Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, filled with joy, peace, and lots of love. 

Jessica

Putumayo Music Holiday E-card

You have heard me mention the Putumayo World Music collections before ... AMAZING! I use the various kid's playground CDs in session, in particular.  Anyhow, I receive Putumayo updates through emails, and received this (see below) in a recent email. 

It's great! I was able to download a photo to send in an ecard to friends and family, and I loved that Putumayo holiday-inspired music was playing in the background.  I received a lot of feedback on this one from friends and family :) What is really exciting is that after sending your card, you are able to download a free song from a recent Putumayo collection (I believe it's a different one from the one that plays with the card).  See below for more information, and to create your ecard!

1. Choose a personal photo

2. Write your own custom holiday message

3. Send your personalized holiday e-card to
    your friends and family

4. Receive a free holiday song download!
Create your e-card now

Other languages : Español
Français
Deutsch
(The e-card will launch in a new window and requires the Flash player.)

Enjoy!
Jessica

"In My Stocking" (a speech related activity)

Here's another little holiday related activity that is very easy to implement ... I think anyone could do this one with no problem :)








"In My Stocking" (to the tune of: " Oh My Darlin' ")

In my stocking,
In my stocking,
In my special Christmas stocking,
Look inside for little prizes
In my special Christmas stocking!

Materials Needed:

• Stocking
• small toys or pictures of small toys/candy prizes

Directions:

1. Sing song through 1x.  (slowing down speech to enunciate/stress certain words and/or syllables on targeted words)
2. Have child reach into stocking to pull out 1 (only one) item.
3. Look at and name the item.  Repeat item name (i.e. "dinosaur", "ball", etc), being sure to encourage/practice verbal clarity and speech fluency. 
4. Make sure you have fun with this!

Targeted Goal Areas:

• Speech production/clarity/fluency
• Impulse control
• Auditory cueing/Auditory attention
• Attention to task for duration

NOTE:  If working mainly toward speech goals with this activity, be sure to choose items (to go in stocking) that include speech sounds/characteristics that fit your child's speech needs.  For example, if your child needs improvement on blended sounds, include an item with blended sounds in it's name (maybe a blue item /bl/).  If your child needs improvement on producing words with 2 or 2+ syllables, include items with multi syllables (maybe "dinosaur" or "alligator"). 

Have a great weekend!
Jessica

Gluten Free Chocolate Eclairs at Chucktown Coffee!

Wow - I just ate a gluten free chocolate eclair ... at a coffee shop! I went up to the register like a normal person and ordered a pastry! It was amazing.  It tasted like a chocolate eclair and the custard inside was perfection! Sweet Jennifer, the owner, has recently ordered several wonderful pastries from a local gluten free bakery.  In the case right now are gluten free Lemon Bars, gluten free Cheesecake Bombs, gluten free Chocolate Eclairs, and gluten free Coconut Macaroons. 

If you live in or near Mount Pleasant, stop in! If you have celiac/gluten intolerance, you know how few and far between gluten free options are (outside of making it yourself) ... especially in our area.  Starbucks used to carry a gluten free muffin, but stopped because they said they didn't sell.  I am convinced that it's just because noone knew! I surely didn't know, and I'm constantly online looking into GF options/looking up GF brands.  I never saw it posted anywhere. 

So, spread the word! Chucktown Coffee (in the Target shopping Center) has gluten free pastry options!

Jessica

a school social story

You have heard me mention the use of social stories.  Carol Gray has many wonderful social stories that I highly recommend.  (Search her on this site for blog postings on her). 

Anyhow, I have created a school social story (click on link to view and/or print).  Included are pictures to go with each scenario mentioned.  This is a good tool to implement when a child is being first introduced to school, returning from summer break or a holiday, or when he/she is demonstrating anxiety related to going to school.  This could help to prepare and acclimate your child. 

You may want to introduce this in a fun way ... in a song, a game, a story, a chant ... keep in mind what would work for your child.  Remember to build positive associations.

After introducing this, you may want to review it on a consistent basis (it can become a morning ritual).  You may even want to print and laminate a copy for your child to keep with him/her.

Feel free to contact me for other ideas on how to implement this.
Jessica

The Silly Elf (activity)

Anytime I can use a general theme for a session or activity, I do.  Developing a theme always seems to pull things together as well as faciliates increased attention and interest.  Simply put ... themes are fun!

Holidays provide perfect opportunities for themed concepts and activities.  Below is a little poem/rhyme that I came up with a couple years ago for use in sessions.  Due to it's simplicity, it's fairly easy to implement outside of session so I'm posting it here :) 

I typically use this activity for these goal areas:

• Facilitate/Improve auditory attention
• Increase Impulse control
• Decrease auditory response time
• Increase cognitive skill (color identification, sequence commands/events, reading/story comprehension, etc)
• Increase visual attention

If working on pre-reading skills, you may want to print this story  (focusing on 1 sentence at a time if necessary) rather than just reading it yourself.

