As this April draws to a close, so does this year’s Autism Awareness Month. Up your autism awareness with these key facts you may not have known about autism spectrum disorders.

• 1 in 88 children in the United States falls on the autism spectrum. 
• Boys are four times as likely as girls to have autism.
• Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability, with a 10-17% annual growth rate.

Activity Rocket is a great resource for parents to connect with activity providers that accommodate or cater exclusively to children with special needs.

Pilates or yoga? Teeball or soccer? Dance or theatre? The activity search is already brimming with options for parents looking to expose their kids to as much as possible. But for parents of children with special needs, an extra question is thrown into the mix– to mainstream or not to mainstream?

On one hand, inclusion facilitates development and prepares kids to interact with other types of children and creates a diverse classroom that teaches valuable lessons about tolerance, cooperation, and compassion. On the other, special needs exclusive activities have instructors with specific training and level the playing field so that special needs participants don’t feel pressure to keep up with peers who don’t face similar challenges. So which should parents choose?

For Helen Shafer, founder of The Shafer Center for Early Intervention and mom of 10 year-old Hayden, the answer is a resounding…

“It depends.”

Hayden has participated in summer camp, swimming, and martial arts with different levels of accommodation for his autism spectrum disorder.

When choosing an activity, Shafer suggests parents do a few things. First, talk openly with the activity provider and instructors about your child’s special needs. They should return the same honesty about whether or not their program will be a good fit for your child.
Also, consider the culture of the activity and the participants involved. In certain sports leagues, Shafer found, instructors and other kids don’t pose a problem so much as hypercompetitive parents, who may not be so understanding when her son misses the ball or lets an opponent score.

Shafer also offers a third option some parents may not have considered—private lessons. Hayden has participated in a weekly tae kwon do lesson that allows him to do something active and cool while he develops his sensory processing skills at his own pace.

All in all, it’s about fun, Shafer says. “If you’re having fun, it doesn’t matter who you’re with, but if you’re not having fun, who you’re with matters.” The point of activities is to build self-esteem, socialize and learn new skills while having fun, so if your child is thriving and having a good time, he or she is in the right place.

Check out Activity Rocket to find activity providers in your area that accommodate special needs or cater exclusively to special needs.

Which types of activities have you tried for your child, and which have worked best? Let us know!

My oldest son was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor and seizures (epilepsy) just before his 5th birthday in January 2007. It was traumatic for my husband and I as we sorted out the diagnosis, treatment options, and next steps. But since it was January and time to plan for summer, we started researching summer day camps to keep life as normal as possible. 

I will never forget calling the director of a popular local day camp (that subsequently went out of business and can’t say I am upset about that) to discuss my son’s medical condition and was point blank told he would not be welcome at the camp. I was completely taken aback by the remark and especially the way it was delivered and my attorney instincts kicked in as I began to argue the case for inclusion. My husband and a close friend counseled me that if the camp didn’t want our son – we didn’t want them. But candidly, I was heartbroken for my son that he would not be at camp with his best buddies and personally it was a wake up call to one of the many realities of his recent diagnosis. 

Many emails and calls to friends for other camp suggestions later, I was told to contact Marty Berger at Bullis Bulldog Day Camp. To this day, the warmth of Marty’s voice as we discussed my son’s diagnosis. Without missing a beat, Marty assured me there would be a place for Mark at camp. In fact, Mark spent several amazing summers there and was even assigned to a young male counselor who had experienced seizures as a child and was a role model for Mark and a source of comfort for our my husband and me. 

Almost 6 years later, I still dread calling camp and activity directors and having the “tumor/seizure talk.” My son has tried a whole host of activities including martial arts, rock band, soccer, baseball, swimming, art, sports camps, tennis, and clay animation and has been warmly received by all other businesses in the area and thankfully never had an incident. In fact, one business insisted their staff undergo first aid/CPR training to be better prepared for kids with allergies and other medical conditions like epilepsy. 

As a parent, we must disclose to activity providers our kid’s medical conditions to ensure the safety and welfare of our kids in their care. And in so doing, hopefully we will break through misguided stereotypes and fear and create a culture of inclusion for all kids!

Find activities, plus winter break, school break, and summer camps for ALL kids on the Rocket – including those with special needs, medical conditions and learning disabilities. 

And That’s The Activity Skinny brought to you by Captain Ilene

We add new businesses and classes EVERY DAY! Check out the list of businesses below who are new to the site (in bold) or have recently updated their classes. 

