Healthy Kids

Apr 30 2013

Autism Support In Fairfield County

Things to do with kids: Autism Support In Fairfield County

In second grade, my daughter often talked about her classmate Robert.  Robert, who remained in our public school system through second grade, struggled with the nebulous diagnosis of being “somewhere on the autism spectrum”.  He’s a great kid – with a great family – and I watched and marveled as they worked tirelessly to help Robert navigate his way through school, friendships, and growing up.

Robert’s mother, who is thoughtful, tireless, patient, strong and grateful, told me how much support they’ve had from the Connecticut community as they’ve explored the world of autism with Robert.  It has made me appreciate again how lucky we are to live in an age and place of both relative social acceptance and medical phenomena.  There is no doubt that my life and my daughter’s have been enriched and strengthened for knowing Robert and his family, and their struggles and victories.

If you have a child who may be grappling with autism, there are many, many resources in the Fairfield County area to explore.  Here's a list to get you started:

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Apr 13 2013

Martial Arts Classes for Kids in Eastern CT

Things to do with kids: Martial Arts Classes for Kids in Eastern CT

The first time Max broke a board in his Tae Kwon Do class, I nearly fainted.  Outside of class, his 3 year old brain had trouble focusing on much of anything, as 3 year olds usually do.  But, as he walked through the doors of the dojo, he switched on a laser-like attention span we'd never seen.  The Martial Arts, in its various forms, offer both fitness of the body and mind, something not found in many kid-friendly activities.  If you've considered enrolling your kiddo, here's some class options around Eastern Connecticut!

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Oct 16 2012

‪ADHD Awareness Week October 14-20, 2012‬: A True Story

Things to do with kids: ‪ADHD Awareness Week October 14-20, 2012‬: A True Story

OUR STORY

In first grade my son's teacher noticed that there was a large discrepancy between his capability to verbally demonstrate knowledge and his ability to write and memorize simple site words such as dog and run. This was the first clue we had that something was off. The following year we had him tested and found out that he had dyslexia, a learning disability in children affecting reading, writing and spelling. After going down the IEP path, we were fortunate to get him into an incredible school in Manhattan built just for kids with learning differences called The Churchill School. Because, day in and day out, they dealt with kids like my son it was soon suspected that dyslexia wasn't the only issue. Surprise, surprise! ADD was also part of his brain package. We figured that out in 3rd grade. It took a while because there are two types of ADHD: the part with hyper-activity and the part without - called Inattentive Type (which is what my son has). Having these issues definitely serves up some challenges, however with education and clear communication with a child's teachers and pediatrician we can make a world of difference in a child's life. ‬

Some say having ADHD can even be a gift. Come to find out, many famous and brilliant people had ADHD brains. Beethoven, Hans Christian Andersen, Winston Churchill, Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Hemingway, Michael Jordan, Picasso, and the incredible list goes on and on.

Many people are still  unaware of what ADHD really means. The more we all know, the more we can accept and help those wired differently. The other day my younger son was sitting in class while the teacher was explaining to the children what dyslexia and adhd are. My son proudly stated, "Hey! That's what my brother has!" He thought it was pretty cool.

(Read on for lots of facts and resources about ADHD).

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Sep 10 2012

Apple Picking: Best Pick-Your-Own Orchards for Families with Toddlers in CT (Fairfield)

Things to do with kids: Apple Picking: Best Pick-Your-Own Orchards for Families with Toddlers in CT (Fairfield)

Apple picking is a favorite Fall activity with kids and Connecticut has dozens of wonderful apple picking orchards and farms that make a great day trip. Make sure to check out our post on Pick-Your-Own apple orchards in Western CT. If you’d like to stay in Fairfield County, you have only a small selection to choose from. Perhaps this is why all of the orchards get super busy on the weekends. Try to head out first thing in the morning to beat the crowds.

Keep in mind that crop conditions change from day-to-day, so it’s always a good idea to call a location before you head out. Last year my family drove to Silverman’s without checking first and we found out the apples had all been picked! Unfortunately we had unseasonably warm weather in early Spring this year followed by a hard frost which decimated many apple blossoms. Apples are not as plentiful this year as a result.

Make sure to dress in warm clothing and wear comfortable shoes. And bring your appetites! At some orchards you can eat as much as you like for free as you pick.

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Aug 30 2011

Making School Lunches & Snacks Easy, Healthy, and Delicious

Things to do with kids: Making School Lunches & Snacks Easy, Healthy, and Delicious

[UPDATED: August 10, 2012]

Do you find yourself drawing a complete blank as a new year of school lunches and snacks is upon us?  If you’re like me, the quest is two-fold – sending food to school my son will enjoy AND preparing something that’s good for his growing body.

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