It’s no secret that a traditional martial arts program is one of the best extracurricular activities a child can participate in. For children with special needs the benefits are invaluable because of the inherit structure and discipline the...
MoreLanguage Skill Activities for Special Needs
Language Skill Activities for Special Needs Children
MoreYoga for People with Disabilities
Imagine a calm room with zen music streaming from the speakers, and an instructor directs the people in the room to place their hands on the floor and their buttocks in the air. You might recognize the pose as the downward dog, but it might...
MoreMusic & Special Needs: Cooper Plays the Piano
Ten-year-old Cooper is teaching his twin brother to play Hot Cross Buns on the piano. Cooper, who has Down syndrome, has been playing the piano since he was 8 ½ years old. I ask him how his brother is doing. Cooper says: “I showed him how...
MoreTactile and Sensory Activities
Tactile and Sensory Activities for Special Needs Children
MoreIce Hockey Meets Special Needs
Since it began five years ago, the Special Needs Ice Hockey program in Panorama City, California, has provided an opportunity for kids and adults with developmental disabilities to learn and play hockey. Until just six months ago, it was the only...
MoreSpeech-Based Activities for Kids with Apraxia
Speech-Based Activities to Do with Your Kids with Apraxia at Home and in the Community
MoreHow to Choose a Special Needs Summer Camp
It might seem as though spring has just begun, but camps are already advertising and enrolling for their summer programs. Doing some research early will ensure your child a spot in the summer camp of your choice. Consider the...
MoreTeen with Down Syndrome Wows Basketball Team
David Andrews, age 18, wears number 40 on the Germantown High School basketball team, just outside of Memphis, TN. Much like the Knick’s Jeremy Lin, Andrews spent quite a bit of time warming the bench during his team’s games before ever getting...
MoreBenefits of Yoga for Special Needs Children
What are the benefits of yoga for children with special needs? What is a special needs yoga class like? Is your child expected to lie still on a mat? These are questions that Alex Newell, voted LAFamily.com’s Yoga Teacher of 2010, is happy to...
MoreSpecial Needs Karate: Is Money the Big Factor
Thanks for coming back to my monthly article for children with special needs and karate. I hope to bring you closer to understanding the multitude of benefits the martial arts bring to our children. Over the years I’ve found myself answering the...
MoreSchool-Based Programs
Today I’d like to bring your attention to martial arts programs that may be available to your child during their day before they even get home!
MoreWhat is Equine Therapy?
Many parents are given discouraging news about their children with disabilities — this prognosis gives little hope to parents of these children, which is an unfair and negative situation. There are therapies many parents have never...
MoreSpecial Needs Theme Park First of Its Kind
On 25 acres in Northeast San Antonio lies the world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind. Morgan’s Wonderland, inspired by the daughter of philanthropist Gordon Hartman, has welcomed more than 200,000 guests...
MoreActivities for Kids: Coffee Filter Fun
Parents who are looking for something fun to do with their kids away from electronic devices this spring may want to consider the things that can be done with a coffee filter. This versatile item that is common to most households can be used to...
MoreBook Review: Kids Beyond Limits
Parents of special needs children know about everyday struggles, and oftentimes feelings of hopelessness cannot be avoided. Anat Baniel’s new book Kids Beyond Limits offers a method supported by brain research with a healthy side dose of...
MoreThe Help Group Serves Children with Autism
Visitors to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stores during the holiday season may notice a “Deck the Walls” campaign while waiting for their orders. If they take a closer look, they will see that all proceeds from the purchase of stickers to put on the...
More