Friday, November 12, 2010

Green so Easy even a Toddler can do It! ~ Week 4 (Nature) Guest Post By Abbie


This week I have been so busy trying to get up all the giveaways I have scheduled before Walking in a Toddler Wonderland starts on Monday, (Don't forget to grab our button for extra entries before the 15th.) dealing with a sick toddler, and being sick myself, and getting ready for SITS Bloggy Boot Camp in St. George Utah, that I didn't have a spare moment to write a post for Green so Easy even a Toddler can do It! Thankfully, Abbie from Greening Sam and Avery had already written a post that I was going to use for when my husband returned home, and she graciously allowed me to post it tonight instead. Thank you Abbie for helping me out!!


Hello Family and Life in Las Vegas Readers! This is actually my second guest post here (I was a part of the amazing Mommy Monster Bash) and I am so excited to be back as a part of this new project that Emily is tackling with her little man. It is not easy to green babies and toddlers but it SO important to start getting your kids outside and appreciating nature as early as possible. If things like hiking, camping, fishing or just exploring the small treasures in nature were not natural to you before kids it may seem like an impossible task when you have to include a baby. But it IS possible and can be so rewarding for everyone!

Here are a few tips, tricks and suggestions that might make getting out on the trail a bit easier for parents of very small children:

1. Start small. The trails and parks that might be exciting for us as parents (national parks, major scenic overlooks, mountain trails, river trails, etc.) are not the place to start with young kids. Those trails can be longer, steeper, skinner and/or more crowded. Instead of hitting up the national park near you check out a county park or state park. These can be found easily online through your states natural resources or recreation department. These parks will be smaller with easier trails and are probably less crowded than the bigger parks. But don't think that just because they are small they won't have amazing things to offer. These parks can have some great hidden treasures, trails and scenery to find.

2. Its not about the destination, the journey is what is important. When you head out on an adventure keep in mind that you might not make it to your original end goal. The best part of the hike might be a rest that you take, sitting on a bench or rock, where you find a frog, see a bug or hear a bird. These little experiences are what will inspire your child to want more, not necessarily the great view at the end point of the hike. But even if you have to end a hike early the time that you spent outside, trying something new is the important part, the first step. And the next time you try it will be that much easier.

3. Patience is key. Kids walk at their own pace and (at least for mine!) the young ones cannot be rushed! You just have to learn to slow yourself down and enjoy their pace. Give yourself the time to look at all the plants around you, notice the little things you might have missed and see what your child is seeing.

Now let's get more specific and practical -(Okay, I need to interject here - how stinking adorable are her daughter's dimples?! Such a beautiful family! - Sorry, back to Abbie!)

4. Get a backpack kid carrier. If you have a baby or very small child and want to get on the hiking trail consider buying a backpack. We have a Chicco baby carrier backpack that was handed down to us years ago from my older sister. We love this one but there are certainly other kinds out there that are great. Check out these companies for some options Lafuma USA, or Mountainsmith. But your local outdoor gear store will probably have options as well.
These backpacks are AWESOME in allowing parents to take very small children out on longer hikes. We started our daughter in hers at just a few months old. She is happy in her pack for hours and she can nap in it! This has been a huge help for us because then we can focus on helping out our 2.5 year old on the trail and not have to worry so much about the baby because we know she will be okay in her pack.

5. Snacks are essential. It is amazing how quickly kids can burn calories and get hungry while they are being active. Healthy snacks like granola, pretzels or dried fruit can be great on the trail and can keep even the crabbiest of kids happy and moving for longer than you might expect.

6. Give your child their own water bottle. If they are old enough to walk on their own and hold a water bottle they are old enough to carry the water bottle. This gives them a little bit of responsibility on the trail and (most importantly) helps you keep track of how much water they are drinking. If you are out for a longer hike or hiking while you are camping it is very important to keep them hydrated!

7. When necessary create a handrail. If you have slightly older kids and are tackling a more difficult area on the trail there is an easy way to create a handrail for your child. Simply grab a nearby stick that is long and have each parent take an end. The child should walk between the two parents holding on to the stick.

