Home › Posts
Practical articles for families — formerly on our blog, now on the main Spectacokids site.
Nov 2, 2026
Updated November 2026. Wondering if Canada Life, Sun Life, Manulife, GreenShield or Blue Cross covers ABA, speech therapy or occupational therapy in Ontario? What to verify before you book.
Oct 3, 2026
Information checked September 28, 2026. Your child has needs today. The next appointment, program invitation or funding decision may still be some distance…
Sep 24, 2026
Updated September 24, 2026. All amounts are in Canadian dollars. When you start looking for speech therapy for your child, the first question is often…
Sep 6, 2026
Parent involvement in ABA therapy can make the care process more meaningful, more practical, and more connected to real life. A child may practise a skill…
Sep 1, 2026
Parents often see the therapy session itself. They may see a therapist playing with their child, using visual cards, practising communication, giving support…
Aug 28, 2026
SpectacoKids Editorial Team Finding the right ABA therapy Milton provider can feel like a big decision for parents. You may be comparing therapy centres,…
Aug 24, 2026
Starting ABA therapy can feel like a big step for any family. Parents often want to know what to expect from ABA therapy before their child begins. Will the…
Aug 22, 2026
When parents search for RBA Ontario or ABA supervision in Ontario, they are usually trying to understand one important question: Who is actually responsible…
Aug 18, 2026
Choosing an ABA provider in Ontario is one of the most important decisions many parents make when looking for autism therapy support. You may be comparing…
Aug 14, 2026
A Parent’s Guide for Children with Autism and Sensory Needs Toilet training can become one of the most stressful routines for families. A child may refuse to…
Aug 7, 2026
At home, your child talks, laughs, asks questions, tells stories, and shows their personality. But at daycare, preschool, school, or around unfamiliar adults,…
Aug 5, 2026
Mealtimes should not feel like a daily battle. But for many families, food becomes one of the most stressful parts of the day. Your child may only eat the…
Jul 27, 2026
Your child’s teacher says they had a great day. They followed instructions. They sat in class. They played with peers. They seemed calm. They were “fine.”…
Jul 17, 2026
A child refuses to wear socks before school. Another child covers their ears when the vacuum turns on. Another melts down in a busy grocery store, avoids…
Jul 10, 2026
Is My Toddler a Late Talker? A Canadian Parent’s Guide to Speech Therapy Every child communicates at their own pace. Some toddlers start using words early.…
Jun 29, 2026
Three names, three specialists, one important question every parent asks: where do we begin? ABA, speech, and occupational therapy each support a different…
Jun 22, 2026
Spectacokids PARENT GUIDE • 2026 When your child receives an autism diagnosis, one question usually rises to the top: what support is available, and how do we…
Sep 1, 2023
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is widely recognized as an effective and evidence-based intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder…
Mar 24, 2023
Play is an essential part of childhood development. It helps children develop social, cognitive, and physical skills that are crucial for their future…
Mar 16, 2023
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication and social interaction. People with autism may experience difficulty regulating their emotions,…
Mar 8, 2023
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. While there is no cure for autism,…
Sep 30, 2022
Autism parents are nothing short of heroes! Raising an autistic child or two is certainly not an easy task! Every day is different and everyday something new…
Sep 19, 2022
What Is Stimming? Stimming refers to self-stimulatory behaviors that involve repetitive movements and sounds. Although stimming is most commonly associated…
Sep 9, 2022
Potty training is perhaps the most troublesome part of the toilet training journey, particularly if your child is giving you a hard time. For parents with…
Aug 30, 2022
Head banging is a common symptom of autism and whilst some children are rid of this before going to school, others may continue to have the “head banging…
Aug 18, 2022
What Is Respite Care? Respite care allows caregivers to temporarily take a break from looking after those who require attention as someone else steps in to do…
Aug 1, 2022
Individuals on the spectrum face a lot of difficulty in communicating. Lack of confidence, sensitivity and speech-related problems can sometimes make…
Jun 17, 2022
