Blog

For parents of children who are interested in video games, it can be difficult to understand what makes one game harmful and another benign.  How do you know whether to buy a game for your child? Here are a few factors to look out for.  

The JCFS family of services works to strengthen the lives of over 30,000 people in the Chicago area each year. Our support for people with disabilities, career and employment services, therapeutic education and teen outreach strengthens the emotional and economic well-being of children, adults and families. Thanks so much for joining with us in this work.

The JCFS Therapeutic Day School operates on the principle that a therapeutic environment for students requires meaningful participation from everyone, including the students themselves. This year, students from the program took their vision of starting a coffee cart and made it a reality.

As the holidays approach, we sometimes equate the value of a gift with the level of love and caring we have for a particular person, or as a symbol of the gifts of the Magi during Christmas or the gifts to commemorate the miracle of the oil lamps during Hanukah. In a larger context, it is important for parents and caregivers to understand the real meaning, cost and benefits of giving rewards to children and youth in care.

With winter upon us, it's time for snowy day activities, holiday traditions, breaks from school and family visits. But, when your child has a sensory processing disorder it can be challenging to enjoy family traditions and special occasions together. Here are some suggestions to keep your child comfortable, safe and having fun this winter!

What is spirituality?  It is broad with room for many views.  It is a term with many definitions: Love, light, culture, hope, soul, harmony, meaning, theology, and religion.  It often refers to a connection to something greater than us.  These are just a few of the concepts that come to mind when we talk about spirituality. 

Mr. and Mrs. Heard started fostering in early 1994 in order to care for two of their grandchildren.  As they took foster parent classes they saw how many kids in care needed a good home, and thought “If we could love our own, we could love someone who wasn’t” their biological family.

Teaching your child how to cooperate may mean making some changes in how you ask her to do things. She can't be expected to cooperate if she doesn't know exactly what you want. Sometimes parents complicate things by getting too worked up when asking for help. At other times, requests are too vague or confusing. Keep it simple.  Here are four steps to making an effective request.

The holiday season coincides with the point in the year when companies often evaluate their performance and plan for the new year. Sometimes resulting in layoffs at a normally joyous time. It’s hard to imagine losing your job during the holidays, but if it happens there are plenty of ways to come out on the positive end.   Let’s look at some ways to set yourself up for positive future outcomes.

Encouragement can come in many forms. Sometimes it can be praise – a simple “good job!”  Other times, children need more than a kind word. It may take a hug, a special treat or giving more of your attention by playing a board game, watching a movie together or going to the park. There are hundreds of ways you can encourage a child, which, in turn will improve their self-esteem.