Using Social Stories to Prepare for New Experiences
Have you ever heard of a social story? This is something we learned about in therapy with our daughter. They are extremely helpful when we are introducing new concepts, new situations, or stuff she's never done before. And while our daughter is autistic, this actually works for pretty much any kid in any situation: kids with anxiety, kids that don't have anxiety, or kids that just need that additional structure knowing what's going to happen when they have a new experience.
Simplifying Mornings with a Clothing Choice Board
Jackie was having a hard time getting dressed in the morning. It seemed to be very overwhelming and causing a lot of anxiety for her which made our mornings really hard. So we talked to her therapy team and we came up with this idea of a clothing choice board.
Neurodivergent Travel Tips
We all know that traveling can be a hassle. With changes in routine, new people, new food, unfamiliar spaces and so much more traveling can be especially hard for anyone that is neurodivergent. These items are a few of the things that I have found to make our traveling easier.
Autism Fidget Toys & Bags
Shortly after Jackie was diagnosed as autistic when we were going to a lot of different therapies, I started carrying around these little fidget bags wherever we went. I realized that they were a great tool to keep her entertained and I now have them in almost every bag we own! I have one in my purse, diaper bag, our church bag, her backpack and we even have one in her bed box. They have become such a staple for us that I decided I would show you what I put in each of ours!
How We Use Countdown Chains
One of the many accommodations we use for our autistic daughter is countdown chains. Usually when we use these, I actually have our daughter help me make them. She loves doing crafts anyway, but I use this time to talk about what we are counting down and how many pieces we need for the chain. She personally seems to enjoy the entire process more when she's participated in creating it.
Favorite Shops to Buy Sensory Kits
Sensory kits have so many benefits, even if your child doesn’t have sensory needs. They are great for speech and social development and are just fun in general!
We have been using sensory kits for several years now and love them. From water beads, sand, rice, to play dough, there are lots of different kinds of sensory kits out there that you can find to fit your child’s needs or interests.
How to Make a Quick Sensory Kit
I have talked for a long time about our love for sensory kits. If you don’t know, a sensory kit is a container normally filled with something like water beads, rice, or sand as well as small toys, pom-poms, etc. that provides kids with the opportunity to explore and learn through hands on play that engages their senses. These kits can be used in conjunction with different therapies (like the therapies Jackie participates in) because they encourage and support various types of development, but they are also great activities to have in your home to keep kids busy! I have a few places I like to buy themed sensory kits that we love, but also have found its pretty easy to throw together my own. I’m going to show you how with supplies you probably already have on hand!
ADHD Organization Tips
One of the things we worked on a lot was organization. One of the ways I cope with my ADHD is by staying organized. It helps keep my brain calm and I have a much easier time of getting things done if I am organized and I know where to find the things I need. Over time, I’ve developed even more ways to keep myself organized that works really well with my ADHD.
How We Use Choice Boards
Eastern Tennessee blogger shares how her family uses Choice Boards to help her daughter with Autism
