Autism and Autism Spectrum disorders. Autism affects me on a personal level because my now fifteen-year-old daughter, was diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder,P.D.D./N.O.S / Asperger's, when she was 13.
Cassie and I would love to hear from any of the other Mom's or Dads out there whose children are affected by Autism or Autism Spectrum disorders.
All the best!!!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Creativity and Problem Solving for Kids
Kids have such amazing imaginations, and an innate ability to think outside the box, that it's important to encourage these abilities - as all too often they are lost by the time a child grows up. Here are some ideas you can use to help your kids use their imagination to develop great problem solving skills:
1) Encourage them when they talk about their fantasies and make up stories - don't tell them they are being silly, instead get excited and ask questions. You can even encourage them to close their eyes and become aware of the fact that they can visualize things vividly inside.
2) Talk to your child about his different senses so that he becomes aware of what he already does with his imagination - creates pictures, sounds, feelings and even smells.
3) Play a game with your child where one of you chooses a simple every day object - the classic example is a paper-clip, but pretty much anything will do! - and then see who can think of the most possible uses for that object. This is a very powerful way of developing creativity and problem-solving, so play it with your child often!
Happy parenting,
Cassie
1) Encourage them when they talk about their fantasies and make up stories - don't tell them they are being silly, instead get excited and ask questions. You can even encourage them to close their eyes and become aware of the fact that they can visualize things vividly inside.
2) Talk to your child about his different senses so that he becomes aware of what he already does with his imagination - creates pictures, sounds, feelings and even smells.
3) Play a game with your child where one of you chooses a simple every day object - the classic example is a paper-clip, but pretty much anything will do! - and then see who can think of the most possible uses for that object. This is a very powerful way of developing creativity and problem-solving, so play it with your child often!
Happy parenting,
Cassie
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