Happy New Year: Resolutions and Goal Work ... make it fun!

Happy New Year to You All !!!

Goal work ... this is what we work on all the time in therapy with our kids.  This is the time of year, though, that we all take pause to do a little self reflection, and come up with our own self goals.  Hence, the New Year's resolutions!  It's also a great time to reiterate some of the goals some of our kids have (related to interventions, therapies, and such that our kids are receiving).  Why not make it fun? Our kids have been hearing a lot about New Year's resolutions this month, in particular.  Why not create a fun game, activity, and/or craft project to map out applicable goals. 

Another thought that would be easily replicated at home is to rewrite an already familiar song (i.e. "Twinkle, ,Twinkle", "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "Hokey Pokey", or use a more current song that your child likes).  Focus the lyrics around goal work ... what area(s) you want to work toward on a daily basis.  Most of you are familiar with Social Stories, and how effective they are.  Setting social stories to music takes it one more step further, making it more exciting (fun!) as well as making them easier to memorize and recall on spot.  Also, we all know how a certain tune can get "stuck in your head", right?   Why not use this concept to your advantage?   It's what was done with the ABC song, and look how effective that has been! It's used in every commercial you see for a reason.  Sing the song (maybe even have pictures or some visual prop to accompany) in the mornings and/or just before the related task (goal related task). 

Jessica

Potty Training Tips and Tricks

When searching some great little behavior charts on this site (http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com/ ), I found some potty training ideas.  Some I had heard of, some are new.  Also, see below for potty training behavior charts, potty training pics/PECS, and other resources.
*Use a drink and wet doll to demonstrate to your child how to go to the potty. After you pour water into the doll's mouth, you can have your child walk the doll to the potty chair, pull the doll's underwear down, seat it on the potty and watch the doll "pee". This is a good visual aid to motivate your child to do the same.
*Give your child a lot of fluids so that he has to go to the potty more often. The more often he goes, the quicker the child will be potty trained, and the more he will be trained to hold it in.
*If your child looks like she wants to go, then take the child to the potty every thirty minutes or so until he pees.
*If the child does not urinate right away, have him remain seated on the potty for a couple of minutes and maybe read a book together until he is ready to pee. You could also try placing his feet in warm water or turning on the faucet to encourage him to pee.
*Have your child look at learning aids such as books, videos and DVDs as they are an educational and fun introduction to potty training.
*Play games such as the blue and yellow make green game. Put some drops of blue food coloring into the toilet water, have your child urinate and he will see the water turn green much to the child's delight.
*Drop a couple of cheerios cereal into the toilet water and have your child aim and pee at them.
*Use charts and stickers to positively encourage and reinforce the habit. You can give stickers to your child for going to the potty, sitting on the potty, peeing successfully into the potty, or for been accident-free
*Use potty training toys such as musical potty chairs that play tunes when your child uses the potty, or potty training watches that vibrate at a set time to remind your child that it's potty time.
*Get rid of the diapers and put toilet training pants on your child for easier toilet training.

Potty Training Coupons  - look in side column under "Reward Coupons, Stickers, and Other printables"

Potty Training Behavior Charts  - look in side column under "Behavior Charts"

Potty Training Pics/PECS

Potty Training Books

Let me know of any tips/tricks you may have that have worked for your little one!

Jessica