We’ve often heard people give their explanation of what autism maybe and unfortunately, not every time are the facts accurate. Overtime, there have been lots…
Jun 6, 2022
Autistic children experience a lot of hardship when it comes to regulating their behavior. Sometimes even the smallest of situations can affect their mood and…
May 30, 2022
It is a known fact that not all people on the spectrum are affected by autism in the same way. Hence, it is very important to understand the relationship…
May 20, 2022
In today’s world, we are surrounded by rapidly evolving technology which has made screen time an essential part of our life. While it has its downside, this…
May 12, 2022
What is Autism? Autism or ASD is a developmental disorder that affects the way a person interacts, behaves, and learns new things. Typically, people on the…
Apr 29, 2022
Does Autism Affect Diet? Yes – almost all children on the spectrum have dietary requirements that need attention. Due to the nature of ASD, autistic people…
Apr 21, 2022
What Are Special Interests? Special interests are commonly found in over 75 percent of people on the spectrum. Some interests begin in childhood, whilst…
Apr 15, 2022
How Does Autism In Boys Vary From Girls? Autism is more prevalent in boys than it is in girls, since boys are said to be four times more likely to be…
Apr 8, 2022
What are sensory difficulties? Sensory difficulties arise in individuals with certain conditions, for example in autistic people. This means that these…
Mar 11, 2022
Autism Awareness Day The United Nations declared April 2 as “World Autism Awareness Day” to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of people…
Mar 7, 2022
Autism and sleep problems Studies show that over half of autistic people , including adults and children have sleep issues. This issue may last throughout…
Jan 17, 2022
Receptive language refers to how a child understands and comprehends language that he hears or reads. Children who are unable to comprehend language may have…
Jan 14, 2022
What is music therapy? This kind of therapy is a well-established clinical use of music which is used to accomplish individualized goals such as improving…
Jan 10, 2022
Kids should be physically active as it is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. For them to be active, there are several play activities both indoors and…
Jan 5, 2022
Autism in girls and boys: While some girls may have clear symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) like having trouble in language or communication, it may…
Dec 28, 2021
What is Echolalia? Echolalia refers to the repetition of certain words or phrases spoken by someone else, either after the words were said or later on.…
Dec 23, 2021
What is play? Play consists of those activities performed for self-amusement that have social and behavioral rewards. It is child-directed and is enjoyable…
Dec 16, 2021
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) occurs in all age groups. Severe forms of ASD are usually diagnosed in the early stages of a kid’s life. However,…
Dec 13, 2021
What is expressive language? Expressive language refers to the use of words, sentences and gestures to express and communicate. It involves naming objects,…
Nov 23, 2021
Playdough is one of those inventions that is not only fun to play with, but also helps in your child’s development . Although it is a mess to clean up,…
Nov 17, 2021
Playing is an important factor when it comes to early childhood development . Playing outdoors can have benefits for children’s social and emotional…
Nov 9, 2021
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) typically appears in the early ages of an individual, and may be diagnosed as early as 14 months. An autistic may show…
Nov 2, 2021
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is frequently misunderstood with people focusing more on facing the challenges, rather than the many strengths it brings.…
Oct 27, 2021
Early intervention refers to the phase where you provide services and support that will help babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.…
Oct 22, 2021
Be it for typical kids or kids with disorders; potty training is a tough task. Autistic children have developmental delays , because of which they usually…
Oct 11, 2021
Eye contact is a very important skill when communicating. It tells the other person that you are listening to them and invested in the conversation. It is…
Sep 29, 2021
Often, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show developmental alterations when they are babies, particularly in social, linguistic, and behavioral…
Sep 8, 2021
Anxiety in kids is common, but it's not something that should be ignored. When a child is anxious, it is a natural response as a parent to take charge and…
