The Conscious Parent's Guide to Autism: A Mindful Approach for Helping Your Child Focus and Succeed (Conscious Parenting Relationship Series)

Help your child feel confident and capable! If your child has a diagnosis of "on the autism spectrum," you may be feeling overwhelmed and most likely intimated. Often the focus is on "disabilities" rather than "abilities," and you may be left wondering what you should expect as your child journeys through life. With The Conscious Parent's Guide to Autism , you will learn how to take a relationship-centered approach to engage your child. Conscious parenting means being present with your children and taking the time to understand their point of view. Using this mindful method, you can help your child improve language skills, motor skills, and social skills. You'll also learn how to: Honor your child's unique perspective and cognitive strengths Adapt a conscious parenting philosophy that works for everyone Identify triggers that can lead to sensory overload Help your child feel in control with calming routines Lower stress levels for the entire family, including other siblings Educate your family and friends about autism Advocate for your child Find ways to improve communication With The Conscious Parent's Guide to Autism , you'll learn to create a calm and mindful atmosphere for the whole family, while helping your child succeed and thrive. 1. The world of autism What are autism spectrum disorders? Classical autism PDD-NOS Asperger's syndrome High-functioning autism Rett syndrome Other spectrum disorders 2. Diagnosis : ASD Age of onset Typical symptoms Your emotional reaction Autism awareness A national epidemic Possible causes 3. Other coexisting medical conditions Tourette's syndrome Obsessive-compulsive disorder Depression Bipolar disorder Seizures Hearing and auditory response Vision problems Other physical challenges Other mental challenges 4. Behaviors Obsessive-compulsive behaviors Flapping Anger and aggression Elopement, the escaping child 5. Communication The nonverbal person Lacking conceptual images Receptive speech Expressive speech Sign language Communication boards Other communication methods Additional social strategies 6. Meltdowns and discipline Discipline Autistic meltdowns vs. temper tantrums Handling a meltdown in public Defusing a meltdown Behavior modification Neurofeedback Medications 7. ASD and effects on the parents' marriage How mom is affected How dad is affected Keeping ASD from affecting the marriage Maintaining and creating intimacy Making your spouse a priority Children as a priority Valuing extended family Handling your work Friends, hobbies, and everything else 8. The single parent and the ASD child Unique challenges Working and caring for an ASD child Finding reliable day care dating and future relationships The possibility of a stepparent Concerns of moms Concerns of dads 9. ASD and the effects on siblings Older siblings Younger siblings Growing up too fast The isolated sibling The social impact of having an ASD sibling Considering future children. 10. ASD and the extended family Grandparents The unique in-law problem Other family members Celebrating family holidays Special occasions 11. Dealing with society Shopping School functions Restaurants Vacations 12. Starting school What you need to know about the law Integration and special education Individual educational programs Further education Bullying Parents' expectations 13. Child to teenager Physical changes of puberty Emotional changes of puberty Sexuality Menstruation Birth control Inappropriate behaviors 14. Life as an ASD adult Living independently Residential living Providing after you are gone Guardians Financial protection 15. Assistive techniques and technologies A mind like a computer Using computers for your child's benefit Hardware that helps Useful software Texting and other mobile communications Service dogs Other assistive devices Toys as learning tools 16. Challenging obstacles Communicating needs Illness Running away A missing child Safety concerns Toilet training 17. Intervention for ASD children Who's who among physicians Selecting the right physician The importance of qualified therapists Emerging treatment programs Diets and nutrition 18. Financial assistance Social security benefits Supplemental security income Medical coverage Creative financial assistance Respite care Custody issues 19. Support for parents The importance of support What is support? Finding the right support group Forming a support group Support on the Internet 20. The future of autism Struggling for unity The role of the individual Looking for answers The impact on society Awareness issues Appendix A. Glossary Appendix B. Additional resources. Annotation Help your child feel confident and capableIf your child has a diagnosis of "on the autism spectrum," you may be feeling overwhelmed and most likely intimated. Often the focus is on "disabilities" rather than "abilities," and you may be left wondering what you should expect as your child journeys through life. With "The Conscious Parent's Guide to Autism," you will learn how to take a relationship-centered approach to engage your child. Conscious parenting means being present with your children and taking the time to understand their point of view. Using this mindful method, you can help your child improve language skills, motor skills, and social skills. You'll also learn how to: Honor your child's unique perspective and cognitive strengthsAdapt a conscious parenting philosophy that works for everyoneIdentify triggers that can lead to sensory overloadHelp your child feel in control with calming routinesLower stress levels for the entire family, including other siblingsEducate your family and friends about autismAdvocate for your childFind ways to improve communicationWith "The Conscious Parent's Guide to Autism," you'll learn to create a calm and mindful atmosphere for the whole family, while helping your child succeed and thrive
Life with a child with autism can be challenging, exhausting, and--ultimately--very rewarding. For parents, even daily activities like getting dressed or grocery shopping can become daunting exercises. Children with autism require special strategies, and parents must learn how to think with their child instead of against him.

