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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 […]
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!
Create. Have fun. Lower your heart rate. Raise the happy hormone levels (dopamine). Lower cortisol levels (many benefits). Look Happier. Use line, shape, color. Write, draw, collage, paint, embellish. Find a way to get clear. Reduce Stress. Find Calm. Manage Pain. These are all genuine benefits that may be had by participating in visual journaling! […]
Create. Have fun. Lower your heart rate. Raise the happy hormone levels (dopamine). Lower cortisol levels (many benefits). Look Happier.
Use line, shape, color. Write, draw, collage, paint, embellish.
Find a way to get clear. Reduce Stress. Find Calm. Manage Pain. These are all genuine benefits that may be had by participating in visual journaling!
Try writing, creating, drawing each day for at least 15 minutes. Try to set aside the same time every day. Spend the first 5 minutes jotting words, ideas, brief thoughts. Then add to these words in any format that begins to fill the page. There are no wrong answers. You can use your favorite pens, crayons, paint for mark making. You can cut and past from magazines, junk mail, old photos. Add embellishments that you can attach with glue or stitching. If the blank page has you stuck simply draw one line: any kind of line anywhere across the page. Add to this line. Take it from there....
Here are some suggestions for journal topics if you need a focus to guide you.
dreams
food
finances
goals
solitude
love
design
beauty
ugly
coincidence
rooms
weather
pleasure
pain
connection
color
routines
nature
sounds
change
Keeping a visual journal can become a daily practice. It might be that you just use it to help you through a particular time, as a means of centering, grounding or creating calm or to explore a theme.
If your journal brings up emotions and you feel you might gain from additional support Connect Therapies is here to support you. Give us a call. We offer sliding scale for private pay and due to this time of distancing, quarantine, unemployment and g change we are offering a substantial discount.
If you are having suicidal thoughts call or go to the nearest Crisis Center or call the National Suicide Crisis Line 800-273-8255.