Ellen Notbohm » Family Matters http://www.ellennotbohm.com Award Winning Author and Columnist Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:19:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Facebook discussion: sleuthing the “why” of vocal stimming http://www.ellennotbohm.com/2010/01/facebook-discussion-sleuthing-the-why-of-vocal-stimming/ http://www.ellennotbohm.com/2010/01/facebook-discussion-sleuthing-the-why-of-vocal-stimming/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:07:22 +0000 Ellen http://www.ellennotbohm.com/?p=856 On my Facebook page: Family has a nonverbal child whose vocal stimming has increased from occasional to nearly nonstop. Family and school know there is an unmet need but are unable to pinpoint. Child has been in intensive therapy for six years but shows little interest in anything. Anyone with similar experience have thoughts to share?

Click here to join the discussion.

]]> http://www.ellennotbohm.com/2010/01/facebook-discussion-sleuthing-the-why-of-vocal-stimming/feed/ 0 “Pay attention?” http://www.ellennotbohm.com/2009/12/pay-attention/ http://www.ellennotbohm.com/2009/12/pay-attention/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:49:33 +0000 Ellen http://www.ellennotbohm.com/?p=793 As adults, one of the laziest verbal shortcuts we use is admonishing our children to “pay attention!” What we really mean is that we want them to focus on listening to information we are giving them verbally or demonstrating for them. There is no money exchanged, no pay involved, and for children with some language-based learning differences, the phrase can be completely meaningless. When the child then fails to “pay attention,” we interpret it as non-compliance, rather than as our own failure to communicate in a meaningful manner.

“Paying attention” requires the ability to focus and concentrate on a finite task. This may not come naturally to a child, but the skills required to do so can be taught. When both you and the child understand how his brain processes language and sensory input, you will be able to help him implement strategies to improve his concentration skills.

Read the full text of my article “Teaching Concentration Skills” in the September-October 2009 issue of Children’s Voice.

]]> http://www.ellennotbohm.com/2009/12/pay-attention/feed/ 2 Facebook discussion: helping a self-biter http://www.ellennotbohm.com/2009/12/facebook-discussion-helping-a-self-biter/ http://www.ellennotbohm.com/2009/12/facebook-discussion-helping-a-self-biter/#comments Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:14:54 +0000 Ellen http://www.ellennotbohm.com/?p=781 Today on my Facebook page:  parents weighing on how to help a child who is a self-biter. Click here to join the discussion.

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