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​​Social skills activities are important for children of all abilities. With this in mind, We Rock the Spectrum’s Social Skills Blog Series aims to provide insight into activities and practical tips that help instill social skills in children. In this article, we focus on the importance of problem-solving skills in children and introduce five fun […]

​​Social skills activities are important for children of all abilities. With this in mind, We Rock the Spectrum’s Social Skills Blog Series aims to provide insight into activities and practical tips that help instill social skills in children. In this article, we focus on the importance of self-regulation skills in children and introduce five fun […]

Published March 8, 2021 By Tonilyn Hornung When Los Angeles County went into lockdown, Dina Kimmel, CEO and founder of We Rock The Spectrum Kid’s Gym For All Kids, jumped into action. “How can we remain open and help the community?” she asked. Through her nonprofit My Brother Rocks The Spectrum, combined with her own family’s […]

The year 2020 was undoubtedly a year for the books! As what will notoriously go down in history as one of the most challenging years yet, We Rock the Spectrum Worldwide is proud to say that we have come out of 2020 stronger. We are now more ready than ever to continue making a difference […]

By Linda Robinson There’s a reason why flight attendants tell you to put on your own mask first before helping someone else. After all, you can’t help others when you don’t have enough air yourself! This may sound like a strange analogy, but parenting a child with autism is the same way. You can’t be […]

In response to the spread of the novel coronavirus, schools across the nation are transitioning to online learning for the first time. This change is presenting particular challenges for children across the spectrum, who often need consistency, structure, and routine to thrive. Not to mention, parents of these kiddos are also finding themselves increasingly overwhelmed […]

Music is a language that speaks to everyone. For autistic children, music isn’t just words, it’s a tool that helps improve their socialization, learning, and communication skills. Here we’ll look at the amazing power music can have on children with autism, and how as a parent, you can introduce music into your child’s routine. What […]

If you’re looking for social skills activities for kids with autism, as well as practical tips to help you teach social skills to a child on the autism spectrum, you’ve come to the right place! Autism and Social Skills While no two children with autism are the same, and the range and intensity of symptoms […]

By Jenna Wharff, Ed.M Play is often described as the “work” of childhood, where children can make friendships, learn social skills, come to understand expected group behavior, consequences, turn taking, and cooperation, not to mention have some fun! Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can reap these same benefits by playing games with other kids, though […]

There are no real answers to the question of what causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are many theories and possibilities, however, ranging from the advent of processed foods to genetic mutations and metabolic disorders. One thing is certain, though: children with autism often suffer from nutritional deficiencies, which are brought on by behavioral or […]

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder are often struggling to manage their child’s wandering and whereabouts. Nearly half of children with autism spectrum disorder try to wander or run off, causing tremendous concern to parents and guardians. However, understanding and monitoring your child’s wandering can help put a stop to this behavior. Acknowledging the […]

By Lisa Jo Rudy  Every parent worries about their child’s safety. Parents of children with autism worry more, and for good reason. Children with autism are both more vulnerable and more likely to place themselves in harm’s way than typically developing kids of the same age. Fortunately, there are a number of steps parents can take to avoid risk and […]

A sensory room is essentially a space where a young child with or without learning disabilities can go to experience calming sensations. They can be customized for any need, budget, and available space. Although most closely associated as a tool for children on the autism spectrum, sensory rooms, which first gained national attention in the 1970s, […]

Big Bird was confused. The new, orange-haired girl playing on Sesame Street seemed like she didn’t want to talk to him or give him a high five. He was worried that she didn’t like him. Of course, what the parents watching likely already knew was that the character Julia, who was introduced last year, has autism, as […]

We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym held a sensitive Santa drive-thru event on Saturday in Tarzana.

Children will have the opportunity to meet Santa and his helpers, who are experienced in interacting with children with autism WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Dec. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Autism Live and We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym have partnered this holiday season again to host a special event […]

For the first time since opening our doors in 2010, We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym has added two NEW pieces of equipment to our gyms. We’re excited to introduce you to the Climbing Mountain and Rope Bridge! Originally featured on the We Rock on Wheels bus, these two pieces of equipment are joining our official […]

In the midst of a global pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate through a new normal, including taking on the roles of teacher and daycare provider within their homes. Furthermore, parents of special needs children must find workarounds to provide the best possible care since many of the services their children need are not […]

A healthy sensory diet leads to well-rounded neurological development for kids, especially for those with special needs. Engaging in play with our specialized occupational therapy equipment is a huge component in fulfilling your sensory diet. During these difficult times where social distancing is necessary, providing sensory play may be a difficult task for many families. […]

Screening for autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a difficult process. There are currently no medical tests to diagnose ASD. Doctors must instead rely on behavioral and developmental observations for a diagnosis. But, with a better understanding of autism and its behavioral patterns, doctors can now provide a reliable diagnosis by the time kids are […]

We have reached a point in the fight against COVID-19 where many essential workers are being required to double the time they spend at work. For parents of young children, this presents a bigger challenge. In order to protect their home and their family for the future, they must also help in the fight to […]

April is Autism Inclusion Awareness Month, which kicks off with World Autism Inclusion Awareness Day on Thursday, April 2, 2020. For the past two years, We Rock the Spectrum has recognized this month as a time not only to be “aware” of the journey of autism. Rather, we choose to level up and tell the […]

As fears over the coronavirus (COVID-19) grow, it is becoming imperative for parents to acknowledge and discuss it with their kids. Children may be feeling anxious and stressed about the situation, so staying calm and

As vaccines are made available to the public, the We Rock the Spectrum franchise is following CDC guidelines related to the requirement of wearing masks. Each location is individually owned and operated, so please call your local We Rock gym if you have any questions about their policy.

