Fun way to work on summer Social Skills/Peer Awareness!

Hello Friends! 

Raising peer awareness/increasing social skill is something to work on with your kiddos all year long.  Summertime provides opportunities for this, especially with kids who are enrolled in summer camp/programs.  In fact, social skills are often challenged here, as your kids are learning lots of brand new faces and names in a small amount of time and all at once! Soooo ... what a great time to implement some summer social activities that will aid this.  This may even be helpful to begin working on a couple weeks prior to the start of school.

I really like a lot of the Pancake Manor songs (their sound is easy and enjoyable for all).  I have included two video versions of the same song below.  I find that some of my clients who demonstrate shyness or social withdrawal/disinterest/sensitivity(especially kids on the ASD spectrum), benefit from this method.  

METHOD: With these clients, I will sometimes implement a peer awareness activity first using names paired with animal or fictional/cartoon characters.  I find that these clients are often more accepting of and willing to give visual attention/participation with animal/character pictures over pictures of actual people faces.  This is a "meet the child where they are" type of method.  Once your child is comfortable with this, begin to transition into using actual peer faces.  Depending on how sensitive your child is in this area, you may want to transition with one of the methods listed below:

• Transition to peer faces by only adding in one peer face with each repetition of the song, keeping the rest of the song/activity the same as originally introduced (with animal/character pics).
• Transitioning with peer faces, but have them more cartoon based ... then move little by little to actual face pics.
• Transition by implementing 1 actual peer face (your child's actual peer) at a time.  This is if you are trying to work on specific peers in your child's life (neighbors, campers, family members, familiar persons, classmates, etc).  

The Name Song by: Pancake Manor
 (song version with animals/characters)

The Name Song by: Pancake Manor (song version with peer faces)









Have fun!

Jessica

"Model Me Kids" - a great Social Skills resource

I was on Autism Hangout (http://www.autismhangout.com/ ) the other day, and saw mention of a wonderful social skills resource called "Model Me Kids" (click on link to go to site).  Model Me Kids teaches social skills concepts through DVDs/videos, which provides visual cues through modeling specific social skill and related behaviors. 

Many of these include accompanying storyboards as well.  Also, I was pleased to see that the videos are modeled in real life scenarios AND they are very concrete, providing very clear step by step examples. 

I would love to add Model Me Kids to my own collection of resources as I know they would be extremely beneficial in and out of therapy!

As mentioned, I was really excited about this resource, however, I did want to see a sample before making a decision to purchase.  The website provides several samples, and after viewing these, I was even more impressed.  For video samples of some of the DVDs offered, visit this link : http://modelmekids.com/autism-video-samples.html

Another great feature is that these are also categorized according to age appropriateness (and age range of person using the resource).

This one is going on my wish list! I'd love feedback of anyone who has used this resource.

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

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

Social Skills Activities for Special Children

Hello and Happy Thursday! There is a book that I have thumbed through various times before, and it has remained on my 'wish list' of work related items. I have been a fan of this book, and have had the opportunity to implement some of the activities in the past, however, I am so glad to have my own copy of the entire book! The book, which I ordered through my local bookstore, is called Social Skills Activities for Special Children (Second Edition) by Darlene Mannix. The author has taught both general and special education, and has written several best-selling books for special educators.

Upon first thumbing through the book, I began to wonder if the activities were really only for the classroom, however, I quickly thought otherwise. This book is brimming with a great variety of very applicable activities and focuses that apply to various environments (not just for school use). Although I am a therapist and not a teacher, I am so glad for the sections of the book which are more specific to classroom/school related subjects and environments. The reason being is that I often times work with my clients (when applicable to the client) on peer and school related behaviors, schedules, and other endeavors. This provides me with great material for these activities.