METRO DC

Shakespeare Theatre Company 

MARYLAND

Aristotle Circle Peers

Ascendly, LLC

Brit-Am Soccer Academy

British Swim School

Donte’s Boxing Gym

Excite Soccer Programs

Imagination Stage

Kidball Baseball

Montgomery County Parks Dept – M-NCPPC

Montgomery County Recreation Department

Music Together with Miri

My Gym Bethesda

My Gym Kentlands

My Gym Potomac

Romp n’ Roll of Germantown

TLC – The Treatment and Learning Center

Traveling Players Ensemble

NORTHERN VA

4 Star Tennis Academy

Art in Hand

Artworks Studio B

Bach 2 Rock – South Riding

Encore Performers

Engineering for Kids – Northern Virginia Southeast

Every Body Golf School

Fit Kids

My Gym Chantilly

The Little Gym of Alexandria at Van Dorn 

Have you ever noticed a time when your child is fine one minute and then a few minutes later (or even later that day) he/she is a totally different child? Maybe they were happy and then later they were easily brought to tears, irritable, hyper, off-the-wall, talking to themselves, moody or anxious? Surprising, these are some of the reactions that chemicals in food and some foods can cause in children and adults.

Now let me say that there are other factors, of course, that can contribute to the symptoms above including medical issues, blood sugar problems, difficulty with peers, challenges at home, etc. However, keep in mind that our children usually cannot identify the CAUSE of their behavioral or emotional symptoms and it is our job as parents to try and figure this out. My suggestion is to ALWAYS consider a food source as you are sorting through the puzzle.

FOODS SOURCES THAT CAN CAUSE MOOD ISSUES AND BEHAVIORAL DIFFICUTLIES IN OUR CHILDREN:

1. MSG – Monsodium Glutamate – This is a flavor enhancer in some Chinese foods and appears in seasoning packets, almost all fast foods, canned foods as well as refined and processed foods. PROCESSED FOODS are a favorite among our children and include things like Doritos, chips, Cheetos, Fritos, etc.

2. Artificial Food Coloring – like Red 40, Blue dye, Yellow 6, etc. Studies have linked food coloring to hyperactivity and anxiety in children. Not all children will react, but either way if your child is having issues eliminate the dyes from his diet. Dyes are actually made from coal tar derivatives. Is that really something we want to be feeding our children? Food coloring is found in most if not all of the processed foods, some milk, some yogurt and more.

3. Aspartame – This is an artificial sweetener that can cause mild to severe neurological reactions in some children and adults. If it affects adults this way imagine what it has the potential to do to our kids. Aspartame can be found in most of your diet foods, diet drinks, sugar free foods, even gum.

4. Preservatives such as nitrites, nitrates, BHT, BHA – All of these can cause mild to major behavioral reactions in our children. They can be found in most of the processed junk foods that are advertised to our kids on a daily basis. Also, some cured meats have these preservatives in them. They should be avoided regardless of whether there is a reaction. They even have been linked to cancer.

5. WHITE SUGAR - Too much sugar can cause blood sugar to soar high rapidly and then cause our children to crash which can create behavioral symptoms.

OTHER FOOD SOURCES COME IN THE FORM OF AN ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE: Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Corn, Peanuts, Eggs,or any other food!

So now that you might be overwhelmed (I know that I am) I encourage you to do a couple of things:

• Eliminate from your child’s diet items 1 – 4. Reading food labels can easily help you do this and also you can buy your child’s favorite foods without these chemicals usually by buying organic.

• Greatly reduce their sugar intake and when they have a sugary snack include some protein before they eat it. This will help reduce the blood sugar from rising too fast preventing the sugar crash.

• Keep a food and behavior journal. Write down what your child eats at each meal (if you skip a meal that is OK) and document any negative reactions he/she might have. Ask yourself IF it could be something IN the food or the food itself (even whole wheat organic pasta is ‘healthy’ but could still cause a reaction because of the gluten).

• Do an elimination diet by removing one suspicious food group at a time (like dairy) and introduce it after about a week. Once you introduce it if there is a reaction (ANY reaction) you know dairy is probably problematic.

• Lastly, get some support and guidance if you just cannot figure it out.

Nothing is more important than our children’s physical and mental health. The impact of food and nutrition cannot be overlooked.