Looking for an enjoyable activity to keeps your kids up and moving during the holiday break? Our Winter School’s Out Program is here! From Monday, December 23rd to Friday, January 10th (excludes weekends), we will

Siblings are lifelong friends. They are usually in the lives of their brothers and sisters much longer than anyone else. While children with special needs may require a little more attention and support, it is

As a parent of a child with special needs, I am constantly advocating for families with special needs children. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family

Want to keep your kids active during their spring break? Our Spring Break School’s Out Program will do just that and more! For a ROCKIN’ two weeks from April 6th – 17th*, We Rock the

February is here and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Crafting cute cards and decorations with your kids is the perfect way to celebrate the month of love. Since children, particularly those with special

A common misconception is that there is an age limit for sensory gyms. In actuality, sensory gyms—and play—are important for people of all ages. They are especially beneficial for teens and adults with sensory disorders.

  Beginning a new year can be daunting for parents with special needs children. However, it’s a great opportunity to set new goals and make commitments for the year. For children with special needs, this

Looking for an enjoyable activity to keeps your kids up and moving during the holiday break? Our Winter School’s Out Program is here! From Monday, December 23rd to Friday, January 10th (excludes weekends), we will

Children will have the opportunity to meet Santa and his helpers, who are experienced in interacting with children with autism. Autism Live, The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, and We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s

We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym in Tarzana is our flagship gym and has been ROCKIN’ for over 9 years! We take pride in how much our franchise has blossomed over the years and are

It’s that patriotic time of year again! Time for the BBQs, pools, flying flags, and most importantly, fireworks. The Fourth of July is a bright, exciting holiday, but it is also a very loud holiday.

Dr. Aggie (Agnesa Papazyan, PsyD) is a Pediatric Psychologist with specialized training in conducting psychological, psycho-educational and neurodevelopmental testing and treatment for children and adolescents suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disability (ID),

Mother’s Day is supposed to be a day for families and the community to celebrate and give back to the Warrior Moms who raised us. Unfortunately, this Mother’s Day did not begin this way for

If the playground, park and movie routine is getting a little tired, why not do something different with the kids this weekend? From arcade arenas to whale watching, these events will win approval from everyone

One of the greatest challenges that individuals with special needs face is a lack of fitness programs and gyms. They are not provided with the necessary equipment or physical activity needed to maintain a healthy

Mark your calendars, We Rockers! On Saturday, April 20th, join us for a day celebrating inclusion for ALL at our 3rd annual Rockin’ Resource Fair! Inspired by the past two years, this will be a

There are countless benefits to getting involved in sports at a young age. Kids learn invaluable skills like coordination, communication problem-solving, and encourages a healthy lifestyle! However, we understand that these skills may not come

We Rock The Spectrum (WRTS) kid’s gyms have been popping up all over the country recently. These gyms are designed for children on the autism spectrum, using their unique sensory and therapy equipment to help

Every day of our Summer Break School’s Out Program is never identical to another. We make sure kiddos get to experience something new every time they come into the gym, whether it’s from a creative

If you haven’t opened up your We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym app in a while, now is the perfect time to do so! We just released a couple updates that will make you fall

First of all we would like to announce our new social skills instructor, Ms. Kelly Forrest! Once a week, Kelly will be helping our kiddos improve their reciprocal speech, conversations, impulsivity, turn taking, inside voice

We all can provide our children with a fun and motivational environment to help them in the areas of strength, movement, sensory processing, communication, positive behavior modification, social interactions, and self-care skills. Our community of

Mark your calendars, We Rockers! On Saturday, April 21st, join us for a day celebrating inclusion for ALL at our 2018 Rock Walk! Inspired by last year’s Rockin’ Resource Fair, this will be a FREE

Autism Live and We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym have partnered again this holiday season to host a special event for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children who attend the Autism Live Sensitive Santaevent

CSUN hosted its fifth annual Special Needs Resource Fair on Sunday, which is dedicated to connecting families with children with special needs to an array of resources in San Fernando Valley. Families led by their

Join us on Sunday, October 22nd, 2017 at the 5th annual CSU Northridge Special Needs Resource Fair! Enjoy special needs resources, food, music, therapy dogs and much more!

Raising a child is a demanding job for any parent, especially when supportive resources seem to be elusive or nonexistent. For families whose children have special needs, the task can be even harder. The Family

Dina Kimmel is the CEO and Founder of We Rock the Spectrum. A passionate autism mom, Kimmel has dedicated her life to developing and growing resources for the special needs population, especially children. Kimmel studied

This month, we’d like to shine a spotlight on ZOOZ Fitness, an amazing fitness program based in LA designed specifically for young adults with special needs. Fitness is of the utmost importance in any child’s

This school year, our After School Club will be in session! Call us to sign up: 818-708-0680.

Come and get your playtime in before Summer’s over!  $27 for 3 Open Play Passes and $27 for 3 Hours of Break Time/We Rock Care  

Dear We Rockers, My son, Gabriel’s therapist and companion just shared this with me and I am absolutely emotional as I type and share this video with you. In this video, Gabriel is at camp, teaching

This month, we’d like to recognize Arlette as our Volunteer of the Month! Arlette has been incredibly helpful at the gym and at our recent Rockin’ Resource Fair — and the kids love her! Thank

The saying goes “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” Nowhere is that truer than when it comes to teaching children with autism. There are many methods of teaching