ABC's of Summer How-To

Our ABC's of Summer have been a big hit!  I shared the idea as the feature article in the Dansie Orthodontics newsletter in July, and the idea has taken off.  We were having such a good time doing our list that I wrote Dr. Laura Schlessinger and told her I thought there were other moms out there who would also enjoy coming up with a list of their own.  She liked the idea so much that she made it her Email of the Day.  Then her staff contacted me and said Dr. Laura would like to share my list on the air with her listeners.  I was happy to oblige!  My friend Jen, who's also a client of Dansie Orthodontics, has come up with a list of her own, and one of the women she works with texted a local radio station, 105.1 FM, today (July 27, 2017, 59:15) and they raved about the ABC's of Summer to their listeners.  Here is the ABC List they came up with for their blog.

Our list is specific to our area and is going for practically-free-yet-physically-active activities, but each family's interests, budget, and location are unique.  So here are some tips for making your own list:

1) Have a brainstorming session with the kids of all the fun things they would like to do before summer ends.  They'll be able to make a great list that will probably include things like a water balloon fight, making ice cream, having a picnic.  That way you'll be able to fill in your list with easy activities you might naturally be doing this summer.  Then you can supplement with activities you've researched as suggested below.

2) Google parks, pools, hikes, and activities in your area.  People have usually compiled lists you can pick and choose from according to the letters of the alphabet.  

3) Look up your local library system.  They will have calendars online for the various libraries near you and the free events they are offering.  We saw Ponies doing tricks like playing the piano and painting at our library this summer.  But since we already had a great "P" hike, we just chalked it up as extra fun. 

4) Download the AllTrails app.  Type in the name of the cities nearest you, and it will tell you all the hikes in the area.  Just remember that even though the app rates a hike as "easy,"  don't take that at face value.  Do some extra research on the hikes to find out which ones are actually kid-friendly.  If it gains a lot of elevation, has really rocky or tricky terrain, or is longer that 2-3 miles, it may be better for older kids.  Plus, the best hikes for kids have something rewarding at the end like a waterfall, a lake, or a cave.  

5) Think of friends and family members' names.  Is there someone you could visit or invite for dinner?

6) Pick and choose from this general list:

     Airplanes (Make paper airplanes and fly them at the park or go to a military museum)

     Badminton (Baseball, Basketball, Batting Cages)

     Crafts or Camping (even if it is just in the back yard)

     Dogs (Visit the local shelter and volunteer to walk the dogs or work on teaching your dog some obedience skills)

     Elderly (Do a service project for one of your elderly neighbors)

     Farm (Visit a local farm or Farmers’ Market) or go Fishing!

     Garden (Plant one) or Game Night (Play board and card games as a family.)

     Home Improvement (Make something together to beautify your home) 

     Ice Cream (Make it homemade or go for a family outing)

     Jumprope Contest (Jello Wrestling would also be hilarious!) 

     Kid’s Movie Night w/ Kettle Corn or Kickball

     Lake (The local lake is calling!  Swim, fish, or canoe!)

     Marshmallows (Make a fire and roast them up)

     Night Games (Play steal the flag or hide-n-seek)

     Olympics (Create a neighborhood or family Olympics)

     Pool Party!

     Quiet Acts of Service

     Race (Make Pinewood Derby cars or Rain Gutter Regatta boats and have a race.  Or try one of the fabulously fun relay races from the race link!)

     Splash Park

     Tennis

     University (See what free museums your local universities have to offer)

     Volleyball

     Water Ballon Games 

     X Marks the Spot  (Make a treasure hunt or try geocaching)

     Yoga (Maybe try it in the sprinklers to give it a fun twist!)

     Zoo

ABC's of Summer

This idea came on the first day of summer break when we found ourselves out on Antelope Island.  My son said, “A is for Antelope Island,” and an idea was born.  Here is the list we are tackling.  We’re going in alphabetical order and hoping to finish by the end of the Summer, but it would be just as fun to go in random order and try to accomplish 26 activities in a month!  Since we wanted to do this list as inexpensively as possible, many of the activities are hikes.  We wanted to get out and see new things, and it’s always nice to escape the heat of the valley for the cool mountain air!  Plus, since most of the hikes are short, they can be done in the evening after work so Dad can come.  If the activity costs anything more than the gas money to get there, the price is listed.  Take this idea and adapt it for you family's area, interests, and budget!

Antelope Island

Antelope Island.  $10/car.  Bison, pioneer ranch, and the Great Salt Lake!

