What Is Pica? Pica refers to persistent eating of substances that are not food and do not provide meaningful nutritional value. Examples can include soil, paper, chalk, hair, paint chips, or other non-food materials. The behavior is generally considered in...

Why Might an Autistic Child Have Difficulty Chewing or Swallowing? Sensory sensitivities and food textures Some children experience the texture, temperature, smell, or taste of food more intensely than others. A soft food may feel unpleasant, while a crunchy texture...

Why Might a Child Drink Very Little Water? Sensory preferences Water may seem neutral to adults, but children can notice differences in temperature, taste, smell, or the container used. A child may prefer cold water, water at room temperature, a...

A Little Girl Who Is Discovering a Bigger World “She has toys she never touched for years.” For one mother, watching her daughter finally reach for those forgotten toys became one of the most meaningful moments in her journey. Today,...

Introduction Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and togetherness. But for families raising an autistic child, large gatherings, unfamiliar foods, loud conversations, and changes in routine can sometimes make the holiday overwhelming.  The good news? Creating an autism-friendly Thanksgiving...

Introduction For many parents of autistic children, social media has become part of the journey. A quick search can lead to parent experiences, therapy information, educational ideas, support groups, and stories from families going through similar experiences. Sometimes, finding the...

Parents know their children closely. Sometimes a concern begins with something small: your baby does not seem to respond to their name very often, your toddler uses fewer gestures than expected, speech is developing differently, or certain sounds and changes...

Your child brings you their favorite toy. They reach for your hand when they need help. But when you speak to them, they rarely look directly into your eyes. For many parents, this creates a meaningful question: “If my child...