8. Play games on the trail. I created a "hiding rabbit" game to do in our yard and we quickly realized how perfect it would be out on the trail. Basically one parent would keep our daughter occupied at a break spot while the other would head down the trail a ways hiding paper rabbit cutouts in the brush along the sides of the trail. When the break is over and we head back out she has a fun new thing to look for and keep her motivated along the trail. This does require extra walking and effort on the parent's part but if you are trying to do a longer hike this might be a good way to end the hike if the child is really worn out.

A game my 2.5 year old made up is called "passed ya". She will play this every time we are out for a walk or bike ride. Super simple. She falls behind on the trial or sidewalk and then runs or speedily walks to pass us and yells "passed ya!". We then repeat the action and pass her. She thinks it is hilarious and could play this forever. We sing songs, play I spy, work on colors, counting and identifying things along the trail. Let your kids be creative, silly and have fun on the trail and you will be amazed at how far they will go.

So that is what I have learned at this point, both from experience and research. I got a few of these ideas from a great book that I found "Kids in the Wild: A Family Guide to Outdoor Recreation" by Cindy Ross and Todd Gladfelter. But even the ideas I didn't come up with we have tested and know that they are solid pieces of advice! With a 2.5 year old and a nine month old we are constantly learning, growing and improving our outdoor adventuring skills. I hope you have found some inspiration with these tips and are ready to hit the trail! If you need more inspiration or help with how to get outside just head over to Greening Sam and Avery.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Vegas Headliner ~ Emily from Mommy Made Green



I love supporting fellow Mommy Bloggers, and really love to support Mom-prenuers, so when Emily recently contacted me to see if I would be able to help her promote her fabulous new mom-owned company, I knew I would help her. Emily already rights a fabulous blog called Mommy Made Green where she writes about teaching families to raise their children on the Greener side of Life. (Obviously I think that is fantastic as we are writing about our journey going green, and her blog always has some great tips.)

Recently Emily announced her new company Mommy Secrets. What I love about her idea, is not only does it help us Greenie wannabes learn how to make the changes that help our world, but it also give moms who know a lot about Green Living and Natural Parenting an opportunity to teach others and make additional income doing what they were probably already doing anyway. So without further ado - Meet Emily Founder of Mommy Secrets!


Mommy Made Green


My company, Mommy Secrets, is a mom owned company that exists to support and educate a community of moms on the benefits of a more natural way of mothering while providing a selection of mom made products to enrich their lives as mommy.



At the core of who I am, I love helping people. I stumbled into a greener lifestyle about 5 years ago when I became very ill with an unknown illness. You can read the whole story on my blog here. When I became a mother things changed even more in our lifestyle. I wanted to give my children the healthiest lives possible, as I think all moms do. I research and researched and researched and tried out so many green products. When my oldest was about 2, all my friends were asking me how I did what I did and even sending their friends to me. One day, a good friend of mine said: "You know Emily, you really should think about starting your own business. You are teaching all these moms amazing things and then sending somewhere else to spend their money. Why not make a little extra money yourself?" And Mommy Secrets was born.

Now just over a year later and after a lot of blood, sweat, and tears Mommy Secrets is about to enter into a new place. One thing I knew right away was that I have no desire whatsoever to become another big online cloth diaper and natural parenting store. There are already so many of those and some do such an amazing job and I have no desire to compete with them. If you need a place that can help you over the phone or over email there are incredible mom owned businesses that I can fully recommend. But if you are looking for a place where you can touch, examine, and try out natural parenting items and you don't live in their town they are not really going to be able to help you. You are still going to have to pay shipping for items that may or not work for you and you still are not going to be able to talk to someone that actually uses your water type when you are having problems with your wash routine. THIS is the problem I want to solve.

So I have decided to give moms who are already doing what I was doing (converting friends to a greener lifestyle) the opportunity to make some additional income. Starting and running a business is a whole lot of work and I know many moms don't want to tackle such a task. Which is why I am not looking for moms to bring on as Green Mommy Consultants. How great would it be to be able to bring Natural Parenting items into your town? How incredible would it be to have these items readily available for moms to see in towns all across the country? If that makes you giddy inside, then you are exactly the mom I am looking for. I see this program as more than a just a business venture but also as a movement. A movement to show moms across the country that there is another way. Cloth diapers are not disgusting, breastfeeding is not something you should be ashamed, and feeding your family a wholesome diet does not have to be expensive or difficult! And the best part is I have worked very hard to design this program to be very flexible and affordable for you to get started.

