December Newsletter | 2015

December Newsletter | 2015

STAGES NEWS: Information, Resources & More!
Enjoy the Holidays

How to Enjoy the Holidays with a Loved One Who Has Autism

By Leslie Stebbins, M.Ed. M.L.I.S.

Holidays can be a time of great joy and excitement, but they can also be stressful and disruptive. For families who have children with autism, extra planning is essential to keep everyone on an even keel. Managing expectations about what a holiday ā€œshouldā€ be like, and minimizing the changes that will occur in your family routine will help reduce stress and avoid meltdowns. Read More ...

Grandparent's Guide to Shopping

Grandparent's Guide to Shopping for a Grandchild who has Autism

By Leslie Stebbins, M.Ed. M.L.I.S.

As a grandparent it can be a struggle to find presents for a granddaughter or grandson who has autism. Sometimes traditional gifts can backfire for the child with autism. Children with autism are highly visual learners and the following gifts can help them play and learn at the same time. This list, for grandparents, of five best-selling items is guaranteed to get an excited response from your grandchild. Read More ...

Shop for Gift Cards

Searching for an Autism-Friendly Gift Idea? Stages Learning Materials Now Has Gift Cards!

Would you like to give someone else the gift of quality educational materials and games for the home or classroom, but not quite sure what they need? Give them the gift of choice with a Stages Learning Materials gift card. Gift cards are delivered by email and contain instructions to redeem them at checkout.

Shop for Gift Cards
Emotion Card Holiday Stories Lesson Plan

Emotion Card Holiday Stories Lesson Plan

For this month's lesson plan, students will use holiday vocabulary words to describe how people are feeling in this creative matching activity. The lesson practices expressive language, emotion identification and sentence construction. Read More ...

Download Lesson Plan &
Holiday Word Chart
SPOTLIGHT APP
Spotlight App

Toca Blocks

An iTunes Editor's Choice, Toca Blocks is a unique world-building app that lets you create and explore the worlds you imagine. Discover the blocks: Some are bouncy, some are sticky, all are unique. Scratch the surface and you'll find that there's more to the blocks than meets the eye!

Designed for both
iPhone and iPad
Download
Price $3.99
HEADLINES

Santas Getting Trained to Work With Children With Autism for the Holidays

ABC News, December 10, 2015. By Gillian Mahoney.

The holiday season can be stressful for any parent, especially for parents of children with autism who may have difficulty with loud noises, crowds, or other hallmarks of a busy holiday shopping center. But, new programs are aiming to help children with autism visit Santa without overwhelming the child. Read More ...

Autism may strain family life even before children are diagnosed

Reuters, December 18, 2015. By Lisa Rapaport.

Autism may strain family life even before children are diagnosed with the disorder, according to a new study that suggests caregivers and patients alike may benefit from treatment tailored to specific sources of stress in the household. While many assessments for autism focus on treating the affected child, the current study tested a new questionnaire designed to take a more nuanced snapshot of the numerous ways raising a child with the condition may impact family life.
Read More ...

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