INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Many misconceptions about homeschooling come from a lack of information or knowledge about what homeschooling entails. While you are most likely familiar with the benefits of homeschooling, it is often useful to have a wide pool of facts to draw upon when you confront misconceptions. Education research can provide you with facts and statistics that can help you to better explain your decision. The National Home Education Research Institute, HSLDA, and the Coalition for Responsible Home Education are all great sources for research on homeschooling. Many people worry that homeschooled children do not have the same opportunities to socialize as traditionally schooled children. People may ask, "What do your children do to make friends?" You can share the ways that you've involved them in groups and you can say that, "Our children see their friends as frequently as they would if they were in a public school."  There are many ways that children have the opportunity to spend time with other children. You can enroll your child in an organized sports league, join homeschooling groups that take field trips, participate in religious organizations, and being active in your community. Homeschooling does not mean that you want to deprive your child of socialization opportunities, but it can protect them from some of the more negative social aspects of the public school system, like bullying. If someone is curious about your decision to homeschool, feel free to share your reasons for coming to the decision to begin homeschooling with them. Don’t feel obligated to share reasons if they are personal. Of course, the reasons that factored into your decision to homeschool may be intimate and private. You are under no obligation to share more information than you are willing to share.

SUMMARY: Build a fact base about homeschooling. Explain socialization strategies. Share your story with others.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Finding the cause can help you keep them away from whatever is upsetting them. This is important in calming an autistic child. Observe your child and try to figure out the triggers for certain behaviors. If a parent or guardian is aware of the child’s triggers, they may be able to avoid it.   Keep a notebook to record the child's common triggers will help you to prevent triggering meltdowns. You might also consider using a smartphone app to log meltdowns and their causes. Some common triggers for meltdowns in autistic children are changes or disruptions in their normal routine, overstimulation, frustration and communication difficulties.  Meltdowns are different from tantrums. Tantrums are thrown on purpose, as a power play, and will stop once you give in. Meltdowns occur when an autistic person becomes so stressed that they cannot control themselves, and they feel powerless and will not stop until it has run its course. When there is a routine to be followed, the child can predict what will happen next. This helps to keep the child calm.  Illustrated schedules can help the child visually see the routine for the day or week. If you know that there will be changes to the routine on a given day, make sure you take the time to prepare your child. Talk to them beforehand and communicate these changes clearly and patiently. When introducing your child to a new environment, it best if you do it when there is less stimuli. This means bringing your child at a time when there is less noise or fewer people. Verbal communication is a source of frustration for many autistic children. Talk patiently, respectfully, and enunciate clearly.  Avoid shouting or adopting an aggressive tone, as it may worsen the meltdown. If verbal communication is difficult for your child, try communicating through pictures or other forms of AAC.  Remember that communication goes both ways. Always listen to your child, and make it clear that you value and respect what they have to say. Ask them questions if you need clarification to prevent frustration-related meltdowns. When your child is upset, you can sometimes calm them down by diverting their attention. Try playing enthusiastically with a favorite toy, watching a favorite video, or listening to a favorite song. If possible, involve their special interests.  Distraction won't always work. For example, questions about your sister's rock collections might distract from her fears about getting a flu shot, but it won't fix things if her problem is that her dress seam feels like fire ants on her skin. Once the child is calm again, it is a good idea to talk to them about what made them angry or stimulated them in the first place. Ask them what happened and work together to find ways to prevent it from reoccurring. Your child may be upset because they are hypersensitive and overstimulated. When this happens, it's a good idea to simply bring the child to a different environment, or to change the environment (e.g. turning off loud music), to reduce overstimulation.   For example, if your child experiences fluorescent lights as a trigger, it is better to take your child to a room with alternative lighting, rather than forcing the child to put up with it. If the child is in a location where the environment cannot easily be changed, take precautions. For example, you could give your child sunglasses (to prevent hypersensitivity to light) or earplugs (to drown out noise) to wear in public places. Brainstorm precautions with your child. Sometimes, children just need time before they feel ready to re-engage. Try letting them sit for a while to calm down, usually in any area with limited sensory stimuli. Consider safety. Never leave a young child alone and unsupervised, or lock someone in a room. Make sure the child is safe and able to leave if they want. Use a solution-based approach: instead of blaming or punishing your child, talk about ways to prevent meltdowns and better cope with stress. Try talking about:  What the child believes caused the meltdown (Listen patiently). How similar situations can be avoided in the future. More effective coping strategies (taking a break, counting, using deep breaths, asking to leave, etc.). An escape plan to end future meltdowns.
Summary: Figure out what triggered the meltdown. Stick to a routine. Communicate clearly with your child. Distract the child if you suspect the cause is emotional/psychological. Change the child's surroundings. Give your child some space. After the meltdown, discuss it with your child.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Going to bed at a consistent time can help trick your body into better sleep. Set a bedtime for yourself, and make sure you are in bed with the lights off by that time. Don't start your nightly routine then or give yourself 5 more minutes to finish an episode. Be consistent, and you'll be surprised how much easier it is to sleep. You should also aim to get up at around the same time every morning. This helps your brain get into a routine and clearly understand when it is and isn't sleep time. Having an activity or a small string of activities can help let your brain know that it's almost time to sleep. Try reading a book, listening to some music, or taking a warm bath right before bed. These activities not only help signal bedtime to your brain, they can help you disconnect from the stress of your day. Your PJs should help you feel comfortable. They shouldn't make you feel hot or smothered. Find pajamas made of a light, breathable fabric like cotton or linen. These can help make hot flashes more manageable if they strike while you sleep. Think about different pajama styles, too. If you typically wear pajama pants but find that you've been getting too warm recently, you may want to switch to shorts or a nightie.

SUMMARY:
Set a bedtime for yourself. Do something to help you wind down before bed. Put on loose, breezy pajamas.