Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Travel Tips for traveling with your kids!

This article, although about flying, has some great tips on how to make traveling over the holidays, a break, going anywhere different, a little easier on your son or daughter and the whole family! Changes in routines, schedules, and comfort spaces, often need to be well thought out, discussed, put into visual schedules & social stories. As March break is coming up, and the 'regular' routine will be different for many of us, thought a number of these tips were timely, and very good points to consider. I am taking the boys off Island for the week, so will be implementing a number of these ideas. Hope you have a great break next week, whether it takes you away from home, or a 'staycation' 
The holiday season is the busiest time of year on the roads and in the skies, with travelers trekking long distances to spend quality time with family and friends. There are many things that can go wrong for the ordinary traveler, ranging from delayed flights to lost luggage, annoying fellow passengers, and more.
It’s no surprise, then, that traveling with a child with special needs can place even the calmest, coolest, most collected parent on edge. This checklist will help you be prepared for any holiday travel frustration that might come your way.

Preparation Makes All the Difference

Many children with special needs have trouble with changes in routine, crowds, loud noises, confined spaces, and similar environmental conditions – all of which are common when traveling. Some parents of children with special needs suggest showing your child videos of travelers going through airport security, creating a book that discusses the sights, sounds, and experience of traveling, or even conducting a complete run-through in the airport or bus terminal. Knowing what to expect can help your child feel calmer and less anxious when travel day arrives.

Make It an Adventure.

Certainly, the hustle and bustle of a long travel day can be overwhelming for children with special needs. But presenting it as a day of adventure can make it more fun for them. For example, a good friend of mine has a son who is on the autism spectrum and she was recently telling me that she got aLuke Skywalker costumefor him to travel in over Thanksgiving. At the airport and on the plane, he pretended they were on a mission to save Princess Leia. His mom told me that being Luke Skywalker gave him a confidence boost which helped him manage his anxiety during the parts of the trip that were hardest for him—for example, waiting in the noisy airport terminal.

Consider Dietary Restrictions

Does your child have dietary restrictions that make it difficult to find suitable options at restaurants?
Packing safe snacks is critical, but this can pose challenges when traveling by air. Call ahead and discuss your child’s specific dietary requirements with the airline ahead of time. If possible, make arrangements to take your own or have meals specially prepared. Pack snacks in see-through bags or containers to make it easier to get through security.

Pack All the Essentials in Your Carry-On Bags

Because you never know what delays or circumstances you might encounter, packing a carry-on bagis essential for a seamless trip. Your carry-on bag should contain a change of clothes, any medications your child may need (enough for several days), documentation from your child’s physician, copies of prescriptions, and any personal items that help your child cope if they have sensory issues.
And of course, a laptop or tablet are always great to have on hand. For example, my friend’s son isa math and science whiz. She told me she gave him her laptop on their Thanksgiving return trip and told him she’d love to have his help planning out their holiday decorations. She asked him to figure up how many lights they’d need for their tree, how many grandma would need for her tree, and so on and shared an online calculator with him so that he could check his work. It proved to be a great way to keep him occupied.

Plan Breaks to Allow Your Child to Recharge or Burn Energy

Long days spent surrounded by unfamiliar people or strapped in an unfamiliar seat for extended periods of time can be overwhelming for any child. Plan adequate breaks to allow your child to burn off energy or simply to get a reprieve from the chaotic travel schedule whenever possible. Once you’ve checked in at the airport and gone through security, for instance, allow your child to play to expend any excess energy before he’ll have to spend several hours seated in a confined space. Be sure to take along travel-friendly activities that can help occupy your child’s hands and mind during long road trips or flights.
The fact is that traveling during the holiday season is stressful for almost everyone. But it doesn’t have to be more stressful for your family because you’re traveling with a child who has special needs. Planning ahead and preparing your child for what to expect can help ease anxieties and make no obstacle insurmountable this holiday season

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Link to some free webinars covering a variety of issues for those with Autism.

Found a site that has some free webinars, and although we were too late to see this one yesterday, " webinar on solving autism-related sleep challengesNeurologist and pioneering autism-and-sleep researcher Beth Malow will discuss causes and solutions"  

 It will be archived on the site, that I have shared the link to. On the site, there is a variety of archived webinars, discussing a wide variety of topics, may be worth having a look through, and seeing if anything interests you. Here's just a few, of the topics I thought, may be of interest: ( please note: I am not endorsing any of the videos or the discussions within them, just sharing resources that may address issues or concerns for families.)

