If you assume a child WANTS to behave well, then misbehavior becomes a clue – what skills are they lacking or what barriers are in the way of them behaving well. How do we address those barri…
New studies show that people who don't identify with their birth sex (gender dysphoria) have higher than expected rates of autism.
I’ve always been an anxious person and I tend to be a bit mean when I talk to myself. With this poster, I wanted to share one of the ways I developed to be kinder to myself and become my own best friend. […]
Concerned about the state of the world, Canadian author and illustrator Elise Gravel created a wonderfully timely illustrated poster that explains the
By Rachel SummersMany people see teaching autistic children as an extra challenge, as many of them don't learn in conventional ways. However, teaching an autistic child simply requires you to look at teaching in a different way. Below are some methods educators can use when teaching a child, that will help them get the most out of their education. Creating rapport and engaging the child is key.Make The Most Of The Child's InterestsMany autistic children can develop fixations on things that interest them. Their interests could be superheroes, trains, maps, or anything else you can think of. If your child does this, then you can use that to their advantage. "A child that is being given teaching materials that fit in with their interests will be much more likely to get involved" says professional teacher Diane Simmons from Australian Reviewer. "It's much easier to encourage them to write or try math calculations if it relates to what they're into right now." For example, if a child likes trains try writing a train timetable, or plotting a route for a train on a map.Develop Their MusclesWriting can be a particular challenge for autistic children, as they still need to develop their fine motor skills. As this is the case, it can be a good idea to develop those skills first, before moving into writing proper.For example, try giving the child something soft to squeeze, such as Play-Doh or a stress ball. The more their muscles develop, the harder objects they can start using. You can also ask them to draw on a vertical surface, as drawing or painting up and down can help develop muscles in the hand and wrist.Be Aware Of Sensory OverloadLearning anything can lead to sensory overload in autistic children. New sights, sounds, and textures can sometimes be overwhelming. Teachers sometimes find that the child is resistant to new learning, yet may not understand that the child's environment is critical."When this happens with my daughter, I take it at her pace" says parent Richard Farrow from UK Services Reviews. "We slow down, and break the task into smaller chunks. "That way, she can avoid being overloaded and focus on learning."Try Teaching with Visual PropsFor many autistic children, it's easier to learn if they're given the option to learn visually. Some autistic children think in pictures rather than words, so modelling this in your teaching style can help them process information. For example, think about how you would teach words to a child. When you're teaching nouns, it's quite simple to show a picture of that object, alongside the word. For verbs, you may need to get creative. Imagine you're teaching the concepts of "up" and "down." You may want to show "up" by using a toy airplane going up in the air, and "down" by showing it land.Offering Alternate Means Of CommunicationMany autistic children are not able to express themselves in the same ways as their typical peers. Up to 1/3 of autistic children are non-verbal, so it can feel as though teaching them is more challenging. Thankfully, with some creativity and technology, this doesn't need be the case.With the development of iPads in recent years, it can be easier than ever to communicate with a child. There's lots of APPS and software available that can help them with communication and expressing their needs. Picture cards, a lo fi alternative, can help them understand emotions and ask for help. Be Creative It's true for all students that a change in regular teaching patterns can help enormously, but this is especially true for autistic children. When regular teaching methodologies aren't working, changing things up can make a difference. For example, using music to teach can help children understand a concept. "Autistic children can often find it helpful to sing or chant, rather than learn from a blackboard" says Huffington Post editor and researcher Jessica Powell. "The repetition helps them get the hang of an idea, and can be much more meaningful for them." Constantly look for teaching ideas that are outside of the box, as this could be the thing that helps a child get the most out of their learning.Teach At The Child's PaceFinally, always look to the child to set the pace for learning. Look for signs of frustration, fatigue, and being overwhelmed. If you go at their speed, they'll be much more receptive to you, and you'll help them enjoy learning with you.These tips and methods will help you teach in a way that fits the child. It's amazing just how changing your own perspective and techniques can help a child learn and grow.***Rachel Summers works with students that need extra help with their studies. She's done this through several different agencies, including UK Top Writers. This experience has taught her just how different students learn. She brings that experience to the articles she writes. Find more articles by Rachel Summers
Is the weather keeping you and the kids stuck inside? Check out this list of nine activities for keeping kids active indoors.
Here’s a free printable poster I made to show kids that all kinds of families are OK, and that families are as diverse as people. Teachers and parents, you can download it here and print it for school or home use (no commercial uses allowed). […]
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Teaching kids with autism about strangers is challenging. Visuals help them identify and appropriately interact with a variety of "safe" strangers.
Let's make a Minecraft Creeper craft out of recycled cardboard using tubes like toilet paper rolls and boxes. This fun and open-ended Minecraft craft for
Look at the 25 stunning nail designs (step by step tutorials). Now, It’s your time to try some of these designs and give your nails a quick makeover.
An overall outlook on anxiety disorders, types of anxiety disorders, their symptoms, common risk factors involved, the aetiology of anxiety disorders as well as the treatments for anxiety disorders
Coaching parents and educators on disarming communication and social-emotional regulation to support the brain and growing children.
This 7 minute animal themed HIIT workout for kids improves emotional regulation and reduces meltdowns. Loved by OTs, teachers, and parents alike!
Make your own painted LEGO jars that look like minifigures! These are perfect for organizing LEGO bricks or decorating a LEGO party.
10 AWESOME ARTIST INSPIRED ART PROJECTS FOR KIDS
What's inside this article: The benefits of deep breathing exercises for kids, how to teach deep breathing, plus activities and printables.
Interoception- Use these interoception strategies to Impact the 8th sense, needed for self awareness, regulation, homeostasis, mindfulness.
Are you doing a tot school transportation theme? We finally finished up our transportation themed activities this week and had a lot of fun with all the different modes of transportation we explored. Here were our plans for Transportation Week: And here are the details of each activity: Our favorite transportation books for the week […]
Our school is building an addition, so I thought projects related to “building” would be fun. Legos are the perfect building blocks! So, we designed our own mini-figures with this template. I originally saw this idea from The Art Teacher’s Closet. We also stamped with Legos (idea via Lego Stamping from Filth Wizardry). Thanks to wonderful bloggers for these two ideas! My students LOVED them! They were so excited about these proejcts. Place your piece of paper on top of … Read more... →
Looking for new favorite picture book read alouds? Don't forget to include nonfiction books, too! Take a look a 10 favorite nonfiction picture book picks from our classroom book a day reads.
Matt Lowry is an autistic psychologist and the parent of an autistic child. He provides a powerful neurodiversity-affirming perspective on Autism and language to help individuals and their families…
Explore Earth Science with basic LEGO bricks! Build the layers of soil and learn about the different layers of soil!
Feelings chart to help students make appropriate choices. ...
Thought I'd share this unique talent made by an Illustration artist Joseph Luna (Esoj Luna) from Cebu, Philippines. He took 20 iconic brands and personified them in his illustrations, turning them into unique and colorful characters.
Teach Kids About Autism Our Kit for Kids program is designed to teach elementary and middle school students about their autistic peers. The kit is centered around an illustrated booklet entitled “What’s Up with Nick?” This colorful, kid-friendly booklet tells the story about a new student, an autistic boy named Nick, through the eyes of
Find 21 of the latest Lego Birthday Party Ideas that are Inspirational, cost effective. Home made ideas will covering everything you need for a great party.
This list of 15 Apps for Kids with Anxiety has done wonders for helping us navigate the negative thinking, difficult social situations, and anxiety.
Proprioceptive input activities throughout the day improves sensory integration, self-regulation, and also prevents inappropriate sensory seeking behaviors.
