AW Sunday Review: The Girls Guide to Growing Up

The Girls Guide to Growing Up: 
Choices & Changes in the Tween Years 
by Terri Couwenhoven, M.S.


ISBN: 978-1-60613-026-1
Woodbine House, December 2011
Ages 8 - 14
62 pages
$16.95




"Puberty is a challenging time for all young adults.  Now girls with intellectual disabilities can grow up with confidence, benefiting from this very clear, practical and honest guide."
~ Dr. Brian Skotko (Physician, Down Syndrome Program, Children's Hospital Boston)

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Last week I shared an article on my FB Page that made me giggle and cringe.  I won't say anymore.  You read it.  But I will say, I am really happy I have a few more years before I The Husband sits The Boy down for The Talk.  


But we can't put it off forever.  And neither can you.  Eventually our children will hit puberty and we will need to prepare them for it.   


And if I had a special needs daughter, The Girls' Guide to Growing Up written by Terri Couwenhoven, M.S., is the book I'd buy to prepare us both.  


Written in clear and simple language (3rd grade reading level) and paired with age-appropriate facts, realistic illustrations and photos, The Girls' Guide to Growing Up, explains in detail the many changes of a girls body.  The illustrations and photos are even presented in such a way that they may be created into a picture schedule.  The Girls' Guide to Growing Up also discusses feelings and discretion while emphasizing personal safety and privacy.  And it concludes with a Q&A to prompt conversation.


Terri Couwenhoven, M.S., is certified in Special Education by the AASECT and specializes in working with individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, their families and professional support. Couwenhoven is also a mom who gets it, her eldest daughter has down syndrome.  Terry Couwenhoven, M.S. writes with professional expertise and maternal sensitivity.  


Sound like something that would be useful for you?


Interested in winning a free copy?    


Leave a comment for a mandatory entry. 

For additional entries: 

1. Follow this blog; and/or

2. Follow me on twitter - @LaliQuin; and tweet me using #AutismWonderland hashtag and/ or

3. “Like” the AutismWonderland Facebook page.

With each additional entry you MUST post a comment. Comments will be numbered in the order they are listed and a random number generator (random.org) will be used to select the winner.  Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.   

If you are already follow me or "Like" the page, no problem. Just post a comment and you have an additional entry.

This giveaway will end Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced on Facebook & Twitter on  Sunday (by noon EST) January 22, 2012.  The winner will have 24 hours to reply. 

Feel free to contact me at autismwonderland@gmail.com with any questions.

Note: Woodbine House provided me with a complimentary copy of  The Girls' Guide to Growing Up  for review purposes only.  (I am offering The Girls' Guide to Growing Up as a giveaway) The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way. 

Dream Catcher (Weighted Blankets) Giveaway!

If you've been following us for a while, you know that we don't get much sleep.  The Boy tosses and turns, wakes up often, staying up for hours and almost always finding his way into our bed.

It's exhausting.  I'm exhausted.   

Anyway a few weeks ago after a FB status update proclaiming another sleepless night...the amazing woman behind Dream Catcher Weighted Blankets reached out to me.  And she was sweet enough to offer The Boy a complimentary weighted blanket.  (I had been thinking about buying a weighted blanket but not sure whether or not it would be helpful.)

The weighted blanket sent to us is well made, durable, comfortable and a beautiful bright blue (they come in an assortment of colors, sizes and fabrics).  I was really impressed with it.    

Now that we've been using the weighted blanket for about a month, I'm happy to say that it's really made a difference.  We use it throughout the day.  If The Boy's sitting in his beanbag reading a book.  At night, when I'm reading The Boy a bedtime story.  Sometimes I roll it up like log and place it over his lap or wrap it around his shoulders while he's sitting on the sofa watching TV.  And there are times when The Boy isn't using it, that I like to snuggle up with it, it really is relaxing.   

The Boy still wakes up in the middle in the night.  But on the nights he does, he's not as frantic, running around wildly.  He'll walk into our room, climb into bed and go back to sleep.   (That's fine with me, so long as I still get my sleep.)  And sometimes, The Boy will bring his weighted blanket with him.

For more information on the Dream Catcher Blankets click on the following links:
Who do they help?
How do they work? 
How to use? 