  • VIDEO ON AUTISM AND SKILLS FOR ADULTHOOD WITH DR. PETER GERHARDT
  • VIDEO ON WANDERING AND ELOPEMENT WITH DR. PAUL LAW
  • PARENTING WEBINAR VIDEO WITH DR. FIONA MILLER
  • VIDEO ON MELTDOWNS AND AGGRESSION IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM


 I will keep an eye out for when the sleep related challenges one comes onto the site, and let you know. Great resource. 

https://iancommunity.org/interactive-features-and-videos

Friday, March 4, 2016

Friday Fun- Thanks to sensory activities! Enjoy

Sensory overload and sensitivities are very common in a lot of our kids. There are some great links and ideas to help with the sensory overload, depending on what is causing the overload for your son, daughter, or someone you are supporting. Find out what system they seem to have the most issues with, and manage their day to create the best environment possible for comfort, learning, peace, movement and awareness. 

Minimizing Sensory Overload In Kids With Special Needs


Kids with sensory sensitivities often have trouble enjoying everyday activities like play dates and school functions. Extreme sensitivity to noise, crowds, touch, textures, bright lights, bothersome clothing, and new experiences are often so overwhelming for kids with sensory problems that it can run their lives and the lives of their parents. When symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily functioning, it is often referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder(SPD) and can be co-morbid with anxiety disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Find below some tips and strategies to help parents keep sensory sensitivities in check so kids can focus on growing, playing, and learning:
1. Earn Their Trust
Children with severe sensory issues often feel out of control and seem to be in “fight or flight” mode most of the time. Let your child know that you understand his issues are real and that you are working on a concrete plan to help minimize his stress and sensory overload. It may sound simple, but parents should do what they say and say what they mean, particularly for kids with special needs. This will help your child feel confident that you are in charge, that he is safe, and that you will be his advocate.
2. Manage Sensory Exposure
If your child has sensory problems, it is critical to stay ahead of known triggers to minimize meltdowns. For kids with hypersensitivity to noise, try giving them a quiet place at home they can go to when they feel overwhelmed and need a break. For older kids, it may help to give them a watch or timer so they know exactly what time a bothersome activity or environment will end. If your child has extreme sensitivity to certain types of clothing, go through his wardrobe together to determine which pieces are tolerable and which ones aren’t. Be an advocate for your child by explaining to others what sensory problems are and how they can help minimize your child’s distress. If possible, create small kits for dealing with sensory problems on the go so you’re always prepared. Kits should include ear plugs for noise, sensory fidgets to keep hands busy, and sticky notes to cover sensors on automatic toilets and hand driers. You may also want to include some headphones and a music player with their favorite music or a book for older kids. Staying ahead of your child’s sensory sensitivities by being prepared can go a long way in minimizing distress.
3. Schedule Silence
If you have a child who is hypersensitive to sensory stimuli, particularly noise and touch, he may benefit from scheduled silent time. Wake your child 15 minutes earlier in the morning to enjoy a favorite activity before school. Whether it be reading, computer time, or a game, make sure your child is quiet and undisturbed. Give your child at least thirty minutes of quiet time after school to rest and reset before bombarding him with questions or commands. Before bed, allow another 30 minutes of quiet time to unwind. Swinging and rocking are beneficial for organizing the senses, so quiet time can include those activities as well.
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Here's some great sensory ideas, that deal mainly with the touch but will be fun as well. 
Sensory activities are almost always a no fail activity. It opens the door for free play. It lets the kids explore a material. And its just fun!
Sensory activities tend to end in a mess at our house. But if you’re not a mess fan, take preventative measures with our 10 tips for keeping messy play clean.
Most of these sensory activities listed are to do with the sense of touch. However, a couple break out of that too. Can you find the ones that explore the other senses?
Enjoy these activities, they are all broken down into links for the individual tub or activity. Very neat, check them out, try it and let us know how the play went. 

Sensory Exploration while Creating:

Be prepared for sensory fun with these affiliate products: