Mindful Moments Blog

Wholeheartedly Accepting and Supporting Neurodiverse Families

Mindful Moments Blog

Wholeheartedly Accepting and Supporting Neurodiverse Families

by Ashley Patek on Jan 27 2022
What is neurodiversity and how do we move from awareness to acceptance to advocating for in small everyday moments?
Friendship: Using Improv Games To Create Peer Connection

Mindful Moments Blog

Friendship: Using Improv Games To Create Peer Connection

by Guest Author on Nov 01 2021
Social skills can be practiced, and the more we teach by actually doing, the more beneficial the approach will be when teaching social skills for friendships and peer engagement. This improv game is designed just for that!  
Ask Andrew: Flexible Thinking

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Flexible Thinking

by Suzanne Tucker on Oct 18 2021
Andrew answers today's question: How can I help my 5-year-old who is on the spectrum with his rigid thinking? Once he makes his mind up about something there is no changing it!
Ask Andrew: Finding Ways To Motivate

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Finding Ways To Motivate

by Andrew Patterson on Aug 02 2021
Andrew answers today's question: I am working with a family that struggles to motivate their son to practice the application of new skills. Any advice on how to discuss the importance of things or improve motivation? This kiddo is highly intelligent and strong-willed.
Ask Andrew: Facing The "I Don't Knows"

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Facing The "I Don't Knows"

by Andrew Patterson on Jul 19 2021
Andrew answers today's question: I ask my daughter something and she replies “I don’t know” even if it is a matter of clear opinion. Like … “Shall we get ice cream? … Why is that?” After I reframe the questions she suddenly knows.
Ask Andrew: Grandparenting

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Grandparenting

by Andrew Patterson on Jul 12 2021
Andrew answers today's question: How can I, as the grandmother of a diagnosed five-year-old grandson be a solid support to him and his parents? I live in CA and they live in AZ.
Ask Andrew: Co-Parenting

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Co-Parenting

by Guest Author on Jul 05 2021
Andrew answers today's question: My husband is on the spectrum and refuses to seek professional assistance. I suspect that my 4-year-old son is also on the spectrum and isn’t getting the support he needs from my husband. How can I address this without my husband thinking that all I do is tell him what he doesn’t do “right” or “good enough”?
Ask Andrew: Navigating Responses To Stimming

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Navigating Responses To Stimming

by Andrew Patterson on Jun 28 2021
Andrew answers today's question: How do you deal with people making fun of stims? Especially loud vocal ones?
Ask Andrew: Prep For New Places

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Prep For New Places

by Andrew Patterson on Jun 21 2021
Andrew answers today's question: How can I help my three and half-year-old prepare for going to new places? He really struggles when we first get somewhere and when it's time to leave.
Ask Andrew: Understanding Neurodiversity

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Understanding Neurodiversity

by Guest Author on Jun 14 2021
Hi! I’m Andrew from Generation Mindful's newest recurring weekly feature, Ask Andrew. I’ll be taking any and all questions regarding the autism spectrum with particular emphasis on childhood development as an authentic autistic adult. Today Andrew answers: What do you wish your classmates had understood about you/did differently?
How To Use Storytime To Reduce Clinginess & Ease Transitions

Mindful Moments Blog

How To Use Storytime To Reduce Clinginess & Ease Transitions

by Courtney Tharpe on Jun 04 2021
Storytime is a time when our children's imaginations are fired up, operating in the frontal lobe of their brain, and primed for learning. If you are struggling with clingy behavior, transitions, or teaching new skills, a simple, scripted story may be the best tool in your toolbox! Get your FREE scripted story printable here!
Supporting Emotional-Intelligence for Neurodiverse Children Through Play

Mindful Moments Blog

Building Emotional-Intelligence Through Play

by Ashley Patek on May 27 2021
As parents we tend to put pressure on ourselves and our kids when it comes to play and learning. But when we step back and let nature and biology take over, we actually see that children are wired to learn through play. Learn how to use unstructured (free) play to teach children the emotional intelligence necessary for an enhanced academic quota down the road. Plus FREE Activity Calendar printable!  
Mom OF Autistic Son Thanks Man For His Kindness During Her Son's Meltdown

Mindful Moments Blog

Mom Of Autistic Son Thanks Man For His Kindness During Her Son's Meltdown

by Ashley Patek on May 24 2021
In the midst of a meltdown, five-year-old Rudy and his mother Natalie Fernando were met with kindness from a stranger. The man's shocking actions helped regulate her child. Fernando shares: When you see a parent and child struggling, offer compassion, not judgment. And that's exactly what Ian Shelley did.
Mom Of Two Advocates For Her Neurodiverse Daughters

Mindful Moments Blog

Mom Of Two Advocates For Her Neurodiverse Daughters

by Ashley Patek on Apr 28 2021
Natasha is a mama of two neurodiverse daughters and she has one big focus: teaching her girls social-emotional skills, not only to help them express themselves but to advocate for themselves.
Fidget and Fries

Mindful Moments Blog

Autistic Mama and Sons Request: See Us for Us, Not our Labels

by Ashley Patek on Jan 29 2021
Tiffany Hammond is an autistic mama to two autistic sons. She shares that their diagnosis is not a one-size-fits-all expression. Rather, Tiffany sees this as part of her family’s unique human experience.
My Son Is Not A Diagnosis, An Understanding Of Neurodiversity

Mindful Moments Blog

My Son Is Not A Diagnosis, An Understanding Of Neurodiversity

by Ashley Patek on Jan 18 2021
Neurodiversity is a concept that communicates that diagnoses such as ADHD and autism are not “abnormalities” but rather variations in the human brain. This mom shares her journey to understanding neurodiversity and meeting her child's unique needs. 
Mom uses Generation Mindful Tools with sons

Mindful Moments Blog

Mama Of Two Neurodiverse Sons Uses ToolKit To Nurture Their Unique Minds

by Guest Author on Dec 05 2020
We love reading stories about how our tools are living for families in their homes. Here’s a story that came in from mama Kelley Rufkahr with her children Wyatt, age six, and Emmett, age four.