Do you have a nagging feeling that your child’s development is not quite right? Does your doctor see areas of concern? You may know you want help, but have no idea where to turn. Today my goal is to give you some information to help you get started!
The very first place to begin is with Child Find, www.childfindidea.org. This website will help you obtain the contact information for your specific state. By law, each state is required to locate and evaluate every child between birth and age 21 who may need special education or early intervention services. This evaluation will let you know which services your child qualifies for, and help you set up any appointments you may need.
After meeting with Child Find, you will discover how many unique services there are available. All of these professionals have the goal of helping your child reach their highest potential. I will try and give you a small snap-shot of all the wonderful services at your fingertips:
- Physical Therapy✄ This wonderful person helps your child with increasing strength and stretching tight muscles. The therapist may come to your home, work in a hospital or clinic, or be part of the school system.
- Occupational Therapy✄ I will always remember my daughter’s first OT therapist! She came to our home in Arizona, and helped our daughter for hours to learn to walk. Their job is focused on visual, fine motor and self help skills.
- Speech Therapy✄ For the youngest kids, this therapist works with the muscles of the mouth by using fun exercises like blowing bubbles or sucking through straws. In the later years the therapist helps the child form sounds, or in some cases helps train the child and family with a special computer which allows the non-verbal child communicate.
Your child may need all of these services, or just one depending on their specific needs.
Also, if you home school your children, you have the same rights and services as traditionally schooled children.
God knows your unique situation. There are many loving professionals who will help your child become all she can be!
“The Lord my God holds my right hand; He is the Lord, Who says to me, Fear not; I will Help You!” Isaiah 41:13
❁What services have helped your child the most? How did you get started on the road of special education? Was it hard to reach out and ask for help?We would love to hear from you! ❁


3 steps to foster a love of books starting from birth!

Have you’ve ever wanted to memorize Scripture but didn’t think you had the time? Have you ever wished you could come up with an easy way to help your kids memorize Scripture. Memorizing the Word doesn’t have to be hard.
This past fall, my oldest child, Kyle, entered his junior year of high school. As a homeschooler, I’m a bit anxious about it. Ok, I’m a lot anxious about it! “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way,” according to 1 Corinthians 14:40 (NIV). Paul’s referring to regulations for speaking in tongues. (By the look on my kids’ faces, sometimes they think I’m doing just that!) However, it’s also good advice for teaching. Problem is, I struggle to do anything in a fitting and orderly way. Recently, I carried a basket of clean laundry to my bedroom, where I caught my reflection in the mirror. I stopped to brush my hair. My daughter came in, so I brushed her hair too. She was still in jammies, so I led her back to her room to change. Only when I took her dirty clothes to the laundry did I remember my original task.
While my husband spends quality time with the kids, or at least keeps them from unlocking the door, I barricade myself in my room. The running water is soothing (and drowns out any squeals or whines on the other side of the door) and allows me to commune with my Father. As I relax, I seek a higher education. I invite Him to “number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NIV), and I ask the Lord to arrange our daily schedules and to order our lesson plans. I also pray His hedge of thorns to surround us and prevent the enemy’s distraction.
It happened every year. Thanksgiving and Christmas would loom largely over our homeschool plans and as we began to shut things down for the holidays and take a break from class. We loved the time we had together during those precious days – the only problem was that once the holidays were gone and we launched into the new year, we always had a hard time getting back on the homeschool track.













