Decreasing Reliance on YOU! Feeling like your child needs you every waking moment of their day? You are not alone! Here are some tried and true ways to support their independence so that you can take that much-needed breather, while also setting them up to be their most productive, go-getter selves!
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Make Halloween Less Tricky and More of a Treat!
Are you traveling this summer? Are you bringing your kids? Here are 4 tips to help you maintain your sanity, and perhaps even be able to relax a little on this summer’s family vacation.
Counting the days until summer break? Most of us are! We daydream of warm, lazy days when we can play with our kids, plan day trips and generally relax from the stress of keeping tight, school-driven schedules! While days filled with sun screen and bug spray related activities are fun and certainly important, summer is also a great time to address some of those skills which may have been harder to work on with your child during the colder months or days that are filled with school, sports, hobbies, therapies, etc.
Parents and caregivers! Do you ever wish you could help bridge the gap between home and school expectations? Do you want a simpler way to relay directions without saying the same thing over and over again? There’s a neat tool that can help. They are called Power Cards and they are powerful! Power cards are a visual strategy used to help promote desired behaviors. They are similar to social stories in that they give the individual using them reminders of tools to help them succeed in a given a situation. They are also simply written in a story format that is relatable and specific to the individual. Power cards can be used in the home, school or community, for any social or academic type situation. The key is to choose a behavior you either want to see more of (a behavior to increase) or something you want to see less of (a behavior to decrease); while also connecting it to a highly motivating topic for your child. By using their special interest, it will help motivate them to read/listen to the story and follow the expectations in the scenario (Gagnon, 2001). Another important aspect of the Power Card is accountability. After reading the script, ask your child to repeat back the steps necessary to complete the task. When they start engaging in the task, note the positive behaviors you are observing (e.g. “Wow, you are walking with your hands by your side and using a quiet voice in the library, just like Superman does!”) After the task is completed, immediately refer back to the power card. This can be considered a “Check in” time. Materials needed: Computer, printer (although not necessary) you can also draw/write the story by hand. Whatever modality works best for you! **Consider making a few extra copies of the script and the power card..just in case they fall behind the couch, or get washed in the laundry... Steps to complete: Select a behavior you want to see increased or decreased. Choose a special interest topic that your child is motivated by. Write/type a brief scenario about the character engaging in the positive behavior for change and why it is important. Include a brief 3-5 step strategy outlining what the character did to problem solve. *Remember to include how they experienced success by using this strategy. The Power Card (about the size of a baseball trading card) this includes a picture of the topic of interest, and a solution to the situation given in 3-5 steps. (This card is created by the script and can be carried by the child) A brief note of encouragement for the child to engage in the positive behavior. (Gagnon, 2001) Example: 1. Behavior for change- Staying seated at the dinner table 2. Topic of interest- Doc McStuffin’s 3. Scenario (script): Doc McStuffin’s loves eating dinner with her family. At the table she stays seated and eats her food slowly. She doesn’t get up from her seat until everyone is finished eating. If she finishes her food early, she continues to stay at the table and waits for family to be finished. While she is waiting she likes to talk to them about her school day. When everyone is finished, Doc McStuffin’s parents say she can be excused. 4. Power Card The front of the card would have a picture of Doc McStuffin’s. On the back would be the steps she needs to take in order to stay seated at the dinner table. Staying at the dinner table looks like: 1. Staying seated 2. Eating food slowly 3. Waiting until everyone is finished The end goal is for your child to independently engage in the task without the use of the script or visual. You may find that the Power Card is not needed as often as your child grows in their independence with the task Keep in mind to share the progress made with the school your child attends. If you are seeing success at home with a certain task, it’s time to start generalizing it to the school setting! For more information click the link provided: https://education.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/asi/PowerCardStrategies.pdf References: Gagnon, E. (2001). Power cards: Using special interests to motivate children and youth with Asperger syndrome and autism. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing Keeling, K., Smith, B., Gagnon, E., Simpson, R., (2003). Using the power card strategy to teach sportsmanship skills to a child with autism. Journal of Focus on Autism and other Developmental Disorders. 18 (2): 105-111. Social Story: (To be read before a transition) Minnie mouse always walks with a safe body in the hallway at school. Walking safe, means she is following school rules. When Minnie is walking safe it makes her feel happy! (*Remember to ask student to repeat what safe should look like) Walking safe looks like: Walking feet Hands by your sides Eyes facing forward Voices off Power card: (To be carried during transitions. After arriving at her destination ask stuent to repeat how she walked in the hallway.) *This will need some prompting. Walking safe looks like: Walking feet Hands by your sides Eyes facing forward Voices off
Our own, Elissa Johnson, BCBA, reads Dr. John Moran's 2011 behavior analytic version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Enjoy and share!
Its that time of year again! Well meaning relatives ask “ What does Jonny want for the holidays?” I don’t know about you, but my son has 10,000 vehicles and he doesn’t need anymore but I often find myself at a loss for toy recommendations. At a recent conference, I had the opportunity to listen to speakers from Northwestern Early Intervention Research group speak about how to empower PARENTS...
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