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

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...

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

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Parenting Tips: Teaching Autism to Clean Up After Play

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...

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Kidz Steps: Individualized Therapy for Autism

Intensive Individualized Therapy for Children With Autism Our therapy is an individualized (one-to-one) and intensive program tailored for children who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Whether your child is a toddler, preschooler, or older, our program can offers focused support to improve key areas such as communication, social skills, behavior, play, and independent skills. This program is designed to help children make meaningful developmental. With support from experienced child psychologists and behavior therapists, we assess each child’s strengths and challenges, identify priority goals, and provide individualized autism therapy that accelerates progress. 🌟 Why Choose Our Autism Individualized Therapy ? ✔ Intensive Support3–4 individual therapy sessions per week to ensure consistent, focused intervention. ✔ Short-Term, High-ImpactDesigned to make significant developmental progress within 6 to 12 months. ✔ Autism-Focused...

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Why Early Autism Screening and Diagnosis Matter for Your Child

As a parent, you may have concerns about your child’s development. Maybe they’re not talking as much as other kids their age, or they struggle with certain tasks. But is it just overthinking, or is there really a delay? That’s where autism screening comes in—it helps you get clear answers and take the right steps for your child’s future. Get Clarity on Your Concerns It’s common for one parent to worry while the other thinks everything is fine. Instead of guessing, a screening can give you a clear answer. This April, in support of Autism Awareness Month, Kidz Steps Centre is offering free autism screening. This is a great opportunity for parents to check if their concerns are valid or if their child is simply developing at their own pace. Understand Your Child’s Full Development Many parents only focus on speech delays—whether their child is talking or not. But development includes many other areas, such as: Social skills (e.g., making eye contact, playing with...

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Autism Parenting Tips: The Benefits of Regular Exercise at Home

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...

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The Importance of Early Autism Screening: Don’t Just “Wait and See”

When it comes to your child’s development, waiting to see if any issues resolve on their own might not be the best approach—especially when it comes to autism. Early identification and intervention can significantly enhance your child’s developmental trajectory. In this article, we explore why proactive autism screening is crucial if you have concerns about your child, what common early signs of autism to look out for, and how you can take advantage of our FREE screening opportunity this April. Common Early Signs of Autism Being aware of the early signs of autism can help you decide whether a screening might be beneficial for your child. Some common early indicators include: Limited Eye Contact: Children may avoid or have reduced eye contact with parents or caregivers. Delayed Speech or Communication Difficulties: There might be delays in babbling, speaking, or responding to their name. Repetitive Behaviors: This includes repetitive motions like hand-flapping, rocking,...

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Is Your Child with Autism Ready for School?

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...

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

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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Supporting Autism Through After-School Activities Program

Children with autism often require ongoing support even after attending school, whether in a mainstream or special needs setting. Schools primarily help children adapt to structured group learning environments and develop academic skills. However, teachers may not have the time to focus on helping children build social skills, problem-solving skills, conversation skills, time management, or independent skills. As a result, many children with autism benefit from continued assistance to address these areas. Our after-school activities program is suitable for most of the children with autism. Why Continued Support is Crucial As children with autism progress, they encounter new challenges that require specialized support: Conversation Skills: Engaging in meaningful, two-way communication. Problem-Solving Skills: Navigating everyday challenges effectively. Conflict Management: Resolving disagreements and understanding perspectives. Time Management: Planning and organizing...

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