From Kate Wilde: Learning New Things
From Kate Wilde: Hi everyone! Today I have the added pleasure of doing another person's computer job, as well as the lovely teaching and playing with children on the Autism Spectrum that I normally do here at The Autism Treatment Center of America.
I spent the best part of yesterday ever so slowly following a step by step guide on how to print out labels from the web site of us mail. How to create invoices, and use the new credit card machine. The beautiful thing about this job is it results in many people from all over the world getting great inspiring and powerful information on how to help their child using The Son-Rise Program!!
The other was an insight on how much time it took me to complete the task. I do not mean this to be a slight on myself - it was so great to see, it took me 3 hours just to do 4 orders - don't be alarmed all those people out there, I will get faster and you will all get your books, tapes and DVDs - I promise!
I already can read, use a computer write, type etc, but still, putting all these skills together to produce a perfect computerized label was slow going the first time. So it stands to reason that it takes a while for our children on the spectrum to do what we are asking them.
So a question for you is, are you pausing after you ask your children to look at you, or after you ask them a question, or ask them to draw or write or blow out birthday candles?
Sometimes all our children need is the time to do the thing we are asking them to do.
I certainly need time to learn my new thing.
So if you normally just wait 2 seconds, wait another 30 seconds, or even more.
Let's give our children time and space to do what is difficult for them.
Have fun everyone
Love to you
Kate
I spent the best part of yesterday ever so slowly following a step by step guide on how to print out labels from the web site of us mail. How to create invoices, and use the new credit card machine. The beautiful thing about this job is it results in many people from all over the world getting great inspiring and powerful information on how to help their child using The Son-Rise Program!!
The other was an insight on how much time it took me to complete the task. I do not mean this to be a slight on myself - it was so great to see, it took me 3 hours just to do 4 orders - don't be alarmed all those people out there, I will get faster and you will all get your books, tapes and DVDs - I promise!
I already can read, use a computer write, type etc, but still, putting all these skills together to produce a perfect computerized label was slow going the first time. So it stands to reason that it takes a while for our children on the spectrum to do what we are asking them.
So a question for you is, are you pausing after you ask your children to look at you, or after you ask them a question, or ask them to draw or write or blow out birthday candles?
Sometimes all our children need is the time to do the thing we are asking them to do.
I certainly need time to learn my new thing.
So if you normally just wait 2 seconds, wait another 30 seconds, or even more.
Let's give our children time and space to do what is difficult for them.
Have fun everyone
Love to you
Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
10:31 AM
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Sunday, November 29, 2009
From Kate Wilde: Acceptance
From Kate Wilde; The House of Wisdom has no walls.
The Son-Rise Program believes in the power of accepting everything about a child on the Autism Spectrum. We do not believe in the concepts of appropriate or inappropriate behaviour, in good or bad, right or wrong. These just create walls between us and a child who is doing the best that they can to take care of themselves, in an often confusing world.
When we see a child, or an adult through the lens of, "This person is doing the best that they can." Then we want to move towards, verses against what we see, and that's when we can start to create opportunities for growth.
All growth starts with acceptance.
If you are facing a situation today that you are finding difficult or challenging ask yourself; Am I moving towards this or against this?
If your answer is against, then take a moment, close your eyes and find a soft place inside of yourself to embrace this situation. There is no situation that you cannot embrace.
Find this place first.
I send so much love and care and good wishes to you all.
Kate Read more!
The Son-Rise Program believes in the power of accepting everything about a child on the Autism Spectrum. We do not believe in the concepts of appropriate or inappropriate behaviour, in good or bad, right or wrong. These just create walls between us and a child who is doing the best that they can to take care of themselves, in an often confusing world.
When we see a child, or an adult through the lens of, "This person is doing the best that they can." Then we want to move towards, verses against what we see, and that's when we can start to create opportunities for growth.
All growth starts with acceptance.
If you are facing a situation today that you are finding difficult or challenging ask yourself; Am I moving towards this or against this?
If your answer is against, then take a moment, close your eyes and find a soft place inside of yourself to embrace this situation. There is no situation that you cannot embrace.
Find this place first.
I send so much love and care and good wishes to you all.
Kate Read more!
posted by Kate Wilde at
5:59 AM
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From Kate Wilde: Treasure Hunt Game!
From Kate Wilde: Good Morning Everyone!
A great game from The Autism Treatment Center of America.
Just click on the video below to view a game you can play right now with your child. This game will help your child physically participate, and help lengthen their attention span.
If you are on face book right now just click on the title of this blog, then on "view original blog", then on the video itself.
Enjoy!
love to you
Kate
A great game from The Autism Treatment Center of America.
Just click on the video below to view a game you can play right now with your child. This game will help your child physically participate, and help lengthen their attention span.
If you are on face book right now just click on the title of this blog, then on "view original blog", then on the video itself.
Enjoy!
love to you
Kate
Labels: Creativity, Fun and Games, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
4:39 AM
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
From Alison: An epiphany in happiness and being present
Being present has always been one of my greatest challenges in the playroom, here's how I found a way to overcome this.
It's late in the afternoon and I am nearing the end of another playroom session with my son Jordan, we both love music and we have had a great time discussing at length the number of movements that there are in a piano concerto by Mozart - the answer to which is three. As we start the conversation again I find that my mind is starting to wander, I'm thinking about what I might like to eat for dinner, what jobs are left to be done in the house, how I might spend my evening. All these things in this moment seem to be more important than being present and giving Jordan my full attention - after all how hard is it to come up with the word 'three' at the point in the conversation where Jordan asks 'how many movements are there in a Mozart piano concerto'. But if you asked me to take a step back and choose; would I rather spend my time thinking about housework or loving and connecting with my son Jordan, it would be a no brainer - Jordan would get my attention every time. So why am I still thinking about the housework?
It's late in the afternoon and I am nearing the end of another playroom session with my son Jordan, we both love music and we have had a great time discussing at length the number of movements that there are in a piano concerto by Mozart - the answer to which is three. As we start the conversation again I find that my mind is starting to wander, I'm thinking about what I might like to eat for dinner, what jobs are left to be done in the house, how I might spend my evening. All these things in this moment seem to be more important than being present and giving Jordan my full attention - after all how hard is it to come up with the word 'three' at the point in the conversation where Jordan asks 'how many movements are there in a Mozart piano concerto'. But if you asked me to take a step back and choose; would I rather spend my time thinking about housework or loving and connecting with my son Jordan, it would be a no brainer - Jordan would get my attention every time. So why am I still thinking about the housework?