If this sounds likes something you would be interested in I would love to hear from you! Simply click on the button below for more information and a link to an application. If you are a mom blogger I would love it if you could help spread the word with me. Let's start changing our nation's perspective on Natural Parenting one town at a time!


Mommy Secrets

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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Bee FRIENDLY Friday Follow ~ Week 2

Family and Life in Las Vegas




Welcome to the 2nd week of Bee Friendly Friday Follow hosted by Crazy About My Baybah and Family and Life of Las Vegas . This hop is all about meeting new bloggy friends. So link up, grab our new button, and Bee Friendly!

Would you like to be our co-host?! It is simple, all you have to do is link up to Bee Friendly! Each week we will use random.org to select a co-host from the previous weeks link-up. We will then contact you to let you know if you have been selected. There is a new list every Friday, so remember to come back and link up with us.




Our first featured co-host is #36 from last week, Snarky, Sweet, and Magically Ordinary! Bee Friendly, and show her some love!







Here are a few simple guidelines we encourage you to follow:

1. Add your blog to the linky below.
2. Follow the hosts in the #1 and #2 spots, and the co-host in the #3 spot! Leave a comment, and we will follow you back!
3. Grab our new Bee Friendly button to share the fun.
4. Bee Friendly, and visit the blogs that catch your eye.
6. If you get a new follower, Bee Friendly, and return the love!
Image and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPic





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Monday, November 1, 2010

Circus Vargas ~ Giveaway of 5 Family Four-Packs!



I am so excited to tell you about an exciting Family event coming to Las Vegas for the first time in a long time! Circus Vargas is going to be coming through town and preforming several shows over the holiday weekend.



Circus Vargas promises high quality family entertainment, humor, shows of strength, acts of beauty and grace, and silly silly clowns to keep you on the tip of your seats. The have even added a new element to their show to blend the old circus traditions, and the new modern innovations. Not to mention the amazing Big Top Tent handmade in Italy.

I am going to be giving away FIVE Family Four-Packs of tickets to the show of your choice. Spend a fantastic evening with your family under the Big Top!

TO WIN:
All you have to do to win is Like Circus Vargas on Facebook, and let them know Family and Life in Las Vegas sent you, then come back to Family and Life in Las Vegas on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know why you want to win the Family Four-Pack of tickets to Circus Vargas.

I will then put your name into a spreadsheet in the order in which it is posted and Random.org will draw 5 winners!! Such an amazing and fun giveaway. Spread the word!! The Circus Vargas is COMING TO TOWN!!

Check out the press release to learn more about the show, as well as how you can purchase tickets for your family. And be sure to check back Thanksgiving weekend to see lots and lots of pictures and to hear how much Squishy loved this Family Event in Las Vegas!!



CIRCUS VARGAS LIMITED ENGAGEMENT AT RIO ALL SUITES HOTEL & CASINO!

CIRCUS VARGAS, America’s Favorite Big Top Circus, is returning to Las Vegas Thanksgiving Weekend after a five-year absence! Tabares Entertainment is presenting a limited engagement at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino, November 25 – 29, stressing FUN family entertainment, starring performers from all over the world, working together in a spectacular extravaganza!

Families will be pleased to see a completely new show with the new look of Circus Vargas. Performing under a brand new Big Top tent, the show has a variety of talented new performers with exciting acts from throughout the world. Hosted by Ringmaster Ted McRae, Circus Vargas 2010 is animal free and includes a mesmerizing hula-hoop production, an enchanting aerial bungee-ballet, a wildly electrifying motorcycle performance by the youngest person to ever participate in this stunt, hilarious clown merriment and the internationally acclaimed Flying Tabares, one of the top flying acts in the world plus much, much more!!

Thirty minutes before show time, fans will get an exciting pre-show peek into the world of Circus Vargas, hosted by reality TV personality, Jon Weiss, from the CBS show The Amazing Race! Prior to every show, Jon will be front and center welcoming the audience and inviting children to take a "center stage" look at life under the Big Top! Everyone is encouraged to participate in the pre-show action, and to join Jon as he guides them on a quick crash course in circus skill and stamina!