MATERIALS NEEDED:
-  "Silly Elf" story
-  Pictures (street, elf, feet, tic tac toe, Nintendo, smiling)
-  Colored items (bells, instruments, scarves)
-  A drum (or like item)
-  "The End!" paper (for on top of drum)

DIRECTIONS for activity:

1. Set up items in semi circle or table around child/client.  Introduce each item.  If appropriate, present child/client with a "pointer" (this can be a special wand, drum stick/mallet, etc) for child to point to items as they are named in the story. 
2. Explain that the child/client will get to touch and point to each item/picture in the story, but he/she has to wait until they hear that word first. (see above for picture sheet you can print)
3. Practice saying the word of an item, and having child/client point to the item. 
4. Have the child practice "playing" a color item (i.e., when you say "red", the child will play the instrument/item associated with that color.  NOTE:  For the colors, I typically have colored bells that the child gets to play when he/she hears the color name.  This makes this more interactive, and provides the opportunity to change from different types of cues within the activity (pointing to some items, playing other items).  IN PLACE OF COLORED BELLS, you may want to gather instruments or items that can be used as instruments (or items that make funny sounds).  Have a solid colored scarf or paper next to/under each of the noise/instrument items (i.e., have one item placed on a green scarf or piece of paper, and when when child/client here's "green" said in the activity, he/she will play the that item).
5. OPTIONAL:  Have a drum (or like item) with paper on it ("THE END!").  Child/client has to wait until the very end when he/she hears you say, "The End!", to play the drum.  This is lots of fun - a great opportunity for impulse control, and it really creates increased auditory attentoin and anticipation ;) 

The Silly Elf

One day as I was walking down the street
I came upon a jolly elf with red shoes upon his feet.
He smiled at me and said, “Orange you going to play with me?”
It was a glorious, sunny day,
a sky decked in yellow.
I decided I'd play with my new red footed friend -
He was quite a nice fellow.

We played a game of tic tac toe,
and then a game of Nintendo.
Jumping jacks, and sliding down green hills -
Oh what a thrill!
Hide and seek, and purple cookies to eat.
A long day of fun we've had,
I said goodbye to my new red footed friend.
Smiling and waving, I said,
“The End!”

What is Therapy? (an answer for kids)

I wanted to share with you a great little online resource ... KidsHealth (http://www.kidshealth.com/).  This site has three main sections, a "For Parents" section, a "For Kids" section, and a "For Teens".  In the "For Kids" section you will find a variety of topics (some include Feelings, Staying Healthy, Illnesses & Injuries, How the Body Works, Growing Body & Mind, Kids Talk, Cooking & Recipes People Places & Things, That Help, Staying Safe, Movies & Games, Health Problems, Grown-Ups, etc.)  Below is an article from KidsHealth on the subject of seeing a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Therapist.  Its a good little intro for typically developing kids who may soon be visiting a therapist.  It helps to clear up some misconceptions and ease the mind a bit.  It's also written in kid friendly lingo.

________________________________________________

If you have a broken arm or a bad cold, you go to the doctor for help and to feel better, right? Well, sometimes kids and adults have problems that can't be seen as easily as a broken bone or a runny nose.
When people have troubles with their emotions, their feelings, or the way they act, sometimes they see a psychologist (say: suh-kah-loh-jist), psychiatrist (say: suh-kye-uh-trist), or therapist. These are people who have gone to school for special training in the way people think and feel and know how to help people feel better.
The ones that see kids know a lot about kid stuff, like how kids think, how they grow up, and how they see the world. They are all experts who specialize in helping kids solve problems and deal with tough situations. They do their work mainly by talking with kids and helping them figure out what is causing the problems at school or at home. A therapist can help kids figure stuff out so they can feel better.

Why Would a Kid Get This Kind of Help?•What Happens There?•Getting Help Is No Big DealIf you have a broken arm or a bad cold, you go to the doctor for help and to feel better, right? Well, sometimes kids andadults have problems that can't be seen as easily as a broken bone or a runny nose.

When people have troubles with their emotions, their feelings, or the way they act, sometimes they see a psychologist (say: suh-kah-loh-jist), psychiatrist (say: suh-kye-uh-trist), or therapist. These are people who have gone to school for special training in the way people think and feel and know how to help people feel better.

The ones that see kids know a lot about kid stuff, like how kids think, how they grow up, and how they see the world. They are all experts who specialize in helping kids solve problems and deal with tough situations. They do their work mainly by talking with kids and helping them figure out what is causing the problems at school or at home. A therapist can help kids figure stuff out so they can feel better.

Why Would a Kid Get This Kind of Help?There are many reasons to see a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist, but the biggest reason is so that you can start feeling better. Maybe you're having trouble getting along with your classmates, your brothers or sisters, or your mom or dad. Or maybe you're having problems learning or paying attention in class, or your homework and your grades aren't as good as your mom or dad think they could be.

Other reasons to go see a therapist could be that you're very shy and have trouble making friends or that you feel sad, afraid, or anxious a lot. If your parents get divorced, or if someone who is close to you dies, seeing a therapist is a great way to talk about your feelings.

Sometimes kids can be the victims of abuse, and some kids your age can even have problems eating. These are all types of problems that can often get better if you get care from a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist.
What Happens There?

