A favorite special education teacher of ours, Pam Downing, has written part 1 of a series on purchasing holiday gifts for kids with autism. The types of games she suggests are those that are interactive and can be played with the child and his family. She suggests parents find out what their child likes to do in the classroom and purchase some of those games. In addition, she recommends book/stuffed animal combinations including: Wherever You Are with a dolphin, The Spirit of Christmas with a lion, It’s Time to Sleep, My Love with a panda and On the Night You Were Born with a polar bear. Another tip is to look for sensory toys, these can include inexpensive items that light up or spin. Squishy toys are good and can be found at a low price and a lot of kids love balls. We’ll keep you posted as more suggestions arrive.
Read original article: Christmas Ideas for Children Who Have Autism
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Cabin fever in June...
Jun 15, 2009 by AnonymousSummer vacation has begun and I’m already being driven nuts by these children. These small, charming Gifts from God are making me wonder if we should move to a district that has a twelve-month school year. What’s really going on here is that Thomas and Hayley are driving each other nuts and that, in turn, is making me crazy. The root of the problem is that the weather has been so crummy (for mid-June) that we haven’t been able to do anything. If it’s warm enough to swim, it’s raining. If it’s sunny outside, it’s too cool to go swimming and all the slides at the park have big pools at the bottom. We’re still waiting and waiting for the weather to improve.
Today was actually pretty nice, but I made a grooming appointment for the dog that we had to work around. We left the groomer’s straight for Uncle Tom’s Pool and stayed there until the groomer called us to come pick up Sophie. Frantic pool and swimming activity usually works wonders on kids who have cabin-fever (in June, for crying-out-loud!) but my kids are not like other people’s kids.
We did have a few playdates a few weeks ago with the family I mentioned in my last blog. Thomas was actually really good with his buddy. I explained before they came over that he couldn’t just sit alone and play when we had “company” (what’s “company,” Mommy?) but he had to play with his friend. So, since he couldn’t play PSP, Thomas and his friend played MarioKart on the Wii. Whatever. They had fun. Hayley and her friend played Barbies and the littlest wee one just bounced back and forth, watching. Hopefully we’ll see them again soon and maybe meet at the park or something.
Graduation went fine, but of ALL DAYS for me to forget to give Thomas his Strattera, the graduation ceremony day was probably the worst. He had to sit quietly for semi-extended periods of time which didn’t work out too well for him. The video is funny because he kept waving me away, telling me to turn the camera off and go sit down. But he got an extra-special hug from Mrs. H., who I could tell was genuinely sad to have to say good-bye for the summer.
After the graduation ceremony, Thomas had just one more day of school that happened to be on Tuesday, my help-out day. So I got to be there for the last day, helping take everything off the walls and put things away for the summer. It was kind of sad. I’ve been there every Tuesday all year and have apparently built up a sentimental interest in the Kindergarten classroom and the routine. I really appreciated how much emotional investment the teachers must have in their kids by the end of the year and how hard it is for them to have to let them go. During the graduation ceremony, Mrs. H. gave a short speech about how once the kids go through her classroom for a year, they’ll always be “hers” and can come back and see her anytime. She got choked up as usual and it was very sweet. The kids all wore caps and gowns and Thomas kept pulling his up to reveal the decidedly un-formal t-shirt and shorts I put him in that day. No point making him doubly-uncomfortable in fancy pants AND mortar boards, I though. Nobody gave me any funny looks, though.
Hopefully the weather will turn better so we can walk to the park more often and maybe go to the zoo. All I know is that if we’re all cooped up in this house together for much longer, I’m going to start frantic home-improvement projects like re-painting or something. Hayley’s fifth birthday is coming up; her party is this weekend and Jonathan is apparently going to be up at 4 a.m., slow-cooking pork butts on the grill. It’s the only way, I guess. What I really want to do is get pictures of this madness. We’re going to turn the pork butts into pulled pork sandwiches made with Jonathan’s homemade BBQ sauce. He’s such a gourmand. I’m in charge of potato salad and coleslaw. And I’ll be buying beer too, I think.
We’re going to a wedding in Peoria June 26-28 and leaving the kids with Grandma Jackson. The dog’s going to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law’s house, God bless them. That’s the main reason I just had her at the vet and the groomer. Nothing says, “Gee, we sure do appreciate this” like dumping a shaggy, smelly and potentially unhealthy dog off with relatives. Jonathan and I certainly could use a break. We keep talking about taking a “date night” for ourselves, but there is just no time! This Friday, we’re going to be getting ready for Hayley’s party which is on Saturday, and I have to work on Sunday. We should be able to have some quality alone time in Peoria, if you can have quality alone time with twenty aunts and uncles, thirty cousins and their dates or spouses, your mom, dad and sisters all staying in hotel rooms nearby. We’ll have to take whatever we can get, I think. We’re going to be driving down with my sister and her husband, whose company we genuinely enjoy, so that will be fun too. Plus, I get to dress up! Yee-haw!
