Does your child have difficulty with change of clothing between seasons e.g. moving from shoes to boots, 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. Some children have difficulty tolerating touch to their skin and find that they can only tolerate certain clothing. It may also be the result of an intolerance to change in routine, transitions, or type of clothing. Some children are rigid and ritualistic because their world is confusing and overwhelming. The rituals and routines are their attempts to control their world in order to cope with it. Continue reading
Category Archives: Resources
Yes We Can!
Did you know?
The Professional Development Module Series are interactive workshops that provide teaching teams with the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge as well as to make connections between; Physical Space, Structure and Transitions, Teacher Responses and their impact on the children’s behaviours.
Shifting Perspectives….
The child care community is currently in the process of change and educators/home child care providers are continuously making efforts to create engaging environments and experiences to foster children’s learning and development. They are deeply engaged in recognizing and adapting their own personal perspectives to support children’s well-being and their sense of belonging.
We as educators/home child care providers and parents/guardians all have our own personal perspectives, values and belief systems, and it can feel unnatural to change or adapt how we express ourselves. Recognizing and being more conscious of the statements we use with children helps shift the focus to a more positive approach that can lead to a decrease in the intensity and frequency of challenging behaviours. Continue reading
Helping Children Deal With Change
One of the most important skills you can help your child develop is the ability to deal with change. There are everyday changes all children face, such as adjusting to a new caregiver or school, or to new teachers and friends. Many children must face bigger changes as well following a loss, a move, or a divorce in the family. All change, whether it’s the end of the school year, the birth of a sibling, or a move to a new home, brings some sadness and uncertainty, as well as anticipation and excitement. You can help your child develop the skills to handle change by understanding your child’s needs and by offering encouragement and support. Continue reading
The Key to Happiness
We are all together in that we want to be happy and appreciate that every moment is a gift; to find a balance in our lives. Give yourself some time to reflect on holding the key to happiness in your own hands. Listen to other accounts on how surrounding yourself with people that make you feel good and how meaningful relationships are protective and help you move forward. Think about building resiliency in your life by investing your time and energy into relationships and connections with others and yourself. Be inspired and rethink your approach to stress by seeing it as encouragement to rise to the challenge! Continue reading
Time Saver, Cost Saver, Super-Sized Fun Activities
Are you looking for activities that will save you time and money but that are big on fun and learning? Let us introduce 2 more activities from our featured series. All materials for the activities can be found at home or purchased in dollar stores.
#11 Bottles and Jars
Objective:
Using simple objects such as plastic bottles and jars to support teaching in many different areas of development. Continue reading
Summer is for Play
Summer is coming! As you are planning for your summer, consider some new and exciting activities or variations of old favorites for your outdoor play spaces.
The following websites provide an inclusive and inspiring approach to promoting physical activity in programs and at home. Continue reading
Our Breakaway Season
Freeimages.com / Dave Di Biase
I remember that July day when my husband, Robert, suggested that our 7 year old son Tyler join the local House League Hockey team in September. My heart sank. Since Tyler had a speech-language delay, he faced challenges in communicating at the same level as his peers and making himself understood. Although he had a lot of friends, these frustrations sometimes impacted him socially. Robert strongly felt that hockey would improve Tyler’s social skills, help him feel like part of a team, and expose him to life experiences like other children his age. I questioned whether it was already a little late for him to start hockey. I then realized that the potential benefits outweighed my worries about whether he would fit in and I gave in. Continue reading
Stimulating Language at Mealtimes
Mealtimes can be a great opportunity for children to increase their vocabulary and learn some of the skills that are necessary for engaging in conversations, such as listening to others and taking a turn to talk.
Here are some general suggestions.
Get your children to help prepare part of the meal
There are many opportunities for learning and using vocabulary such as ‘wash’, ‘spread’, ‘tear’, ‘mix’, ‘stir’, ‘rinse’, and ‘peel’. At mealtime, ask each child to tell the rest of the family what they did to help. Continue reading
ACCESS Inclusion Newsletter 