During an appointment, you won't be examined on a table like you are at a typical doctor visit. You'll sit in a comfortable chair and just talk, play games, or sometimes draw pictures. There are no needles or shots. If you're having problems with schoolwork, the therapist may ask you to answer some questions or solve some puzzles. This can provide clues to how you think and learn.
You should always feel comfortable during these visits. That means you don't have to do anything you don't want to do or talk about anything you don't want to talk about. On your first visit, your mom or dad might come in with you. The three of you could talk together about your feelings, the problem or situation, and anything else that is bothering you. After you feel comfortable, your mom or dad can wait for you outside.
The first visit is about understanding the problem that you need help with and is a chance for the psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist to get to know you a little bit. At future visits, the two of you can work on solving the problems. You may have regular appointments every week, every month, or less often.
You might be asked to set goals for yourself or to keep a notebook describing your feelings between visits. Bringing this notebook to your appointments can help you track your progress.

You can choose to tell people that you are going to these appointments, or you can decide not to share this information. Who you tell, or if you tell, is your decision.
Getting Help Is No Big Deal

Reviewed by: W. Douglas Tynan, PhD
Date reviewed: December 2007
http://www.kidshealth.com/
__________________________________________________________

Jessica

Kids and Holiday Stress

Kids and Holiday Stress ...
The article below is one I found through my LinkedIn profile, and I thought it has some great points which may go a long way in helping you to keep your kids stress free duirng the holidays.  This article was posted on Wellspring™ (http://www.wellspring.com/).  Wellspring™ was created in response to the growing need for effective treatments for children with autism-spectrum disorders, behavior disorders and developmental disabilities.

Helping kids cope during the holidays
Wellspring™

It’s that time again. Halloween decorations have come down, retailers are preparing for Thanksgiving which means only one thing……holiday shopping season is upon us. As behavior professionals, one of the single most questions we get asked is about kids’ behaviors at holiday time. Keeping kids well-behaved during the holiday season is every parents dream. However, it is not a goal that is achieved easily.
Even the best-behaved child can have a meltdown at this time of year. Holidays cultivate many stressors that may cause a child to erupt: Absence of routine, over stimulation, being away from home and one important one that many of us may overlook – parent stress. Kids are very tuned into their parents’ mood and when they sense you are stressed, they can get extremely overwhelmed. They need you to stay grounded and when you aren’t, their behavior may show it. So, how do we stay calm and keep our kids calm when we have 37 gifts to buy at 16 different stores and holiday meals to cook and 12-hour trips to take? Read on for tips that can help every parent help their child cope during the stress of the holiday season using positive behavioral support.

SHOPPING!
Shopping with a child can be a nightmare but it doesn’t have to be.
Our number one recommendation for parents is to shop online or leave the kids at home. Unfortunately, this isn’t always a realistic expectation. If you do have to take your children shopping, make sure they are prepared for the situation and make sure you go with realistic expectations:

Explain to them what you are going to be doing and where you are going. Tell them when you will eat, or when they will be able to play.

Be specific about what behavior is expected. Being a good boy or girl is too vague. For example, “we are going to a place where we will have to walk and stay close to mommy and we will have to use an inside voice”. Always tell them what TO do instead of what NOT to do. Providing them with the tools to behave makes life easier.

The mall is boring, overwhelming and confining and children don’t like to stand in line, be quiet or be still. Allow your child some time to run around between stores.
Provide incentives for your child to receive when the shopping is done, such as a trip to the park or an ice cream. When a desired activity follows an undesired activity, a child’s motivation to behave is increased.

Look for the signs that your child may be unraveling. Validate their feelings and needs and remind them of the expected behavior and reward. For example “I know you are getting mad but if you use a quiet voice and remain standing you can earn your treat”. One warning is appropriate but if your child does not stop what he is doing, you may need to leave whatever you are doing.

Always provide praise for good behaviors. We parents focus too much on scolding or punishing our kids when a bad behavior occurs but we forget to reward the good ones. Catch them being good. If your child is standing patiently in line, even for a few seconds, use it as an opportunity to praise him for the good behavior.

Do not plan on going to the mall at rush hours, or the day before Christmas. Avoid overcrowded places as much as possible.

Feed your kids before going out. A hungry child is a recipe for disaster.

Be sure your kids are not tired. Taking them to the mall after a nap is always easier.

And finally, be prepared for a meltdown. If you have a plan of action if the dreaded does occur, it will help you and your child remain calm during the situation. Next week we’ll cover what to do if a tantrum does occur.


For more good tips from Wellspring™, visit http://www.wellspring.com/ .

Jessica

a different perspective

There is an AA saying/prayer that I think is beneficial to anyone and everyone, regardless of circumstance.  It's a saying I have heard a thousand times before (both from having a family member in AA when I was a child AND through my profession when I worked in substance abuse).  However, today, I thought of it in a manner that I never have before, and my eyes were opened to something I never saw before.  Here is the saying/prayer that I am sure you have most likely heard at one time or another:

God, grant me the
Serenity to accept things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and
Wisdom to know the difference.

I never really paid much attention to the word "serenity" in this.  I always heard it/processed sort of like this:

God, grant me the serenity to
ACCEPT the things I CANNOT CHANGE
COURAGE to CHANGE the THINGS I CAN, and
WISDOM to KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

That beautiful, hopeful, peaceful word never stood out to me until now.  I always focused more on the other points, mainly, wisdom to know the difference between what can be changed and what cannot.

