Autism
Gus loves almost everything about his birthday. But when the sounds become too loud, he feels overwhelmed and needs to remember what silence feels like.
This book is a starting point to help children who suffer from sound sensitivity relate and take control of what is happening to them.
This book may also help some children
with Autism Spectrum Disorders who are hyper-sensitive to sounds.These suggestions are not meant to be alternatives to therapy,
or any other form of treatment.
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Create your own set of emotions flash cards to explore the world of feelings and when we use certain feelings.
Suggestions:
- Print on cardstock, use colors, add to the set by using the blank cards.
- Match emotion cards to social stories or to talk about emotions portrayed in movies.
- Use as part of therapy or group work.
- Use as visual reminders when talking about different emotions.
Simple time reminders to help children navigate through their day at home or school.
These can make transitions easier and offer a constant visual reminder of desired behaviors and achievable goals.
Keep the instructions simple and visible. Let the child carry the color coded cards as reminders of where they are and what they are supposed to do at this time of the day.
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Use them to create social stories at school or at home, to talk about emotions, to give examples of how
to act in certain situations, to help children express their creativity or
re-enact something that happened.
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Suggestions:
- Have every child in class create
a visual representation of
themselves or a character they
wish to represent them and use
these to help children express themselves in certain difficult situations or to create pretend situation. Use blank ones with pictures if necessary.
- Create a set of characters to talk about friends or family members.- Create skits using these to ask children how they would feel if...
- Use them to help children re-create scenes at school or to express themselves through the character.
Encourage each child by noticing and acknowledging the effort behind every step.
Many new encouragement cards to choose from.
These were created for a little girl who I was told was having a very hard time with routine, transitions and change.
These can be used at home or at school and will help create and reinforce new habits.
Suggestions:
- Use with class or home routine when starting a new routine or introducing a change.
Draw/Write each step in the new routine. Keep each step as simple as possible.
- Use the encouragement card to acknowledge efforts and positive steps with following the routine or adapting to changes.
- Use in class or as a bridge between school and home.
A fun and simple way to remind children that they have people around them who love them and can help with certain things.
A tool to help children learn to extend their circle of love and trust and to slowly gain the confidence to try out social skills with people they feel more comfortable and safe with.
Suggestions:
- Use to identify the people your child interacts with on a regular basis and how these people can help in certain specific situations.
- Use to introduce new care takers or babysitters into your circle by providing information about them that will reduce anxiety.
- Use as you need.
Every child is different and responds in a different way. Being in a new environment such as school can be stressful and a lot of adjustments need to happen for the child, the parent and the teacher. These were created to stimulate communication and share what works.
Suggestions:
- Share with teachers, babysitters and people who have had little time to get to know how your child responds in certain situation.
- Use as a way to encourage the child to understand the best way to respond in new situation.
Some basic tools to help with dressing and autonomy, as well as letting go of attachment to certain items.
Suggestions:
- Write the description of the clothes or item that you cut.
- Talk about the specifics of each season and what kind of clothes you might wear.
- Draw your own clothes in the blank template provided.
- Use in combination with other tools.