Nearly every activity included in this book also has a worksheet that goes along with it. I loved this! The main activity focus topics include Understanding the Teacher's Role, Classroom Rules and Responsibilities, When You Have Problems, Learning and Working with Others, Making Friends, Keeping Friends, Understanding Social Situations, Positive Personality Attributes, Getting Along with Others at Home, Everyday Etiquette, and Relating Appropriately to Other School People. Each of these topics has a long list of wonderful activities to go along with it.

Many of the activity worksheets include visuals such as pictures of scenarios and/or word bubbles, and are somewhat like reading a comic. I am anxious to Hmmm ... did I mention that already? :)

I encourage you to click on the link above so that you may take a look inside the book at some sample activities as well as the activity lists in the table of contents. I will say, though, that the sample activity worksheets that you do get to see (on that site) do not give you a very good idea/representation of the visuals included in many of the activities. Just know that they are there.

Have a great day!

Jessica

NOTE: Jessica Grooms is in no way responsible or involved in your ordering process of any materials recommended or listed here. Ordering materials is done independently by you.

A Camping We Should Go

Children far and wide look forward to the adventures of summer camp. Games and camp fires and fun, oh my! There are so many out there from which to choose.

There are also more specialized camps out there that are designed with a specific focus and/or need in mind. For example, there are space camps, art camps, sport camps, etc. There are also all sorts of camps out there for our children who have specific needs. There are camps geared toward special needs populations, medically based needs (i.e., Camp Happy Days), etc. These types of camps not only provide the children with fun filled activities, but also respite for the parents.

The camps designed especially for children with special needs are much more than an added opportunity for summertime fun. They provide many opportunities for skills-based work (many summer bridge activities) that help to reinforce things learned and accomplished the previous year in school (maintaining skills). They also help your child to develop socially as they work alongside and/or with other children to accomplish goals and tasks.

For some of you who have had your children in these types of summer camps, you are probably nodding your head in agreement. For others of you who have younger children and/or this is new to you, I wanted to point out just how great of a tool summer camp can be especially to our children with very specific needs.

Please know, also, that there are funding options out there for these types of camps as well. Camp can be a bit expensive at times. There are various charities, state organizations, etc which offer opportunities for summer funding. I always encourage anyone interested to apply for summer funds early on (at the start of the year before spring). If you wait too late, the money they set aside for this will be gone!

Oh! One more thing! The picture above is also a link to the website of this album. I do not own this album (although I hope to one day), but I loved the songs that I listened to on the website. I don't know if it's because I am hungry at the moment, but I especially love the food based songs ("Tater Pie" and "Campfire Beans"). Great lyrics and instrumentation - not just your everyday kid's songs. Love it!

Happy Camping!

Jessica

Turn Taking - An important social behavioral skill

We arrived back in town early yesterday evening from our family's annual 4th of July trip to the NC mountains. There's nothing like fireworks echoing off the mountain tops! I hope yours was wonderful, too.

Below is a description of and link to a Social Behavior activity that involves teaching and practicing a VERY important social activity ... waiting for and taking turns. This is a wonderful tool that I found on http://www.do2learn.com/.

TURN TAKING

Q: Why is this social behavioral skill important? In what areas will this benefit my child/student/client/self?
A: Along with this skill comes a greater peer awareness (rather than only focusing on one's own needs/wants). It also requires impulse control, and formal social thinking/planning.

"Turn-Taking is a crucial social skill that people need to master in order to be proficient in a variety of social situations. Remember that individuals with social and behavioral issues may need a systematic approach to teaching turn-taking behavior. Providing opportunities to practice this skill with different people and in different social situations will increase the likelihood of generalizing the skill and becoming independent with it." http://www.do2learn.com/

Here are some Real Life Examples:
-Child playing tag on the playground
-Adolescent playing a board game
-Adult getting out of a crowded parking lot

In this activity you will:

1. Read the hand-out/ "Taking Turns" Social Article
2. Develop a "Turn-Taking" Board for use with your child/student/client (see below)
3. Follow the instructions for developing structured, turn-taking activities.



This is a great tool! I encourage you to do this one if you feel this fits your child!

Jessica