But there it is ... there it has always been.  The potential for SERENITY in these difficult moments in our lives where we have to accept difficult things.  It seems almost odd to pick such a word for this, but what a huge sigh of relief.  And what a great reminder that we can choose how much power and hold we give to these things that can consume us. 

I just wanted to share that,
Jessica

A-10-chun!

A-10-chun!

Below is a little exercise that is helpful in establishing or regaining attention/mental clarity.  I've used this as a 'take home activity' for clients who have difficulty with attention (often paired with decreased impulse control and increased energy levels).  I also used to implement this with my own son when I needed to call him and get him focused.  Actually, this exercise became somewhat of a 'out to eat' tradition when my son was in first grade.  Whenever we would go out to eat, he seemed to need something to calm him down while we were waiting for our meals.

Activity:
1) Present a word equation similar to this:


five balls eight lights


2) Then, have your child put this phrase in order according to numbers first, then items (and in the order they were named):


five eight balls lights

*** BE sure to demonstrate this a few times first.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

• This exercise can be implemented with or without paper (writing it down).  This would depend upon your child's ability/development (i.e., you may find your child would do better writing these down at least initially).  This is meant to be challenging, but not to cause frustration or feelings of "I can't do it".  Either way, you may find it helpful to write the first few exercises down until everyone gets the hang of it.
• Present this as a 'game' for the family (not just the one child) rather than a 'task'.  Take turns going around the table ... make sure Mom, Dad, Grandmamma, Granddaddy (whomever is at the table) have turns, too.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: 
(be sure to only move onto these after mastery of the above)

• Add to the equations as they are mastered (i.e. - seven car fourteen wall one teacup)
• Establish a theme for each equation (i.e. - "automotives", "foods", "sports")

This is a great (and very simple) tool that lends itself well to 'on the fly'.  You can implement this in many situations/environments, and it doesn't require props/etc.

Jessica

Your Weekend Recipe

Hello and Happy Friday! What was the recipe for your week? Did it turn out as you planned?

How about this ... what is the recipe for your weekend? Sometimes my weekend consists of way too many ingredients (even though they may be good, sometimes it's overkill).  Sometimes my weekend is Triple Chocolate Pistachio Almond Walnut Coconut Cherry Strawberry Apple Brownie when it would have just been marvelous to "just" have a Chocolate Pistachio Cherry Brownie.  My point? Even with the best of intentions and even with all the best ingrediants, sometimes we pack too much in and the result is that it's just ... well ... too much.  I would like my weekend recipe to certainly include some bit of much needed rest and relaxation, but if I'm not careful, I will tend to cram pack my weekend with "to do's", making no room for rest.  This always results in me going into a new work week feeling worn out.  Not good!

Speaking of recipes and yummy desserts, I wanted to mention a few gluten free related items that I have had and loved.  For all of my gluten intolerant clients and web friends, here are some things I have discovered.

1)  Whole Foods brand (365 brand) of Baking Mix (GF flour mix) is AMAZING! It has made every thing I have attempted taste accurate.  After attempting my mom's cobbler recipe a few different times with various brands and combos of GF flour mix, I used the 365 brand and it actually tasted like my mom's! The taste and the consistency and texture was like Mom's! I have also used this to make my carrot cake and it tastes just like it used to (before I found out I had a gluten allergy).
2)  Whole Foods brand (365 brand) Chocolate Cake Mix is amazing! Be sure to look at the ingredients you need before leaving the store (as they are not your typical cake mix ingredients).  My only recommendation here is to be sure to not overmix.  Betty Crocker now has a GF cake mix (chocolate and vanilla), but I haven't tried it yet.
3)  Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix (and Brownie Mix) - amazing and accurate!
4)  Don't trust regular corn meal mix.  I use the Hodgson Mill Corn Meal (says Gluten Free), and love it! Once I discovered this, my fried shrimp/fish/chicken tasted "real", and I was finally able to have "real" tasting corn bread!
5)  Annie's brand of boxed Macaroni and Cheese - I actually enjoyed this! I doctored it up a little with cream and butter, but it was great.

I'll add more on another day ;)
Enjoy your weekend,
Jessica

a great social story from a fellow blogging therapist ...

There's a great blog I enjoy entitled "If Only I Had Super Powers".  The blog is hosted by a Speech-Language Pathologist/Mommy, and she has a range of topics from recipes for "Moosey Muffins" (home related topics) to "Articulation Development" (Speech Therapy related topics).  

"Therapy Thursdays" are dedicated to therapy, and it was in her most recent Thursday posting that I discovered this little social story entitled Therapy Thursday: Not Getting Chosen.  Click on the link above to visit the site (and to view a larger version of her social story). 

I love that she has included pictures here beside each line.  This is something I often include in my social story activities.  It serves various purposes, including drawing attention to each line (scenario/action) as well as making each line more applicable to real life situations and more concrete.

Thanks, Super Powers, for a great resource!
Jessica

Whew! Halloween!

Wow - what a day/week/weekend! Talk about chaos! But fun, though.  The week of Halloween was an especially crazy one for me with work and home life.  My CSU clinical students are closing in on the end of their clinical semester, I've got some perspective new clients that I've enjoyed speaking with this week, and I've had various schedule changes this past week as well (two cancellations and some extra sessions also).