Recently, I have found that my approach to life contained lots of purposes like going in the playroom, designing fun games, connecting with my friends, but no real intentions as to where I wanted to go for myself. I decided to take on some intentions that Bears suggested: to make happiness my priority, to love, and to have a closer walk with God. Happiness exists in the moment that we are in right now. We can bring memories from the past into the present and make ourselves happy thinking about them or anticipate an event in the future by bringing that thought up now, but essentially being happy is about being in this moment and deciding to be happy.
So, having decided this, I am back in the playroom again having the same conversation about the Mozart piano concerto. But this time, I build from the conversation because I am present, by pretending to play the piano in a very fast and furious way. Jordan then joins me and we have a piano race to see who can play the fastest and loudest (entirely possible on an air piano). But even more cool, when we get out of the playroom Jordan wants to play a duet of the Mozart piano concerto on the real piano and it turns out he knows the whole concerto in his head and can sort of play it.
So, by making happiness my priority for myself in my life I am more present - How wonderful.
Labels: Attitude
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posted by Alison Taylor at
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Sunday, November 22, 2009
Ipod game!
Hello Everyone!
Another fun game idea from The Autism Treatment Center of America. This is a game that will be fun for all children on the Autistic Spectrum, whatever stage of development they are at, this game is for you and for them, modify it to fit the motivations of your child, and give it a try.
There is nothing to lose by trying, just a whole lot of fun to gain.
Click on the video below, if you are face book right now click on the title of this blog, then on "view original blog", that will take you to where the video is stored, then just click on the video itself.
Enjoy! If you try this game at home, let us know by posting your experience in the comment section of this blog, or on our face book wall.
Love to you all
Kate
Another fun game idea from The Autism Treatment Center of America. This is a game that will be fun for all children on the Autistic Spectrum, whatever stage of development they are at, this game is for you and for them, modify it to fit the motivations of your child, and give it a try.
There is nothing to lose by trying, just a whole lot of fun to gain.
Click on the video below, if you are face book right now click on the title of this blog, then on "view original blog", that will take you to where the video is stored, then just click on the video itself.
Enjoy! If you try this game at home, let us know by posting your experience in the comment section of this blog, or on our face book wall.
Love to you all
Kate
Labels: Creativity, Fun and Games, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
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Thursday, November 19, 2009
Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!!
Woo! Celebrate, celebrate, CELEBRATE! I looooooooove to celebrate!!
So often when someone new to the Son-Rise Program observes us working with autistic children here at the Autism Treatment Center of America, the thing that really stands out to them is how much we celebrate the child. Everything a special child does is a wonder and a gift to us and boy, do we let them know it! Celebrating our special children is such a beautiful way to show them how perfect they are, how much we love everything they do and to highlight the new and incredible things they do in the Son-Rise playroom... ultimately, we believe celebration will help inspire them as they move towards recovery from autism.
(And here's the added bonus - it feels great for us too!)
Seriously, if there is one HUGE thing I've taken from my work here as a Son-Rise Child Facilitator it is to find something to celebrate every day, in every area of my life. Focus on the positives, my friends, and by heck you will find MORE positives!
So let's try an experiment together. Let's all find 5 things to celebrate today that we have NEVER celebrated before. Hmmm... here are some ideas:
So often when someone new to the Son-Rise Program observes us working with autistic children here at the Autism Treatment Center of America, the thing that really stands out to them is how much we celebrate the child. Everything a special child does is a wonder and a gift to us and boy, do we let them know it! Celebrating our special children is such a beautiful way to show them how perfect they are, how much we love everything they do and to highlight the new and incredible things they do in the Son-Rise playroom... ultimately, we believe celebration will help inspire them as they move towards recovery from autism.
(And here's the added bonus - it feels great for us too!)
Seriously, if there is one HUGE thing I've taken from my work here as a Son-Rise Child Facilitator it is to find something to celebrate every day, in every area of my life. Focus on the positives, my friends, and by heck you will find MORE positives!
So let's try an experiment together. Let's all find 5 things to celebrate today that we have NEVER celebrated before. Hmmm... here are some ideas:
- The people who collect your garbage: yeah - those guys do an incredible job - let them know it!
- The check-out person at your local store - I bet they hear enough complaints so why not make their day with a celebration?
- Your bus driver - so... your bus was 10 minutes late? Great! It could have been 30 miunutes late! Thank you driver!
- Your spouse - how often do we really, deeply, genuinely celebrate those we see every day?
- Your neighbors - what a wonderful way to create a supportive community around your special person.
So go forth and celebrate my friends! Have fun!
(... and don't forget to celebrate the most important person - YOURSELF!)
Big love,
Jack
Labels: Celebrations, Fun and Games, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Jack at
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Don't Give Up!
Persistence is key!
At The Autism treatment Center of America I have played a part in the growth of hundreds of children. I have been a volunteer in six Son-Rise Programs and there is one thing that has kept me reaching out, even though at times it might have seemed like some of these children were not moving or developing. That thing is.......persistence!
Watch the inspiring video below about persistence and use it when your child appears not to be moving. there is always hope for incredible growth!
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At The Autism treatment Center of America I have played a part in the growth of hundreds of children. I have been a volunteer in six Son-Rise Programs and there is one thing that has kept me reaching out, even though at times it might have seemed like some of these children were not moving or developing. That thing is.......persistence!
Watch the inspiring video below about persistence and use it when your child appears not to be moving. there is always hope for incredible growth!
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
1:42 PM
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The Holidays
As the holidays are gathering close, Thanksgiving, Hanuka, Christmas, Kwanzaa, I am thinking about how these Holidays can be so easy and delightful for some, but for many of our autistic children they are overwhelming, confusing, and not the delight they are "supposed" to be. They can be equally stressful for their parents, who often have to run after them making sure that they do not eat any food that they are allergic to, or hurt themselves.
If you have an autistic relative who is coming to your house for the holidays, there are four things you can do to make the whole experience easy for them.
1. Keep all foods that your autistic relative cannot eat OUT OF REACH. Instead of putting out bowls of candies, put out bowls of fruit and nuts. If you are not sure what they can eat, ask their parents.
2. Have a room available with a few of their favorite toys in a quiet place, where you can each take turns playing with them in an environment where they can easily be themselves, without the bombardment of the hustle and bustle of many relatives. That way everyone gets what they want, your grandson does not get overwhelmed and can enjoy the company of their family 1:1, and his parents get sometime enjoying their family members too.
3. Keep the background music to soothing and quiet music.
4. If their parents do not want to come this year because it will be too much for their autistic child, respect their wishes knowing that it is not a slight on you , but a desire to be the most helpful they can be to their son or daughter.
Wishing you all the best and most peaceful holidays.
with much love
Kate
.
