Author Archives: Emily Vanek

My son is non-verbal autistic, so we are working on letters and words many times a day in the hopes that one day it will just “click.” He’s made great strides, and we have a few toys to thank for that. Here are some favorites that have been useful in Brady’s various therapies as we [...]

When you have a special needs child, sometimes getting out of the house and into the crowds and hustle and bustle of the city can be difficult. Whether you need wheelchair access or a quieter atmosphere, simple excursions like heading to the zoo for a couple hours can become an all day activity. Here are [...]

It’s not just celebrities that are on the party circuit! It seems like there’s a kids’ birthday party every weekend—and, gasp, sometimes it’s your turn to throw the shindig. When you’re the hostess with the mostest (and sometimes the leastest inspiration), the idea of adding a goodie bag (what celebrities call “swag”) to your planning [...]

Valentine’s Day for me evokes memories of making tissue box mailboxes and trying to eat all of the sugary goodness that came with cute pictures of cats on tiny cards before getting home from school. These days kids give and get more than just the tiny cards with witty sayings on them and a piece [...]

At our house, we have toys coming out your ears. With three boys ranging from three to twelve years-old, We probably have about every toy they sell in the “boy aisles,” or at least that’s the way it seems at times. I recently decided that enough was enough and set up a rotation plan for [...]

My youngest son just started preschool. He is on the autism spectrum, so he is required to go to public school to receive his therapies. Long story short: our school district is one of the poorest in the entire state of Colorado. This was a surprise to me as there are quite a few affluent [...]

When you were young and kid-free, you could go to eat at just about any restaurant. Fine dining? No problem! Local dive bar? Even better! Chain restaurant with a kids eat free night? Um, pass. Then you have your own kids and think, “I can still go to that swanky new restaurant! Just because other [...]

This year will mark my twelfth year for trick-or-treating with kids. I’m a seasoned pro. I can spot the candy my kids will toss out from a mile away. I know which neighbors give out the full sized bars and which will give us toothbrushes. The boys rely on this information when they are “in [...]

Everyone likes to collect things. I think it’s in our hunting/gathering, human nature. My collections sometimes turn into a bit of an obsession. A few of you parents will understand (and probably nod your head) as I explain. It started off innocently enough. My oldest boy enjoyed the Toy Story series. When he was three, [...]

Lots of toys these days give some form of response that’s intended to be positive reinforcement for the play experience. For instance, the toy lights up or makes sounds when kids get the answer correct, or the toy makes an animal noise when they put the right piece in the puzzle. It’s been proven over [...]