It’s normal, it’s our society. We want things fast, and if it’s not bread and butter, we don’t want to stick it out. We live in a fast, at our fingertips kind of world. Drive-thrus, instant books, t.v. and movies on demand, we can record any show we want and watch it any time, learn…
Read MoreAll articles filed in Tracy Dee Whitt
Supporting adoptive and foster families and families living with autism.
give your autistic child ways to “talk” about the past
*Even if your child doesn’t have autism I encourage you to keep reading if you would like ways to reach your child in a deeper way. Occasionally we are given gems of knowledge that I love to pass on to those who are raising children with autism. One such gem came from Michael Emmons*, who…
Read More10 ways to bond with your adopted or foster child
Are you bringing a child home from another country? Are you welcoming a foster child into your life? Are you adopting an infant? Here are some ways to bond with your adopted or foster child. 1) Rock. Rock. Rock. Rocking has been proven to help heal the traumatized child’s brain. A well-known child psychologist, Dr.…
Read Morepositive words: how to encourage your foster and adopted children
You can listen to a recording of this post, simply scroll to the bottom. There is so much negative in your child’s life. Their mind alone is sending detrimental messages continuously. If they come from a neglectful or abusive background, kids and teens wonder: Do they really love me? Are you going to treat me…
Read Morenavigating IEP meetings
Autism is an ever evolving world where I frequently feel left behind. I’m thankful our autism world is evolving because I know it could remain stagnant. This is all proof that I don’t always know what I’m doing in this autism world and I’m learning, just as you are. IEPs is one of those places…
Read Moreyour words are hurting my child (adoption & foster)
We are not an island unto ourselves, other people are involved in our lives, and therefore our child’s life. We can’t control those friends and families words, but we do need to be aware of them. When a child comes from trauma, they have a heightened awareness of the world around them. Words can not…
Read Morethe best sensory toys (part 2)
Two weeks ago, I started a two-part series on the best sensory toys. In that post I shared what sensory toys have been the most helpful to us, and in this post I will add more to that list and include some toys that have been recommended by others. Based on one study, around 78…
Read Moreour words and how they affect our kids (adoption & foster)
You can listen to a recording of this post, simply scroll to the end. Actions speak louder than words right? We’ve all heard this numerous time and it’s true, but words still carry a heavy weight, especially for our children who’ve been neglected, abused, and traumatized. Words can have both a positive and negative effects,…
Read Morethe best sensory toys (part 1)
Does your child jump incessantly? Get irritated quickly? Chew on anything? Bite? Stim (flapping hands, waving hand in front of face) constantly? Hit themselves or others often? Spin? Bang his head? These behaviors could be indicative of sensory issues. Based on one study, around 78 percent of children with autism have Sensory Processing Disorder, as…
Read Morejudge rotenberg center
People would be outraged if this happened to animals. But the truth is, it’s happening to children at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in New York. We must take action, as Jess who wrote this post says, “That young man screaming for help in the video? He’s my daughter. He’s your son. He is our…
Read More
lovin' adoptin' & autism 