Tickets are on sale by phone at 877/GOTFUN1 (877/468-3861), on-line at www.circusvargas.org, at the Rio Hotel Box Office and at the Circus.

Show Times:

Thursday

November 25


4:00

8:00

Friday

November 26


3:00

8:00

Saturday

November 27

1:30

4:30

8:00

Sunday

November 28

1:30

4:30

7:30

Monday

November 29



7:30




SEATING SECTION

ADULT

(11 & OVER)

CHILD

(AGES 2-10)

ROWS 1-2

VIP RESERVED CHAIRS

$70.00

$70.00

ROWS 1-2

RINGSIDE RESERVED CHAIRS

$60.00

$50.00

ROWS 3-7

ARENA CHAIRS

$40.00

$30.00

ROWS 8-15

BLEACHER

SEATING

$25.00

$20.00

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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Bee FRIENDLY Friday Follow ~ Week 12 (New and Improved!!)

Family and Life in Las Vegas







Crazy About My Baybah and Family and Life of Las Vegas have simplified things a bit, and are now calling our hop Bee Friendly Friday Follow! It is all about meeting new bloggy friends. So link up, grab our new button, and Bee Friendly!

Would you like to be our co-host?! It is simple, all you have to do is link up to Bee Friendly! Each week we will use random.org to select a co-host from the previous weeks link-up. We will then contact you to let you know if you have been selected. There is a new list every Friday, so remember to come back and link up with us.




Our first featured co-host is #8 from last week, Diary of a Preppy Mom! Bee Friendly, and show her some love!




Here are a few simple guidelines we encourage you to follow:

1. Add your blog to the linky below.
2. Follow the hosts in the #1, #2, and the co-host in the #3 spots! Leave a comment, and we will follow you back!
3. Grab our new Bee Friendly Button to share the fun.
4. Bee Friendly, and visit the blogs that catch your eye.
6. If you get a new follower, Bee Friendly, and return the love!
Image and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPic
LifeasaWifeMy Wee View

Let's Just Give It Away

Friend Finding FridaysPhotobucket


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Monday, October 18, 2010

Guest Post ~ Kathy from Artsy Canvas Girl

Not too long ago, I met Kathy from Artsy Canvas Girl. We met through one of the blog hops we were both participating in. I remember visiting her blog, heading over to her etsy and thinking to myself. "I love this concept! It is such a neat idea and well done, but it isn't something I can afford right now." Well, I commented on her blog as I like to do when I follow someone back - I am not one for "follow me, I will follow you" comments, I like to make meaningful comments, and reach out to the bloggers I find interesting. If they reach back, often time their blogs end up being one of my favorites to check in on from time to time. Kathy was no exception. I had told her how much I loved her stuff and how I one day hoped to be able to have something like that done for my home.

Kathy emailed me back and suggested we try an idea she had been thinki
ng of. She offered to edit one of my pictures in the awesome way that she does, and then allow me to print it through the canvas people. I was super excited. I agreed in exchange (as long as I liked it) to write about it here. And let me tell you - I LOVED it. Her eye for seeing the little things in such a big picture. Her ability to add something extra to a photo.

I know she ex
pected me to send her a family picture, but I had just gotten back from my family trip to Minnesota. I had taken some beautiful pictures (albeit very amateur) of scenery and flowers and such. Little known fact, I like to take pictures of flowers. I do it everywhere I go. And I love the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote "Earth Laughs in Flowers." So I sent her my latest flower picture. I am no photographer, and I have no idea how to photo-shop, so when I saw Kathy had done a post on her blog about my picture, I asked her to send it to me, so I could post it here. I figured it would be the best way to show off her talent. I love what she did to my picture. It really made it into a work of art. When I get the canvas back, I will share more about my experience with Canvas People, and show you how the final product turned out. I really hope you will check out Kathy's work. Who knows - maybe she could give you a one of a kind special memory too!