Bowling.  Valley Bowling is offering $1 games and $1 shoe rental all summer.

Cecret Lake.  Funny spelling but nice family hike in Little Cottonwood Canyon. 

Donut Falls.  Pretty hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Ensign Peak.  Hike at dawn and watch the sun rise over the entire Salt Lake Valley. 

Fort Douglas Museum.  Military Museum up at the University of Utah.

Grotto Falls.  Beautiful, easy hike on the Mt. Nebo Scenic Loop.

Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls.  Mini hike to a lovely waterfall in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Indian Bath Tubs.  Steep but fun hike in Farmington off of the Davis Creek Trail.

Jordan River Parkway.  Bring your bikes and explore the trail and its many parks.

KOPFC Pool. $5/child.  Great outdoor pools for every age!

Lisa Falls.  Easy Hike up Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Mill B South Trail.  Another short fun hike near Hidden Falls!

Nobletts Creek Trail.  Gorgeous hike near Heber City.

Orson Smith Park.  Hike up to the Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge near Draper.

Twin Lakes

Payson Lakes.  $8/car.  Bring your fishing poles and stroll around Big East Lake.

Quail  Trail Loop.  Enjoy a lovely shady stroll at the Ogden Nature Center

Rocky Mouth Falls Trail.  Check out this waterfall near Sandy.

Silver Lake Loop Trail.  Gentle hike in a gorgeous setting up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Twin Lakes Hike.  Half way through the Silver Lake Hike, take the trail to Twin Lakes.

Upper Falls.  The hike is steep and rocky but very short and ends in a 40ft. waterfall.

Valley Regional Park.  Grab some frisbees and try disc golf at this course.

Wardle Fields Regional Park.  Great new splash park in Bluffdale.

X Marks the Spot.  Try your hand at Geocaching and see what you can find.  

Y.  Head down to “the Y” (BYU) to tour the Bean Museum and the Museum of Art.
Zoo. Hogle Zoo, $6/child, is always a blast.  And I guess it is cheaper than a drive to Zion’s National Park.   

Sensory Issues: Finding What Works

   

   As I've attended classes trying to learn more about how to help my kids on the spectrum, I've come to a realization: I HAVE SENSORY ISSUES TOO!
   This was made really clear to me a few years ago after a particularly hard day.  It was 7pm, and I had had it!  No energy, no direction, no drive.  I just wanted to get in bed.  As I took off my jeans (that weren't tight or uncomfortable) and put on my soft P.J. pants...Kryptonite Removed.  Super Mom was back in business!  My mom told me I would come home from elementary school and change right into my pajamas.  My 5 year old self knew what I needed in order to feel "right."  It took me another 30+ to realize that it is okay to put on soft knit clothing in order to be really productive.
   Besides needing knit to feel right, I was also a sensory seeker.  I loved wrestling, lifting heavy things, and riding my bike hard and fast.  People chalked that up to my being a tomboy, but those heavy work activities helped me feel together. Keeping that in mind, we don't get up early as a family and go for a long walk or bike ride for kicks or for "exercise."  We do it because heavy work grounds us so we can have a good school day.  Exercise and fresh air are gravy.
   My sensory seeking included asking for back scratches so hard they almost drew blood. I also loved extreme deep pressure massages.  My experiences with my daughter and son who are on the autism spectrum and have sensory issues have helped me understand my own sensory issues. The pressure of an apron tied around my waist helps me get things done.  And sometimes when I need a break, I climb in bed and pile the blankets and pillows really deep--not for warmth, just for pressure.
   But my biggest sensory discovery was the weighted lap blanket.  Okay, for me it was my school bag full of books.  Once I was in middle school, most of my teachers didn't seem to notice or care that I had my bag on my lap.  I discovered that when I had my bag of books on my lap, I could concentrate.  I went from being an okay student to an excellent one.  I had peers that would make fun of me for holding my bag on my lap, but when I would try to do without it, I didn't feel "right": fidgety, distracted, disconnected.  I found it was worth putting up with the teasing to be able to be successful in class, all thanks to my book bag.
   It's safe to assume your child on the autism spectrum has sensory issues.  It is also safe to assume that some of his or her negative behaviors stem from those sensory issues.  So how can you go about tackling them?