Would YOU like to WIN a 

Dream Catcher Weighted Blanket?

Yeah.  I thought you would.

How to Enter and WIN: 

Mandatory entry:  Leave a comment below. Feel free to share why you would benefit from the weighted blanket.

Additional entries:

1.  Follow this blog

2.  Follow me on twitter - @LaliQuin (and don't be shy - say hello) 

3.  “Like” the AutismWonderland Facebook page

4.  “Like” the DreamCatcher-Weighted-Blankets Facebook page

Every time you enter, you MUST post a comment. It is very important that you post a comment* for each entry.  If you are already signed up for any of these, no problem. Just post a comment and you’re in the giveaway!

This giveaway will end Sunday, October 2nd at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced on Facebook & Twitter on Monday, October 3rd.  I will contact the winner via email and you will have 24 hours to reply. 

Feel free to contact me at autismwonderland@gmail.com with any questions.

*Comments will be numbered in the order they are listed and a random number generator (random.org) will be used to select the winner. If you combine entries into one post, you will only have one chance to win rather than up to three. Give-a-way is open to U.S. residents only. 

**Dream Catcher Weighted Blankets provided me with a complimentary blanket.   The opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way. 

The Other Kid by Lorraine Donlon (book review, giveaway - CLOSED)

The Other Kid written by Lorraine Donlon is a draw it out guidebook/journal for children dealing with a special needs sibling.    

Written in clear and simple language, The Other Kid is an excellent learning tool for parents, grandparents, educators, special education service providers and social workers. Targeted for children between five and twelve years old, The Other Kid, validates the complex feelings of being the sibling to a brother or sister with special needs.  It encourages siblings to express their feelings through art and writing.  The Other Kid also allows siblings to appreciate their brother/sister, to respect and accept their strengths as well as their weaknesses. It also highlights the similarities between siblings.  More importantly, The Other Kid is the beginning of an honest conversation.

While The Boy is an only child, I would highly recommend this book to parents with multiple children.  I also believe that this book should be added to every school library and/or used with sibling support groups.  It's important that children understand their feelings.  The Other Kid supports awareness and acceptance.  

 The sibling of sisters with special needs, Donlon wrote this book from her own experience. Born in 1959, Donlon was considered "lucky" to be "normal."  However, she admits that she "didn't feel lucky" and often felt "guilty" for being a typically developing child while her sisters were  "very low functioning" and "mostly non-verbal."  Donlon shared that she "created The Other Kid as a coloring book because I wanted very small children to know that all the feelings they were experiencing were nothing to be ashamed of - and actually a very normal response to a very stressful situation.  Letting kids have a place to draw and talk about what they are feeling also gives caring parents insights into what "the other kid" is feeling so concerns can be addressed in a loving and supportive way."

Donlon's advice to parents: Find a way to have "alone" time with the typically developing child.  Kids with special needs demand a lot of time, energy, and resources. It's  important to remember that the typically developing kids need attention too - special 1:1 time where they can just be kids and feel important.


Donlon's advice to "The Other Kids": It's OK to need your parents too.  It's OK to have really strong feelings - both positive and negative - and that there are caring adults who will listen. It's also important for kids to know they are not alone - and can feel very reassured when they realize other siblings have felt the same way.

The Other Kid is available on Amazon for $10.95 in English and Spanish (El Otro Nino).         


GIVE-A-WAY: To win your complimentary copy of "The Other Kid" -

1. Leave a comment for this blog post - also specify if you want English or Spanish edition. 
2. Send me an email at autismwonderland@gmail.com. (Even if you think I have it) If you DO NOT send me an email, I will NOT be able to contact you if you win.  In your email, let me know you've left a comment and specify whether you want the English or Spanish edition.  

In order to qualify for contest you MUST complete steps 1 and 2.    

You may leave as many comments as you like.  The more you comment, the better chance you have of winning.  Contest ends on Sunday, April 17th at midnight. Winners* will be announced Monday April 18th, 2011 on my facebook fan page AutismWonderland.blogspot.com and on my twitter page @Laliquin.  I will contact the winners via email to arrange shipping.**
 
 * Winners will be selected via random.org
**Will only ship within the United States. Shipping is free of charge.  

Note:  A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me by the author. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.