For autistic children, restrictive eating is very common. Jan Stewart shares common concerns, how to assess and practical strategies to help.

autism and restrictive eating

Jan Stewart is a highly regarded mental health and neurodiversity advocate. Her brutally honest memoir Hold on Tight: A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness describes her emotional roller coaster story parenting two children with multiple mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.  

Her mission is to inspire and empower parents to persevere through the most difficult of times and have hope, as well as to better educate their families, friends, health care professionals, educators and employers.  Jan chairs the Board of Directors at Kerry’s Place Autism Services, Canada’s largest autism services provider, and was previously Vice Chair at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 

She spent most of her career as a senior Partner with the global executive search firm Egon Zehnder. Jan is a Diamond Life Master in bridge and enjoys fitness, genealogy and dance.

Are you raising a child with special needs? We're here to help with personal stories, expert advice, the latest research, and tips on how to support your child.

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Let us help navigate daily life with your growing family, with everything from kids’ craft and activity ideas to advice on discipline and birthday party inspiration.

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Eating Disorder Therapist, Kyla Fox, shares what behaviours to look out for and how to prevent them at home

eating disorder awareness week

Kyla Fox is an Eating Disorder Specialist, survivor, and advocate who reframes the ways that we think about and treat eating disorders. Kyla, herself, struggled with an eating disorder and an over-exercise addiction in her late teens. On her quest to find help, she experienced large care gaps and fundamental flaws in the treatment and recovery approach, preventing her from getting the help that she needed. It, therefore, became Kyla’s mission to become the therapist she would have wanted to have had in her own recovery. Kyla is a Master’s-level clinician with degrees from both the University of Toronto in the Masters of Social Work program and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies. In February of 2012, after 10 years of private practice, Kyla established The Kyla Fox Centre, - the first of its kind eating disorder recovery centre - now fully virtual since COVID. Kyla, and her multidisciplinary team, treat those directly affected by eating disorders, along with supporting families, parents, and loved ones. The centre provides individualized care that spans the spectrum of intensive outpatient treatment all the way through to long term maintenance. Every day, Kyla and her team are saving lives. With such deep and varied experience in the field, Kyla is regularly called on by Canada’s top media outlets as a special commentator on a broad list of topics, including eating disorders, self-esteem, women’s health, body image, pregnancy, body confidence and more. For more information, please visit www.kylafoxcentre.com.

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to celebrate diversity and teach love and acceptance for others

Lessons of Love for Children This Valentine's Day

ask sarah gentle parenting

power of questions in persuasive parenting

<p style="font-weight: 400">Lindsay Karp is a freelance writer with a background in speech-language pathology. She writes about parenting, speech/language development, life with MS and everything in between. Her work has appeared in Parents, The Cut, TIME, Salon, Newsweek, Insider, and other outlets. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/KarpLindsay" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/KarpLindsay&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1697902257681000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1U5usUrgvU0K9q4gZA0GcW">@KarpLindsay</a></p>

The Sandwich Generation: How caring for kids and elderly parents is leading to burnout for many families

the sandwich generation

Stefanie Peachey is a Registered Social Worker and Accredited Family Mediator. She is the founder of Peachey Counselling and Family Support in Burlington, ON.

Through her work as a mental health professional, Stefanie’s goal is to normalize the reality that everyone faces challenges. When you are struggling, it’s easy to assume you are the only one with problems. However the truth is quite the opposite. At some point or another, we all
face issues and could use some support.

As a working mother of four children, 10 and under, Stefanie really understands the daily challenges of taking care of yourself and others while trying to maintain a sense of purpose and balance.

Life is amazing and wonderful but it’s also busy and messy and at some point, we all face challenges. Whether that be navigating a difficult separation and divorce, an abusive partner or mental health concerns, Stefanie believes having a sense of control when faced with change
and disruption is one of the keys to staying resilient and positive. Through her work, she empowers people of all ages with tools and coping skills that allow them to move through life ,with confidence and courage. Stefanie believes that with proper support, anyone who is motivated, can create positive change in their relationships and their life. She also feels that
everyone should have access to affordable counselling, whether in person or online.

Her specialized services include Separation and Divorce Counselling, Parenting Plan Assessments, Mediation for Parenting Plans, Co-Parent Counselling, Collaborative Law and Voice of Child Reports. Workshops and online courses available include Kids First Co-Parenting, Respectful Relationships Group and Mental Health for the Workplace program.

You can learn more at www.peacheycounselling.ca.

Did you know that over 50% of autistic children have sleep problems? Sleep is important, so here are the top strategies for autistic children.

Family life

Autism and Restrictive Eating–What You Need to Know

It's Eating Disorder Awareness Week in Canada

Lessons of Love for Children This Valentine's Day

It’s Not Easy Being Part of the Sandwich Generation

Sleep Strategies for Children with Autism