Finding What Works:
1. Your child is most likely demonstrating what he needs.  Crying about tags or wearing pants, spinning around, needing a hard hug, covering ears, avoiding bright lights are all indications of a glitch in your child's ability to process the world around them.  So buy clothing without tags, spin your child on a swing or office chair, buy or make a weighted blanket, try noise-canceling head phones, or dim the lights. Our son was CONSTANTLY asking, "What's that noise?" over and over when ever we went anywhere.  He was hearing things we could easily send to the background.

2. Schedule an Evaluation with an OT.  An Occupational Therapist can help you understand the sensory areas your child struggles with, can give you lists of exercises to do at home, and can demonstrate how to help your child with their sensory struggles.  After some sessions with our OT, we bought a ball pit and a lycra swing because we could see how participating in those activities grounded out son.

3. Research Sensory Processing Disorder.  Sometimes going to an OT is just too expensive, so this is your chance to research and experiment.  I found the book The Out-of-Sync Child has Fun to be a big help.  There are piles of lists for each kind of sensory disintegration.  By trying new things and then observing your child's ability to focus or perform a task afterward, you can learn what your child needs.  Don't be discouraged when something that worked one day doesn't work the next.  Doing sensory activities will give your child a chance to identify what he needs, and he may even start requesting what he needs.

 

The Best Way to Stop Negative Behaviors

   
   Single Bound?  Okay, single piece of advice.  
  
   My son was an angel baby.  Since he was so late to sit up, crawl, and walk, it seemed like his babyhood lasted extra long.  He was happy to spin in circles on his bottom and look up at the recessed lighting.  On a long drive to California to see his grandparents, he was content inserting a straw into a plastic drink lid over and over for hours and hours on end.  Looking back I can see that he wasn't developing typically, but at the time I was loving my pudgy little guy who could occupy himself so happily with such simple things.

   But once he could get around, he began to drive me nuts with all these repetitive behaviors: flipping light switches, pushing buttons on the TV and dishwasher, and worst of all, hurting my newborn.  It was all about cause and effect for my son (I'll call him #3).  Hurting his little brother was exactly like flipping a light switch or pushing a button.  But, of course, it was horrible and would earn him an instant timeout.  #3 spent A LOT of time in timeout, and yet he'd come right back out and do it again!  I was beside myself.  My girls had responded well to timeouts and other consequences, so why wasn't it working with #3?

   I call that time after #4 was born "The Dark Days."  My newborn cried all the time, and I had to hold him constantly to keep him safe.  I was powerless to change #3's behavior, and I was realizing something wasn't right.  We took him in for an evaluation, and they diagnosed him shortly after he turned three with pervasive developmental delay with tendencies toward autism.  They accepted him into their special preschool for kids on the spectrum.  His time there two days a week felt like sweet relief.  To not have to be on guard constantly, or disciplining, or cleaning up a disaster made me feel like I might actually survive.  But after only two months they told me that they couldn't have him there anymore because he kept hurting the other kids.  "We can't help your son."  I was devastated.

   Through an amazing set of events, #3 landed a spot in special pilot preschool program for kids on the spectrum.  It was intense ABA with an individual aide in a small classroom setting, and my son made huge strides in his speech and behavior.  He soon progressed enough that he attended a regular preschool class in the morning with his aide and then spent time in his special class in the afternoon.  His teachers were incredible, and I found myself relying on their advice on how to help #3 at home.  And no matter the scenario I'd give them, they'd always give me the same advice: praise him for every positive thing he does, try to prevent the bad, and don't make a big deal out of the negative. 

   I remember asking them about what I should do because #3 kept hurting people in the car, and his amazing teacher Miss Patty looked at me and lovingly (yet trying to hold back her exasperation that she had to say it yet again) said, "Just work on praising him for all the little good things he does, try to prevent the bad by changing where he sits or handing him something to do, and then don't make a big deal out of the bad.  Heap love on the person hurt, but ignore #3."  It finally hit me, the same advice applies to every situation!

   Guess what?  It works!  When I focus on praising him for literally every little thing and on preventing negative behaviors by anticipating them, we have great days.  "I love how quickly you hopped out of bed!"  "How did you get your shirt off so fast?  Do you have superhero powers?"  "Thank you for coming when I called.  You're such a good boy!"   When I am constantly looking for and praising him for the good, I see and get more of it.  I know the situations that trigger trouble, and I try to prevent those situations from happening.  And though it is totally counterintuitive, ignoring the bad works.  You just have to say to yourself, "If I give attention to the negative, I will get more negative, even if those around me will think I'm a bad parent for not getting after my kid."

