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BLOG #3 What to do while you wait - try new things...

4/16/2018

BLOG: #3 - What to do While You Wait with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker

Preceded by:
#1 What to do While You Wait... Red Flags & Parental Concerns CHECKLIST
#2 What to do While You Wait... Diagnosis & Denial & Doctors WHAT TO DO NEXT... FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS

< My Thoughts > "What to do While You Wait..."

Parents often must wait days, weeks, and even months for assessments or doctor appointments. During this stressful time, it's good to feel that you are actively helping your child. This can become an important time of clarifying what bothers you the most about your child's behavior, development, or other concerns. Video tape what you are seeing and how your child acts throughout the day/night. 'Seeing is believing' for someone new to your child.

Prioritize your child's 'needs' and your 'wants'. Try new things... like teaching your child age appropriate 'developmental skills' that are non-invasive. See what works and what doesn't. Eventually, you will have to choose from available programs, therapies, and services that will be offered. Some are quite expensive, so understand your child well enough to figure out what will probably work and what absolutely won't. You can only know this by trying some things on your own. In this 'page' I give you some ideas on where to start to discover who your child is 'behind' the autism.

HOW TO FIND THE INTERVENTION OUTCOME YOU ARE LOOKING FOR…

Before looking for a program… Prioritize your child’s
‘needs’… Prioritize your ‘wants’

In other words…

What is the most frightening or destructive thing that is going on right now in your child’s world?

Recent studies show the following things worry parents the most…

Lack of…

gross motor skills
speech/language communication
cognition
social/personal awareness
daily living skills

Let's look at #3A Gross Motor Skills & Speech/Language Communication, first. Next, will be #3B Cognition. Then, will be #3C Social/Personal Awareness & Daily Living Skills.

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BLOG: #3B What to do while you wait: cognition with <my thoughts> by sara luker

4/15/2018

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#3B - What to do While You Wait... COGNITION (THINKING SKILLS): Try working on these SKILLS with your child:

a Series of Suggestions with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker

Preceded by:
#1 What to do While You Wait... Red Flags &
Parental Concerns CHECKLIST
#2 What to do While You Wait... Diagnosis &
Denial & Doctors WHAT TO DO NEXT…
FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS

< My Thoughts > "While You Wait..."

Parents often must wait days, weeks, and even months for assessments or doctor appointments. During this stressful time, it's good to feel that you are actively helping your child. This can become an important time of clarifying what bothers you the most about your child's behavior, development, or other concerns. Video tape what you are seeing and how your child acts throughout the day/night. 'Seeing is believing' for someone new to your child.

Prioritize your child's 'needs' and your 'wants'. Try new things... like teaching your child age appropriate 'developmental skills' that are non-invasive. See what works and what doesn't. Eventually, you will have to choose from available programs, therapies, and services that will be offered. Some are quite expensive, so understand your child well enough to figure out what will probably work and what absolutely won't. You can only know this by trying some things on your own. In this 'page' I give you some ideas on where to start to discover who your child is 'behind' the autism.

HOW TO FIND THE INTERVENTION OUTCOME YOU ARE LOOKING FOR…

Before looking for a program… Prioritize your child’s
‘needs’… Prioritize your ‘wants’

In other words…

What is the most frightening or destructive thing that is going on right now in your child’s world?

Recent studies show the following things worry parents the most…

Lack of…

gross motor skills
speech/language communication
cognition
social/personal awareness
daily living skills

This POST is about COGNITION… #3B Continued…

This POST is about COGNITION… #3B Continued…

#3B What to do While You Wait... Work on these SKILLS... COGNITION...
a series of suggestions with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker.

COGNITION –

In the ordinary world, ‘cognition’ or the ability of the child to make sense of their world by asking and answering questions, appropriately. By participating in a back-and-forth conversation, appropriately and by learning through active listening and paying attention. Another way to show ‘cognition’ is by showing ability to use short-term and long-term memory; as well as being able to understand the world from someone else’s perspective.

Most studies show that with early identification and intervention, children with autism, both verbal and non-verbal, have made cognitive gains with help. These gains can be made by helping the child expand and explore experiences in their natural setting (at home and community).

< My Thoughts > ...While you're waiting...
for the world of doctor’s appointments, consultations, and program possibilities to open up for you... you might try some of these suggestions... Smiles.

The CDC Milestone Tracker suggests some of the following activities to do with your child:

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BLOG #3:#3C what to do while you wait, Continued... Daily Living Skills with <my thoughts> by sara luker

4/14/2018

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DAILY LIVING SKILLS –

< My Thoughts > Developing ‘daily living skills’ and developing ‘self-awareness’ go together hand-in-hand. This becomes one of the trickier tasks to teach with any child. So, before teaching ‘daily living skills’ one must have ‘self-awareness’

According to Duff & Flattery (2014), understanding ‘self’ is contingent upon understanding there is ‘other’, in other words, someone ‘other’ than ‘self’. They say that understanding ‘other’ also requires a high-level of understanding ‘object permanence’. We are reminded that “the understanding of ‘self’ is not present at birth, but develops through a process of social experiences.”

