Why It Makes Sense to Learn Capital Letters FIRST~

I didn't write this blog post, but I couldn't possibly say it any better than this post from 'Play to Learn Preschool" does.  It is full of information regarding why preschoolers (and kindergartners, for that matter) should learn to print their capital letters first.  It just makes developmental sense!  Read more about it here:  http://www.playtolearnpreschool.us/2015/08/learning-to-write.html
Enjoy!

Play Outside!

I always tell my little friends' parents to take their kids to the playground and play.  Play is an essential part of child development and physical activity is an essential component of that. Playing on playground equipment promotes development and provides stimulation in so many ways...

What can playground equipment promote?

• Promotes better range-of-motion for all muscles/joints
• Upper body/arm strength, grip strength
• Eye Hand coordination, bilateral coordination
• Lower extremity strengthening
• Improves overall stability & balance
• Strengthens the core muscle group; this leads to good posture and balance
• Provides cardiovascular exercise
• Promotes motor planning
• Sensory stimulation: proprioceptive (heavy work to the muscles and joints), vestibular (movement of the head in space), tactile input
• Promotes social skills/peer interaction

If you have a child who becomes overstimulated by too many kids/too much activity at the park/playground, search your community parks and rec web sites to find smaller, out of the way parks/playgrounds that are quieter and likely less visited.  Here is a link to a listing of all of the parks in Minot, ND:  http://minotparks.com/parks/

Want other park/rec options in the Minot area that would be a great day trip?  

Try the Velva, ND Park/Pool:  http://velvand.com/?page_id=151

And Stanley, ND: http://www.stanleynd.com/index.asp?SEC=97F877ED-6DFB-4AA5-AD0F-85F00816C047&Type=B_BASIC

Anxiety and a Genetic Link?

I come from a line of anxious people...so does my husband.  So, it's really no surprise to us that our only biological child's apple does not fall far from the tree!  (We have 2 children who were adopted as well, but they are not really the anxious type.)  A friend passed this article along to me, and I found it interesting enough to share.  A lot (if not most) of kids on the autism spectrum have significant anxiety/fight or flight responses, and this makes one wonder about how genetics might be linked to autism in this same manner.  Take a look at the findings:  http://neurosciencenews.com/parental-anxiety-offspring-psychology-2202/

Summer Reading for Parents and Practitioners~

Today is the last day of work before summer vacation for me, so I thought I would add a summer reading list of excellent resources that I have compiled for parents and other practitioners/educators to look into.  Enjoy~

• “The Out of Sync Child,"  by Carol Stock Kranowitz.
• “The Out of Sync Child Has Fun," by Carol Stock Kranowitz
• “Sensational Kids, Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder," by Lucy Jane Miller.
• “The Sensory Sensitive Child," by Karen A. Smith and Karen R. Gouze
• “Too Loud Too Bright Too Fast Too Tight,” by Sharon Heller
• “Raising a Sensory Smart Child,”  by Lindsay Biel and Nancy Peske
• “Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic,” by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
• "Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving...or Missing Sleep?"  by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
• “10 Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew,” by Ellen Notbohm
• “10 Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew,”  by Eleen Notbohm
• “Almost Autism: Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder: A Reference for Parents and Practitioners,”  by Maria Rickert Hong
• “Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary “Executive Skills” Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential,”  by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
• “Smart but Scattered Teens: The “Executive Skills” Program to Helping Teens Reach Their Potential,” by Richard Guare and Peg Dawson
• “Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid: A Survival Guide for Ordinary Parents of Special Children,”  by Gina Gallagher & Patricia Konjoian
• “Growing an In-Sync Child: Simple, Fun Activities to Help Every Child Develop, Learn, and Grow,”  by Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman
• “The Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About Raising Kids with Special Needs,”  by Denise Brodey
• “Late, Lost, and Unprepared: A Parents' Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning,”  by Joyce Cooper-Kahn and Laurie Dietzel
• "The Occupational Therapist's Handbook for Inclusive School Practices," by  Julie Causton and Chelsea P. Tracy-Bronson

Alert Me Bands

One of my little friends wears an Alert Me Band-  It is a high quality wristband that is childproof, adjustable and customizable; it indicates medical, special needs, allergy & emergency contact alerts. Exceptionally durable and waterproof, this would be a great investment for kids with autism. allergy issues, communication issues, etc., not to mention the peace of mind that it would provide for parents. You can find the web site here:  http://www.alertmebands.com/  Or, you can locate and "like" the company on Facebook.  :)

Thinking Spring with a Spring Theme Group Activity

I have been working in some classrooms lately that have spring themes going on in their curriculum.   It's fun to look for ways that I can incorporate something similar into group activities and work tasks as I am able to.  I did the following activity for one of my group sessions with a classroom of kids with various disabilities/abilities:

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

You need:

• pine cones 
• shortening (you can also use peanut butter, but to avoid allergy issues, I use shortening)
• bird seed
• string
• knives or spatulas for spreading
• zip lock bags

Spread the shortening on the pine cone.  This is a good bilateral task (using 2 hands together).  

For kids who have less fine motor ability or who need hand over hand assistance, spatulas work better than knives.

Sprinkle the shortening covered pine cone with birdseed.  This is a good way to work on finger to thumb opposition and to get some tactile stimulation from the bird seed.

Tie a string around the top of the pine cone (this is good to do before you even start, but in the course of getting started, we forgot!), and place the pine cone bird feeder into a zip lock bag for the students to take home. 

Hang in a tree to feed the birds!  

World Autism Awareness Day

Thanks to Mason's family for the fabulous pin to wear today!