On Friday, we parents hosted a soup lunch for the teachers/staff at my son's school.  I am so thankful for my fellow volunteers! I rushed home from this to finish the prep work at home for a Halloween Party we were having at the house for my son and his friends Friday night.  Although my back was killin me and I was so ready for those kids to go on home by the end of it ... (come on, now, my house was full of middle schoolers ... can you blame me?) ... we still had a great time ;) I have great friends who came to 'party' with me as well as to help with the party. 

All in all it was good chaos :) The way I am built, though, I had to be sure to 'schedule in' some downtime for the sake of my sanity and my nerves. 
I hope you all had a nice, safe, and fun weekend,
Jessica

Gluten Free Candy Corn?

Hello fellow GF friends -

Does anyone know what brand of CANDY CORN is definitely gluten free? Evidently Brach's technically doesn't contain gluten ingredients, but are processed in a facility that also processes wheat (cross contamination risk).  UGG! I love candy corn, and would really like to have a little this year (especially since it's a seasonal thing).  I've looked it up on the internet, and have had difficulty getting an answer on this one. 

While I'm on the subject, I am also looking for GF licorice (or licorice jelly beans, gummies, etc).  I adore black licorice, and as you know, traditional licorice is made with wheat as a main ingredient.  Oh how I miss this!

Thanks!
Jessica

Strummin' and Pickin'

You may have noticed that I have added an awesome new gadget in the left hand column of my blog ... a guitar chord gadget!  I was pretty excited when I saw this, and thought it would be a great addition here.  I hope my guitar playing clients (and other web friends) will enjoy having easy access to the chords. 

I also wanted to mention a great website that offers some online help as well. 

http://www.e-chords.com/ -  offers piano and guitar chord formats for your searched songs.  Here, you are also able to transpose by changing key to half step up, full step up, half step down, full step down OR you can change the key of the song by simply clicking on what key you want it in.  For guitar, it also offers left handed chords.

Keep strummin',
Jessica

"Pumpkin, Pumpkin" (song/activity)

As you are carving and lighting your pumpkins this week, you may want to take this fun holiday tradition as a yet another (FUN!) opportunity to reinforce certain goal areas. 


Here's a simple little Halloween song and activity...

"PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN" (click link to my webpage where you will find this song listed)

This activity may be used with these goal areas:

• Auditory Attention (listen for and follow auditory cue)
• Impulse Control (wait for cue to touch items)
• Cognitive Skill (teach/reinforce concepts such as colors, shapes, holiday/theme related material, etc.)
• Verbal Commands (follow verbal prompts/commands/directions)
• Sensory

Be sure to use props for this activity (a real or toy pumpkin and black cat AND/OR pictures of a pumpkin and black cat).  As always, keep in mind your child's age and/or developmental level when determining appropriateness of an activity.

Jessica

Thriving with Autism

Happy Tuesday to you all! I have referenced one of my new favorite resources on this blog before - Austim Hangout (http://www.autismhangout.com/ ).  Here are a couple of current Webinars (video based interviews/podcasts).

________________________________________________________________________________

WEBINAR Series:  Thriving with Autism
Monday, October 26th - 6-7:30A CDT

Meet Dr. Stephen Shore and Donna Williams... two AMAZING people on the spectrum; one a PhD, the other a singer/songwriter/author/screenwriter - both diagnosed as severly autistic in youth (the doctors suggested institutionalization). More living proof how people with autism can "thrive!"
________________________________________________________________________________
WEBINAR Series: Hot Off The Press!
Wednesday, October 28 - 12-1P CDT

Filmmaker Melanie Levy will be premiering clips from her powerful documentary, "My Name is Sydney." Meet the charming, talented, witty young Sydney. Melanie has captured an amazing story.
Again, not to be missed!




Very inspiring.

Jessica

Is it really ADD/ADHD?

There is something that I have been meaning to mention in a blog posting, but haven't gotten around to it.  It's something that I feel quite passionate about.  Well, it's come up a few times this week in various conversations/situations so it's on my mind yet again.

ADD and ADHD.

In our recent past, we have seen this very much over diagnosed and/or misdiagnosed.  It is crucial, for many reasons, to avoid this and to seek out a thorough diagnosis.

As with any diagnosis, it is important to have the correct one.  There are several factors, I believe, in being sure to have an accurate ADD/ADHD diagnosis. 

1)  Look at diet, sleep patterns, as well as environmental influences, stressors, and circumstances.
DIET:  What foods/drinks does your child generally consume? Are they high in sugar, caffiene,
MSG, artificial colors? What you put in will determine what comes out.  I have given the example before of filling your gas tank up with water or mud, and expecting it to run the same as when you fill it with fuel.  People often don't give enough credit to just how much the food we eat/drink influences our body, energy, thinking, memory, physical ability, etc.
SLEEP:  Sleep disturbances/problems can result in similar behaviors including inattention, fatigue or
hyperactivity, low impulse control, stress/mood swings, etc.
STRESS:  Have there been any major changes which could be causing stress? OR Is there anything ongoing
in the child's environment (school, home, etc) that could be causing emotional stress/trauma?

