By Janis D. Gioia, MAEd. Holiday anxiety. You probably began feeling it with the first Black Friday commercial. The anticipation and dread of what lies ahead: buying gifts, cooking holiday meals, entertaining and decorating. And while children may not exactly be doing these things,…
Halloween Anxiety: Ways to Help Children with Anxiety, Autism and Sensory Processing Disorders
by Janis D. Gioia, MAEd. This past week, many readers have been telling me how hard Halloween is for their children (or students) with anxiety, autism or sensory processing disorders. In my article How to Make Halloween Happier for Children with Anxiety, Autism…
By Janis D. Gioia, MAEd. Children with anxiety, autism spectrum or sensory processing disorder and other special needs experience often find the holiday season to be scary, not merry. Remember the party in The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday? Too many guests, goodies,…
By Janis D. Gioia, MAED “There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place.” – J.K. Rowling, novelist, screenwriter and film producer Stories have the amazing power to comfort anxious children. Picture books, fairy tales, myths and fables take children…