couple of questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
couple of questions
2
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 3:30pm

In the poll below about summer schedules, what type of schedules are you doing? What can you recommend for a 5 soon to be 6 year old getting ready for kindergarten? (he has been in a speech/language preschool so he knows colors, numbers, cutting and the rest of the list required by the kindergarten teacher). We need to work on taking turns and how to deal with frustration................. not by screaming at the top of your lungs. LOL.


Does anyone know of a good website or book where I can find pictures to make a picture schedule (what to do when you wake up, get ready for bed, etc..)?

Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 8:05pm

our town has a 6-week summer recreation program for special needs kids out of the local park/pool, and my son is booked in there this year. I don't think that is a common thing. I think we are lucky to have this program in our area, but you may want to to check locally in your town/county or community centers. The Dept of the Handicapped (LOL) runs our town's program.

For picture schedules, I mostly used a digital camera and took pictures of real things -like Peter's toothbrush and toothpaste, the house, the bus, the school, etc and then made them into schedules using MS Word. I eventually built up a little library of 'our' pictures, which I could mix and match into different schedules. I do admit that I am probably more computer savvy than most, (I work in IT)

Sorry. That probably was totally unhelpful!

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 11:21pm

There is actually a great website for schedules I have recently found. It also has some great games on there about reading faces or emotions. There are some things you can get for free and some you have to have a membership for. www.do2learn.com

There are a bunch of programs out there for this too but they are pricey. Fortunately due to our jobs I have them at home. It is by mayer-johnson if you want to check and see if they have anything reasonable on thier website.

Check with your local autism society about what is available in your area. We have a number of options available adn sometimes it still isn't enough. However, even many parks and recreation programs will have an inclusion component to them. We have KIT out here (Kids Included Together) which I think may have national chains. They provide training and sometimes support staff to typical programs for kids with special needs.

Another option is to volunteer to be his aide at something or go with him if you can. Depending on your other kids. The last few years I have been a crew leader for our vacation bible school so I can be Mike's crew leader. The other kids go too but are in different crews. That way we are all there together and I know Mike's week will be as successful as possible.

If you want to do everything yourself I have tons of ideas. First, at least one sensory or motor activity out per day. The park, swimming, long walks, bike rides, etc. As much outdoor time as possible. If it is too hot outside a long walk in a mall may do it if you go at a non-busy time.

Museums, zoos, etc. All are great trips but you have to prepare for them. have a schedule and a plan while you are there. Go over it in advance using pictures if you can for your son. Many places have maps downloadable online. I like to use those for Mike. It helps, then he carries the map with him.

The smaller free things in your area are sometimes the best. They are less crowded and overstimulating and can be great fun. Little off the wall museums that have hands on activities are great. Fun parks with water fountains, etc. If you online to your states department of tourism they will send you free pamphlets and books usually. You can find loads of great stuff in there.

I do 2 kinds of schedules. First a calendar with the big trips listed. If we are going to the zoo on a week from tuesday, that is where it goes. If we are swimming at grandmas on friday, on the calendar it goes. The other one is a daily schedule. We are at a point where I write this on the kitchen chalk board. Usually not with set times but with a list. 1. get dress, 2 eat breakfast, 3. clean up, 4. free play, 5 swimming at grandmas, etc. You can even do half a day at a time so as not to overwhelm him. Or even just a portion of the day at a time. It is great when they start to read because you just write the list.

If you need to use pictures. make a long piece of tag board with velcro on it. Then lots of velcro pictures that you can change around depending on the activities. I still use pictures for regular checklist things. Not because they can't read, but because it is an easier visual to quickly recognize as a reminder.

This summer Mike is going with me to 2 sensory/social skills camps I am working at. The other kids will be with grandma those 2 weeks and will be spending days swimming and going to free movies. Then all the kids are going with me to vacation bible school. Then Cait and Mike are going to an autism camp in our area. The other weeks we will do day trips and swimming.

Good luck and have a fun summer.

Renee

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