By Frandi Mars, LCSW-C, CHHC

See Related Posts by Frandi: Was Your Child Sick this Week?, Gluten or No Gluten – That is the ??, Delicious Gluten Free Breakfasts for Kids, Be Mindful…When You Feed Your Kids, Healthy Treats for the New Year, Super Foods = Super Kids, Healthy Snack Ideas for the Busy Parent, What to Take OUT of Your Child’s Lunch, To Trick or Treat … or Not?, Meet Frandi Mars – Activity Rocket’s Expert Nutrition Consultant

LEARN TO COOK HEALTHY FOOD WITH ACTIVITY ROCKET!

Does your child have Special Needs? We, as parents, know your frustration in finding classes dedicated to kids with special needs or those activity providers that will make accommodations for special needs kids.

When you search for activities on Activity Rocket, choose Category and Activity Special Needs and quickly pull those hard to find classes.

Or browse Special Needs for an alphabetical listing of activity providers that have these programs and make accommodations for special kids with special needs.

Below are our providers who offer classes dedicated to kids with special needs:

Bounce U

CIMA Studios

Fitness for Health 

Great and Small Therapeutic Riding 

Heights and Beyond 

JCC of Greater Washington

KEEN 

Learn Now Music

Levine School of Music

Montgomery County Recreation Department 

The Miracle League of Montgomery County

Sports Plus Group

SummerEdge

TLC – The Treatment and Learning Center 

Search the Universe of Kids’ Activities – Special Needs and All!

STAY TUNED FOR REASON #4 TO SIGN UP ON THE ROCKET! 

Last time I suggested some great gluten free breakfasts. But let’s step back and think – should my kids go gluten free? Should I? Thinking about going gluten free can be a difficult and challenging decision. But for the adult or child who NEEDS to be going gluten free it can have a profound impact on their health and wellness and worth all of the effort.

Let me first begin by telling you what gluten is. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, some oats and bulgur. It is a hidden ingredient in most of your processed foods under many different names. Gluten is elastic and provides the stretchiness and stickiness needed in baked goods. It is resistant to biological breakdown which is what makes it a difficult protein to digest. If it is not digested properly it can cause mild to severe reactions.

Symptoms in children could include, but are not limited to:

• Digestive symptoms such as reflux, heart burn, constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, nausea

• Poor growth

• Behavioral issues such as ADHD, irritability, anger, autistic like behaviors, depression, anxiety

• Joint pain

• Brain fog

• Learning challenges

Symptoms in adults include, but are not limited to:

• Digestive issues similar to children

• Skin rashes, bumps that form a pus like wound, psoriasis, eczema

• Arthritis and joint pain

• Sinus issues and chronic infections

• Mild to severe fatigue which is often diagnosed as narcolepsy

• Bloating

• Poor immune function

• Autoimmune disorders

The symptoms for adults and children can of course overlap but overall this gives you an idea of how a gluten allergy or intolerance can impact health. If you or your child is experiencing any of these symptoms I highly suggest going gluten free for a two week trial.

The easiest place to start is to simply substitute you or your child’s favorite gluten containing foods with the gluten free counterpart. So if bread is a big staple in your house substitute with gluten free breads. Yes there are some good ones out there. If breakfast cereal is a favorite, substitute with a gluten free (preferably low sugar high fiber) option.

After the two weeks is up you will introduce gluten into the diet once again (unless you have decided to keep it out permanently). For some people in order to make this life style change for themselves or their children they need proof that gluten is the problem. By introducing it again, you will for sure know that it is causing the symptoms…or not.

Please note that sometimes after going gluten free when the gluten is reintroduced again back into the diet a worsening reaction can happen so just be prepared.

Good luck and email me any questions to frandi@partnerforhealth.net.

By Frandi Mars, LCSW-C, CHHC 

See Related Posts by Frandi: Delicious Gluten Free Breakfasts for Kids, Be Mindful…When You Feed Your Kids, Healthy Treats for the New Year, Super Foods = Super Kids, Healthy Snack Ideas for the Busy Parent, What to Take OUT of Your Child’s Lunch, To Trick or Treat … or Not?, Meet Frandi Mars – Activity Rocket’s Expert Nutrition Consultant

Search the Universe of Activities NOW!

There are many well documented reasons for involving children in a martial arts program, such as taekwondo, karate, etc., but it is not widely known that martial arts can be the perfect activity – and therapy – for children with special needs, specifically those with ADHD and autism. When it comes to our special needs children, martial arts training will provide all of the traditional benefits of martial arts (character education, improved fitness level, self-defense, etc.) and more.

