Positive Approaches

Angel Teachers

by Dan CoulterMay 16th, 2012
categories: , ,

     Julie, my wife, just reminded me that it’s teacher appreciation week. 

     That makes me think of the teachers who Julie calls “angels.” 

Interviewing Mom

by Dan CoulterMay 7th, 2012
categories: , ,

     How well do you know your mom? 

     You might say, “Hey, she’s my mom!”  Yes, I’m sure you know a lot.  But how much do you know that’s not solely tied to what she does for you?

Manage Your Mood

by Dan CoulterMarch 21st, 2012
categories: , ,

     Suppose I gave you some techniques that work like hypnosis to snap you out of a bad mood? Stay with me.

Practical Praise, Motivation, and Self-Control

by Dan CoulterFebruary 22nd, 2012
categories: , , , , , ,

     Many of us would shout “Eureka!” if we found a magic key that would unlock ways to motivate our children with Asperger Syndrome or similar autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Love and Criticism

by Dan CoulterDecember 14th, 2011
categories: , , ,

     Does your child know you believe in him, even when you’re correcting him?  Without meaning to, many of us give our children with Asperger Syndrome reason to question their worth in our eyes. 

Asperger Syndrome: Alone By Choice?

by Dan CoulterDecember 2nd, 2011
categories: , , , , ,

     Does your child with Asperger Syndrome really want to be alone?

     I have Asperger Syndrome, and I enjoyed being alone when I was little, mostly when I was in my own world reading.  But I also craved company and wanted to be with people. 

Your Child's Safety Line

by Dan CoulterOctober 10th, 2011
categories: , , , , ,

     There’s a great Gary Larson Far Side cartoon about optimists and pessimists that shows four people, each separately looking at a glass with some water in it.

Favorite Things

by Dan CoulterSeptember 13th, 2011
categories: , , ,

What’s your favorite thing?  The thing you look forward to.  The thing that gives you a rush just to think about it. 

Interesting discovery: It can be just as big a rush to help your child find and do his favorite thing. 

Vanquishing Victimhood

by Dan CoulterMay 7th, 2011
categories: ,

  Bullying, being embarrassed in front of a class, and similar incidents can leave lasting impressions on young minds.

He's My Brother

by Dan CoulterMarch 6th, 2011
categories: , ,

I was 19 when I first heard the Hollies’ song, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” Wikipedia says the phrase can be traced back as early as 1884.  Wiki reports an early use in a publication came from Ralph Waldo Trine: "Do you know that incident in connection with the little Scottish girl? She was trudging along, carrying as best she could a boy younger, but it seemed almost as big as she herself, when one remarked to her how heavy he must be for her to carry, when instantly came the reply: 'He's na heavy. He's mi brither.'"