If your child has an irrational fear or phobia and (this is key) they would like to work through it, consider some of these gifts! These gift ideas are focused in on fears in medical setting as well as general anxiety. Note: some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning that if …
Holiday gifts that are fun AND help with phobias (medical and general fears) Read More »
Every year, parents and grandparents come to me asking for gift ideas that their child will love and that will help them regulate through meltdowns and tantrums. Here is a list of five of my favorite ideas! NOTE: Some of the links you see on this page are affiliate links. If you buy the item, …
5 Perfect gifts for kids who meltdown or tantrum Read More »
Let’s start with a confession: I had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad needle phobia from ages 5 to 31. It was debilitating. When I finally decided enough was enough, I didn’t have anyone who knew how to support me through it, nor did I know what tools could help me. Through years of …
Tools to help your mind and body overcome needle fears and phobias Read More »
Let’s talk about ABA red flags. Many families are afraid to seek out applied behavior analysis (ABA) services, and they have every right to be: there is a ton of media, anecdotes, and information in the world about the ways that ABA therapy has caused trauma or harmed people. Listening to autistic voices on all …
5 ABA Red Flags you need to know from the perspective of a BCBA Read More »
ABA is fraught with a lot of controversy, and (frankly) it is in many ways deserved: many people (see: children) have been traumatized by their experiences in ABA. How can a neutral science, a description of how behavior works, have gone so awry? And what is ABH doing to fix it? Here are ten ways …
10 ways that Applied Behavioral Happiness is different from most ABA companies Read More »
Has this ever happened to you? You take your child to the playground and they’re having a blast. Things are great until you say, “It’s time to leave,” and they suddenly start crying and refusing to get into the car. No one is happy when there are tantrums when it’s time to leave. For a …
3 Tips to halt tantrums when it’s time to leave fun places Read More »
Wait…what? Is that a typo? Nope! This a simple way to turn a teaching moment into a learning moment without having to do any teaching at all. This method can increase problem solving skills, boost confidence, and increase communication and critical thinking if you do it correctly. Are you ready for this? To start, what …
Imagine this: a family friend, neighbor, or helpful stranger runs up to your child, tells them that their has been an emergency, and that they need to jump in the car right now to get to safety. How does your child know if this is a safe person to follow or if they are possibly …
Children who don’t accept no can have some extreme reactions to hearing this small word. When saying no triggers dangerous behavior, you will experience everything from perseveration and whining to extreme tantrums and crisis-level escape (I don’t want it), access (I want it), and attention (I want you) behaviors. Your child is upset, and you …
When “no” leads to crisis: What to do when saying no triggers dangerous behavior Read More »
Wait…what? No, I am not kidding: the best thing you can do for your child is teach them to be angry. You may be thinking Kellie, your business is called Applied Behavioral Happiness…wouldn’t you want to teach kids how to be happy? Yes, but teaching them to be angry is one of the most important …
The best thing you can do for your child is to teach them to be angry Read More »