So a few weeks back, I met the sweetest gal, Emily from Family and Life in Las Vegas. We met through our blogs during a blog hop I participated in. From time to time, I love spending some time seeing what others are doing... and thinking... and sharing! It's really good for the soul and the creativity process. Anyway, Emily stopped by my blog because I had stopped by hers. She had made a comment on my "tutus and trunks post"(still one of my favorite canvases I've created -- beautiful Baby Kendall captured by talented photographer, Vikki from Vikki Dinh Photography). Emily made a comment that the picture was beautiful and that she always wanted to have a picture done on canvas..."maybe one day!" she said. I thought, "There's no time like the present!" when I remembered a posting I saw on Songberries blog about a free 8x10 canvas offer by CanvasPeople. So I told her about this offer I noticed on Songberries blog. I was happy to offer her my services to make this happen. A few weeks later, she sent me the following picture... It was the sweetest picture of flowers! This is my first "nature" project for a client. I was expecting a family picture or the kiddo picture...but instead I got a picture of flowers! How fun!





Original SOOC

Emily's vision was to create a "subway art"-styled canvas with this photo. She wanted words like rejoice, celebrate, love, joy, etc. She also wanted to incorporate a special quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Earth laughs in flowers." I LOVED that quote! So I began working on this really fun project. I always create a few different versions in an effort to match the various personal tastes that varies from person to person. Here are some of the samples I created for this project.

First, I enhanced the color of the photo because I wanted it to have a really full-of-color feel to match the power of the words she requested. Then I selected a color scheme by pulling colors from the photo and began selecting fonts that expressed the words visually to me. Then I added some pretty little sun spots and a soft milky frame to give it a little mystical feel and added some little daisy embellishments in the top corners. I liked the results...




Color-enhanced photo

Then, I wanted to play a little more with the photo. I just started using a trial version of a product called Topaz which has some really cool features to enhance photos. I'd been dying to try it out so I played with their product called Clean Adjust. It allowed me to stylize the photo...




Stylized Photo

Here is a close up of the difference between the color enhanced photo compared to the stylized photo...




Close up of the color-enhanced photo




Closeup of stylized photo

The stylized just added a little more texture and line to the photo. I personally really love this effect for this particular photo.

Then I did another version, a little more of a crisp clean look (knowing that not everyone likes the embellished artsy look.)



Crisp clean version

I sent these versions to Emily to get her feedback. It's a good time in the process to get a better idea of what the client likes (and don't like) and fine tune to the finish product. Emily asked if I could create a lace-like frame. I wanted to see how a closer-in crop of the picture would look like so I created this...





Lace frame with a closer view of the flowers





In the end, Emily chose this version of the photo for the final printing of the canvas... The stylized photo including the really cool quote with the milky frame, sunspots and sweet daisy embellishments. The gallery wrap sides of the canvas will be a dark sky blue that matches to the darker portion of the sky. She sounded thrilled and I gotta tell you that is the best part of what I do!









Emily's pick

Here's my favorite version...pretty much same as Emily's pick but with a closer-in view of the flower!





My pick


Emily promised me a picture of the final canvas when she receives it back from CanvasPeople. I will post it here...I'm hoping it turns out great!!!

What's your favorite version?
Love and blessings,

Stay tuned to see how the Canvas turned out!

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Vegas Headliner ~ Deb @ Lucas's Journey with Sensory Processing Disorder




I met Deb through the blogging world, and when I read her story, I was immediately impressed with how dedicated she is to her family, how upbeat she seems to be, how well she balance's her family time, and most of all how big of an advocate she is for her son's. Not to mention she always has a kind word for everyone. In October she is hosting an Event to raise awareness for Sensory Processing Disorder which her youngest son Lucas has. She has done an ENORMOUS amount of work for this event. She has gotten many many companies to donate giveaways for it, and has spent countless hours putting it together. She is currently 2 sponsors away from a goal she set out, and couldn't be happier to be where she is. If you know anyone who would be willing to help her out in this quest to raise awareness for SPD, drop by her blog and let her know...
I am very honored she wanted to guest post. Please read her wonderful post below.







To find out more about Deb and her family visit her blog, check out her Event Link
or find her on Facebook or Twitter. If you post her Event button on your blog and let her know you did by commenting here, you can have 5 extra entries into both the Barefoot Books Giveaway, and A Blanket Full of Love Giveaway.

Tell me about yourself and your family.
I live in NJ with my husband, my 10 year old son Charlie, and my youngest son, Lucas. Life has been like a tornado since we had Lucas. Our quiet little lives were just turned upside down, inside out, and all the way around! It's calmed down quite a bit but we still have our mountains that we need to climb.

