Category Archives: Families

Mindfulness: What’s the Buzz?

MindfulnessJust about everywhere you turn these days, mindfulness has become the new hot item. In fact, mindfulness has become so popular that sometimes it seems as though it is ubiquitously applied to just about everything – physicians can use it to improve patient care, athletes to improve their game, and yes, parents to reduce distress and prevent burnout. But how does mindfulness work? Is it really effective? Or is it just a trend?

Despite its newfound popularity, mindfulness is an ancient practice that combines awareness of the current moment with a nonjudgmental attitude. Mindfulness is based on Buddhist insight meditation but there is nothing inherently religious about it and people of any faith can practice it. Practitioners concentrate their awareness on a single-pointed focus and accept the reality of the situation as it unfolds, moment-by-moment. This is a concept that is better experienced than described. That is, understanding mindfulness requires going beyond reading about it – you need to practice it firsthand. Continue reading →

Your Library Can Help Children Talk, Sing, Read, Write and Play EVERY DAY!

With 33 Branches, 2 Bookmobiles and a strong online and digital presence, the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is in your neighbourhood, your child care centre, your child’s classroom and your home. With core values that include “access and inclusion”, “bilingualism”, and “love of reading”, OPL and its employees are great resources. If you are looking for accessible collections, story time programming or expertise related to early literacy, OPL is here to help.

Children’s Services employees offer early literacy programs in the Library and out in the community for example at early learning and care centres and schools. Employees are trained in presenting engaging programs for children and also in educating parents and educators on best practices for preparing children to read. OPL uses a curriculum called Every Child Ready to Read, which is based on five simple practices which parents and caregivers can easily integrate into everyday activities. These practices include: Talking; Singing; Reading, Writing and Playing. Continue reading →

Paws for Philip

Phil and Etta

Almost 4 years have passed since Etta, our son Philip’s Autism Assistance Dog Guide, became part of our family. Hardly a day goes by without one of us saying “how did we ever live without Etta”. Etta is a beautiful, 5-year old female brindle Lab. She has a very patient and gentle personality, a perfect complement to our son.

Philip, who is now 13, is on the severe end of the Autism Spectrum. He is non-verbal and has been known as a runner and climber, along with other behaviours. We first heard about Autism Assistance Dog Guides in 2007 through information on the internet and elsewhere and decided that this could be of real benefit for Philip’s safety. Continue reading →

It’s All About Relationships

Our Transition to School Story

Like all parents, we worried and hoped for the best possible transition for our daughter into Kindergarten. She had been excelling in all of her Team Service Plan goals through the guidance and support of her preschool educators and we wondered how she would cope with the transition to a larger school environment with more expectations and less individual support. To ease our concerns, we requested an interview with the school principal to discuss our daughter’s diagnosis. In late June, we contacted the resource teacher to develop a transition plan to deal specifically with our daughter’s anxiety towards changes in routines and environments. We also attended the school’s spring BBQ so she could become familiar with this new environment. We read the social story about her new school all summer and talked with excitement about Kindergarten. Continue reading →

A Big Step: Our Family’s Transition to School

Part 1 of 2

I have two wonderful children, twins, and like many parents I was very excited about them going to school. The task of enrolling children into the school system is challenging. Now add a child with special needs and the task can seem impossible. Enrolling my daughter was easy, but my son’s enrolment was more complicated due to his diagnosis of global developmental delay. Since my children were enrolled in a licensed day care I had the guidance, support and expertise of a Resource Consultant from Children’s Integration Support Services (CISS). If your child is not enrolled in a licensed daycare, but receives services from OCTC (Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre) you may be eligible for School Liaison Support. Continue reading →

The Power of H’Art

H’Art of Ottawa is an innovative and inclusive visual arts studio that supports the creative growth of artists with developmental disabilities. H’Art’s unique art and literacy program promotes creative and cultural experiences, self-expression and independence. In the studio, visual art and creative writing are used as approaches to learning. The artists exhibit, promote and sell their paintings through the studio, galleries and venues within the community. This provides the opportunity to participate in society in a meaningful way and contributes to the growing awareness of the general public that persons with disabilities can live rich, productive and independent lives. Continue reading →

Yoga for Children

Tips to Help Teach Children Yoga
The most important things to remember when practicing yoga with children—keep it fun, free and simple! Let your creativity flow and many more good ideas will come.

When working with young children don’t try to make the poses technically “perfect”. At such a young age, the purpose of yoga is to introduce them to, and familiarize them with, the basic concepts of the practice. The essence of yoga is breathing, relaxing, balancing, trying and being good to self and others. Continue reading →

King Koonto and Jeffrey Make Music

My name is Rory the Cook. I feed everybody at Andrew Fleck Child Care Centre, except on Thursdays, when cowgirl Kathleen steps in for me so I can do other things like make music. I write music for choir and for jazz ensembles, I play drums and percussion with a particular interest in spontaneously improvised music and, occasionally, I teach individual lessons and group classes. I have had the pleasure of leading music workshops for kids at the Featherston Autism Unit and likewise for youth with Autism through the SNAP program run by the City of Ottawa. Continue reading →

Where Are They Now: A Parent’s Story

Like all parents, I always wondered how I would react if one day I learned that my child had special needs or suffered from a serious illness. This is what happened to my husband and me, and here is our story.

We are parents of Congolese origin with two young girls who have been developing typically. We also have a son named Kihinda. We began to have concerns about his development when we noticed that at age two, he was not yet putting together two word phrases. Continue reading →

Everyone is Welcome at the Table

Pot lucks are a wonderful way to bring people together, to experience new foods, enjoy good conversation, and to make time to connect in otherwise busy lives. At CISS we celebrate important life milestones by organizing pot luck lunches before some of our monthly staff meetings. Prior to these events, information regarding individual dietary needs is identified to assist in the planning of food choices. As any host knows this is the most important step to ensure a successful outcome! Continue reading →