2023 HOLIDAY BLOG & Peace to the World

4 WAYS TO GUIDE HOLIDAY BEHAVIOR

4 'easy' ways to guide autistic Holiday behavior ~

• Frosty’s 5 point scale
• Prancer’s power cards
• Santa’s Social Stories
• Vixen’s Visual Schedule.

Yau (2012) advises us that our child is likely to be much more of a visual thinker than we are. Spoken words are transitory – they are gone as soon as they are verbalized.  But visual tools are concrete, whether it be a real object, a photo, a symbol or a written word. Visuals can be returned to over and over again, helping your child understand, and sometimes to more easily accept, the information.          
 
< My Thoughts >       “Visuals can be returned to over and over again…”
 
VISUALS are accessible, ready reminders  – Visual Schedules, 5 point scales, Power Cards, Social Stories, & Comic Strips or Storyboards. You and your child can create one or all of these to guide autistic behavior, during the Holidays.

​Frosty's Five Point Scale ~

The emoji #4 lets you know your child is feeling upset. Or, s/he can indicate the color 'orange'. Use the FROSTY emoji's if that would work. There is an idea for expressing that the child is headed for a 'meltdown' (show snowman melting down). The Five Point scale should be age appropriate. Use Steps from 1 - 5 that your child will understand. Be creative and let them help make the scale.

Prancer's Power Cards ~

Use clip art or child's drawings of Santa's reindeer 'Prancer' to show the following:
​
When I feel 'anxious', I should ~

• count to 10
• close my eyes & breathe
• ask for a 'break'

​When I am feeling scared or overwhelmed, I should ~

• breathe slowly, or blow bubbles
• do something I like (color or listen to music)
• talk to someone nearby
• take a walk

​Santa's Social Stories ~

You’ll want the story to be brief, but maintain the child's attention. Again, let the child help you create this Visual story (bulleted step-by-step happenings are visually helpful). It is fun to make a comic strip, or storyboard. You could  use real images. ​Ideas and examples can be found on my website and others online.

​Vixen's Visual Schedule ~

 Before changing a behavior or an anticipated routine, know the child's basic understanding. A 'baseline' for learning a new skill must be established. This helps to 'start where they are', instead of repeating what they've already learned; so as not to confuse learned skills with the learning focus. Visual schedules can be accompanied by auditory backup, or even a Smart Phone app.

References:

Yau, A. (2012). Autism – A Practical Guide for Parents; eBooks Edition

​Happy & Hopeful Holidays & Peace to the World! Thank you for all the well wishes sent my way. Regards, Sara Luker