Hearing that your child has an interest in assuming a new gender identity can come as a surprise to any parent. Understanding gender identity can be a complex journey for any family, but it often brings added layers of nuance when autism is part…

Does your child have good study habits where they are at their desk at the same time, every night? Do they have time management skills where they know exactly how much time to spend on each task before moving on? How is their relationship with…

    Sports, games, recreational activities, and let’s face it—fun—is important for all children. So as a parent or caregiver, it’s important that we do our best to make sure that everyone has their chance to be involved. Creating inclusive youth clubs and teams is…

    You can learn how to do something by reading about it in a book. You can watch a YouTube video and try your hand at it step-by-step. Some people listen to an audiobook as they’re working their way through a problem. However, for…

    Getting your first job can be a nerve-wracking experience. You aren’t quite sure what to say. When to talk. When you’re talking too much. Should you be yourself? Or the best version of yourself that you can’t quite reach? It helps to have…

    Everyone would like a better relationship with their children.Parent-child dyadic therapy is a relationship-based therapeutic approach that strengthens the emotional connection between children and their parents and caregivers. For children with autism, this type of therapy can be especially valuable, as it supports…

  What is an open-ended toy you might ask? “Open-ended toys” are a developmental industry term for toys with which there’s no prescribed way to play. Think LEGO, or blocks, or action figures. Why are they important? These types of toys do not put restrictions…

    Hearing from a doctor that your child has autism can be crushing at first, but itis not the end of the world. It’s not even close. Don’t despair. Don’t worry.  In fact, think the opposite. At Monarch House, we see autism as a…

    Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. While children with autism may experience and express empathy differently, they can still develop strong emotional connections with others. Encouraging empathy in children with neurodivergence requires patience, intentional strategies, and a…

  Does your child drag their feet when it’s time to move from one activity to the next? Do they ‘run out of time’ at certain tasks because they don’t quite ‘get’ how much focus and energy to expend on it is reasonable? We all…