In Child Psychology class, I remember learning that babies cry when mommy leaves the room because they lack ‘object permanence’. Mommy is gone forever, because the concept of her just being in another room isn’t part of the newborn’s experiences or understanding yet.

These authors say that the tried and true method of whether or not a child has discovered ‘self’, is to put rouge on their nose then place them in front of a mirror. If they touch their nose or try to wipe off the rouge, then they are relating to the image in the mirror as themselves... ‘self’.

Begin teaching your child ‘daily living skills’ by first playing around with the mirror idea. Sonny has mirrors everywhere in the house. The only time I see him actually looking in the mirror at ‘his’ reflection is in the bathroom. He usually looks a little puzzled and taken back, but I think that he does recognize himself in the mirror. He also seems to see and know that the person’s reflection waving to him is me. He usually seems to recognize himself in pictures on the shelf and in photo albums.

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#3C Social & daily living skills with <my thoughts> by sara luker

4/12/2018

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This POST is about #3C What to do What to do While You Wait; SOCIAL/PERSONAL AWARENESS & DAILY LIVING SKILLS with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker

Parents often must wait days, weeks, and even months for assessments or doctor appointments. During this stressful time, it's good to feel that you are actively helping your child. This can become an important time of clarifying what bothers you the most about your child's behavior, development, or other concerns. Video tape (phone App) what you are seeing and how your child acts throughout the day/night. 'Seeing is believing' for someone new to your child.

Prioritize your child's 'needs' and your 'wants'. Try new things... like teaching your child age appropriate 'developmental skills' that are non-invasive. See what works and what doesn't. Eventually, you will have to choose from available programs, therapies, and services that will be offered. Some are quite expensive, so understand your child well enough to figure out what will probably work and what absolutely won't. You can only know this by trying some things on your own. In this 'post' I give you some ideas on where to begin to discover who your child is 'behind' the autism.

HOW TO FIND THE INTERVENTION OUTCOME YOU ARE LOOKING FOR…

Before looking for a program… Prioritize your child’s
‘needs’… Prioritize your ‘wants’

In other words…

What is the most frightening or destructive thing that is going on right now in your child’s world?

Recent studies show the following things worry parents the most…

Lack of…

gross motor skills
speech/language communication
cognition
social/personal awareness
daily living skills

SOCIAL/PERSONAL AWARENESS –

< My Thoughts > Babies begin being ‘social’ by interacting with those around them. They smile, coo, and show excitement when they recognize someone. They should also learn to calm themselves down when anxious or upset. Children with autism may not respond this way. That’s where the parent can try to teach or encourage this social/emotional development.

By encouraging play, acting animated, happy; even singing and dancing around your child can be a place to start. Add new toys while letting him/her cling to the favorite toys. Encourage independence by helping the child dress and undress at appropriate times. Allow for favorite shirts, colors, or styles. S/he may not like tight or heavy clothing. Tags are a definite ‘no – no’ for most sensitive children.

What to do while you wait? A favorite of parents and teachers for learning self-awareness would by teaching social skills through ‘Social Stories’. Carol Gray was the official originator of ‘Social Stories’ and you can find much online to learn more about her methods. Versions of these teacher/parent–made stories have been used the world over, in some form or another. You don’t have to take a course or follow a certain protocol in order to create them.

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Author

Disclaimer: Just to let you know that I, Sara Luker, have put forth my best efforts to create the extended book reviews presented here on this website. I have permission from the authors to publish these Extended Book Reviews. This is just a sharing of stories of those who have gone on before you. Please, understand also that all health matters ALWAYS require professional medical decisions, diagnosis, and treatment by highly qualified and licensed individuals.

Recently, I have added “What to Do While You Wait” to the website. This collection of information is for educational purposes only. My hope is that you will not feel alone when dealing with the mysteries of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Know that I, Sara Luker, receive neither financial rewards nor other interests derived from this website. This has been created purely for the readers sharing information and for your enjoyment.

Regards,
Sara Luker

BLOG #3: What to do While You Wait: Try New Things, #3A Motor & Communication, #3B Cognition, #3C Social & Daily Living Skills; with <My Thoughts> by Sara Luker

BLOG #3 What to do while you wait - try new things...

BLOG: #3B What to do while you wait: cognition with <my thoughts> by sara luker

BLOG #3:#3C what to do while you wait, Continued... Daily Living Skills with <my thoughts> by sara luker

#3C Social & daily living skills with <my thoughts> by sara luker

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