If you have an autistic relative who is coming to your house for the holidays, there are four things you can do to make the whole experience easy for them.
1. Keep all foods that your autistic relative cannot eat OUT OF REACH. Instead of putting out bowls of candies, put out bowls of fruit and nuts. If you are not sure what they can eat, ask their parents.
2. Have a room available with a few of their favorite toys in a quiet place, where you can each take turns playing with them in an environment where they can easily be themselves, without the bombardment of the hustle and bustle of many relatives. That way everyone gets what they want, your grandson does not get overwhelmed and can enjoy the company of their family 1:1, and his parents get sometime enjoying their family members too.
3. Keep the background music to soothing and quiet music.
4. If their parents do not want to come this year because it will be too much for their autistic child, respect their wishes knowing that it is not a slight on you , but a desire to be the most helpful they can be to their son or daughter.
Wishing you all the best and most peaceful holidays.
with much love
Kate
.
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posted by Kate Wilde at
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Change your career and your life!
Apply for professional staff training at the
Autism treatment Center of America.
Change your career and your life! We are recruiting passionate individuals who love special children to train to become part of our elite team of Son-Rise Program staff in Sheffield MA, at The Autism Treatment Center of America.
We are dedicated to helping families, care givers, and professionals enable children to dramatically improve in all areas of learning, development, communication and skill acquisition.
Email admissions@option.org for more details.
Applications are due by February 19th 2010.
Labels: Kate, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Kate Wilde at
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Communication
Here at The Son-Rise Program Intensive we have a 6 year old Autistic boy with gorgeous freckles. He uses many gestures to communicate, he points, waves, nods his head yes and no, communicates how many things there are by putting up the same amount of fingers, and kicks or slaps his Dad to let his Dad know that he wants to play with him.
So many lovely gestures to indicate what he wants, all of them work for him, including the one of kicking his Dad to initiate a game. Here's how:
His Dad is playing a great interactive game of scooping him up in his arms and tickling him, they play this together laughing for a couple of minutes. Then he stops playing the game and isms for a while lying on his back staring and playing with a little dog, when he is finished with his ism, he turns to his Dad looks at him and kicks his Dad in the stomach, his Dad then starts another tickle game with him, by immediately scooping him up. It became clear after watching this boy initiate every game with his Dad with a slap or a kick that this was this child's way of telling his Dad he wanted to play.
Sometimes our children's kicking, biting, hitting, etc is just a communication. They are not intending to hurt us, nor are they trying to button push.
So here this week at The Autism Treatment Center of America we are teaching both this little boy to use another way to communicate when he wants to play, like using words such as "tickle" or "play", and his Dad to tell his little boy that he does not understand it when he is kicked, but he does understand when his son says, "tickle" or "play".
This lovely boy is so smart he is getting it already!
Much love to you all
Kate
So many lovely gestures to indicate what he wants, all of them work for him, including the one of kicking his Dad to initiate a game. Here's how:
His Dad is playing a great interactive game of scooping him up in his arms and tickling him, they play this together laughing for a couple of minutes. Then he stops playing the game and isms for a while lying on his back staring and playing with a little dog, when he is finished with his ism, he turns to his Dad looks at him and kicks his Dad in the stomach, his Dad then starts another tickle game with him, by immediately scooping him up. It became clear after watching this boy initiate every game with his Dad with a slap or a kick that this was this child's way of telling his Dad he wanted to play.
Sometimes our children's kicking, biting, hitting, etc is just a communication. They are not intending to hurt us, nor are they trying to button push.
So here this week at The Autism Treatment Center of America we are teaching both this little boy to use another way to communicate when he wants to play, like using words such as "tickle" or "play", and his Dad to tell his little boy that he does not understand it when he is kicked, but he does understand when his son says, "tickle" or "play".
This lovely boy is so smart he is getting it already!
Much love to you all
Kate
Labels: Aggressive Behaviors, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
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Monday, November 16, 2009
10 Ways to Build off Squeezes
Hi all,
Many children that I have worked with at The Autism Treatment Center of America have really enjoyed squeezes on their hands, legs, heads, etc, and big body squeezes. Here are 10 ideas to try if your child likes squeezes.
1) Bring 2 pillows into the playroom and hold them in your arms. Have fun squishing your child in the pillows when they motivated for squeezes.
2) Use puppets to give squeezes on their hands and feet. Use different character voices for each puppet as you model the word squeeze them.
3) Fill a hat with adjectives writen on several strips of paper (e.g. fast, slow, deep, shaky, etc). Experiment with having your child pick out of the hat to see what type of squeezes to have next.
4) For an older child, pretend you are at the day spa. Draw a menu on a piece of posterboard of the different treatments you offer at the spa (e.g. finger massage, deep massage treatment, rolling pin massage, etc).
5) Attach circles of different textured fabrics to the fingers of a cheap pair of gloves to squeeze with (e.g. Velcro, satin, foam, etc).
6) Pretend your child is a piece of pizza dough that you need to shape and mould by kneading the dough.
7) Fly around the playroom to different planets (e.g. hand planet, foot planet, elbow planet, etc). Each time you land on one of the planets, where you have to squeeze that body part.
8) Pretend that you are a blind person who can't see where to squeeze without your child looking at you. Have fun fumbling around trying to find your child each time they look away. This is a great way to work on eye contact too.
9) Work on choices with your child by having them choose which part of their body they want squeezing.
10) Roll a dice with different animal pictures on each side, then squeeze your child in the style of that animal (e.g. monkey squeeze, bird squeeze, cat squeeze, etc).
Have fun!
Many children that I have worked with at The Autism Treatment Center of America have really enjoyed squeezes on their hands, legs, heads, etc, and big body squeezes. Here are 10 ideas to try if your child likes squeezes.
1) Bring 2 pillows into the playroom and hold them in your arms. Have fun squishing your child in the pillows when they motivated for squeezes.
2) Use puppets to give squeezes on their hands and feet. Use different character voices for each puppet as you model the word squeeze them.
3) Fill a hat with adjectives writen on several strips of paper (e.g. fast, slow, deep, shaky, etc). Experiment with having your child pick out of the hat to see what type of squeezes to have next.
4) For an older child, pretend you are at the day spa. Draw a menu on a piece of posterboard of the different treatments you offer at the spa (e.g. finger massage, deep massage treatment, rolling pin massage, etc).
5) Attach circles of different textured fabrics to the fingers of a cheap pair of gloves to squeeze with (e.g. Velcro, satin, foam, etc).
6) Pretend your child is a piece of pizza dough that you need to shape and mould by kneading the dough.
7) Fly around the playroom to different planets (e.g. hand planet, foot planet, elbow planet, etc). Each time you land on one of the planets, where you have to squeeze that body part.
