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Make a Change Book: a together activity for families with an autistic child.
A together activity for families with an autistic child. Of course we prepare for change when a child on the Spectrum is part of the equation, sort of goes without saying, right? In addition to explaining the upcoming change, then wash, rinse, repeat and explain again, always using simple and clear terms, here is an […]
Make a Change Book: a together activity for families with an autistic child.
A together activity for families with an autistic child.
Of course we prepare for change when a child on the Spectrum is part of the equation, sort of goes without saying, right?
In addition to explaining the upcoming change, then wash, rinse, repeat and explain again, always using simple and clear terms, here is an activity that may offer a fun way to prepare for change.
You will be making a visual schedule in a book format. This is a visual support/ a form of visual schedule in a storybook format.
Materials you will need:
Three ring binder
Stapler
Copy paper to fit in the binder
Hole punch
Glue sticks
Scissors
magazines, old calendars, greeting card photos/ anything you can cut up that has images of activities
a container to hold images
Prepare ahead of time:
Staple together enough pages to include most major activities of the day
Take the same amount of page and place them in the three ring binder (hole punch ahead of time or make that repetitive activity a part of the book making)
Cut or tear pictures from magazines or other sources of the activities during a daily schedule.
Glue the images onto pages in the binder. If you don’t have a binder a second set of pre-stapled pages will do. But a binder might allow some flexibility during the process: allowing for frustrations and for changes in perspective during the process. Speaking of frustration. Your child may likely find some images that do not pertain to the daily visual schedule. Those can be glued into the pre-stapled pages.
Keeping that structured daily routine is part of survival at home. Now you have a visual storybook of the daily routine. As part of getting ready for a change in routine you can add a new page with an image of the new activity.
Get ready for changes in small steps and then wash, rinse repeat by explaining. Use the visual storybook to reinforce the explanation. It can be part of the getting ready process.
I hope you enjoy making a visual schedule. Let me know how your activity went. Post an image of your visual journal or of the activity in progress. Have fun!
Sunday Support: A Parent Support Blog Coping With Change: Children on the Spectrum
Sunday Support: A Parent Support Blog Coping with Change: Children on the Spectrum #ASD, #Autism Spectrum, #parenting #self-regulate #stayathome Changes in routine, changes in environment. In the midst of the COVID Pandemic many parents are adapting to changing routines at home including added school work, more hours to “entertain” or otherwise occupy children. Add a […]
Sunday Support: A Parent Support Blog Coping With Change: Children on the Spectrum
Sunday Support: A Parent Support Blog
Coping with Change: Children on the Spectrum
#ASD, #Autism Spectrum, #parenting
#self-regulate #stayathome
Changes in routine, changes in environment.
In the midst of the COVID Pandemic many parents are adapting to changing routines at home including added school work, more hours to “entertain” or otherwise occupy children. Add a child with autism to the mix and the pressure gets amped up! Autistic behaviors of acting out due to change can be increased due to the many changes in routine brought about by our current lifestyle restrictions.
I am offering some reminders of coping strategies and some art interventions to help children on the spectrum to self-regulate. We will explore timetabling and self-regulation activities. (I came upon the idea of timetabling in an article written by Rebecca Sharrock who describes a system she has worked out to help her as an adult on the autism spectrum to cope with change. I have adapted her idea to apply to children on the spectrum. You can find her article here: https://longevitymedia/enabling-autistic-people-to-cope-with-change?)
Secondly I will suggest some self-regulating activities.
Timetabling
Self Regulation Activities
Let's begin by exploring “timetabling.”
Timetable A = Your Usual Routine
Timetable B = Something has changed today and we are on Timetable B.
Timetable C = We’ve had another change and we might doing Timetable C.
Timetable A is how the day usually runs. Our new daily schedule with family members knowing what to expect
Timetable B is (our new Pandemic timetable) the routine that has been worked out for all family members. A reminder of this might be “I know you prefer Timetable A but we are on Timetable B for now.”
