Category Archives: Inclusion

Kadence Then and Now

Kadence began her time at Cornerstone Children’s Centre in the toddler room but moved to a home child care program because her mom felt her behaviours would be better supported in a setting with smaller ratios. She did well there but ultimately Mom wanted her to return to Cornerstone. When she was two and a half years old she joined my preschool room.

When Kadence returned it was apparent right away that she still had a lot of challenges to overcome. Her Mom reported a lot of the same issues at home. Kadence was very quick to react and had a difficult time regulating her emotions and controlling her behaviours. Some behaviours resulted in other children being hurt. She had a difficult time in situations where teachers needed to redirect her and she would have intense and lengthy emotional outbursts. Continue reading →

Ear-defenders, Rocking Chairs and Fidget Toys…

Helping Children with Sensory Processing Needs

Children, like the preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder that I work with at Thursday’s Child Nursery School, may have difficulty processing sensory information and develop many extreme or repetitive behaviours that interfere with play and learning. Engrossed in how their bodies cope with touch, movement, balance, weight, sight, hearing, and taste, these children may engage in continuous movement, make noise, hide under tables, stare at lights, knock things over, chew things, or press against things. YouTube sensation, Carly Fleischmann, both nonverbal and impacted by Autism, has provided insight to us all by typing articulate and moving explanations of what it is like to have overwhelming sensory needs and how they impact on her behaviour. Continue reading →

Sparkle the Dragon

A Project to Teach Empathy and Patience in Young Children

Our educators noticed an increase in behaviours which we felt were indicators of bullying. We heard a lot of teasing about differences and seeing a general lack of respect for each other. There were leaders and followers in the group and the educators needed to find a process which would help the children to understand how they were impacting each other’s lives. Through discussions regarding the “Year of the Water Dragon”, with a focus on empathy and patience, we decided there was enough interest to proceed with the Dragon Project. We observed the children role playing a baby dragon hatching out of its egg and that is how Sparkle was born.  Continue reading →

Clothing Rituals: Moving from Season to Season

Does your child have difficulty with change of clothing between seasons e.g. moving from boots to shoes, long sleeves to short, coat to just a tee shirt? This can be a common characteristic in children with Autism and those with sensory processing difficulties. It can be the result of tactile sensitivity; the child is particular about the clothes he wears, finds tags and seams itchy or irritating, may not like having his sleeves pushed up and likes only loose or tight clothing, socks and shoes or bare feet. Continue reading →

Inclusion Ideas Corner

At the Glen Cairn Co-op Preschool, picture cards are used in daily routines with all the children. After tidy up, some children are given a picture card of “hand washing” to give to the educator in the bathroom. This gives the child a task that helps keep them on track when going to the bathroom to wash their hands. After hand washing the children are given a snack picture card to give to the adult at the snack table. This strategy can be used to support many child care routines. Continue reading →

All Aboard with Robbie

Robbie’s journey began on June 21, 1995. He was born a healthy baby boy, 8 lbs 8 oz with beautiful red hair. It wasn’t too long afterwards that we saw signs that Robbie’s travel through life would have road blocks both developmentally and medically. Robbie was diagnosed at Child Development Services (CHEO) in September 1996. This stop lead Robbie to Infant Stimulation, occupational, speech & physiotherapy as well as Children’s Integration Support Services. Robbie is now a handsome young man with global delays along with various medical concerns. 

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The Bead Counter, it Worked for Us

At the Centre éducatif les petits pinceaux, we had a chance to implement several strategies recommended by the behaviour consultant, Jocelyne Desbiens, from Children’s Integration Support Services (CISS) through the Positive Outcomes Program (POP). We implemented the bead counter strategy to support skill development and positive reinforcement of children.

The Concept
The bead counter is a set of beads strung on a thread which slide freely from top to bottom. Each and every time the child moves a bead, he/she is reminded and praised for the desired behaviour.Bead Counter Example Continue reading →