When you’re raising a child with cerebral palsy, the toys they play with need to promote the development of fine and gross motor skills, communication skills and intellectual growth—which means they should be carefully chosen to accommodate your child’s unique abilities. But they should also be a safe and fun way to help your child... Read More

Receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis for your child can be an overwhelming experience that few parents are prepared to navigate. Along with the physical and emotional struggles, parents must learn to navigate their child’s medical needs, as well as the financial burden that accompanies those needs. And the sooner this begins, the better. This article... Read More

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders caused by brain damage or malformation, specifically to parts of the brain that control motor function. While cerebral palsy isn’t a learning disability, it often presents with coexisting conditions related to learning difficulties. How Does Cerebral Palsy Affect the Brain? Cerebral palsy affects the cerebral cortex, which... Read More

While developmental milestones can be tremendously helpful in gauging a child’s mental and physical development, they are only guidelines. No two babies are alike and no two develop in the same ways or at the same rate, though most reach these milestones at similar ages. If your child was born prematurely, or has other challenges... Read More

Even the most supportive parents of children with cerebral palsy may at times wonder whether their kids will be able to participate in certain physical activities. After all, cerebral palsy affects the brain’s motor area, which can make movement, sight and even cognitive ability difficult. But here’s the good news. There are tons of activities... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor Perhaps nothing is more important to a child as he or she grows older than the ability to control their bowels and bladder. With successful “potty training” comes freedom to move into the wider world, such as school or day care. It is a major developmental milestone... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor We’re all aware of the physical and psychological health benefits of keeping children physically active, but for parents and caregivers of children with cerebral palsy, this can often be a challenge. Medical research and personal experience show that people with disabilities benefit greatly when they participate in... Read More

Editor’s Note: When you factor in today’s challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting interruption of education, therapy, and support services—not to mention the social isolation—it’s a perfect storm with the potential to create a lasting, detrimental impact on a child’s sometimes fragile mental wellbeing. In a recent study, researchers noted anxiety, depression, irritability,... Read More

By: John Hartford Although osteoporosis is often associated with aging, it is a common complication of cerebral palsy beginning in childhood. Osteoporosis is a disorder characterized by lack of bone density or bone mass. Children with these “thin bones” can sustain bone fractures from very little trauma, seriously impacting all areas of their lives. Although... Read More

hen we post our “Question of the Day” on Facebook, we always expect some interaction. After all, our community is very active and loves to help other families facing the same issues. However we were pleasantly surprised when we received an overwhelming amount of feedback to this question. Read More