Tips for Parents

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

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor Questions, Concerns, and Your Child’s Future For parents and families experiencing their child’s recent cerebral palsy diagnosis, the world may feel frightening and uncertain. Whether your child is a newborn or even a few years old, learning they have a birth injury can be like a kick... 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

Play is an important part of a child’s life and is key in the development of many motor and neurological functions such as: Muscle strength and control Cause/effect reasoning Choice making Object matching Picture/object association Construction categorization/sorting Language skills All children need opportunities to discover and actively explore the world around them, but many toys... 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

Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability among children. It can put a significant financial strain on parents and caregivers. The medical costs alone for children who have cerebral palsy are 10 times higher than those of children who do not have cerebral palsy. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can seek financial... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor Perhaps nothing is more important to a child as he or she grows older as 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 Many families raising a non-ambulatory child face the challenge of finding appropriate transportation when their child becomes wheelchair-dependent and can no longer be transported in a car seat. Parents struggle with questions of where to find financing, what vehicle to choose and what modifications are needed. The... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor It’s the first full week of summer and children have been out of school just a few weeks. Already, many parents are beginning to hear the growing mantra: “I’m bored!” As a parent of four children, I have a very clear memory of the frustration and challenges... Read More

By Lee Vander Loop CP Family Network Editor Many families with special-needs children face a multitude of challenges that others may never experience. The challenge of an extended power outage is frustrating and inconvenient to any family, but when you factor in a special-needs child who relies on medical equipment such as oxygen, a feeding... Read More