2)  Obtain a diagnosis/assessment through a psychologist/behavioral therapist.  Do not only rely on one source (i.e. solely on a teacher's comment, one visit to the pediatrician, etc).  There are several things involved in making a thorough diagnosis.  There are certain conditions/disorders/symptoms that can look like other conditions/disorders/symptoms.  When looking at the DSM-IV, various conditions/disorders may share similar symptoms.  A proper ADD/ADHD diagnosis should be based on the behavioral symptoms  observed and by ruling out other disorders.


The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that an evaluation for childhood ADD / ADHD include:

• A thorough medical and family history
• A general physical and neurological exam
• A comprehensive interview with the parents, the child, and the child's teacher(s)
• Standardized screening tools for ADD/ADHD
• Observation of the child
• A variety of psychological tests to measure IQ and social and emotional adjustment

For more valuable information on this, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website.

Jessica

Your Monster Mash!

Many of my clients just love working and playing on the computer.  As I've mentioned before, for these kids, I often incorporate computer fun into some of my music therapy activities within session.  It may be fun cognitive based games/activities, emotion/facial affect games/activities, social skill activities, or it may be work on the recording studio (which is accessed from my laptop). 

Someone shared with me this great link to an online Monster Mash photo activity (sponsored by Oriental Trader) that I wanted to share with you.  (http://www.monstermashup.com/)

You may have non goal-oriented fun with it by simply uploading fun family member pictures, and then watch as say, Dad, dances around in a silly monster mash dance.

Another option that I thought of was a goal-oriented approach.  If you have access to this (maybe pictures from field trips or pictures from last year's yearbook), download pictures of your child's peers/classmates into this little activity.  This would be a great way to help increase peer awareness and may help in decreasing mild social anxiety through use of peer pictures (and references) within a fun activity.  As I've mentioned in previous blogs, I find that first implementing these types of activities can go a long way in working on social skill/peer awareness activities with children who have anxiety related to peer socialization.  This is a way of "getting the toes wet" socially, and may be perceived as a little more 'safe' to a child with social anxiety.  See some of my other social skill/peer awareness blogs for further explanation.

See my family's monster mash - we got a kick out of it! We may do it again with a different theme/music.  There are lots of choices there including using pre set characters or uploading your own pictures.  Fun, fun!

Jessica

Here's a Little Pumpkin

Orange and Round

Sung to :  I'm a Little Teapot

C

Here's a little pumpkin,

F                   C

Orange and round,

G7                    C

Here's a little pumpkin,

G7       C

That I found.

When I get him cleaned up

F       C

I will say,

"Here's a little pumpkin

For my holiday."

-Jean Warren

The above song and signs are from one of my favorite little activity resources, Piggyback Songs to Sign.  I have mentioned this little book before, and I also have it included in my aStore in the left hand column of this blog.  This is a great little activity that can accomplish a lot.  Here are some goal areas for which this activity would be useful:

• 
  
  Teach/reinforce cognitive concepts (holiday themes, colors, shapes, etc.)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Increase communication skill (facilitate nonverbal communication, teach ASL)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Increase visual attention
  
  
  
• 
  
  Improve auditory attention (listening for certain auditory cue to perform task/ASL signing)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Improve hand/eye coordination
  
  
  
• 
  
  Facilitate midline/cross lateral work
  
  
  
• 
  
  Increase range of motion/quality of movement
  
  
  

You may find other great uses not represented here as well or you may enjoy building from this activity. 

Have fun and happy fall!

Jessica

Happy Fall!

Happy Fall!

Yes, I know I am late with this greeting.  It seems my family (as many) was busy fighting off seasonal illnesses, and we completely missed the first day of fall! We have this nice little tradition that we started when my son just a little thing, and we called it out "Fall Celebration".  On the first day of fall, we would take out all our fall decorations and decorate the inside and outside of the house (wreaths and gourds and pumpkins and such ... Halloween decor is left for the week of Halloween).  We would also buy our pumpkin (but not yet carve it), make caramel apples, and make some sort of centerpiece for our dining table (usually involving those little mini pumpkins and gourds and candles). 

Although we missed having our fall celebration on the actual first day of fall this year, we did still have it.  This past Tuesday was our day dedicated to fall celebration, and it was a great one! We are still munching on caramel apples, and enjoying the season. 

I have to fess up here, though.  This sounds all fun and quaint, however, I have to be honest about why this whole celebration came about in the first place.  See ... I adore the spring and summertime.  I am a beach girl.  I love picnics at the park.  I love fishing and crabbing.  I love the sunshine and looking out on a beautiful marsh.  I love cookouts, and well ... I just love summer! I, selfishly, decided that instead of mourning the end of summer as I often did (well, mourning is a harsh word ... 'clinging desperately' fits, though) ... instead of dreading the summer's end, I decided to begin celebrating fall's beginning.  There are so many wonderful things about each season and each 'time'.  Once we started focusing on that, things got a lot brighter :) So from that, this wonderful family tradition came about, and we just love, love, love it!

Enjoy this time of the year ... all the yummy fall scents, leaves changing (for those of you fortunate enough to live somewhere more north of here that has this beautiful phenomenon), a little nip in the air, festivals, state fairs, the anticipation of the holidays, and so on and so on!