A couple weeks ago, Jonathan only had a half-day at work so we took the kids to see “Up” at the theater. We had never, ever taken both kids to the show before! Like so many things we’ve been doing recently, it was to be a litmus test for Thomas’ performance during stage and theater presentations at Disney. He was GREAT! Outstanding, even! He was, in fact, better behaved than Hayley. He sat in his seat and wore the 3-D glasses (yes, we sprung for the 3-D effect, but don’t think it added too much to the show. The previews were more impressive in 3-D than the movie was, so FYI, you can probably skip the 3-D showing and do the less expensive non-3-D show) and watched the WHOLE THING without complaint. The only problem was that he talked a lot during the show, asking a lot of questions, but he wasn’t too loud asking the questions and didn’t disturb others. There were plenty of children at this showing in particular that were allowed to run wild all over the place and I’m so glad to say that mine were not among them.
I’m trying to keep up with helping the kid’s reading and writing so that their brains don’t turn to mush over the summer but Thomas is totally on to me. He says, “I’m not in school anymore! I don’t have homework!” And then he finds something else to do. Hmpf. Hayley is still really interested in writing and will write words, asking how to spell them and drawing really cute pictures of people who look like potatoes with toothpicks sticking out for arms and legs. They’re really cute.
Well, there goes the random quiet moment I was able to enjoy today. Thomas is stealing noodles out of the colander and making Jonathan crazy and Hayley has fallen asleep next to me in a position that cannot possibly be comfortable. Ho-hum.
The Effective Steps to Closing the School Year
May 1, 2009 by AnonymousEnd the Year with Action!
Teachers & Parents still have a big job ahead of them. This last month of school needs to be used to wrap up all of your hard work effectively. Here is a plan that will assist in a smooth Fall transition:
Write down everything that HAS & HAS NOT worked for the child in the school setting. Teaching strategies, behavior strategies and other modifications/accommodations need to all be considered.
Prioritize goals and needs for summer program. Whether the student will be in ESY through the school system, a community program or at home playing in the yard, now is the time to work with the team to prioritize what can happen in the 10 weeks of summer!
Thank your team! Teachers need to thank parents and other team members and parents should do the same in return. Don't forget to include the special ed director, yep, she's part of the team too and NEVER get's the cutie end of the year teacher gifts anymore!
With facts in writing, priorities made and thank you's in order - you are bound to have a great summer to rejuvenate for an intensive fall with new beginnings!
Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed
Precision Education, Inc. Founder
Nationwide Special Education Consultant
A new mania
Dec 22, 2008 by AnonymousWow, did Christmas ever sneak up on me this year! I thought I had a handle on things, but here it is, Christmas Eve-eve-eve, and Thomas turns six tomorrow. I should watch the old video of us opening presents with newborn Thomas nestled in the crook of his dad’s arm, looking around at the bright, decorated-for-Christmas world. I’ll not watch the video of me swollen to the size of a Dodge Caravan, limping to bathroom for the millionth time to check my staples. Despite my diligence, the incision became infected anyway and Thomas’ first few weeks at home were full of visitors – visiting nurses, that is.
The last week of school before Christmas break was so cold! School was cancelled on Friday which was a bummer for the kids in Thomas’ class; everyone missed out on their holiday parties. Thomas didn’t mind so much because he’s always apprehensive about anything out of the ordinary. I was especially disappointed that Hayley’s holiday sing would be cancelled, but I received an e-mail saying that it was rescheduled to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, so the whole family was able to go. Thomas had a really hard time sitting in the audience and being quiet, but nobody seemed to notice or care. After the kids finished singing, Santa Claus came in to hand out gifts to the preschool students. When it was Hayley’s turn, we asked if Thomas could talk to Santa too. Santa, as usual, was completely obliging, thereby saving us a hectic and stressful (and expensive, because they rob you for those pictures) trip to the mall on Sunday. Woo-hoo! I got a few pictures, none of them terrific, but it was good enough.
