Personal Space Is Important!

Individuals who have difficulty showing appropriate social skills may unknowingly invade your personal space. Conversely, individuals with social-skill difficulties or sensory issues may be extremely opposed to you being in their personal space. As well, it is important to keep in mind that different cultures have different ideas about personal space.

There are several strategies to help a child learn the rules of personal space. Here are some examples………..

1. Model good body language – Stand at an appropriate distance from the child and let the child see you stand at an appropriate distance from others.

2. Teach social cues for body language – Explain and demonstrate facial expressions, eye contact, or body movements someone might make if he/she is uncomfortable with you being in his/her personal space. These can include turning your head, backing away, crossing your arms, etc. Have the child identify these cues and practice responding appropriately to them.

3.Look at pictures – View pictures of appropriate and inappropriate personal space. Compare the pictures with the child and have him/her label the body language (e.g., “He is too close,” “That kid looks uncomfortable”).

4.Practice personal space – Have the child stand up and hold out his/her arm to “see” personal space.

5.Have a discussion about personal space – Explain what personal space is, why it’s important, and how a child can respect the personal space of others.

6.Give breaks to a child who needs personal space – Allow a child who has sensory issues with others in his/her space to have breaks from groups during the day.

Why Is Recess Important?

Recess is often the only time for students to participate in physical, social, and emotional activities during a school day.

Regular physical activity can provide the following benefits:

• Reduces the risk for obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases

• Assists in improved academic performance

• Helps children feel better about themselves

• Reduces the risk for depression and the effects of stress

• Helps children prepare to be productive, healthy members of society

• Improves overall quality of life (National Association for Sport and Physical Education, 2011)

Recess also provides the opportunity for students to develop and improve social and emotional skills. Playing freely with peers allows students to develop skills for seeing things through another person’s point of view. Recess also gives students a chance to gain:

• Cooperation, helping, and sharing skills

• Respect for rules

• Conflict-resolution skills

• Language skills for communicating with peers

• Turn-taking skills

• Problem-solving skills in real-life situations

Finally, many students who have recess display an improvement in both their attention and their ability to stay on task during the school day. When students release energy during recess, they tend to be less fidgety and have better behavior while focusing on learning in their classrooms.

Tips for Parents at the IEP meeting

So you are finally at the meeting. What to do?

Follow these tips to make the most of the IEP meeting.

TIPS

#1  Remember that you are an equal member of the educational team. This means you will be helping to make decisions, plan interventions, and set goals. You may want to review your child’s educational history before the meeting. Stay involved and aware of your child’s progress so that you can help support your child and/or suggest changes to the goals.

 #2 Everyone in the room has the best interest of your child in mind. There may be opposing viewpoints on how to educate, but everyone there wants to help your child do his/her best.

 #3 Ask questions?? You are the one who knows your child best. It is essential for you to understand everything said. You may hear unfamiliar jargon and acronyms like LRE, PT, SLP, OT, and so forth. Ask what the terms mean, take notes, and write down the unfamiliar terms and definitions.

#4 Also, you may hear the word “data” during the meeting. Don’t be alarmed. Data is only collected because educators are required to keep records to measure your child’s progress.

 #5 Don’t worry about time! Don’t let anyone rush you into finishing an IEP. An IEP is a legal document and you may need to take extra time to make decisions or share the program with your spouse before you sign the document. 

***You can always meet at a later time if there are unresolved issues.

Plug In to Good Communication for 2016!!

Technology is wonderful! 

But too much technology can affect the quality and quantity of communication with other..... 

So, how can you create “unplugged” time for your child? The American Speech and Hearing Association suggests these tips to manage your child’s use of technology and create meaningful alternatives to screen time:

1. Choose toys that inspire creativity. Age-appropriate craft supplies, dress-up props, and building blocks keep children busy and engage them in make-believe play.