Jessica

Frailin' With Friends = Fun Music!

I have recently met a friend via the internet who not only hosts an autism resource website, but is a fellow musician as well.  Craig Evans hosts http://www.autismhangout.com.  I mentioned in a recent blog posting a 'webinar' that I viewed on Autism Hangout which featured Lindsey Beil and her book, Raising a Sensory Smart Child.  Since then, I have revisited the Autism Hangout website as it is a wonderful resource! In my recent visit I stumbled upon mention of Craig's wonderful CD entitled Frailin' With Friends.

Frailin' With Friends features Craig's lovely banjo (and friends) tunes.  They are toe-tapping, upbeat, and lots of fun.  "This CD of happy music was assembled as a day-brightener for those living with the daily challenges of autism. I'm also using all the proceeds from sales to fund Autism Hangout."  Visit www.autismhangout.com/directory/store.asp for more information as well as to HEAR SAMPLES of songs.


I have big plans for this wonderful CD as I implement it into my own sessions.  Thank you, Craig, for such a wonderful resource!


Jessica

Fun Fall Events (CCC charity events)

Wow! There are some really FUN charity events coming up so mark your calendars! Click on the event name to be linked to the event flyers (below).  I am hoping to make it to the sale and to the Halloween event. 
Jessica 

MOM to MOM Sale
Event:  Mom to Mom Sale
Date:  October 10, 2009 (this Saturday)
Time:  7am – 2pm
Location:  Mt. Pleasant Armory
245 Mathis Ferry Road
$1 entrance fee - 100% of the entrance fee and a portion of the proceeds will be split between Charleston Autism Academy and Carolina Children’s Charity.
(Click above link to view flyer.)


 

Halloween Party with a Purpose
Event: 2nd Party with a Purpose – Halloween Style (adults)
Date:  Thursday, Oct 29, 2009
Time:  drink/food specials 6-9pm, Costume Contest @ 9:15pm
Location:  Mad River Bar & Grille
Meanie Miney Moe will be our band for the evening. We will also have a silent auction during the event. If you know anyone who may like to donate an item or service for this auction, please call the CCC office at 554-6222.  (Click above link to view flyer.)

Charity Golf Tournament (benifiting CCC)
Event:  Charity Golf Tournament (hosted by Goose Creek Fire Dept.)
Date:  Saturday, November 7, 2009
Location:  Crowfield Golf and Country Club
300 Hamlet Circle, Goose Creek
Looking for participants!
(Click above link to view flyer.  Convert to word if trouble opening flyer.)

Sensing

I recently listened to a podcast on Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) featuring Lindsey Beil, M.A., OTR.L, an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics.  The podcast that I viewed was a webinar entitled Author Lindsey Biel - "Raising a Sensory Smart Child."  In this webinar, Ms. Beil gives a great overview of SPD as well as the way our senses work typically and atypically. 

Ms. Beil has also cowritten a book, along with Nancy Peske, entitled Raising A Sensory Smart Child (Note:  I have this book listed on my astore as a recommended resource for your convenience).  Visit Ms. Beil's website http://www.sensorysmarts.com/ for additional information.

Jessica

Resources ... My aStore

Hello everyone!

As you know, one of the reasons for my blogging here is to bring to you a variety of resources. I have recently added "My aStore: music therapy moments recommends ..." to this blog site which includes many of the resources that I have recommened to you within my blog, newsletters, website, etc. These are items that I have hand picked as my own recommendations. Note that there is a variety, and if you have any questions on appropriatenss of a given resource listed, please feel free to ask me.

So far, I have included some music selections (under "Adult/Young Adult Music" and "Children's Music"), Sensory Tools, Books, and Instruments. I intend on adding some other items along the way, but this is a good headstart. Let me know if you have any recommendations. I would love that! I do like to get familiar with items before I recommend them first.

Many of the links that I have included for resources (in the past), I have made them Amazon.com links because I view them as a trustworthy and reputable. So, it made perfect sense to me to add this gadget to make the whole process that much more clear and easy for you! Note that Amazon.com provides options for both new and used items/prices so be sure to check that out.

See my aStore in the left side column of this blog!

Jessica

Leaves Are Falling Down

LEAVES ARE FALLING DOWN
(to the tune of Farmer and the Dell)

Leaves are falling down,

Leaves are falling down,

All the colors all around

Leaves are falling down.

Leaves are falling down,

Leaves are falling down,

Orange, yellow, red, and brown,

Leaves are falling down.


Even a song/rhyme as simple as this can go along way in reinforcing certain concepts such as colors, teaching certain ASL signs, seasons, etc. This could even be used as a fun game for movement/muscle strengthening.

Jessica

Stay Well!

Coughs and sniffles and doctor visits, OH MY!

I just wanted to stop in brielfly to say 'hi', and to apologize for my blogging absense the last couple of days. My son has the flu. Just a little advise to you all ... just because it doesn't look like the flu doesn't mean it isn't. The doctor said he didn't think it was the flu because my son didn't have the typical symptoms, however, it is rather standard right now to test to be safe. Anyhow, it turns out that although my son's symptoms are atypical, he does have the flu. UGG.

