Grandparent's Guide To Autism Spectrum Disorders: Making The Most Of The Time At Nana's House

Grandparent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Making the Most of the Time at Nana's House

Help make time at grandma and grandpa's house better for everyone! Most children fit almost instinctively into grandma's house - obeying, trying to please, and finding their groove. Children with ASD have a harder time adjusting and even a brief visit can leave a grandparent mentally and physically exhausted. But it doesn't have to be that way! Nancy Mucklow's book, Grandparent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Making the Most of the Time at Nana's House, serves as a practical guide to turning grandparents' concern, confusion and initial sadness for their grandchild with ASD into a relationship of acceptance, confidence, and realistic expectations. Full of intriguing and thought-provoking anecdotes and rules of thumb, Grandparent's Guide to ASD includes tried-and-true recommendations on how to deal with sensory issues, new and unfamiliar environments, dietary considerations, emotional meltdowns, communication, selecting the right toys, participating in school and family events, and much more. More knowledgeable and better prepared after reading this positive and upbeat book, grandparents can stay relaxed as they use the helpful strategies that allow them to better connect with their special grandchild.ReviewThe scenarios at the beginning of each chapter strike right to the heart of REAL situations. Families need facts and real situations, rather than theory. They will receive an abundance of those real situations and facts in this book. GRANDPARENT'S GUIDE ... has been needed in our community for many, many years. There have been other wonderful essays and stories, but this is a 'how-to' that addresses all the different grandparenting styles and family dynamics. Indeed, Nancy Mucklow includes aspects of grandparenting that never even occurred to me before reading this book. This is a must-read for grandparents, their children, and all teachers, counselors, and support staff who work with individuals on the autism spectrum. All levels of functioning and a cornucopia of circumstances are addressed. --Susan J. Moreno, CEO and founder, OASIS@MAAP; MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger SyndromeWith no-nonsense information delivered in clear, readable prose, GRANDPARENT'S GUIDE TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS is indispensable for grandparents of the newly diagnosed. Can meltdowns be avoided? How do I talk to my friends about my grandchild with ASD? These topics and many more are addressed in a way that will make grandparents more competent and confident, increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes for the entire family. Grandparents not personally impacted by autism will also benefit, as they grow in their understanding of how ASD impacts other families. --Susan Adcox, Guide to Grandparents on About.comBeing a grandparent myself, I know that our expectation is often that the grandparent's role will be one that is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher and a little bit best friend. We figure that we can relax, enjoy and have fun, leaving the heavy lifting for the parents. But this expectation can be frustrated when the grandchild is on the autism spectrum. For these grandparents, GRANDPARENT'S GUIDE TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: MAKING THE MOST OF THE TIME AT NANA'S HOUSE by Nancy Mucklow is a godsend. It is a valuable guide for grandparents no matter what role they play in their grandchild's life. It is also a resource for any extended family member who wants to establish a comfortable and supportive relationship with a child in the family dealing with the challenges of an autism spectrum disorder. Mucklow announces the complex issues of sensory differences, difficulties with emotional regulation, anxiety issues, meltdowns, and problems with executive function in a way that is accessible and instructive. Her easy-to-understand descriptions are enhanced with vignettes that give insight into experience of the child with autism. For each area she offers concrete suggestions for what to do make the ti