8) Pretend that you are a blind person who can't see where to squeeze without your child looking at you. Have fun fumbling around trying to find your child each time they look away. This is a great way to work on eye contact too.
9) Work on choices with your child by having them choose which part of their body they want squeezing.
10) Roll a dice with different animal pictures on each side, then squeeze your child in the style of that animal (e.g. monkey squeeze, bird squeeze, cat squeeze, etc).
Have fun!
Labels: Fun and Games, Inspiration, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
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Games, Games, Games
Good Morning to you!
More game ideas from The Autism Treatment Center of America.
Click on the video below, or if you are on face book click on the title of this blog, then on "View original blog, that will take you to where this video is stored, and then just click on that video itself.
Enjoy
Love Kate
More game ideas from The Autism Treatment Center of America.
Click on the video below, or if you are on face book click on the title of this blog, then on "View original blog, that will take you to where this video is stored, and then just click on that video itself.
Enjoy
Love Kate
Labels: Creativity, Fun and Games, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
5:13 AM
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Friday, November 13, 2009
Do it Anyway.
"When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid" -Audre Lorde
I have these words written on a postcard taped to my bathroom mirror. They have helped me move through any fears I may have about new or challenging things I might be doing. Like when I was learning to present the Son-Rise Program in front of 100's of people, or when I began my teacher training and had to learn to trust myself.
My vision is to do what it takes to help as many parents know about The Son-Rise Program, and to help them know how to help their special children and believe that they are the most powerful person to help their children on the Autism Spectrum.
Your vision I believe is to help your special children grow to be the best that they can be. I write these words today to you so that they may help you to do new and challenging things in the name of your children. Whether you are about to run your first group meeting with your volunteers. or give feedback to a volunteer and tell them something that you would like them to do differently with your child. Or maybe you are about to take your child out of school and start a home based program, or you are beginning a home based program without the support of your extended family. Maybe your are fundraising for the first time to help you get services for your child.
Keep hold of your vision for your child and this will help you do what is difficult for you. By doing it anyway it will become easier and easier, and you will be living the life that you want.
Be bold - start doing.
Know that we are thinking about you, supporting you and respect all that you do with and for your children each day.
Much love
Kate
I have these words written on a postcard taped to my bathroom mirror. They have helped me move through any fears I may have about new or challenging things I might be doing. Like when I was learning to present the Son-Rise Program in front of 100's of people, or when I began my teacher training and had to learn to trust myself.
My vision is to do what it takes to help as many parents know about The Son-Rise Program, and to help them know how to help their special children and believe that they are the most powerful person to help their children on the Autism Spectrum.
Your vision I believe is to help your special children grow to be the best that they can be. I write these words today to you so that they may help you to do new and challenging things in the name of your children. Whether you are about to run your first group meeting with your volunteers. or give feedback to a volunteer and tell them something that you would like them to do differently with your child. Or maybe you are about to take your child out of school and start a home based program, or you are beginning a home based program without the support of your extended family. Maybe your are fundraising for the first time to help you get services for your child.
Keep hold of your vision for your child and this will help you do what is difficult for you. By doing it anyway it will become easier and easier, and you will be living the life that you want.
Be bold - start doing.
Know that we are thinking about you, supporting you and respect all that you do with and for your children each day.
Much love
Kate
Labels: Attitude, Inspiration, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Game Idea
Hello Everyone,
Another game idea from The Autism Treatment Center of America.
You can play this with you child as is, or modify it to your child's current motivations. If this idea stimulates another theme idea, please post it on our wall so that other parents can be inspired by it.
Just click on the video below, or if you are on face book right now, click on the title of this blog, then on "View Original Post", that will take you to where the video is stored, then just click on the video itself.
Enjoy!
with much love to you all and hugs to your beautiful children.
Kate
Another game idea from The Autism Treatment Center of America.
You can play this with you child as is, or modify it to your child's current motivations. If this idea stimulates another theme idea, please post it on our wall so that other parents can be inspired by it.
Just click on the video below, or if you are on face book right now, click on the title of this blog, then on "View Original Post", that will take you to where the video is stored, then just click on the video itself.
Enjoy!
with much love to you all and hugs to your beautiful children.
Kate
Labels: Creativity, Fun and Games, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
11:58 AM
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A bit of History.
Good Morning Everyone!
I would like to share with you a bit of history I found while tidying my office yesterday.
It is our program Goals dated "01/12/1998" from our Son-Rise Program with Jade Hogan, who is my God Child, and the daughter of William and Bryn Hogan, two senior teachers here At The Autism Treatment Center of America. At this time she was just a tiny 3 year old with autism, today she is 14, a typical teenager who love the Jonas brothers, and attends regular main stream school! For those of you who do not know her story you can call us at 413 229 2100 and request the free DVD, "Inspiring Journeys of Son-Rise Program Families and their Children." Her story is the one called, "Reaching for the stars."
Written at the top of the goals we had chosen for her that week was the following:
Amazing Jade
We will believe - each day - in our special girl.
We will imagine our dreams for her made real - in 30 days.
We will use the power of our minds and hearts to transform her.......and ourselves.
Please think of her - please be a visionary for her -
"Visionaries are possessed creatures. Men and Women caught in the thrall of a belief so powerful that they will allow nothing, not even reason, to stop them from ensuring that reality catches up with their dreams."
As I remember each of us picked one thing that we wanted Jade to be able to do with us by the end of 30 days, and one thing in which we wanted to grow ourselves in, in those 30 days. Then each day we would each visualize in our minds eye this happening. I remember that I had wanted her to run over to me and hug me when I entered the room, at that time she would often shy away from physical contact, and very rarely initiate it. Today she often runs to me and hugs me full of news of what she has done since I last saw her.
Maybe this is something you and your team could do together at your next group meeting.
Much love to you all
Kate
I would like to share with you a bit of history I found while tidying my office yesterday.
It is our program Goals dated "01/12/1998" from our Son-Rise Program with Jade Hogan, who is my God Child, and the daughter of William and Bryn Hogan, two senior teachers here At The Autism Treatment Center of America. At this time she was just a tiny 3 year old with autism, today she is 14, a typical teenager who love the Jonas brothers, and attends regular main stream school! For those of you who do not know her story you can call us at 413 229 2100 and request the free DVD, "Inspiring Journeys of Son-Rise Program Families and their Children." Her story is the one called, "Reaching for the stars."
Written at the top of the goals we had chosen for her that week was the following:
Amazing Jade
We will believe - each day - in our special girl.
We will imagine our dreams for her made real - in 30 days.
