Upcoming Workshops at Tuesday's Child

Alumni Workshop: Behavior Intervention Techniques for 6-10 year olds.
JoAnne Loper, Director of Parent Training and Rich Arend, PhD, Clinical Child Psychologist will lead a discussion for Alumni of Tuesday's Child that addressing tackling behavior challenges for older children. It is a great opportunity to re-connect with other Tuesday's Child families while you learn strategies for behavior management at home and at school.
Date: May 16th, 6:30-8:00pm at Tuesday's Child. Register Now. 

Workshop led by Dr. Alan Rosenblatt, M.D., Specialist in Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
Save the Date: June 7, 1:00pm at Tuesday's Child. 

Sorting out Attention Deficit Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder

While ADHD and Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD) share many overlapping symptoms, there are some symptoms that are more pronounced in each disorder.  A recent article published in the Research in Developmental Disabilities Journal * compared the behavior and physiology of children with ADHD, SMD, and dual diagnoses.  They found that all these groups had greater levels of sensory, attention, activity, impulsivity, and emotional challenges than typical peers, but some symptoms were more elevated for the groups.  Inattention was greater in ADHD than in the SMD group. Children with dual diagnoses had more sensory-related behaviors than ADHD and more difficulties with attention than SMD.   Children with SMD had greater levels of sensory issues, physiological reactivity, somatic complaints, anxiety and depression, and difficulty adapting than did children with ADHD.   These findings have important treatment implications.  Interested readers will find more information by following the link below:

http://www.sinetwork.org/pdf/Miller%20Nielsen%20and%20Schoen%202012%20ADHD%20and%20SMD.pdf

As parents , there are good reasons to seek out a definitive diagnosis of Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD) or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) – insurance reimbursement, school accommodations and expectations, and medication considerations – to name just a few.  However, when considering behavioral interventions, children with either diagnosis benefit from sensory input.

Quite often children with ADHD or SPD have trouble waiting in line or, are squirmy when asked to sit for any length of time, and often seem impulsive and/or explosive.  Regardless of the cause, there are skills we can teach our kids to help them regulate their behavior.

Sensory activities provide children with ADHD purposeful tasks to focus on during difficult times.  While the same sensory input for children with SPD is to improve the effectiveness of that child’s nervous system.

Consensus is that, children with ADHD respond positively to sensory intervention, but their symptoms continue after a sensory diet has been tried.  SPD children will begin to regulate more appropriately when provided the appropriate sensory diet. For more well researched information, try www.spdfoundation.net. 

Dr. Margaret M. Kincaid, Ph.D, Clinical Psychologist

Jo Anne Loper,  Director Parent Education

Miller, L.J., Nielson, D. M., & Schoen, S.A.  (2012)  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sensory    modulation disorder:  A comparison of behavior and physiology.  Research in Developmental              Disabilities, 33, 804-818.

The Friendship Club - Next Session Starts April 13th.

The Friendship Club is a series of Social Skills Groups for children age 5-8.  Kids will become social detectives as they work on skills related to emotions, friendships, and appropriate behaviors. Groups are open to all but Tuesday’s Child alumni have priority.

Saturdays April 13 - May 18th
Ages 5 - 6: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Ages 7 - 8: 10:15 - 11:15 AM

Concepts covered in the curriculum:

• Social Smarts: The type of "smarts" in our brains that we use whenever we are around other people. Social smarts help our brains to know that others are having thoughts about us and we are having thoughts about them. We use social smarts in school, at home, and EVERYWHERE!
• School Smarts: Different types of "smarts" in our brains that we use for school learning.
• Body in the group: Your body is in the group if others feel you are part of the group.
• Brain in the group: Your brain is in the group when others feel that you are paying attention to what is happening in the group.
• Thinking with your eyes: This means that you are using your eyes to look at a person and it makes them feel that you are thinking about what they are saying or doing.

Groups will be led by Katie Conklin, M. Ed., LPC, Program Director at Tuesday’s Child and supervised by Meg Kincaid, Ph.D. The program is based on the SuperFlex curriculum developed by Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP.

REGISTER NOW ONLINE or call 773-423-5055

Eggstravaganza in Nothcenter Town Square.

Eggstravaganza in Nothcenter Town Square
Stop by Tuesday's Child's table at the Northcenter Town Square Eggstavaganza on Saturday March 30, 2013. The Egg Hunt starts at 10:00 am and the Spring Ahead Hat Contest is at noon.  See the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce website for more details.