Tips for Parents Archives - Kidz Steps Centre

Therapy for ADHD: How Therapy Can Help Children Thrive

Written by Sook Wah Chew on May 22, 2025. Posted in Behavior Therapy, Tips for Parents.

Raising a child with ADHD can be incredibly challenging. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often struggle with attention, impulsivity, and emotional regulation. These difficulties can impact their learning, social interactions, and overall well-being. Many parents also find it hard to keep their child focused in school or manage behaviors at home. While medication can help manage symptoms, therapy offers essential long-term support that empowers children to develop the skills they need to thrive at school, home, and beyond. Here are four effective types of therapy for children with ADHD: 1. Behavior Therapy (BT) – For ADHD With Disruptive Behaviors Behavior therapy is one of the most recommended treatments for ADHD. It focuses on helping children learn positive behaviors while reducing disruptive ones. Therapists use structured techniques such as reward systems, clear expectations, and consistent consequences to help children improve focus, self-control,...

Special Needs Emotional Problems: Understanding and Addressing Emotional Challenges in Children

Written by Sook Wah Chew on May 15, 2025. Posted in Others, Tips for Parents.

Children with special needs often face unique emotional problems that can significantly impact their learning and overall well-being. While much focus is placed on achieving developmental milestones, managing challenging behaviors, and building essential skills, emotional health is sometimes overlooked. However, addressing special needs emotional problems is just as critical as teaching speech, motor skills, or social interaction, as it directly influences a child’s motivation to learn and their ability to thrive. 1. Common Focus: Milestones, Behaviors, and Skills Many intervention programs emphasize: Developmental Milestones: Speech, motor, cognitive, and self-help skills. Behavior Management: Using rewards or consequences to reduce challenging behaviors. Skills Training: Teaching social, communication, and academic skills. While these approaches are essential, they often treat behaviors—like tantrums or refusal to follow instructions—as isolated problems,...

Reading with Autism: How to Make Story Time Easier and More Enjoyable

Written by Sook Wah Chew on April 24, 2025. Posted in Tips for Parents.

Reading is often seen as a fun and educational activity for children. But reading with autism can present unique challenges that leave many parents feeling frustrated or discouraged. The good news? With the right strategies and mindset, reading can become a fun, meaningful bonding experience for you and your child. Why Reading Matters for Children with Autism Books do more than introduce new words—they help children with autism understand the world around them, develop their imagination, and learn important social concepts. A book about animals can teach vocabulary and habitat, while a story like The Boy Who Cried Wolf can introduce abstract ideas like honesty and consequences. However, when a child resists reading or seems uninterested, it’s easy to feel unsure about how to proceed. Here are four common concerns parents face when reading with a child with autism—and how to make reading time more successful. 1. “My child refuses to sit and read!” When beginning...

Planning In-Home Sensory Activities for Children with Special Needs: A Guide for Parents

Written by Sook Wah Chew on April 15, 2025. Posted in Tips for Parents.

When your child seeks extra sensory input, it can be challenging to know the best way to help them feel balanced. Children who are sensory seekers often crave movement and tactile experiences throughout the day. They may be constantly on the go, tapping their hands, jumping, or even engaging in energetic play. However, for children with sensory needs, it’s essential to plan activities that both alert and calm their nervous system. In this article, we’ll explore ways to plan physical activities at home to help your child feel more regulated, using simple, practical ideas that any parent can try. Understanding Sensory Seeking Behavior What Does It Mean to Be a Sensory Seeker? Sensory seekers are children who crave extra sensory stimulation. They might exhibit behaviors such as: Constant movement, like tapping, jumping, or running A desire to engage in physical play throughout the day It’s important to remember that while these children actively seek stimulation,...

How Does a Clinical Psychologist Diagnose a Child? A Parent-Friendly Guide

Written by Sook Wah Chew on April 15, 2025. Posted in Tips for Parents.

If you’re worried about your child’s behavior, learning, emotions, or development, one of the first professionals you might meet is a clinical psychologist. But what does a clinical psychologist diagnosis actually involve? Let’s break it down in simple terms, so you’ll know what to expect and feel more confident in the process. What Is a Clinical Psychologist? A clinical psychologist is a trained mental health professional who helps understand children’s thinking, emotions, behavior, and development. They don’t prescribe medication, but they play a key role in identifying challenges like: Autism ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Anxiety Learning difficulties Behavioral issues Emotional struggles What Happens During a Clinical Psychologist Diagnosis? The diagnosis process may sound serious or even scary to some parents—but it’s simply about understanding your child better, so the right support can be provided. Here’s...