We will use the power of our minds and hearts to transform her.......and ourselves.
Please think of her - please be a visionary for her -
"Visionaries are possessed creatures. Men and Women caught in the thrall of a belief so powerful that they will allow nothing, not even reason, to stop them from ensuring that reality catches up with their dreams."
As I remember each of us picked one thing that we wanted Jade to be able to do with us by the end of 30 days, and one thing in which we wanted to grow ourselves in, in those 30 days. Then each day we would each visualize in our minds eye this happening. I remember that I had wanted her to run over to me and hug me when I entered the room, at that time she would often shy away from physical contact, and very rarely initiate it. Today she often runs to me and hugs me full of news of what she has done since I last saw her.
Maybe this is something you and your team could do together at your next group meeting.
Much love to you all
Kate
Labels: Kate, Volunteers
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posted by Kate Wilde at
5:04 AM
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Being Hit & Punched and Love and Acceptance!!
Step 1. Don't Light Up Like a Christmas Tree!!
I just spoke to a mother on the phone this morning who wants to come to the Son-Rise Program Start-Up. One of the issues she wanted help with regarding her son, who is 5 yrs old, was the fact that he is aggressive towards her, hitting, punching and biting her. This is part of what I shared with her, which I thought would be a great reminder to you all. Enjoy.
I just spoke to a mother on the phone this morning who wants to come to the Son-Rise Program Start-Up. One of the issues she wanted help with regarding her son, who is 5 yrs old, was the fact that he is aggressive towards her, hitting, punching and biting her. This is part of what I shared with her, which I thought would be a great reminder to you all. Enjoy.
- Don't light up like a Christmas Tree: Getting annoyed or frustrated and angrily telling your child to "stop it", "it hurts", "that's bad," etc., in most situations, will encourage them to do this behavior more. Do your best to be as low energy as possible as you do #2 below.
- Look after Yourself: Love and acceptance does not mean you sit there while your child "beats the crap out of you!" Part of love and acceptance is wanting the best for yourself and your child. Take action - stand up if you are sitting down, get a cushion or big ball and put it in between you and your child; if they are trying to bite you - offer them something to chew on, etc. Bottom line - look after yourself and help your child channel their energy into something that would help them and also keep you from getting hit, bitten, etc.
- Run your Son-Rise Program: Each hour, each day you run your Son-Rise Program will be time spent helping your child develop their ability to interact and socialize more appropriately, which in turn helps them handle the over stimulation of day to day life and especially those situations where they do not get what they want. Many families have reported that when they started running their Son-Rise Program their child's "aggressive" behaviors greatly reduce or stopped all together.
If you want more information on handling such behaviors go to our homepage at http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/ , scrowl down the page and watch webinar #13 call Aggressive Behaviors.
Have the best time helping yourself and your child.
Much love to you
William
Labels: Aggressive Behaviors, Attitude, Training Programs, William
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posted by William Hogan, Senior Son-Rise Program Teacher at
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Monday, November 9, 2009
Exclusivity
One of the defining factors of Autism is that a child has Repetitive Behaviours, here at The Autism Treatment center of America we also see that not only can a child be repetitious but also "exclusive". What do we mean by "exclusivity"?
Exclusivity is when your child is not paying any attention to you. Their attention is on something else, maybe they are focused on a particular object like a book or a ball or a spinning top. Maybe they are simply just wondering around the room seemingly oblivious to the fact that you are in there with them, or that there are many fun toys in the room. Maybe they are just staring at a wall or the ceiling. You may have asked them something and got no response from them. The activity itself does not have to be repetitious, although it can be, just that they are not paying attention or being responsive to you.
How can you tell whether your child is being exclusive?
First ask yourself these questions, "Does it matter whether I am here or not?, meaning I have no real part or role in this game. If the answer is yes then most likely your child is being exclusive.
or, "Would my child notice if I left the room?", if the answer is no then most likely they are being exclusive.
When our children are exclusive they tend to have less facile expressions, more of blank look on their faces, they tend not to look at us for long periods of time, often positioning themselves away from us, moving away from our touch and looking at us less.
In order for us to be aware of this it is important to start to look for this. To spend a minute really looking at our children and to see where their attention is, is it with us or on something else. Then when we see that they are exclusive we can start to join in with what they are doing, but first we have to notice that they are being exclusive.
Click on the link below to see a video that will explain how to join your child.
http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/document.php?sectionid=46&documentid=47&filenum=03
Have fun noticing where your child's attention is and joining them.
with love to you!
Kate Read more!
Exclusivity is when your child is not paying any attention to you. Their attention is on something else, maybe they are focused on a particular object like a book or a ball or a spinning top. Maybe they are simply just wondering around the room seemingly oblivious to the fact that you are in there with them, or that there are many fun toys in the room. Maybe they are just staring at a wall or the ceiling. You may have asked them something and got no response from them. The activity itself does not have to be repetitious, although it can be, just that they are not paying attention or being responsive to you.
How can you tell whether your child is being exclusive?
First ask yourself these questions, "Does it matter whether I am here or not?, meaning I have no real part or role in this game. If the answer is yes then most likely your child is being exclusive.
or, "Would my child notice if I left the room?", if the answer is no then most likely they are being exclusive.
When our children are exclusive they tend to have less facile expressions, more of blank look on their faces, they tend not to look at us for long periods of time, often positioning themselves away from us, moving away from our touch and looking at us less.
In order for us to be aware of this it is important to start to look for this. To spend a minute really looking at our children and to see where their attention is, is it with us or on something else. Then when we see that they are exclusive we can start to join in with what they are doing, but first we have to notice that they are being exclusive.
Click on the link below to see a video that will explain how to join your child.
http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/document.php?sectionid=46&documentid=47&filenum=03
Have fun noticing where your child's attention is and joining them.
with love to you!
Kate Read more!
posted by Kate Wilde at
12:22 PM
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Saturday, November 7, 2009
At what cost?
This weekend I am at an Autism Conference, learning as much as I can about Autism Research. Today I watched a video from a very highly respected medical center showing their methods on how to get a child who did not want to eat to eat.
A beautiful 4 year old boy was strapped into a high chair, someone was standing behind him holding down his arms so that he could not push the food away. Another therapist was in-front of him holding his jaw open and placed a fork with a bit of food on it right in-front of his lips. They said that they do not force him to eat, they just wait like that until he takes a bite. It took this boy 45 minutes before he took the first bite, when he takes the bite they check to make sure he has swallowed it.
During this time no one spoke to him, the whole thing was done in silence and the therapists wore plastic gloves.
The professor reported with great glee how this method worked as the boy is now eating whatever is presented to him.
