Parenting a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder: A Family Guide to Understanding and Supporting Your Sensory-Sensitive Child

In raising children with or without special needs, nothing is more important than the family unit. This book will enable you to enhance your child’s sensory development. Additionally, it will help you ensure that your child and all family members not only survive, but, indeed, THRIVE! When your whole family thrives, you can best ensure your child’s optimum development over the short and long range of life.

Auer and Blumberg have lent their insight, passion, and compassion to this workbook. In so doing they have also provided a guidebook—and a preamble of advocacy for children and their families.

It has been said that a family of five is akin to five people lying side-by-side on a waterbed: whenever one person moves, everyone feels the ripple. A child with sensory processing disorder can have a devastating impact upon the day-to-day functioning of a family. There are several books available that provide data and information on the nature of this puzzling disorder, but Auer and Blumberg have written a valuable book that finally provides parents with specific strategies and practical solutions to the daily challenges faced by these special children and their families. While other books define the problem, Auer and Blumberg offer techniques to minimize the effect of the disorder on the child's daily life. I strongly recommend this book to any adult who is parenting a child with a sensory processing problem—and to the professionals who are assisting moms and dads on this challenging journey.

Finally a book that treats SPD in the full context that it deserves: not as a co-condition or as another obstacle but as a full fledged challenge to the complete inclusion of individuals with unique learning styles. The collaborative integration of the senses accounts for your picking up this book, examining it and deciding on whether to make it part of your library. Auer and Blumberg walk you through how that process is both derailed and rekindled.

Read this with a highlighter in hand, because you will want to refer many times to the wise and wonderful ideas in this splendid how-to book. The authors are not only sensitive and resourceful parents of kids with SPD, but also articulate, honest, and sensible writers.

More Info: Sensory Processing Disorder: A Family Guide to Understanding & Supporting Your Sensory-Sensitive Child

Make no mistake; getting an accurate diagnosis is a critical step to support your child and your family. For me, this step is very emotional on several levels. First, while my brother is (I believe) a person with an autistic spectrum disorder, he has never in fact had such a diagnosis. While a psychiatrist recommended he be placed in a state institution when he was a preschooler (mid 1960's), and a psychologist diagnosed him with Schizophrenia (mid 1980s), I really don't know, nor will I ever know where he falls in the land of disorders. Second, as a parent, it is emotionally challenging to recognize and come to terms that your child is functioning significantly differently from his or her peers.

What then is the purpose of a diagnosis? The goal isn't to know that you're child 'has' a particular disorder - say, cerebral palsy. The point is to have accurate language that helps to describe your child's functioning and ultimately to receive appropriate care. To reach this point, your child does need to have a thorough evaluation performed by someone skilled in assessing the particular area of concern. Some resources include universities, a referral from your child's pediatrician, an independent evaluator, or your school district.

It may take several evaluations before you believe that you have a good picture of your child. Be forewarned, that often you may end up with a bundle of disorders. My middle child, Craig, is currently officially diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Developmental Coordination Disorder, and Reading Disorder.

Now that I have some understanding of his challenges, which are important - make no mistake, I prefer not to identify or label my child with all of his disorders. While I guess these disorders are a part of his 'being', they do not come close to describing the whole. As well, while it sounds like a lot, I know that these are all commonly associated with ADHD.

This past week, Craig learned how to ride a bike without training wheels - sort of. He has not yet figured out to stop. It was quite a memorable site to see him armored with a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and gloves riding around our cul-de-sac. Since he couldn't stop, he bumped into our neighbor's car, the mailbox, various curbs, and bushes. Each time he crashed, he immediately yelled, "I'm OK!" brushed himself off, and got back on the bike again.

Ironically, now that I have a basket full of disorders to describe Craig's functioning, if someone asked me to describe him, I think I'd say, "He's a really cool kid with some unique strengths and challenges - just as everyone has".

Look for Chris' New Book -

Parenting a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder: A Family Guide to Understanding and Supporting Your Sensory-Sensitive Child

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