How to Show Love to an Autistic Child

One of the most pervasive myths that surround autism is that a child who has it will never show affection and can't accept getting affection from anyone. There have been literally piles of stories of parents taking their child to a psychologist and the doctor telling the parents that your child can't possibly be autistic because he gives you a hug now and then. While this opinion is just flat wrong, studies have shown that autistic children do process sensory touch differently than a non-autistic child and that this is where the myth that autistic children don't like to be touched comes from.

Autism and the way it affects kids really runs the gamut from light to severe. An excellent point to remember when dealing with an autistic child is that every single autistic child is different and will react to almost everything differently. Here are some tips for showing your autistic child affection, and remember, your experience may vary. (more…)

Autism Anxiety Overload

The renowned autism expert Tony Atwood is fond of putting it this way: "Autism is anxiety looking for a target." Autism and anxiety go hand-in-hand. Autism affects a person's ability to communicate with others or to understand the world around him, and that's bound to cause anxiety and panic sometimes.

Anxiety becomes even worse when there is a change in the autistic child's routine. Even positive and "fun" changes, like a school field trip or a visit to the zoo, can increase anxiety and aggressive behaviors.

For parents, the best course of action is to anticipate upcoming changes and help your child prepare for them. (more…)

Activities for Autistic Children

Parents, teachers, and other caregivers often get so caught up in educating and providing structure to the lives of autistic children that they forget that, above all, he or she is a child. Like any other child in his or her age group, your autistic child wants to have fun. While some activities may not be suitable for those suffering from autism, there are a number of fun games to play with autistic children, many of which can get them involved with others or help them further develop motor or social skills while just focusing on having a good time. (more…)

Make Learning Fun for Kids with Autism

Autism is a disorder of the brain that is biological in function. It causes anywhere from mild to severe social impairment and an inability to function normally in society. However, there are ways to treat many of the cases of autism. Autistic children can learn and excel and if certain teaching methods are used, their progress can be nothing short of fantastic. (more…)

Overcoming Food Obsessions

The general public often doesn't realize what parents of autistic children are keenly aware of: It is a physical condition as much as a mental one. Research shows that more than 50 percent of autistic children have gastrointestinal problems such as Crohns Disease or colitis. Some scientists theorize that autism begins in the gut, with the gastrointestinal walls being damaged and allowing toxins to leak into the bloodstream and affect brain activity.

For this reason, parents of children with autism must monitor not just their children’s behavior but their eating habits, too. (more…)

Autism and Dietary Supplementation

Dietary supplements have become an important part of the health industry. There are literally thousands of products on the market that can give your body the added nutrients it needs. People with autism are especially prone to nutritional difficulties and it is important that they take supplements to achieve a balanced nutritional state. (more…)

Communism and Self Esteem

by Patrick Brigham

Perceived from the sitting rooms of suburban England or even from a press office in Canary Wharf, the ex Communist countries of Europe remain an anathema to most.  With an absurd oversimplification of the facts, to the yellow press, it is just another rant about the job market, cheap Eastern European labor, and taking work away from English people. But most of it is rot and downright misleading. It also presents these foreign job hunters as androgynous, feeling-less and totally self motivated, but of course, none of this is true. (more…)

Dealing with Procrastination

by Opeyemi Soremekun

Procrastination is intentionally putting off something that should be done to the possible last minute. If you are in the habit of avoiding some specific tasks or postponing the things you need to get accomplished you may be suffering from the "silent killer" called procrastination. Unfortunately we have all suffered from this silent killer or probably still suffering from it. Side effects of procrastination include missed opportunities, stress, resentment and guilt. (more…)

Sing More, Feel Better

by Amanda Clarke

Stress gets to us all. Whether it's getting stuck in traffic, dealing with an overbearing boss, or trying to juggle your busy schedule, sometimes it just gets to be too much. The daily grind can be draining, exhausting. The best remedy is to find ways to relax. Believe it or not, something as simple as singing provides both mental and physical health benefits. It doesn't matter if you have a lovely voice or if you're tone deaf. Here are five great reasons why you should belt a few tunes the next time you're feeling down. (more…)

How to Stop Procrastinating

Procrastination is something most of us are guilty of at one time or another. Essentially it means avoiding or delaying things that you ought to be doing and instead using the time for less important but more pleasurable things. Eg watching TV with a take-out meal when you should be taking exercise or tackling that mountain of dull but necessary paperwork.

Why do I Procrastinate?

Simply put, we procrastinate because we favor the pleasure of the moment over something less pleasurable that might bring greater pleasure (or avoid displeasure) in the future. (more…)