But the question has to be at what cost? Sure he ate, but did he have a choice? Did he eat because he was too sacred not to? Would you ever trust a person who did that to you? How can you build a relationship with someone you cannot trust? Would you like a person who did that to you?
Here at the Autism Treatment Center of America we entice children to eat new foods with fun, love and whole bunch of laughter. When a child takes their first bite of a new food (and they do regularly) we know that they did it because they wanted to, not because they had to. And most importantly the trust between the Son-Rise Program therapist/parent and child is never broken. Having our children trust us IS the most important part of the therapy, without trust there is no relationship.
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posted by Kate Wilde at
5:56 PM
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
Every once and a while, I wake up in the middle of the night from a scary dream or from having too many things on my to-do list... But I've found that no matter how scared or stressed I feel, I am always able to find my way back to sleep quickly by imagining that somewhere in the world, someone is playing in a Son-Rise Program playroom at every moment my day or night.
Perhaps it's because I have Australia on the brain, as I'm leaving in two weeks for a holiday in Australia and New Zealand, or perhaps it's because I speak to so many families from ALL over the world every single day - from Poland, Nigeria, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Quebec, the Philippines, all 50 US states - just to name a few. Whatever the cause, I've been thinking a lot lately about how beautiful it is that there are SO many Son-Rise Program families out there - families who have made the choice to live their lives with a powerful intention - to love and accept their children exactly as they are.
For me, the playroom has become a sanctuary - where I can go and enjoy every moment - no matter what might be going on in my life or in the world outside. When I'm joining a child's ism or celebrating a child's sound, or laughing a child's first joke, I am completely 100% present in that room. So, for me, there's nothing more beautiful than the thought that at every minute of every day, somewhere in the world someone is in the playroom having a fabulous time.
The next time you're stuck, upset, scared, awake in the middle of the night - you're welcome to join me - by celebrating the joy of the playrooms all around the world. It brings a smile to my face and a peaceful feeling to my heart every single time.
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Perhaps it's because I have Australia on the brain, as I'm leaving in two weeks for a holiday in Australia and New Zealand, or perhaps it's because I speak to so many families from ALL over the world every single day - from Poland, Nigeria, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Quebec, the Philippines, all 50 US states - just to name a few. Whatever the cause, I've been thinking a lot lately about how beautiful it is that there are SO many Son-Rise Program families out there - families who have made the choice to live their lives with a powerful intention - to love and accept their children exactly as they are.
For me, the playroom has become a sanctuary - where I can go and enjoy every moment - no matter what might be going on in my life or in the world outside. When I'm joining a child's ism or celebrating a child's sound, or laughing a child's first joke, I am completely 100% present in that room. So, for me, there's nothing more beautiful than the thought that at every minute of every day, somewhere in the world someone is in the playroom having a fabulous time.
The next time you're stuck, upset, scared, awake in the middle of the night - you're welcome to join me - by celebrating the joy of the playrooms all around the world. It brings a smile to my face and a peaceful feeling to my heart every single time.
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posted by Carolina, Son-Rise Program Senior Teacher at
6:41 AM
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Start Fresh
What we believe about the people closest to us can determine how we act around them and the opportunities we offer them. This is particularly true with our children. It is easy to become complacent about how much we know our children. After all we have known them all their lives, sometimes we can predict how each of our children will react to certain situations, often we are right. This we then use as evidence that what we believe about our children is true. However our children are changing and growing everyday.
Here are the Autism Treatment Center of America we believe that parents are the best resource a child has, the best people to help their children. One of the first things we help our parents to do is to look at their child with fresh eyes, as if they had never meet them before and set aside any preconceived ideas and beliefs that they have about what their child will or will not do.
How many time have you said about your child, " Oh, he won't do that", "Oh, he does not like hats", "Oh, he can't draw", "He'll never eat that." Maybe you have had previous evidence that he has not done those things, but now it has become hard and fast fact that is now immovable.
At the Son-Rise Program Intensive we have a wonderful family and their 8 year old daughter with autism. We were told that she does not like vegetables and will not eat them, that she has not had a carrot since she was 18 months old.
Monday lunch time our talented child facilitator Kim Korpady offered her a carrot. Now, Kim did not know that she did not like carrots, and believed without a doubt that she would eat the carrot - and she did! Then she ate another one, then another one, then some cucumber, then some green beans!!
Because her family believed she would not eat vegetables they did not offer them, when clearly she had changed. Think of something today that you have not offered your child recently because you have had previous experience that they did not do it or like it, and offer that thing again.
I f they do it - cheer them; if they do not do it - offer it again in a few days, and then again in a few days - do not give up offering. Keep your mind open to the belief that one day your child might just want to try this activity.
Maybe today will be the time your child decides to try it.
Have fun offering things to your lovely children.
With much love
Kate
Here are the Autism Treatment Center of America we believe that parents are the best resource a child has, the best people to help their children. One of the first things we help our parents to do is to look at their child with fresh eyes, as if they had never meet them before and set aside any preconceived ideas and beliefs that they have about what their child will or will not do.
How many time have you said about your child, " Oh, he won't do that", "Oh, he does not like hats", "Oh, he can't draw", "He'll never eat that." Maybe you have had previous evidence that he has not done those things, but now it has become hard and fast fact that is now immovable.
At the Son-Rise Program Intensive we have a wonderful family and their 8 year old daughter with autism. We were told that she does not like vegetables and will not eat them, that she has not had a carrot since she was 18 months old.
Monday lunch time our talented child facilitator Kim Korpady offered her a carrot. Now, Kim did not know that she did not like carrots, and believed without a doubt that she would eat the carrot - and she did! Then she ate another one, then another one, then some cucumber, then some green beans!!
Because her family believed she would not eat vegetables they did not offer them, when clearly she had changed. Think of something today that you have not offered your child recently because you have had previous experience that they did not do it or like it, and offer that thing again.
I f they do it - cheer them; if they do not do it - offer it again in a few days, and then again in a few days - do not give up offering. Keep your mind open to the belief that one day your child might just want to try this activity.
Maybe today will be the time your child decides to try it.
Have fun offering things to your lovely children.
With much love
Kate
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
5:25 AM
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Photographs of Your Wonderful Volunteer Team Wanted!
We are currently in the process of creating a video presentation of the Volunteer talk from the Start-Up program. When completed it will be put up on our ATCA website for families, who have attended the Start-Up, to re-watch and be reminded about "why to get volunteers?", "How to get them?", "Screening potential volunteers", etc. We are very excited about doing this.
As part of the video we would like to show photographs of families from all around the world pictured with their wonderful volunteer team. So if you have one volunteer or 10 volunteers please email us a fun picture of you and them together. If you want, but not necessary, your child could also be in the photo.