   Last year, #3 attended 1st Grade at a charter school for kids on the spectrum.  His homeroom teacher never had any trouble with him, but his reading and math teachers were beside themselves.  I decided to visit their classrooms to see what was happening.  His homeroom teacher was praising her students' good behavior just about every other sentence.  "Good sitting on your pockets, Henry!"  "I love how you're keeping your hands to yourself, Asher."  She had a room of kids on the spectrum all behaving properly.  The other teachers were pulling my son aside after negative behaviors and talking to him gently about making good choices.  It was so rewarding that #3 wanted more quiet, face-to-face time with his pretty teachers, so of course his negative behaviors escalated.

   Positive reinforcement is powerful!  It absolutely works.  The tricky part is making it a habit and keeping up on it.  Whenever my son is neck-deep in negative behaviors, I can see that I haven't been praising the good or that I didn't work to prevent.  It is easy to let personal stress, busyness, and negativity seep in.  But I've seen that turning the day around is only just a handful of compliments away.  When mom is in positive-mode, amazing things happen at our house.  Try genuinely praising your kids, spectrum or not, consistently and conscientiously for a couple days and see what happens.

Motivators for Kids with Autism and ADHD

     If you have a child or student with autism or ADHD, you know how difficult it can be to get them to complete school work.  Many times they are only interested in their current mania.  Don't fight it.  Use it!

    1.  I have my kids choose a reward from the Reward Board.  They place it next to their work so they can remember what they are working for.  Then we set the timer for a reasonable amount of time, and if they finish in that amount of time, they get their reward.  For some kids, this is enough to move them through their work.  My older kids will to two "Need-to-Do's" before they get to do a "Want-to-Do" from the board.  It's a great way of teaching time management.

     2.  My son with autism has serious attention issues and has to be moved from one problem to the next.  Even in his classroom of kids on the spectrum, he monopolized the aide. We just started homeschooling him this year, so I developed ways to motivate him problem-by-problem or line-by-line.

     Since he loves Angry Birds Transformers, I printed out pictures of various characters, cut them out, and laminated them.  As he finishes a problem or row, depending on his ability to focus that day, he grabs a piece of the Transformer from a plastic bag and "builds" it as he does his work.  When the page is done, the Transformer is complete AND he has earned his chosen reward from the Reward Board.  This idea is simple because no matter how his interests change, I can always make new characters to motivate him.  He also gets a kick out of mixing and matching Transformer parts.

     3.  Too keep things fresh, we also use sticker puzzles in the same way.

     4.  If you don't have any stickers on hand or just want to mix things up, you can draw a part of a picture each time a row is completed.

          5.  Both my son and daughter on the spectrum also love a "secret message"on their work. As they finish a problem, I write one of the letters of the message down in random order.

     The great thing about each of these motivators is that they can be adapted easily for the student's attention that day or to their ability to concentrate as it improves over time.  They also make use of the power of the student's mania.  Yes, it is a lot of work to motivate our students with attention issues, but it is much more satisfying and effective to draw a picture or build a mini puzzle than it is to say for the thousandth time, "Come on, next problem!"

Fridays Short Daily Writing: Gratitude Journals

Gratitude Journal Instructions:
I'm thankful for

1.

2.

3.

In complete sentences, write one good thing that happened this week.

Thursdays Short Daily Writing: Journal Prompts

Choosing a journal prompt and writing as much as one can in a set amount of time is a powerful tool to unlock the imagination and to hone a student's writing skills.  It also lends itself to adaption to ability.  Older students can write for longer periods of time.  Younger or special students may only write a sentence or two to begin with.  Preschoolers can draw pictures.  From the following lists, I typed up prompts I felt would excite my children and placed them in glass jars.  Each Thursday they can pull up to three prompts, but they must choose from one of the three.  The Scholastic Story Starters can used as one of the 3 prompts.

Scholastic Story Starters

Picture Prompts

Questions to Ask Kids

Journal Buddies

Journal Prompts

180 Journal Prompts

20 Prompts for Kids

Creative Writing Prompts

Journal Prompts for Younger or Special Learners

From The Autism Helper

     For my kids on the Autism Spectrum, I am personalizing some of the prompts to be specific to their intense interests.  My daughter will have prompts about becoming various animals, being a character in Harry Potter, and experiencing natural disasters.  My son will write about Angry Birds, Star Wars, Halloween costumes, and robots.
Simple Journal Prompts
Journal Prompts for Little Ones