2. Include your child in daily chores. Young children readily imitate adults. Offer your child opportunities to participate in daily tasks such as sorting laundry, dusting furniture, or watering plants.

3. Reading and sharing stories is not just for bedtime. Consider reading or telling stories to your child during the daytime too. Shared stories help children learn early sequencing, vocabulary, and grammar skills.

4. Get on the floor and play with your child. Children learn important social skills such as turn-taking, sharing, and conversation from joint play activities. Playing with your child also gives you the opportunity to communicate with your child and model good language skills.

5. Let your child get dirty! Outdoor play helps young children develop gross motor skills and provides opportunities for encounters they can’t have in an indoor environment. Play in the backyard, visit a local park, or find a playgroup.

6. Turn off the TV and other tech devices. In many homes, the television is on in the background. Studies indicate that background TV noise can interfere with a child’s ability to concentrate. Background TV noise and use of other technology devices also lowers the quantity and quality of family interactions. Turning off the TV and other devices limits distractions and provides opportunities for family members to talk to one another.

7. Make tech use a family activity. When you do allow your child to use technology, use the device together and talk about your shared experiences.

8. Model good tech habits for your child. Children learn from watching the adults around them.

Practice the tech habits you want your child to use. 

Little eyes are always watching!!

Shopping For Vocabulary

Now that we are doing our Holiday shopping; the supermarket is a great place to stimulate vocabulary development. Just think of all the foods and household items that you can find in a supermarket. Many of the larger supermarkets even sell tools and electrical appliances. 

Thousands of items at the supermarket are grouped into categories. You have a section in the store for dairy products, a section for cereals, a section for beverages, etc... Therefore, classification words such as the following can be taught while you shop!

* Drinks (beverages)

*Vegetables

*Meats

*Fruits

*Cereals

*Tools

*Appliances

*Dairy Products

*Frozen Foods

......and many many more!

Ask you child questions: 

1.Can you show me where the vegetables are?

2.What kind of fruits do we need?

3. How is a pear different from an apple?

4. Where do eggs come from?

Don't forget to teach your child about the butcher, the cashier and other people who work in the supermarket! 

Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children

What Is An Auditory Processing Disorder?

Auditory processing describes how our brains perceive sound. It is how our brain recognize and interpret the sounds around us. 

Children with auditory processing disorders are not able to recognize subtle differences between sounds in words even though the sounds are loud and clear. 

Auditory Processing Disorder is also called "APD".

Recognizing the Symptoms of Possible Auditory Processing Difficulties:

1. Have trouble paying attention to material presented orally.

2. Have problems performing multi step directions. 

3. Have poor listening skills.

4. Need extended time to process information. 

5. Have low academic performance. 

6. Have behavior problems.

7. Have some form of language difficulty.

8. Have difficulty with reading, comprehension, spelling, and vocabulary. 

Children with auditory processing difficulties typically have normal intelligence and hearing; as well as, the many symptoms listed above. 

No one is sure what causes APD. There are a few strategies to help with this disorder:

* Auditory Trainers

*Environmental Modifications

*Exercise to improve language building skills 

*Auditory Memory Enhancement

*Auditory Integration Training

Common Signs of Autism

What are some common signs of Autism?

Autism is an impairment in social interaction. Children with autism may fail to respond to their names and often avoid looking at other people. Such children often have difficulty interpreting tone of voice or facial expressions and do not respond to others’ emotions or watch other people’s faces for cues about appropriate behavior. They appear unaware of others’ feelings toward them and of the negative impact of their behavior on other people.

Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements; such as, rocking and hair twirling, or in self-injurious behavior; such as, biting or head-banging. They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “me.” Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking.

People with autism often have abnormal responses to sounds, touch, or other sensory stimulation. Many show reduced sensitivity to pain. They also may be extraordinarily sensitive to other sensations. These unusual sensitivities may contribute to behavioral symptoms; such as, resistance to being touched or hugged.

For More Information on Autism go to AutismSpeaks.org