Please send the photo as an attachment to your email as a JPEG (jpg) file. In the email state your full name, your child's age and diagnosis, your location in the world (city & country) and how many volunteers you have.
Send the photo to me at: william@option.org
Thank you so much for supporting this video project and being an inspiration to other families.
With smiles and appreciation
William
As part of the video we would like to show photographs of families from all around the world pictured with their wonderful volunteer team. So if you have one volunteer or 10 volunteers please email us a fun picture of you and them together. If you want, but not necessary, your child could also be in the photo.
Please send the photo as an attachment to your email as a JPEG (jpg) file. In the email state your full name, your child's age and diagnosis, your location in the world (city & country) and how many volunteers you have.
Send the photo to me at: william@option.org
Thank you so much for supporting this video project and being an inspiration to other families.
With smiles and appreciation
William
Labels: Training Programs, Volunteers, William
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posted by William Hogan, Senior Son-Rise Program Teacher at
2:13 PM
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10 ways to make the toilet fun!
Here are 10 ways you can make going to the toilet fun, yes actually fun!
One way I have seen many children explore the toilet on their own accord successfully is to make it a fun and easy experience for both you and them and use their motivations to inspire them be near it, sit on it, and eventually use it!
1)Decorate the toilet with fun pictures or stickers of your child's favorite characters.
2) Give different stuffed animals and figurines rides to "Potty Station" to deliver their pee and poop, when your child is motivated, offer him/her a ride too.
3) Pick one of your child's main motivations (e.g. tickles, singing, bubbles, etc) and make the toilet into Tickle/Singing/Bubble toilet! each time your child goes near, or sits on the toilet, give him/her lots of the fun activity he/she loves. Being near, or sitiing on the toilet activates the fun activity.
4) Decorate the toilet like a throne and each time your child sits on it, tell him/her they are the king/queen and run to give them things (e.g. food, music, etc) as their servant.
5) Hang a fun mobil above the toilet so that when they sit on it, it's visually stimulating for them to watch. Experiment with blowing or moving the mobil for them once they sit on the toilet.
6) Try putting a couple of cheerio's down the toilet and encourage your child to hit the cheerio targets with their pee.
7) Use a fun, colorful seat to put on the toilet and a handy step stool if your child is smaller.
8) Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate! Whenever your child looks at, touches, sits on the toilet and ultimately uses it, cheer them on for all their attempts, help them to feel successful in what they are doing.
9) Give your child plenty of control, whenever he/she says "No" or resists what you offering, celebrate him/her for showing you and drop it for a while.
10) Be persistent, keep trying in many fun and different ways, it may not happen over night, be easy with yourself and your child, believe it will happen when your child is ready!
Have fun!
One way I have seen many children explore the toilet on their own accord successfully is to make it a fun and easy experience for both you and them and use their motivations to inspire them be near it, sit on it, and eventually use it!
1)Decorate the toilet with fun pictures or stickers of your child's favorite characters.
2) Give different stuffed animals and figurines rides to "Potty Station" to deliver their pee and poop, when your child is motivated, offer him/her a ride too.
3) Pick one of your child's main motivations (e.g. tickles, singing, bubbles, etc) and make the toilet into Tickle/Singing/Bubble toilet! each time your child goes near, or sits on the toilet, give him/her lots of the fun activity he/she loves. Being near, or sitiing on the toilet activates the fun activity.
4) Decorate the toilet like a throne and each time your child sits on it, tell him/her they are the king/queen and run to give them things (e.g. food, music, etc) as their servant.
5) Hang a fun mobil above the toilet so that when they sit on it, it's visually stimulating for them to watch. Experiment with blowing or moving the mobil for them once they sit on the toilet.
6) Try putting a couple of cheerio's down the toilet and encourage your child to hit the cheerio targets with their pee.
7) Use a fun, colorful seat to put on the toilet and a handy step stool if your child is smaller.
8) Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate! Whenever your child looks at, touches, sits on the toilet and ultimately uses it, cheer them on for all their attempts, help them to feel successful in what they are doing.
9) Give your child plenty of control, whenever he/she says "No" or resists what you offering, celebrate him/her for showing you and drop it for a while.
10) Be persistent, keep trying in many fun and different ways, it may not happen over night, be easy with yourself and your child, believe it will happen when your child is ready!
Have fun!
Labels: Creativity, Inspiration, Self-Help Skills, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
5:55 AM
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Immediate Love
Here at The Autism Treatment Center of America we get to meet so many lovely sweet souls. This week we have a beautiful and very lively 8 year old girl with autism. She loves to draw with a green marker and be chased and chased and chased.
As I watched her and delighted in her amazing ism of saying "arrhhh" in a high pitch tone, while starring into the corner of the room, and putting a finger to the side of her mouth. I felt grateful for all the great things I get to do each week. Who could have predicted that I would be saying "arrhhh" over and over again, but fun it is!!
One of my most favourite things I have learnt during my Son-Rise Program training, is the ability to fall in love with every child and every family that comes here immediately without reservation. There is no warm up period no time to adjust, just a jumping in and an embracing of the new people who are to become family for the rest of the week.
What would it be like if I exercised this with everyone I meet in my life? Maybe this is one of the gifts that our children are guiding me to grow in? In what ways are your children guiding you?
As always I send you much love and great respect for all the things you do with your children each day!
Kate Read more!
As I watched her and delighted in her amazing ism of saying "arrhhh" in a high pitch tone, while starring into the corner of the room, and putting a finger to the side of her mouth. I felt grateful for all the great things I get to do each week. Who could have predicted that I would be saying "arrhhh" over and over again, but fun it is!!
One of my most favourite things I have learnt during my Son-Rise Program training, is the ability to fall in love with every child and every family that comes here immediately without reservation. There is no warm up period no time to adjust, just a jumping in and an embracing of the new people who are to become family for the rest of the week.
What would it be like if I exercised this with everyone I meet in my life? Maybe this is one of the gifts that our children are guiding me to grow in? In what ways are your children guiding you?
As always I send you much love and great respect for all the things you do with your children each day!
Kate Read more!
posted by Kate Wilde at
7:03 AM
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Monday, November 2, 2009
Intense energy Take 2
Good Afternoon!
This week at the Autism treatment center of America we have an 8 year old girl with Autism! We are so excited to have her here and have spent the day really studying her, celebrating her, joining her and getting to know every delicious inch of her personality. I will let you know more about her as the week continues.
In my last blog on Intense Energy I talked about the different reasons our children may hit, bite, pull hair, pinch, punch or kick us, and an attitude to adopt when they do this. In this blog I am going to talk about some practical things you can do to avoid getting hit/bit or having your hair pulled.