Just a little head's up!

Stay well,
Jessica

Feeling Music

Beautiful. The majority of these kids look like they are sincerely feeling the emotion of the song. Kudos to their teacher for not only teaching them to sing well, but more importantly, how to feel what you are singing. Would it have been as beautiful if they didn't?



Jessica

Dollar Movies!

The new Citadel Mall Movie Theatre is opening, and they are only charging $1.00 a ticket and all concessions at $1.00, too. Click on the link below for more information.

All of the dollars will be donated to the March of Dimes. The dates of this are October 2-October 6.

Jessica

Citadel Mall IMAX Stadium 16 dollar week

Fun with Comics

Here are a few ideas for you on working on social communication/peer awareness and/or social anxiety (decreasing). I implement these types of things within my sessions when applicable. This is always a big hit with my clients!

Create Your Own Comic Strip

Here is a template that you can either use or replicate.

1) First develop a theme, characters, and idea for story/story segment. If you are working toward peer awareness, social communication, and/or decreasing social anxiety, be sure that the subject matter reflects this (i.e. develop a story line which involves some sort of peer social interaction).

2) Apply the story line to a comic strip such as this one. This is a fun (and non intimidating) way to facilitate peer awareness and/or teach or reinforce social communication skill. Also, for those who have high social anxiety, it is much easier to initially 'get your toes wet' with this type of activity. I have found that many of my clients who have social anxiety are much more willing to start out with an activity such as this where they feel they can view things from afar. Also, providing work in an area of need within the context of a fun and/or non intimidating activity is invaluable. This provides a starting point where the person is willing. When this context is mastered, I will then apply the same thing within another context.

Fun with Speech Bubbles

Another fun method I implement when working on increasing peer awareness/social communication/social skill and decreasing social anxiety in children is the use of speech bubbles. Often times I find that my clients are much more willing and interested in animals than they are in people. So, I start with animals.

1) Take photos or gather photos of animals, being sure to get at least two animals in a photo since social skill is our focus here.

2) Either cut out speech bubbles OR use speech bubble stickers made for use on photos.

3) Take a little bit of time to just look at the photo and imagine what is going on in the photo.

4) Discuss possible things the animals may want to say to each other, and write this in the speech bubbles.

5) Optional (depending on child's level of skill and/or anxiety): Role play - assign an animal to you and an animal to the child, and act out what you see in the picture (as well as what you've written in the speech bubbles). Puppets may be fun here.

After I've introduced this concept with animals (and gotten the attention and interest of my client with this sort of activity), we will then implement the activity except this time we use pictures of people. I would suggest doing the animal activity a couple times (separate times) before moving on to people pictures.

I obviously love doing this activity within a musical environment as the music (when used correctly) goes a long way in decreasing the anxiety, building excitement, reinforcing call and response, and providing parameters for the activity.

Also, the beauty of this is that you are also touching on related goals such as increasing cognitive skill (building story line/sequence events), fine motor skill (drawing pictures, writing words), and attention to task.

Have fun!

Jessica

Friends and Autism

I have mentioned before a resource that I consider a valuable one. http://faqautism.com/ is a website developed and managed by Music Therapist, Cathy Knoll, and her son, Dwight Knoll. Cathy has done much toward the advancement of Music Therapy, and has 35 years experience in the field. She offers daily podcasts which allow related professionals/colleagues and parents/families of persons with autism the opportunity to draw from her knowledge and experience with autism/ASD spectrum.

No School Friends

In a recent podcast, Cathy touches on the dilemma of the friends vs. no friends issue that persons with autism sometimes face. She refers to a few of her articulate teen clients with autism and their feedback on the subject of friends. We, as supporters of our friends/family members/clients with autism, want to see them have meaningful close friendships and peer acceptance. Cathy speaks in this particular podcast of how some of her friends with autism have expressed that it doesn't really bother them to (and often times they don't notice until a parent/other brings it to their attention) not have those same peer relationships as other typically developing peers. I encourage you to click on the link below to hear the entire podcast. In this podcast, Cathy offers this tip:

"TIP FOR THE DAY: Although we might personally prefer having one or two “best friends,” not everyone has that same preference. The best strategies are to give our kids lots of opportunities to interact with other students, to teach them how to be friendly to others, and to closely monitor their attitude about friends and lack of friends. Then we can just relax and quit worrying about things we cannot change."

To read more on this topic, visit the FAQautism.com podcast entitled "No School Friends".

Girl Talk

Now, for those persons with autism who have noticed and are bothered by not having some of those close peer relationships, here is a related podcast from FAQautism.com. This podcast

"A pre-teen diagnosed with autism was having some trouble making friends at school because she talked rather obsessively about the same topic. “I try to be her friend,” commented one of her classmates confidentially, “But it is really irritating to hear the same story over and over.” Sometimes our friends with autism need to be [...]"

"Sometimes our friends with autism need to be purposefully taught the fine art of girl talk.

Two different strategies were introduced to help this pre-teen develop more appropriate conversation skills. The first strategy focused on teaching her to “talk on topic.” The second strategy was designed to expand her repertoire of stories."

To read more on this topic, visit the FAQautism.com podcast entitled "Girl Talk" .

Thank you, Cathy!

Jessica