This comprehensive guide offers practical advice, reassurances, and real-life scenarios to help families get through each day. You'll discover how to:

• Communicate effectively with their child
• Find a school that meets their child's needs
• Handle meltdowns in public or private
• Learn about assistive devices
• Find intervention and support groups

Full of useful information, expert advice, and positive techniques, this guide is the valuable tool you and your family need to make the most of every day--one interaction at a time!

Mindful kids are less stressed, more focused, and much happier! Mindfulness means paying attention on purpose. This sounds simple, but it's not always easy, even for children. Kids face stress every day as they try to fit in with their peers, worry about grades, and struggle to sit still in a classroom. With The Everything Parent's Guide to Raising Mindful Children , you'll learn how practicing mindfulness can help your child refocus attention to reduce anxiety, control emotions and behavior, and even improve grades. Being mindful will help your The Everything Parent's Guide to Raising Mindful Children uses techniques such as meditation and sensory awareness to help your child gain more self-control and be less stressed. You'll also learn how to use mindfulness in your own life! With repetition, these exercises will help your children to manage their own emotions and reach their full potential, now and for years to come. "If your child has a diagnosis of 'on the autism spectrum, ' you may be feeling overwhelmed and most likely intimated. Often the focus is on 'disabilities' rather than 'abilities, ' and you may be left wondering what you should expect as your child journeys through life. With The Conscious Parent's Guide to Autism, you will learn how to take a relationship-centered approach to engage your child. Conscious parenting means being present with your children and taking the time to understand their point of view. Using this mindful method, you can help your child improve language skills, motor skills, and social skills ..."--Page 4 of cover An introduction to mindfulness The benefits of mindfulness Welcome to your practice The brain How children learn Children's learning styles Child development basics Infants (birth to walking) Toddlers (Walking to three years) Children (three to nine years) Practicing mindfulness with children (three to nine years) Preadolescence, adolescence, and beyond Teaching your child mindfulness Mindfully teaching children through stories Mindful parenting pointers Living a mindful life Conversations with mindful parents Mindfulness programs in school. With this guide, you'll learn how practicing mindfulness can help your child refocus attention to reduce anxiety, control emotions and behaviour, and even improve grades. It uses techniques such as meditation and sensory awareness to help your child gain more self-control and be less stressed. You'll also learn how to use mindfulness in your own life! With repetition, these exercises will help your children to manage their own emotions and reach their full potential, now and for years to come Help your child feel confident and capable! You'll also learn how to: - Adapt a conscious parenting philosophy that works for everyone - Help your child feel in control with calming routines - Educate your family and friends about autism - Find ways to improve communication __The Conscious Parent's Guide to Autism__ There are two types of books on autism, those that are personal narratives from parents and those that are reference books. This title combines these two aspects and presents some personal true stories in an easy-to understand reference format.