When another unexpected change comes up during the day, due to a sibling in crisis, an unexpected change in a delivery time, a household chore that needs immediate attention, whatever the case may be, we move to Timetable C. In this case we are allowing for the need for immediate and short term flexibility. When you say “We are on Timetable C” this will indicate to your child with autism that it is time to move to his/ her self soothing activity You have a pre-determined and agreed upon self-soothing activity that is understood to be the “go-to” and is readily available and easily accessible. Clearly this has to be made ready ahead of time for such an emergency change scenario.
Here are some self-regulating activities that you might choose from:
Self-Regulating Activities
Glitter Jar
Rain Stick
Any activity that includes cross-body/ bilateral movement in a safe quiet space.
Drawing
Reading
Sensory Collage
Listne to music
Drink of water and a snack (self serve)
Sitting with a calming family pet
Time in your “safe place” with stuffed animal, weighted blanket, music play list, lava lamp, etc.
Finally make a list with your child of self soothing activities. Choose 1-or 2 to have at the ready for Timetable C emergencies. If you would like more support please contact Sally Blevins MA LPC at Connect Therapies or see our Resource Page at www. connecttherapiesllc.com. There will be more blog posts to follow with self-regulation activities and instructions.k
A Sense of Place
A Sense of Place An exercise in Connecting with Nature Part 1/ Inquiry Ask yourself: “how do you perceive yourself in the world? How has this changed during and in your current circumstances?” Assemble: 1) crayons, markers, pastels ,chalk 2) a surface on which to make marks: sketchbook, grocery bag, copy paper, back of an […]
A Sense of Place
A Sense of Place
An exercise in Connecting with Nature
Part 1/ Inquiry
Ask yourself: “how do you perceive yourself in the world? How has this changed during and in your current circumstances?”
Assemble: 1) crayons, markers, pastels ,chalk
2) a surface on which to make marks: sketchbook, grocery bag, copy paper, back of an old greeting card, sidewalk, wood fence
3) object(s) from nature/ two to three objects or just one if that is what you have:
rocks, seeds, feathers, shells, bones. Go outside if you are able to collect these.
Part 2/ Observation
Choose one object from nature to focus on. What do you find attracting you to this object? Shape, color, how it feels to the touch, perhaps a sound that it makes?
Spend a few minutes with these thoughts.
Part 3/ Processing
Draw and write based on the following suggestions:
How you are feeling about your place in the world?
Draw the object
Draw you/ draw your place in the world
Write about place and how it has changed
How do you feel about this object?
Does the object represent something for you?
What were your thoughts when examining the object?
Part 4/ Going Forward
You might want to keep the object or your drawing/ writing.
Decide if you will keep the object or return it to nature. Place the object.
Will you keep your drawing/ writing, destroy it or give it away? Find a place for keeping or display, rid yourself of the drawing/ writing, give it to a person or a place.
Aspergers Spectrum (ASD)
Psychological care, family counseling, HIMAT (Health Insurance Mandated Autism Treatment), ABA provider, DSM 5,therapeutic care,social skills,….it’s a maze of words isn’t it? Thank you to Autism Society of Colorado for succinctly outlining what is and isn’t and how things work. http://autismcolorado.org Although I am not an ABA provider I do offer psychotherapy. I do not […]
Aspergers Spectrum (ASD)
Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers
We are meant to be connected. We are meant to live in community and not to live in isolation. We are not meant to be alone. There are those of us that spend our day in the sometimes solitary pursuit of helping others: soul workers…. Source: Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers Contact Me CLICK […]
Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers
on Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit…
Twila Tharp’s exercise titled “Your Creative Autobiography” in her book The Creative Habit is NOT FOR SISSIES! It could very well be a life changing event. It was for me. Contact Me CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies
on Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit…
Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers
We are meant to be connected. We are meant to live in community and not to live in isolation. We are not meant to be alone. There are those of us that spend our day in the sometimes solitary pursuit of helping others: soul workers. We give attention as we instruct, we train, we guide, […]