Creamy Chicken Lasagna

When Jane and I had to stop eating tomatoes (because of food sensitivities), I really missed lasagna! So here's something I whipped up that has become a favourite for everyone.

Sensational Brownies

Sensational because they are awesome and sensational because there's flax seed, spinach and blueberries hiding in that batter. 

Both my girls are picky eaters and will eat sweets all day long, but gag at the thought of meat and veggies! Here's one way of introducing the dreaded spinach! Some notes about spinach; cooking spinach multiplies the nutritional value and eating spinach with a fruit (like blueberries) helps the body absorb all the nutrients. 

You'll find the recipe in the food section of this blog. The brownies are so good, you may want to double the recipe and bake in a 9x13x2-inch baking pan. Doubling the blueberry-spinach sauce will make it easier to puree.

The flavour may be too intense for some sensational kids (my son isn't a fan of the brownies), but your picky eaters will love it!

Visit sensationalchildren.blogspot.ca/p/food.html to start baking them today!

Food for Sensational Children

I'm going to blog my recipes….the ones I whipped up for my children in desperation … and actually worked. Rest assured, I'm not a genius or awesome cook…..With every recipe that worked, 10 failed (probably more)! Feeding a picky eater is the toughest job and comes with lots and lots of criticism; from the child and OTHER PARENTS…..because (as we know) everyone else seems to think they can do it better than we can…..everyone else knows OUR children better than WE do, right? Cough, cough…. I don't think so…..cough, cough.

Okay, hope you find some ideas that will help you feed your picky eaters. Remember, wether your child has SPD or is just a "picky eater", you can't "fix it" overnight. Helping your child enjoy a healthy diet will take years of patience and restraint! Forcing children to "eat your vegetables" will only teach them to "hate their vegetables". Forcing and bribing (yes, we all say it…."no dessert until you finish your veggies") only develops unhealthy attitudes towards food and eating. If you don't want your children to eat dessert…..don't make dessert. And if you have a child with SPD that only eats dessert, use the dessert as a stepping stone to a more sophisticated diet. 

Visit Food for Sensational Children for more of my sensational cooking. 

Easy Stitch Cards

From http://thesewingloftblog.com/2012/07/09/how-to-easy-stitch-cards/

Neurodiversity: Autism is not a disorder and does not need to be cured | Voxxi

"Neurodiversity isn't about ignoring the particular needs of individuals….it's about creating a deeper understanding…..creating appropriate educational and support aids….getting government aid, and providing individuals with a voice…."

visit:
Neurodiversity: Autism is not a disorder and does not need to be cured | Voxxi

CHADD - Nationally recognized authority on ADHD Support ADHD Awareness Month Join the Buzz

CHADD - Nationally recognized authority on ADHD Support ADHD Awareness Month Join the Buzz

October is National Sensory Awareness Month

October is National Sensory Awareness Month in the United States. 

Donate to the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation Now!

My son, John, has sensory processing disorder (a neurological disorder), which affects the way his brain processes sensory information. He may have problems with loud noises, bright lights, attention, energy levels, regulating his emotions and just orienting his body in space which causes difficulty with gross and fine motor skills. So simple activities such as dressing and self care are very difficult for him and take a lot of energy. He is learning how to cope with these daily sensory challenges, and Occupational Therapy and Brain Gym have helped a lot.

Soon after taking the photo above (9 years ago now) he developed an aversion to that juicy peach and most foods. He became malnourished....Learning about SPD helped me find the right help for him. Occupational Therapy created a safe environment for him to explore his tactile sensitivity (and his other sensory sensitivities) and Brain Gym helped him properly integrate all this new information. He still has problems with noise, lights, attention, energy level, regulation, and motor skills, but (most of the time) his problems are not debilitating. 

Taking part of the many events, and symposiums, put on my the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation helped me understand my son and helped me create a home life that nourishes him. 

Donate to the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation Now!

Sensory Processing Disorders Have Biological Basis

Sensory Processing Disorders Have Biological Basis

Sesame Street: Common and Colbie Caillat - "Belly Breathe" with Elmo

Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School

Collaborative Problem Solving

Finally....I intent to finish this subject today....right now.

How to implement PLAN B or collaborative problem solving.....

Since the last post, you sat down with the ALSUP and identified your child's unsolved problems. Curious about the PLAN B FLOWCHART (I hope), you printed it out and identified 3 unsolved problems and are wondering how to implement the next step on the flow chart; which is, adult taking the lead on Plan B. And guess what? That is the beginning of collaborative problem solving.

Plan B (or collaborative problem solving) begins with 3 (difficult) steps: Empathy, Define the Problem, and the Invitation. You'll want to print out the Plan B Cheat Sheet. 

After identifying your child's unsolved problem, you sit down with him/her and begin with the Empathy step.  The cheat sheet has some examples and help on how to do this. 

Then it's on to DEFINE THE PROBLEM. Here is where you'll want to make sure that both your concerns and the child's concerns are on the table. 

The INVITATION STEP is where you will brainstorm  solutions that will address the concerns of both parties. Remember, you are looking for solutions that make sure the problem doesn't happen again. A good solution will be realistic (don't set your child up for failure) and mutually satisfactory. The invitation step will end with an agreement to return to Plan B if the solution isn't working. 

So that's it! Good luck! 

You'll want to watch the videos on Lives in the Balance website. Start with Dr. Greene's overview of Plan B. And look at the videos on Plan B in Action.