Family

Special needs

Are you raising a child with special needs? We're here to help with personal stories, expert advice, the latest research, and tips on how to support your child.

How a chicken taught my son to live

How a chicken taught my son to live

"She set him on a path to healing he might not have found without her."

Christen Shepherd

8 ways to help a child with autism manage their weight

8 ways to help a child with autism manage their weight

Meds, picky eating and fewer opportunities to join in organized sports can lead to weight issues for kids with autism. Here’s how to help.

Valerie Howes

Simple self-care tips for parents of kids with ADHD

Simple self-care tips for parents of kids with ADHD

So you’re caring for a kid who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. What are you doing to also take care of you?

Keith McArthur

Dear teacher, please stop giving my kid with learning disabilities homework

Dear teacher, please stop giving my kid with learning disabilities homework

This mother says quit asking kids with special learning needs to play catch-up after school.

Anita Coffin

How becoming a big sister gave my daughter with special needs a big confidence boost

How becoming a big sister gave my daughter with special needs a big confidence boost

My second pregnancy wasn't planned, but a younger sibling for my daughter with special needs turned out to be the best thing we could have given her.

Antonia Whyatt

#DownRightPerfect: What it’s like to have a child with Down syndrome

#DownRightPerfect: What it’s like to have a child with Down syndrome

It was the biggest shock of Nao and Sean’s lives to learn their newborn had Down syndrome. But two years on they feel like a regular family.

Today's Parent

3 fun crafts to help kids develop fine motor skills

3 fun crafts to help kids develop fine motor skills

If your kid has fine-motor skill challenges, try these fun activities to help them develop hand and wrist co-ordination and strength.

Today's Parent

Connecting with parents online helped me survive parenting a son with special needs

Connecting with parents online helped me survive parenting a son with special needs

I was always skeptical of online communities, but when I had a son with a rare illness, the moms I met in an online group were the only ones who understood.

Amy Neyer

My son's special needs saved my marriage

My son's special needs saved my marriage

The daily struggles of raising a child with special needs can put a strain on the best of relationships. But, for us, it made our marriage stronger.

Alexandra Samuel

The children’s hospice that helps terminally ill kids really live

The children’s hospice that helps terminally ill kids really live

“When our daughter was dying, there was nowhere else we wanted to be.”

Christen Shepherd

How to find an ABA therapist for your child with autism

How to find an ABA therapist for your child with autism

The right ABA therapist needs to be both qualified and a good fit for your whole family. Here's how to find one that suits your child's needs

Joel Yanofsky

5 tips for helping your kid with ADHD have better playdates

5 tips for helping your kid with ADHD have better playdates

Kids who are impulsive, hyperactive and distractible can sometimes struggle with friendships—here’s how to help them handle social situations.

Keith McArthur

4 ways to help kids with autism have great playdates

4 ways to help kids with autism have great playdates

It’s a myth that kids with autism don’t want to play with other kids, but sometimes they need a little support with their social lives.

Joel Yanofsky

Does my kid have ADHD?: Red flags to watch out for

Does my kid have ADHD?: Red flags to watch out for

Your kid’s teacher says your child can’t focus or sit still. Could the cause be attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Keith McArthur

My daughter wasn’t supposed to walk—now she’s a cheerleader for Team Canada

My daughter wasn’t supposed to walk—now she’s a cheerleader for Team Canada

Was I afraid she would fall or fail? Absolutely. But all those months of forcing myself to stay behind the glass were good training for me, too.

Lisa Thornbury

4 myths about what causes ADHD—and why they’re totally wrong

4 myths about what causes ADHD—and why they’re totally wrong

These misconceptions about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are unhelpful and annoying to parents of kids with it. Let’s get the facts straight!

Keith McArthur

This 4-year-old’s letter to her new kindergarten classmates will melt your heart

This 4-year-old’s letter to her new kindergarten classmates will melt your heart

“I’m sending you this note because I love new friends and I want to do what I can to make being my friend easy.”

Claire Sibonney

Teaching "the point" to a child with autism

Teaching "the point" to a child with autism

There’s more to communication than talking—especially for kids with autism spectrum disorder. The index finger can be an essential tool!

Joel Yanofsky

How to find the best specialists for a kid with autism

How to find the best specialists for a kid with autism

A speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist can give your child with autism the best possible outcomes. Here’s what to ask potential therapists.

Joel Yanofsky

How to create an ADHD treatment plan for your kid

How to create an ADHD treatment plan for your kid

There are many tried and tested ways of supporting a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We explain the most popular options.

Keith McArthur