Brains In The Family

Free Book For Parents Of Children With Brain Injuries and Cerebral Palsy

As a cognitive retraining specialist, I am often asked by parents and caregivers of children with brain injuries questions about how to navigate the maze of challenges they experience in providing the best support for their children.  So, I started looking for books that parents and caregivers can read to answer all of their questions.  

My search uncovered a wonderful book by Danielle's Foundation called "Getting the Therapy, Benefits, and Resources Your Child Needs: A Guide for Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Brain Injury."  It is packed with advice and information.  It is written in a simple, straight forward manner so you can easily find the information you need.  Best of all, it's FREE through the Foundation.

As the Foundation aptly states, "This book is a comprehensive guide that examines all of the issues and challenges that arise or may one day arise while raising your child. It is designed to give parents the information they need, as well as the support they want."

To get a free copy of this book and learn more about the Danielle's Foundation, visit their website, or call 1-800-208-3494.

Activities To Prevent Summer Brain Drain

By Katherine Lee, About.com Guide

How to make sure your child doesn't experience learning loss this summer

Summer reading and learning should be a part of every child’s summer, say education experts. Research has shown that kids can lose as much as a couple of months’ worth of learning in the summer -- a phenomenon that’s often referred to as “summer brain drain.” And experts say math, more than reading, is a subject in which kids are more likely to experience learning loss, possibly because parents, schools and community resources are more likely to focus on a summer reading list than on math. To make sure your child doesn’t experience summer brain drain while on vacation, emphasize summer reading and try these tips:

Avoid ADD/ADHD Distractions: Finish the Projects You Start

by Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., ADD Magazine

Juggling too many projects and can't seem to complete them all (or any)? Avoid stress -- and clutter -- try our attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) guide to crossing off every task on your to-do list.

Are you busy morning till night, and don’t have much to show for it? If so, make “tie the bow” your mantra. You are not finished wrapping a package until you tie the bow, and you aren’t done with a task until you’ve completed it, down to the last step. Mail the bill you just paid, don’t leave it on the kitchen counter. Fold and put away the laundry, don’t leave it in the basket.



Take note of each task you work on during the day and note your excuses for not tying the bow. Believe me, I know all of them. Here is how I dealt with five common ones:



Don’t have time to finish my project. If you can’t “tie the bow” because you ran out of time, add 15 minutes to your morning routine before leaving for work. To stay organized and keep track of time on the job, add in the same 15 minutes to finish up last-minute assignments and to gather items you will need to take home.



Too tired to finish my project. You just want to sit down (or lie down). Figure out ways to get to bed on time -- or to get a better night’s sleep. Go over your schedule: You may be overbooked, so you need to cut back to save energy for more important tasks.



Don’t feel like finishing my project. If you are short on motivation, schedule a task to be done when you have more energy. For example, I left my paper filing to do at the end of the day. The result? A roomful of clutter. When I switched the task to the morning, I filed my papers consistently, and my house was less messy.



Distractions keep me from finishing my project. Ignore interruptions until a task is completed. When your partner makes a non-urgent request, say, “I’m in the middle of something right now, maybe later.”



Need a better system to finish my project. If a system doesn’t work, try a new one. If you are late in paying bills, or forget them, designate two nights each month -- the 1st and 15th -- to tie the bow. Keep everything you need in a basket: the unpaid bills, checkbook, pen, return-address stickers, and a roll of stamps. Walk the bills to the mailbox. And look, you've finished a project!

What are your ideas to "tie the bow" on projects you need to complete?  Post a comment and let us know.

Outside Physical Activities For Your Toddler's Mind and Body

As the weather gets warmer and the entire family starts enjoying the outdoors after a cold winter, here are some wonderful ideas for toddlers to get more physical activity outdoors. It is important for kids' mental and physical development that they play in the three dimensional world of the outdoors. 

Why People Forget To Take Medication and What To Do About It

There are some "to dos" in my life for which I am very diligent such as replying to emails quickly and documenting clients' progress.  However, there are other things I need to do each day that I sometimes forgetful.  Taking my medication is one of them, and I am not alone.  This is a problem experienced by people young and old, and can impact their mental and physical states throughout the day.  The following article explains a recent study that explores why people forget to take their medication and what can be done about it.  

If you are a parent, caregiver, or as personally forgetful as I am, comment to this blog post below and let us know what you do to remember to take medication each day.

Options For Kids' Summer Camps

13 Types of Kids' Summer Camps

From Apryl Duncan 

With hundreds of kids' summer camps to choose from, it can take you longer to find the right camp than it will for your child to actually attend the session. Make your decision easier with this breakdown of kids' summer camps. Learn more...

Teens, Sunlight and Sleep

by John M. Grohol, PsyD

Two new studies out this week demonstrate the importance of teens getting enough sunlight and sleep. Staying up all night — and not worrying about sleep until later — can come back to haunt you for numerous reasons. Fatigue leads to poor school performance and general crankiness (above and beyond your normal crankiness). Lack of sleep may also shrink your brain as well as your memory. And sleep problems in children have been linked to ADHD.

Researchers have studied this behavior and now believe insufficient daily morning light exposure contributes to teenagers not getting enough sleep:

“These morning-light-deprived teenagers are going to bed later, getting less sleep and possibly under-performing on standardized tests. We are starting to call this the teenage night owl syndrome.”

Best Toddler Classes: Storytelling Class

The following is the final part of a blog series about the best classes for your toddler's development.

Activity: Storytelling Groups

Where to find it: Check with your local library or bookstore for regular storytelling times.

What They'll Learn: Attend a regular storytelling group to teach your child a love of reading at an early age. Storytelling professionals are trained to engage children with voices and sound effects, and to encourage them to interact with the book and each other. Further encourage a love of reading by allowing your child to choose a few books to take home after each reading group. She'll look forward story time and soon be reading on her own!

Best Toddler Classes: Music Classes

The following is the fifth of a six-part series of blog posts about the best classes for your toddler's development.

Activity: Music Lessons and Classes

Where to find it: Gymboree locations offer group sessions, or check your local listings for certified music instructors for one-on-one attention.

What She'll Learn: Help your child develop a love of music and sounds early by enrolling in a toddler music class. Whether your little one attends alone or with a family member, she's sure to pick up the rhythm soon and continue her exploration of music in the future.  Learning music and playing instruments is great for kids' cognitive development, and children exposed to a multi-year music program have been shown to display higher cognitive performance in reading and language skills. You may wish to move your child into private lessons down the road (which aid in intellectual development and help develop patience and discipline), and group music classes are a great starting point.

Source: Parents

Focus On Fun Gets Teens Active

Emphasizing the emotional benefits of exercise is more effective at increasing levels of physical activity than highlighting traditional health benefits. This is the finding of research published online today, 17th February 2010, in the British Journal of Health Psychology. 

The study was carried out by Reema Sirriyeh and colleagues from the University of Leeds. Reema said: "There is evidence that people who believe that physical activity is enjoyable and fun are more likely to engage in sport and exercise. We investigated whether highlighting the emotional benefits of sport and exercise to young people increased their levels of physical activity, more than highlighting the physical health benefits."