FREE WORKSHOP : POSITIVE CHILD PROFILE

Join our VIRTUAL discussion centered on the positive attributes of our special children--moving away from focusing on the negative. This FREE workshop is scheduled for:   Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Please Register by email at:  info@ascfamily.org or call us at: 973-728-8744

Dad, how would you like to join in a conversation with a highly experienced Dad and others? A virtual Dad Chat group begins on Monday July 8, 2024 at 7:00 pm. 

This is not counseling. This is a facilitated discussion of fathers sharing their joys and frustrations. ASCF welcomes other male caregivers who are raising their special needs child(ren). No legal medical advice or recommendations are given at any time.  The Zoom link will be emailed the morning of the group.  Come join Dennis at: DAD CHAT planned for July 8, 2024. Please e mail your interest to: info@ascfamily.org  In the subject line: DAD CHAT

On The BookSHELF

Supporting Home Engagement in Literacy for Families

Sand, Sun and Stories: How to Make Summer Reading Fun!

 Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 7:00 PM via Zoom

 In this workshop, families will learn simple, effective strategies they can do at home to prevent the "summer slide" while making reading together fun and engaging.

 Presented by: Dr. Jamie Zibulsky, co-author of Book Smart: How to Support Successful, Motivated Readers. Spanish interpretation available.

 Questions, please contact Beth Cosentino: bcosentino@spanadvocacy.org.

 To register and attend go to

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sand-sun-and-stories-how-to-make-summer-reading-fun-registration-908470358297?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

1. Get to know your child and see him as an individual with his own personality, interests and abilities.

2. Focus on his positive qualities; appreciate them and help him value his own unique traits.

3. Don't overprotect. All children need to feel independent. Let him do things for himself whenever possible. And let go of your strict standards that your way is the only right way.

4. Never tell a child that he or she is bad. That tears at their self esteem. Make sure he/she knows that it is the behavior that you are unwilling to tolerate. The child must know that he is loved unconditionally no matter what he does.

5. Remember your goal of parenting is not for you to raise perfect children but to raise children to be responsible adults.

At a meeting:

1. Learn to be a good communicator. Listen to what others are saying and state your case clearly. Bring a friend along to take notes or just to listen.

2. Always be as polite as possible. Criticizing, blaming, confrontational comments don't encourage cooperation. Even if you are angry try to speak calmly when making your point. Sometimes it's best to take a time or reschedule.

 3. Always work toward solutions when there is a problem. Set realistic goals but allow yourself and your child to dream and reach for the stars.

 4. Work on building a collaborative relationship with school personnel involved with your child so that they become your partner in helping your child achieve his goals.

Rootd is a great app to manage stress and anxiety with breathing exercises, guided lessons, a special journaling tool and other helpful features.

Remember your child is not a disability. He or she may have some of the characteristics attributed to a disability but not all in the same degree. Your child is an individual with positive and negative traits. A child who is stubborn (seen as negative) may be the determined child who doesn't give up and works extra hard to get a task done.