Thomas’ birthday party was on Saturday and up until the morning of, he was not into it. “I hate my birthday!” he was saying over and over. “There’ll be enough time for that when you’re a grown-up,” I answered. He understands that grown-ups don’t like getting older. Anyway, the morning of his party, he decided that he was excited and that he “loves his birthday.” Every time he says he hates something, I try to explain to him that he doesn’t really hate it, he just doesn’t know what to expect. He agrees with me on that. Now, the trick is to get him to say that he’s “a little worried” instead of “I hate it!”
Since tomorrow is his birthday, I was going to make him cupcakes or cake, whichever he preferred. He wants nothing. That’s what he said. Actually, I kind of think he’s just not a “cake person,” like me. I prefer fruit pies to cakes personally, but he wanted ice cream for dessert last night instead of leftover cake. Maybe we can make gingerbread men instead or something.
Santa has told me that he is indeed bringing Thomas the Lightning McQueen bicycle that he wants for Christmas. He’s also bringing the matching helmet and elbow pads, of course. I have already placed the old tricycles in the garage very quietly and nobody seemed to notice, so that’s really good. I’m just thinking about Thomas riding around the living room and dining room on Christmas morning, knocking things off shelves and the Christmas tree…bikes were always a popular Christmas present, but who can actually ride them in Chicago on Christmas Day? Which reminds me, Santa made the tires on the bike and didn’t put air in them…Mrs. Claus had better find the old bicycle pump in the garage.
So tomorrow is Thomas’ birthday, then we go to my mother-in-law’s on Christmas Eve for dinner and presents and then on Christmas, we’re going to my Uncle Bill’s house. Only thirty people are coming this year! It will be an intimate gathering for once, which will be good for Thomas. I think that some Christmases, there have been sixty or more people present which always seems more like Oktoberfest at the local fairgrounds than Christmas.
It has been so cold here that going outside with the kids – to play in the snow or just go for a walk – has been impossible. I can’t imagine another three months of this. It has to get better, right? Actually, I heard a meteorologist say that “they” expect December to be the coldest out of the winter months here in Chicago. Jonathan has been missing time at work not because of the bad economy but the rotten weather. I hate worrying about money and work right before the holidays, but it’s hard not to. We’re lucky he has a job at all. I’m still trying to find something I can do at home, but I’m discouraged by all of the scams out there.
Thomas has a “new mania,” like Mr. Toad in “The Wind in the Willows.” He loves playing with Jonathan’s PSP, which is a hand-held game console. We cannot get him to put this thing down. Like all of Thomas’ phases, we expect him to grow out of it, but it has been a real struggle trying to put time limits on this thing. I got it for Jonathan for Father’s Day a couple years ago, and it turns out that it was the worst decision I’ve ever made because when Thomas isn’t playing with it, Jonathan is. At any given moment, one of the men in my life is completely zoned out.
This will be my last post before Christmas, so I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and a prosperous New Year. I especially mean the prosperous part.
Spooktacular!
Nov 4, 2008 by dankohnIt has been a rather eventful time for us since I last wrote. The Halloween Spooktacular was a lot of fun and the kids had a good time playing the little games. I made what was surely a very tasty and attractive pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting for the Cake Walk, which we struggled valiantly (and in vain) to win back. When we finally did win, we were allowed to pick only a small treat because they were only giving away the big cakes on the quarter-hour. We were bummed and all we got for our efforts were three lousy cookies. It was nice to know that my cake was one of the “good” prizes, though.
Thomas’ teacher was at the fun fair conducting the Mummy Autopsy in the Haunted Courtyard. She was really funny and had a very convincing witchy cackle. Thomas was a little freaked out at first, but he (and Hayley) finally recognized the teacher and she watered her character down a bit so as not to scare my children in particular. Thomas really seemed to enjoy all of the festivities and after we finished up at the Spooktacular, we went to Grandma’s cottage.
Thomas had a difficult time at the cottage. There were a lot more people there than he was used to (good for us pier-workers, bad for the autistic boy) and all of the noise and bustle in the house was confusing and hard for him to handle. On Saturday, when we went outside to work, he did a lot better just being in the more open space and fresh air. The weather was actually pretty great. If there’s anything worse than working on that pier, it’s working on that pier when there’s drizzle stinging your face.
Thomas really liked using the leaf-blower, which we let him do because we’re idiots (again). Actually, it wasn’t that idiotic and it helped him. The vibration of the motor and loud noise really kept him focused and he did a good job blowing the leaves into the fire. Yeah, we had a fire going too. Jonathan was supervising and Thomas and Hayley both know to stay away from fires. Hayley actually learned about fire safety in preschool (where they CONTINUE to spell her name wrong…) and runs around the house saying, “Oops! Your arm is on fire! You better stop, drop and roll!”