Why do you blog; what made you start?
It's funny, I was out to lunch with my Mother and Mother in-law for a Mothers Day lunch. It was the first time I was out alone since I had Lucas. As I was sitting at the table, it just came into my head, that I needed to blog about our life with Lucas! I didn't know how to do it and I never blogged before so I was a little overwhelmed at first. I had to teach myself everything. I just needed contact with the outside world. I had to find and talk with other parents who were going through what I was with Lucas. I love Lucas but to care for him sometimes is almost like having a weight on your chest so heavy that you just can't breathe. I had to find a way to give myself a break and share about some of the things that were eating me up inside, so that I could let it go, and hopefully find hope in another Mothers story.

Name three things you really like to do?
I love painting ceramics, I love playing with my children, there is no greater joy for me than watching my kids laugh, and I love to shop even though I haven't been able to in a VERY long time.

If you had the opportunity to go back and change something in your past, what would it be, and would you do it?
I would have furthered my education. I had a great job with great pay and thought it would last forever! LOL
I'm older now and every year that goes by makes it harder for me to get back into the work place.

What would you do with a million dollars?
I would buy a house and a car first! I would also be able to give Lucas the additional therapy that he needs and can't do right now. I would buy my older son Charlie every video game that he ever wanted.

What would you like to accomplish in your lifetime?
I would love if every one's efforts to raise awareness for SPD were successful so that it would not be an issue for these children to get the care that they should have anymore. There is no feeling worse than not being able to give your child the care that they need because its not covered by insurance.

Our event is happening right now! We have been taking entries since September 1st for our October giveaways. The only requirement is to help with our mission by placing a button on your blog listed here, http://lucasjourneyspd.blogspot.com/2010/08/get-your-first-official-entry-into-our.html

or by sending a tweet or email to the media contacts that we have listed here. http://lucasjourneyspd.blogspot.com/2010/09/sensational-celebration-media-contacts.html

We just revised the entry form to make it a little easier to enter.

We have received over $2,000 in prizes that were donated to help raise awareness for SPD. This turned into so much more than I ever expected! We've had more of a turnout that I could have imagined but we are still in dire need of help getting our message out to the media.

We are also giving entries for any donations made or badges that are purchased that we have for sale which can be found on any page of our blog on the left hand sidebar. All proceeds will be donated to the SPD foundation's event.


Here is the explanation of what SPD is taken from the SPD foundation:
.
About Sensory Processing Disorder (taken from the SPD Foundations site, full explanation can be found at http://www.spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-disorder.html )

Sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. Whether you are biting into a hamburger, riding a bicycle, or reading a book, your successful completion of the activity requires processing sensation or "sensory integration."

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responsesPioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, likened SPD to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively.

Symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder, like those of most disorders, occur within a broad spectrum of severity. While most of us have occasional difficulties processing sensory information, for children and adults with SPD, these difficulties are chronic, and they disrupt everyday life.

What Sensory Processing Disorder looks like

Sensory Processing Disorder can affect people in only one sense–for example, just touch or just sight or just movement–or in multiple senses. One person with SPD may over-respond to sensation and find clothing, physical contact, light, sound, food, or other sensory input to be unbearable. Another might under-respond and show little or no reaction to stimulation, even pain or extreme hot and cold. In children whose sensory processing of messages from the muscles and joints is impaired, posture and motor skills can be affected. These are the "floppy babies" who worry new parents and the kids who get called "klutz" and "spaz" on the playground. Still other children exhibit an appetite for sensation that is in perpetual overdrive. These kids often are misdiagnosed - and inappropriately medicated - for ADHD.

Sensory Processing Disorder is most commonly diagnosed in children, but people who reach adulthood without treatment also experience symptoms and continue to be affected by their inability to accurately and appropriately interpret sensory messages.

These "sensational adults" may have difficulty performing routines and activities involved in work, close relationships, and recreation. Because adults with SPD have struggled for most of their lives, they may also experience depression, underachievement, social isolation, and/or other secondary effects.

Sadly, misdiagnosis is common because many health care professionals are not trained to recognize sensory issues. The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation is dedicated to researching these issues, educating the public and professionals about their symptoms and treatment, and advocating for those who live with Sensory Processing Disorder and sensory challenges associated with other conditions.



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