When to See a Clinical Psychologist for Your Child: A Guide for Parents

Written by Sook Wah Chew on April 10, 2025. Posted in Tips for Parents.

As parents, we do our best to support our children as they grow, learn, and face new challenges. But sometimes, we may notice things in our child’s behavior, emotions, or development that make us pause and wonder: Is this normal? Should I be worried? Do we need help? This is where a clinical psychologist can step in to guide and support both the child and the family. What is a Clinical Psychologist? A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional trained to assess, diagnose, and support child (and adults) who may be struggling emotionally, socially, behaviorally, or developmentally. They hold an advanced degree in psychology and are licensed to provide therapy and psychological assessments. Clinical psychologists do not prescribe medication, but they work closely with doctors and psychiatrists if medication is needed as part of the child’s treatment plan. How Can a Clinical Psychologist Help My Child? Clinical psychologists work with children of all ages,...

Parenting Tips: Teaching Autism to Clean Up After Play

Written by Sook Wah Chew on April 9, 2025. Posted in Tips for Parents.

Teaching children with autism to clean up after playtime can be a real challenge for many parents. It’s common for children on the spectrum to resist changes in activity or routines, and when parents insist on tidying up, it may trigger tantrums or meltdowns. This often turns into a stressful experience for both the child and parent. However, teaching autism to clean up doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With some patience and creativity, parents can help their children build clean-up habits in a positive and enjoyable way. Here are three gentle and effective strategies you can try at home: 1. Make Clean-Up Fun with a Song Start by cleaning up together while playing a cheerful clean-up song. Music can create a fun and predictable routine that helps children feel less resistant. In the beginning, parents may need to do most of the work while the child observes. Gradually, the child will start to join in. Over time, the child may be able to clean up independently.Tip: Keep the...

Autism Parenting Tips: The Benefits of Regular Exercise at Home

Written by Sook Wah Chew on March 25, 2025. Posted in Tips for Parents.

Managing autism at home, especially for children with Level 2 and 3 autism, can be challenging. Parents often navigate difficulties related to communication, sleep disturbances, emotional regulation, attention deficits, and sensory-seeking behaviors such as climbing, water play, or biting objects. One effective strategy that has shown promising results in helping autism is incorporating regular exercise into daily routines. The Impact of Regular Exercise Researches had shown that regular physical activity plays a crucial role in enhancing motor skills, attention span, emotional regulation, and sleep quality for children on the autism spectrum. A consistent daily routine of 20 to 30 minutes of exercise can be highly beneficial. Beyond physical benefits, exercise helps establish structure, promotes compliance, and encourages social interactions. Overcoming Barriers to Exercise We understand that taking a child with autism outdoors for exercise can be challenging, especially...

Is Your Child with Autism Ready for School?

Written by Sook Wah Chew on February 16, 2025. Posted in Others, Tips for Parents.

Preparing a child with autism for school is a unique journey filled with both challenges and opportunities. Getting a child with autism ready for school isn’t as easy as it may seem. Many children on the autism spectrum experience difficulties with sensory processing, motor skills, speech, attention, and social interaction. These challenges mean that they often require extra support to learn and adapt to school environment, where independence, rule-following, focus, and self-directed learning are key. Understanding the Challenges of Autism in school For children with autism, everyday school routines can be overwhelming. They might struggle with: Sensory Issues: Over- or under-sensitivity to lights, sounds, or textures. Motor Skills: Difficulties with fine motor skills like writing or using scissors. Speech and Communication: Challenges with expressing needs or understanding instructions. Attention and Focus: Difficulty staying engaged in classroom activities. Social...

Why Early Diagnosis Is Important: Don’t Wait to Act on Developmental Concerns

Written by Sook Wah Chew on February 4, 2025. Posted in Others, Tips for Parents.

Many parents feel anxious when they notice their child isn’t reaching developmental milestones. They may wonder, “Am I overreacting? Should I wait and see if my child improves?” While some children do catch up on their own, many do not. Delaying a diagnosis can mean missing the crucial window for early intervention, making it harder to address developmental challenges later on. The Risks of “Wait and See” Every child develops at their own pace, but persistent delays in speech, social skills, motor skills, or behavior can signal underlying issues such as speech delays, GDD, autism, ADHD, or other developmental conditions. The most significant risk of waiting is missing the golden period for brain development—especially before age five—when early intervention is most effective. Therapies like early intervention, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral intervention work best in early childhood. Children who receive timely support are more likely to...

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