After we finished with the pier, we went to the little country pumpkin farm. We don’t even go to the big, commercialized pumpkin “farm” near our house anymore. You should see how much they want for a pumpkin these days! So we go to the little country pumpkin farm up north and choose pumpkins. This place is so cool…you pay on the “honor system” meaning that there is no personnel manning the check-out counter. You just figure out what you owe and put the dough in a box. They have a tiny hay-maze, a big old tractor for the kids to sit on and this year, they had a little silo filled with corn and trucks. As you can imagine, getting Thomas out of the corn was a chore, but he loved playing in it.
We came home on Sunday and started getting ready for Halloween. As is characteristic of Thomas, he was not excited about Halloween. He still didn’t want to trick-or-treat, but as the week went on, I just didn’t let it go. We kept talking about the party at school on Friday so that by the time Friday came around, he was excited about going. Hayley and I walked Thomas to school, then I went to Hayley’s school to watch her costume parade and take pictures and then I booked back to Thomas’ school to help with his party. I put on my Cleopatra costume in the hallway before entering Thomas’ room. His teacher was a very fetching Snow White and one of the other moms was a pumpkin so I wasn’t the only goofy grown-up there. Thomas did really well; he participated in the craft (a little magnetic Candy Corn with his name on it), played Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin and played Spooky Bingo. We then went on a classroom parade, going through the other, big-kid classrooms. Then it was back to the room for cupcakes and cookies, not to mention all of the candy that other kids brought to share with their chums. Then we walked to go get Hayley (I, still wearing my Cleopatra costume. And pulling the wagon…) and then we walked home. Hayley’s backpack was really heavy and I couldn’t imagine what was in there until we got home and opened it. It was full of around five pounds of snacks and candies that classmates had brought. I felt like a deadbeat because I didn’t bring anything, but it looked like the kids had more than enough. With the amount of candy they brought home, we really didn’t NEED to trick-or-treat at all. But we did. My niece Julia looked adorable in her girl’s pirate costume. The kids did a good job, except that Thomas had the same problem as last year with staying by us on the sidewalk. He was running ahead and then running back to us but sometimes he would run a little too far ahead. I know it was definitely not his fault, what with all the sugar in his little body. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parents out there who gave out pretzels and whole-wheat crackers! God bless!
When we got home from trick-or-treating on Halloween night, the kids were absolutely wired. We tried to get them to eat some form of protein – anything at all that could be considered good – and were only partially successful. Hayley chose scrambled eggs which I whipped up with the enthusiasm of a TV chef. Thomas I believe finally settled on some kind of bread product and wouldn’t be induced to eat any kind of meat. Oh well. Halloween only comes once a year, followed shortly by the holidays. But seriously, only once a year. Like Easter. And vacation. And Valentine’s Day…
We had a party for Jonathan’s birthday on Saturday. His family came over and we had a very pleasant dinner for him. Thomas was okay with the whole thing, sort of. He didn’t want anybody to have any cake, EVER. I just wish I knew what that meant. He says stuff like that, but it’s one of those things where you know he doesn’t mean what he’s saying; he means something else. I just can’t figure out what he means. I’m still working on it.
Thomas’ report card came home yesterday and it was very good. He has either mastered or is progressing as expected in most skills. He still needs more work on remember his address, phone number and birthday. He also needs to work on holding writing utensils properly, but other than that, he’s really doing well. I meant to ask his teacher if he’s being evaluated just as his classmates are or if she uses a more lenient scale for Thomas. I would like to assume that he is graded on a par with his peers, but whenever I’m in class, I can tell that she’s being a little more patient with him than she is with some of the other kids. That could just be because I’m in class or it could be because she knows that certain things are harder for Thomas. I volunteered in class today and meant to ask, but forgot. She kept me busy filing, cutting, laminating and working with certain kids on recognizing letters. I had not a moment to think!
Coming up, we have…very little. My birthday is in a few weeks and I need to think about what we’re going to do for that. I hate making these decisions. It feels like I’m trying to throw myself a party. We used to go out for birthdays, but a couple of years ago Jonathan and I decided that it’s easier with the kids and everything if we just stay in and order pizza. Well, staying in and ordering pizza evolved into staying in and hosting a dinner party and Jonathan’s birthday party was every bit as stressful and required almost as much preparation as one of the kid’s birthdays. So I’m thinking of just saying that we’ll all go to Chili’s for my birthday because I don’t want to have to do as much work for my birthday as Jonathan and I had to do for his.
One thing I will do gladly, however, is accept gifts.