Archive for December, 2011

An important aspect of the educational experience for a child with autism is the social interactions he or she will have with other students.  Creating, maintaining, and reinforcing relationships with other students is important for an autistic child.  Interacting  with general education students in the classroom can help increase an autistic individual’s ability to function in society.

Here are a few techniques that educators can use to help foster relationships in the classroom:

1)    Find students who have similar interests as the autistic student and arrange the seating order so that they are near one another.  If each student has a similar interest, it may promote interaction.

2)    Identify students who are more receptive to the autistic child and encourage the receptive student to offer assistance.  Examples could include in-class assignment help, tutoring, pairing for projects, etc.  A student naturally inclined to be helpful can help foster classroom relationships.

3)    Be sure to incorporate lessons and activities into your weekly lesson plans that promote social interactions.  Each autistic child may respond differently to other students, instructions, or activities.  Having a regular session of social interaction, and monitoring how the autistic child responds, can help you refine techniques that can help the autistic student cultivate relationships.

These are just some of the techniques that can help foster friendships in the classroom.  Of course each child is different, so these techniques may need to be adjusted to match the personality of the child.

Something Social

A hallmark of people on the autism spectrum is difficulty with social interactions.  Giving a gift that promotes social skills is a wonderful Hanukkah gift.

• Playtime with Zeebu: This new expanded video modeling set includes a video that covers lots of social situations and two puppets: Zeebu and Neek.  This is a wonderful opportunity for a child to explore and practice social skills in a fun way with the puppets.
• The Blunders Game is a fun family game that teaches manners and social skills for grade school children and works well with higher functioning children with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.  This is a fun way to learn social skills and talk about social blunders without feeling embarrassed or ashamed because the blunders kids are the ones who make mistakes.
• Cause and Effect toys can provide simple, interactions for people with very limited social abilities.  These toys promote simple communication between parents and their child, help hand eye coordination, and offer sensory exploration.

Something Visual

Did you know many children and teens with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome are very visual?

• Interesting visual toys with spinning or flashing lights are usually a big hit.
• Liquid timers are interesting to look at and can also help people wait.
• A Hoberman Sphere, Light up lamp or Disco Balls can be very enjoyable especially for older kids and teens.

Something Calming

The world can be very stressful for people on the autism spectrum.  Calming items can be very enjoyable and help stop a meltdown before they happen.

• Good vibrations: Simple vibration can be very soothing.  Vibrating toys, mats, massage mitts, or pillows can be very calming and enjoyable.  Note if looking at massage items, which are great, make sure they are vibrating and not the shiatsu style massage.
• Weighted Items: Deep pressure can calm and relax someone when they are stressed or over stimulated.  Weighted vests, neck wraps or blankets are wonderful gifts that may be too expensive for some families on a tight budget.

Three Small Gifts for a limited Budget

Want to send something small that says you care?  Our top three small gifts are the liquid timer, Isoflex Ball and Mini Light Spinner.

Happy Hanukkah!

By: Angela Nelson

These days nearly everyone knows a friend or family member who is touched by autism. Perhaps it’s your own child or your sister’s child. Perhaps it’s the child of your neighbor, your dentist, your mail carrier, or hair dresser.

With the holidays fast approaching, you may be asking yourself: what gifts are appropriate for an individual with autism or related developmental challenges?

Autism is a complex developmental disorder that affects a family in many ways.  It can be emotionally draining, demanding on time, and challenging for relationships… but, perhaps above all, autism is expensive! Rather than a scented candle or a box of golf balls, consider selecting gifts that will support your friend or family member’s efforts to teach their special child.

If you are a parent of a child with autism looking for a gift for your child’s teacher, consider giving educational tools and toys that he or she can use in the classroom. Teachers spend so much of their own money on supplies; they would certainly welcome a box of language cards or a set of manipulative puzzles over a crystal apple or another box of chocolates!

Children with autism face special challenges when it comes to learning through play.  Some educational toys that help most children are not always appropriate for a child with autism. Perhaps the best thing you can give to that child, are tools to help develop language and skills to help them play with their siblings and peers in the future.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Best wishes for a happy holiday and a new year filled with growing, learning and thriving.

Angela Nelson received her BA and JD from UCLA where she studied and practiced behavior psychology under Dr. Ivar Lovaas. As Founder and CEO of Stages Learning Materials, Angela has created autism and special needs curriculum products since 1997.

Did you know that many children and teens on the autism spectrum love visually interesting items?  So here are some proven popular items, to give you some gift inspiration to help make your shopping easy.

Plasma Light

Our Silver Plasma Light is a consistent favorite for people who are highly visual.  Everyone loves to touch the ball and watch the lights gravitate towards their fingertips. This is a great visual toy that also teaches cause and effect and can provide instant positive reinforcement!

Volcano Lamp

The soothing volcano lamp is a calming visual item great for a gift, desk top toy, night light or quiet area.  Fill it with water and watch red balls shoot out of the volcano and fall gently down the sides.  A true visual delight!

Hoberman Sphere

Kids love to pull the Hoberman Sphere and watch it expand from 5 inches to 12 inches in diameter. Push any hub and watch it contract! This fun toy comes assembled with game ideas and instructions.

Disco Ball

Now you can create a rainbow of lights that will dance around any room with our Disco Ball.  The ball rotates a full 360 degrees and flashes blue, yellow, red, green and orange.

Rain Tube

The rain tube is a both soothing to watch and listen to.  Kids and teens love to turn the tube over and watch multi-color and silver beads cascade through the tube while they listen to the soothing sound of rain.

Light Up Twirler

Just pull the trigger and watch the airplanes light up and fly in circles!

Mini Light Spinner

This small item makes a great stocking gift.  Press a button and watch a spinning light show that changes as you hold down the button.  This comes attached to a break-away necklace making an instant calming gift while traveling or on the go.

Rail Twirler

Rail twirlers are always fun this one lights up while you play with it and comes with a magnetic light up wheel that “sticks” to the 10-1/2” rail.  The magnet makes it easy to be successful and keeps frustration to a minimum!

Light Up Helicopter Candy Pop Fan

A candy pop that lights up and spins, need we say more?  Super fun and reinforcing for highly visual children.  If you like this item, you might also want to check out our flashing Skittles Light Up Wand!

Liquid Timers

We have several liquid timers that are calm and soothing to watch and are a proven hit with highly visual teens and children.

Do you have a highly visual gift that you would recommend for an autistic child or teen?  We are always on the lookout for great gift ideas, please share!