As we just celebrated Valentine's Day, I am reminded of some helpful hints with the holidays and birthdays or any gift giving/receiving events.
I don't know about your kids with autism or special needs but mine love seeing their presents or gifts in the package and are ready to play with them right then. Well, this poses a problem because it takes time to get the toys or gifts out of the package, during which time major meltdowns happen, causing stress for the person getting the gift out of the package, therefore taking more time, causing a chain reaction of major stress and the day ending up not being fun, when it was meant to be a celebration time with smiles.
So recently, I started unpackaging every gift, including the candy, the night before or at least sometime before the gift is received. I get the gift ready to be played with immediately so that there is no lag time between receiving the gift and the gift being played with.
With electronics, such as an iPad, Kindle, iPod, computer, etc. it's best to get it out of the package, power it up, register it, get a few apps, music, or programs downloaded to the device so it is ready to be used as soon as it is given. I did this with both the iPad that Autism Speaks gave us and the Kindle Fire my family gave us and I am so glad I did because it took probably an hour just to get each ready to even download apps and then another hour to download the apps. So two hours set up time for EACH device just to be ready to use. That would have been a nightmare if I had waited to do these things until after I gave these electronic gifts to the kids on Christmas day. However, I did not even think about unwrapping the candy we had and I ended spending the morning unwrapping candy for my youngest but the other two threw the wrappers on the floor creating a huge mess.
For Valentine's day, I gave my oldest a baby doll complete with clothes, feeding supplies, a bottle and a diaper bag. For my middle child, I gave a small pop-up tent and for my baby a Lullaby Elmo. All with ties to be untied to get them out of the package. It probably took me 30 minutes to do just those toys. I decided to also put the gifts in their rooms to be discovered by the kids at their leisure. And this time I also unwrapped the Hershey's kisses and the chocolate Hearts we got and put them in a candy dish ready to be eaten. Whew, that went by so much better with not near the mess or meltdowns that we've had in the past. We actually had a celebration! It was a nice, fun, relaxing time!
Friday, February 15, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
I've got Potty Power!
I am starting to introduce potty training to my 2.5 year old. I started backwards with getting underwear and pullups, but he just isn't ready for any of that yet. So I decided to get the same DVD that I found and used for my 8 year old and 6 year old. It's called "Potty Power" and I found it on amazon.com here for a great price!
We are also using the Signing Time! Potty Time! video as well, which is a great supplement especially for those kiddos who are nonverbal. I love the song "Stop and Go!" that's on there. You can find the DVD here and at checkout look up Ronda Page as an instructor and you can get a discount. Or if you'd like a digital download version (here) of Potty Time! put rondapage for the coupon code and you get a discount on the digital version. (can be played on iOS ((ie iPad, iPhone, iPod etc.)) systems as well as your computer)
I play these videos for the kids until they get interested in potty training and show some signs by sitting on the potty, saying potty, watching others in the family go potty. And then when I feel they are ready, I start taking them every 30 minutes to sit on the potty with their clothes and diaper on and just for a minute or so. Then after I feel they are comfortable with that then we have a "potty day" where we set aside a whole day to hang out in the bathroom for at least half the day.
On "potty day" (adapted from the book Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day by Teri Crane found here) the child stays seated on the potty until he/she goes and then a short break to drink his/her favorite drink, play with a favorite toy and maybe a snack, and then right back on the potty until success again! And then another short break and back on the potty. I tried the potty doll with my kids and they didn't really understand the concept especially with the girls having autism, so I am skipping that step with my son, who also has developmental delays. Ms. Crane gives a ton more suggestions and feel free to do what works and skip what doesn't work for your child.
After "potty day" then it's underwear time and I take my child to the bathroom every 30 minutes consistently until they start saying potty or going on their own. When we are running errands or traveling then I take them potty right before we get in the van and then again as soon as we arrive at our destination and then again right before we leave. A lot of times we still use a diaper or pullup for naps and night time but every child is different so I just try to pay attention to the child's needs and go from there.
These are just some things that we've done/doing for potty training with my children who have autism or delays. I hope this helps you too! Do you have any potty training tips for children with special needs?
We are also using the Signing Time! Potty Time! video as well, which is a great supplement especially for those kiddos who are nonverbal. I love the song "Stop and Go!" that's on there. You can find the DVD here and at checkout look up Ronda Page as an instructor and you can get a discount. Or if you'd like a digital download version (here) of Potty Time! put rondapage for the coupon code and you get a discount on the digital version. (can be played on iOS ((ie iPad, iPhone, iPod etc.)) systems as well as your computer)
I play these videos for the kids until they get interested in potty training and show some signs by sitting on the potty, saying potty, watching others in the family go potty. And then when I feel they are ready, I start taking them every 30 minutes to sit on the potty with their clothes and diaper on and just for a minute or so. Then after I feel they are comfortable with that then we have a "potty day" where we set aside a whole day to hang out in the bathroom for at least half the day.
On "potty day" (adapted from the book Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day by Teri Crane found here) the child stays seated on the potty until he/she goes and then a short break to drink his/her favorite drink, play with a favorite toy and maybe a snack, and then right back on the potty until success again! And then another short break and back on the potty. I tried the potty doll with my kids and they didn't really understand the concept especially with the girls having autism, so I am skipping that step with my son, who also has developmental delays. Ms. Crane gives a ton more suggestions and feel free to do what works and skip what doesn't work for your child.
After "potty day" then it's underwear time and I take my child to the bathroom every 30 minutes consistently until they start saying potty or going on their own. When we are running errands or traveling then I take them potty right before we get in the van and then again as soon as we arrive at our destination and then again right before we leave. A lot of times we still use a diaper or pullup for naps and night time but every child is different so I just try to pay attention to the child's needs and go from there.
These are just some things that we've done/doing for potty training with my children who have autism or delays. I hope this helps you too! Do you have any potty training tips for children with special needs?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)