A December 2000 New York Times article stated that martial arts can “help ease the symptoms of [ADHD]: impulsiveness, inability to concentrate and, in some cases, hyperactivity.” The New York Times article goes on to say that “the martial arts demand a kind of concentration that forces coordination of the attention centers in the brain…” and that the repetitive, structured nature of martial arts facilitate coordination.

With respect to martial arts for children on the autism spectrum, a 2010 research project conducted by the University of Wisconsin found that in the process of learning martial arts, children became more socially assertive and cooperative. In addition, the study found that the children demonstrated better balance and coordination; eye contact improved; and better play skills developed.

Experts believe that martial arts training augments the benefits of commonly prescribed medication the special needs child may be taking, creating a synergistic effect that is greater than the benefit of medication alone.

We developed our “No Limits” program for special needs students eight years ago and have seen firsthand the positive impact martial arts training has had on hundreds of special needs children. The benefits of the program are abundant, not only for the student, but for the parents and caregivers as well. For students and instructors alike, it’s one of the most rewarding classes in our studio.

By Kelly Metz, General Manager of CIMA Studios in Gaithersburg, MD

FIND OTHER GREAT SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSES NOW! 

Does your child have Special Needs? The Rocket knows your frustration in finding classes dedicated to kids with special needs or those activity providers that will make accommodations for special needs kids.

When you search for activities on Activity Rocket, choose Category and Activity Special Needs and quickly pull those hard to find classes.

Or browse Special Needs for an alphabetical listing of activity providers that have these programs and make accommodations for special kids with special needs.

Below are our providers who offer classes dedicated to kids with special needs:

Bounce U 

Fitness for Health

Great and Small Therapeutic Riding

Heights and Beyond

JCC of Greater Washington

KEEN

Levine School of Music

Montgomery County Recreation Department

The Miracle League of Montgomery County

TLC – The Treatment and Learning Center

Search the Universe of Kids’ Activities – Special Needs and All!

I remember years ago I was guilty of feeding my kids ‘whatever.’ What do I mean by whatever? I would go to the grocery store and buy them boxes of foods that had cute cartoon characters on it because, hey, let’s face it, the food was for kids! I would go to the frozen food section and pick out whatever I could pop in the microwave and preferably something my kids could hold in their hands like chicken nuggets, corn dogs or other finger food. Why did I do this? Because I had NO clue about food or nutrition and how it’s truly connected to our health and the health of our children.

I was forced to do a complete 180 when my children started developing health issues with many diagnoses, behavioral issues, developmental delays and more. I quickly learned that the medications my daughter was on caused negative side effects and I knew I had to do something. I was forced to become a nutritionally mindful parent. What do I mean by mindful? It means that instead of mindlessly giving my kids whatever foods I could get my hands on; or whatever foods were offered at birthday parties; or whatever food looked cute and kid friendly – I started thinking about how the food I was giving them was impacting their health and behavior.

This is what I did and what you can consider doing to start feeding your children mindfully:

• I started reading food labels on processed snacks and eliminated all foods with toxic chemicals, additives and preservatives such as BHT, BHA, MSG, nitrites and nitrates.

• I don’t let them have snacks or candy with artificial foods coloring (red 40, blue 1, etc). They are actually banned in European countries.

• No more High Fructose Corn Syrup or Hydrogenated Oils.

• I especially found that eliminating gluten, dairy and soy helped cure my daughter’s health issues and radically modify my son’s behavioral issues.

• I started doing more cooking at home so I knew what ingredients were in their food.

• I researched nutrition as much as I could and continue to do so today.

If your children have health or behavioral issues start keeping a food journal to see IF there is a potential dietary cause…there just could be.

The difference in my children’s health and behavior improved significantly by changing their diet. I encourage you to become nutritionally mindful – don’t wait until your kids have ‘issues’ like mine.

By Frandi Mars, LCSW-C, CHHC

See Related Posts by Frandi: Healthy Treats for the New Year, Super Foods = Super Kids, Healthy Snack Ideas for the Busy Parent, What to Take OUT of Your Child’s Lunch, To Trick or Treat … or Not?, Meet Frandi Mars – Activity Rocket’s Expert Nutrition Consultant

Search the Universe of Activities NOW!