I have been called away to a family situation in Australia, leaving a pile of work including a few long overdue reviews. (sorry!)
I am also leaving Daddy behind to run a house with 2 autistic teenagers for 6 weeks. So I thought it was appropriate that he take on the task of reviewing the excellent Daily Planner from Therapics which was sitting in my "To Do" list with all the other preparation for July....
Posted by Bill Domican
There are two rules of thumb for July,August and any extended period of time where a parent or carer is near 100% responsible for filling the days for an autistic child or teenager.
1. Keep your own sanity.
2. Keep theirs.
If you focus on those two rules, you'll be fine. But HOW?
The good news is that you are not alone in your trepidation and that tools have been designed to help you achieve peace in your home during what can be a difficult gap to fill.
Let me tell you about a fantastic company called Therapics and how you can look forward to, rather than dread summer holidays.
Your first step is to go online to www.therapics.org and order the daily planner which is the most appropriate tool for the task at hand. (IMO)
For instance: your local gym may have a pool with open swimming, change rooms for disabled or family. Maybe a park or a forest path where you can walk a kilometre or two. A local playground perhaps. There will be different activities for different children.
Some will like McDs some not. Some will like forests, etc while others may want walk near water or the beach, etc.
If you do that and tweak as required for the first few days before establishing a daily and weekly routine where you child knows what to expect, anxiety will be reduced and your child will be happier.
You will bond rather than struggle with your child and you will enjoy the time that you spend with them this summer.
Good luck.
I am also leaving Daddy behind to run a house with 2 autistic teenagers for 6 weeks. So I thought it was appropriate that he take on the task of reviewing the excellent Daily Planner from Therapics which was sitting in my "To Do" list with all the other preparation for July....
Posted by Bill Domican
There are two rules of thumb for July,August and any extended period of time where a parent or carer is near 100% responsible for filling the days for an autistic child or teenager.
1. Keep your own sanity.
2. Keep theirs.
If you focus on those two rules, you'll be fine. But HOW?
The answer in one quick word is..........Dah dah dah dah! ROUTINE!
If
you can establish a routine to fill the days so that unexpected events
are limited, time is filled and energy expended you will get the
reward of a cold glass of wine or beer in the evening, coffee
or whatever it is that you deserve.
Time will pass effectively, you will be more organised and your children will be happy.
Time will pass effectively, you will be more organised and your children will be happy.
The good news is that you are not alone in your trepidation and that tools have been designed to help you achieve peace in your home during what can be a difficult gap to fill.
Let me tell you about a fantastic company called Therapics and how you can look forward to, rather than dread summer holidays.
Your first step is to go online to www.therapics.org and order the daily planner which is the most appropriate tool for the task at hand. (IMO)
It costs €18 and will be one of the best spends that you will make this summer. If you have July provision, your tutor can plan out their lessons and use visuals to help keep your child on track.
Secondly,
have a think about low cost outdoor or organised activities that you
may partake in together but have heretofore carried out randomly. | |
| Set out each activity in the July Provision schedule using visuals |
For instance: your local gym may have a pool with open swimming, change rooms for disabled or family. Maybe a park or a forest path where you can walk a kilometre or two. A local playground perhaps. There will be different activities for different children.
 |
| Gracie likes long walks at Glendalough on a typical Irish Summer's day |
Some will like McDs some not. Some will like forests, etc while others may want walk near water or the beach, etc.
 |
| Liam likes to go to St Vincents charity shop then for a walk to Greystones Harbour |
But whatever it is, you
need to think about it and then use those activities as the
cornerstones in your daily and weekly planners. Other activities such as
eating, hygiene, travel, etc, can then be filled in around those
cornerstones. Using the picture cards you can then set about designing a
visual schedule or structure that your child will understand.
The use of visual schedules in the
teaching and management of autistic children is evidence based and used
daily in schools all around the world so there are no risk associated
with using this program. The images available with Therapics are easy
to read, crisp and clear in their message.
If you do that and tweak as required for the first few days before establishing a daily and weekly routine where you child knows what to expect, anxiety will be reduced and your child will be happier.
You will bond rather than struggle with your child and you will enjoy the time that you spend with them this summer.
Good luck.
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