Aug 24, 2021
Joint attention refers to the ability to share a common focus on something with someone, including people, objects, concepts, events, etc. It is mainly a…
Aug 19, 2021
Children with autism disorder are very sensitive, and it's common for them to behave in certain challenging ways. However, not every autistic child is the…
Aug 16, 2021
When talking about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it features various levels starting from mild to severe symptoms. People diagnosed with the disorder are…
Aug 13, 2021
We are all aware of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its signs and symptoms . Its common symptoms are difficulty in communicating, displaying of social…
Aug 11, 2021
Over the past years, so much has been written about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that at times one is unable to distinguish between truth and fiction.…
Nov 10, 2020
Understanding Autism: Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms The Importance of Awareness in Early Childhood Development In early childhood education, recognizing…
May 13, 2020
What is Aggression? Aggression refers to a behavior that can cause harm or pain. Aggression in children is most likely seen as disobedience, fighting,…
May 12, 2020
Play Dough: “Play dough is the fail safe way to engage and excite little hands and minds! It is a brilliant sensory and fine motor tool that is ridiculously…
May 11, 2020
What are pre-writing skills?: “Pre-writing skills are the lines and strokes kids need to master and know BEFORE learning how to print the alphabet. Each of…
May 8, 2020
What are visuals?: Visual supports are used with children who have autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for two main purposes: They help parents communicate better…
May 7, 2020
Types of Play for Children: As a child grows, he goes through multiple stages of play development. Apart from being fun, play is vital to a child's…
May 6, 2020
What does reinforcement mean? Reinforcement happens after a desired behaviour has occurred. “Reinforcement is the process of encouraging or establishing a…
May 5, 2020
What are spatial concepts? “Spatial concepts (a category of basic concepts) define the relationship between us and objects, as well as the relationships of…
May 4, 2020
Sensory play: Sensory play can be any play that involves the senses. It allows children to play, explore, create, and engage in experiential learning through…
May 3, 2020
What is behaviour? Behavior refers to actions or reactions performed by humans. Behavior can be voluntary, involuntary, conscious or unconscious. Why does a…
Apr 30, 2020
What is Sensory Play? Children at a very young age start to explore and learn about their surroundings, using all their five senses. Grown-ups normally…
Apr 28, 2020
Autism: Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors,…
Apr 27, 2020
What are Tantrums? Tantrums are usually an unmanageable outbreak of emotions like anger or frustration, often in a child of a younger age. Tantrums come in…
Apr 26, 2020
“Hand-eye coordination is the ability to perform movements with the hands while being guided by the eyes. A child’s hands and sight work together to perform…
Apr 25, 2020
Sickness is a part of life. Some we face while developing, and some are inborn illnesses. The ones we face while developing are mostly curable or easy to…
Apr 2, 2019
Children build lasting skills when therapy goals show up in play, routines, and relationships — not only in sessions. Skills that matter beyond the clinic Therapy is not only about…
Apr 2, 2019
Longer therapy days can be productive when activities are purposeful, paced, and predictable. A full day works best with rhythm Whether your child attends a longer clinic block,…
Apr 2, 2019
A calm, predictable home setup can make therapy practice easier for everyone. Environment teaches before you say a word A helpful learning space is not a classroom replica. It is a…
Apr 2, 2019
Self-care skills grow faster when we teach them patiently, visually, and one step at a time. Grooming is a therapy goal for many families Toothbrushing, hair washing, nail cutting…
Apr 2, 2019
The best indoor activities are simple, active, and easy to adapt for different ages and sensory needs. Indoor days can still build skills Canadian winters and rainy weeks mean a…
Apr 2, 2019
Meaningful therapy progress is measured in confidence, connection, and daily participation — not only clinic scores. Difference looks like everyday moments Families often hope for…
Tell us about your child and we'll recommend the right next step — usually within one business day.
Answers are general info — for advice about your child, please contact us.