1. Learn to recognize the signs.
2.Get out of the way.
As you read this don't forget to smile! So often when professionals or parents talk about their children hitting, biting kicking they get a really tight expression on their faces and talk in serious tones. Feeling easy and loving when our children are communicating in this way will be very important in helping them change .
1. Learn to recognize the signs.
Once you have recognized the circumstances when your child hits/kicks/bites etc you know when they are most likely to do it. For example do they tend to hit you when you have just said "no". Or do they tend to pinch and bite when they get really excited, or just after they have really tensed up their bodies. Once you know this you can:
Get of of the way!
2. Get out of the way.
If you know that you are going to tell your child that they are not going to get something, and that they often hit you when you do this, then before you tell them "no", step out of the line of fire, and keep out. Some of you may think to yourself, well "of course", but often times when we are uncomfortable we forget to do the most obvious things. I have often seen a student or a parent have their hair pulled by their child, and less than 10 seconds later they kneel down and put their head and hair in easy grabable distance from their child, and their hair gets pulled again.
I work with this fabulous mother and her lovely 18 year old young adult who has autism and down syndrome. He has a tendency to grab hold of her hair and pull it with all of his might when there are a lot of transitions in his life. Given that sometimes she was not able to calculate easily when he might do this, I suggested that she wore a hat that covered all her hair. Just doing this simple thing helped her feel easy when working with her son, and when he went to grab her hair he only got her hat and she had time to move out of the way, he now pulls her hair so much less.
If your child is older and bigger than you or nearly bigger than you and kicks if he cannot communicate his own wants easily, when you see this beginning to happen, move away and slowly position a large therapy ball/or cushion between you and your child. This way if he does decide to kick, your can easily hold the ball in-front of you so that he can only kick the ball verse you.
If your child has a lot of sensory challenges, she may show you that she needs to release some of her energy by jumping up and down more, or tensing her whole body. When you see this offer to squeeze her hands, arms, feet and legs. Experiment with different pressures, often times our children really enjoy deep pressure. By offering them a squeeze you are helping them release their energy before they get to the stage of biting or pinching you.
When I work with young children who bite when they are excited or when whey are seeking close physical contact from me, I will have a small squishy ball in my pocket, so that I can offer them to bit the ball instead of me. I will also put padding underneath by t-shirt on my shoulders, so that I can give big deep pressure hugs to children who may need this kind of sensory input without being concerned that they might bite my shoulder as I do this.
More blogs on "Intense Energy" to come
Much love to you all
Kate
This week at the Autism treatment center of America we have an 8 year old girl with Autism! We are so excited to have her here and have spent the day really studying her, celebrating her, joining her and getting to know every delicious inch of her personality. I will let you know more about her as the week continues.
In my last blog on Intense Energy I talked about the different reasons our children may hit, bite, pull hair, pinch, punch or kick us, and an attitude to adopt when they do this. In this blog I am going to talk about some practical things you can do to avoid getting hit/bit or having your hair pulled.
1. Learn to recognize the signs.
2.Get out of the way.
As you read this don't forget to smile! So often when professionals or parents talk about their children hitting, biting kicking they get a really tight expression on their faces and talk in serious tones. Feeling easy and loving when our children are communicating in this way will be very important in helping them change .
1. Learn to recognize the signs.
Once you have recognized the circumstances when your child hits/kicks/bites etc you know when they are most likely to do it. For example do they tend to hit you when you have just said "no". Or do they tend to pinch and bite when they get really excited, or just after they have really tensed up their bodies. Once you know this you can:
Get of of the way!
2. Get out of the way.
If you know that you are going to tell your child that they are not going to get something, and that they often hit you when you do this, then before you tell them "no", step out of the line of fire, and keep out. Some of you may think to yourself, well "of course", but often times when we are uncomfortable we forget to do the most obvious things. I have often seen a student or a parent have their hair pulled by their child, and less than 10 seconds later they kneel down and put their head and hair in easy grabable distance from their child, and their hair gets pulled again.
I work with this fabulous mother and her lovely 18 year old young adult who has autism and down syndrome. He has a tendency to grab hold of her hair and pull it with all of his might when there are a lot of transitions in his life. Given that sometimes she was not able to calculate easily when he might do this, I suggested that she wore a hat that covered all her hair. Just doing this simple thing helped her feel easy when working with her son, and when he went to grab her hair he only got her hat and she had time to move out of the way, he now pulls her hair so much less.
If your child is older and bigger than you or nearly bigger than you and kicks if he cannot communicate his own wants easily, when you see this beginning to happen, move away and slowly position a large therapy ball/or cushion between you and your child. This way if he does decide to kick, your can easily hold the ball in-front of you so that he can only kick the ball verse you.
If your child has a lot of sensory challenges, she may show you that she needs to release some of her energy by jumping up and down more, or tensing her whole body. When you see this offer to squeeze her hands, arms, feet and legs. Experiment with different pressures, often times our children really enjoy deep pressure. By offering them a squeeze you are helping them release their energy before they get to the stage of biting or pinching you.
When I work with young children who bite when they are excited or when whey are seeking close physical contact from me, I will have a small squishy ball in my pocket, so that I can offer them to bit the ball instead of me. I will also put padding underneath by t-shirt on my shoulders, so that I can give big deep pressure hugs to children who may need this kind of sensory input without being concerned that they might bite my shoulder as I do this.
More blogs on "Intense Energy" to come
Much love to you all
Kate
Labels: Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
11:26 AM
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Be Silly
Hello Again!
There at The Autism Treatment Center of America being silly is on the menu everyday.
All children whether they are on the Autism Spectrum or not can be touched and reached by silliness.
Silliness knows no bounds -when we are silly there is no right or wrong, good or bad, just a delight in what is. A desire to reach out, and play with the gifts that life has given us.
Click on the video below, (or if you are on Facebook, click on the title of this blog, then on "View Original Post" which will take you to the video) for a little bit of silly inspiration, the Son-Rise Program way.
Much love to you and your lovely children.
Kate
There at The Autism Treatment Center of America being silly is on the menu everyday.
All children whether they are on the Autism Spectrum or not can be touched and reached by silliness.
Silliness knows no bounds -when we are silly there is no right or wrong, good or bad, just a delight in what is. A desire to reach out, and play with the gifts that life has given us.
Click on the video below, (or if you are on Facebook, click on the title of this blog, then on "View Original Post" which will take you to the video) for a little bit of silly inspiration, the Son-Rise Program way.
Much love to you and your lovely children.
Kate
Labels: Creativity, Inspiration, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
11:17 AM
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