Hello!
Happy Tuesday and First Day of Summer! Welcome to all of my new subscribers wherever you are in the world and thanks so much for stopping by to see what today’s newsletter is about. It is going to be a scorcher here in the PNW and we are on staycation and trying to stay cool in these parts. As always, I have some fun things planned for today’s HSSN Tidbits News covering all things summer, homeschooling, summer recipes and more. So, without further ado let’s get into it.
4 Interventions to Help Develop Social Skills
“Social skills can be broadly defined as the ability to develop and maintain
Monica C. HUDNALL, MA, CCC-SLP
relationships. Deficits in social skills are a core feature for children as well as
adults with autism.”
Comic Strips
Comic strips visually outline a conversation between two or more people. It combines the use of comic strip characters’ thought and talking bubbles.
Using this technique helps learners better understand why someone did or said something in a specific social situation. The
outlined conversation may have taken place in the past, is happening in the present, or will happen in the future. This technique may be used to support a learner who is struggling to
understand the relationship between actions and consequences or reactions (i.e., thoughts
and words) to expected/unexpected behaviors. You should consider using this technique to address social situations such as interrupting, bullying and playing at recess.
Social Narratives
This evidence-based practice uses accommodations that describe social situations by highlighting pertinent cues and also providing examples of appropriate responses. These narratives are individualized and specific to the learner. Written in the perspective so that the learner can understand how to act and what needs to take place. They are short and sweet and may include visual aids. Describing the thoughts and feelings of other people involved in the situation
is an important feature of social narratives. The
learner may be taught to use social narratives in real-life scenarios, such as attending a graduation or birthday party, ordering food at a restaurant, and following rules in school and in their own communities.
Technology Aided Instruction & Intervention
This uses technology as a central feature of
intervention supporting the social goals for the learner. This evidence-based practice consists of “any item/equipment
practice consists of “any item/equipment/application used intentionally to increase/maintain, and/or improve daily living….”(Odom, Thompson, et. al., 2013). For fun and interactive social skills activities, check out Fun Social Skills and Therapy Game for Adults and Teenagers.
Video Modeling
This evidence-based practice uses video recording to provide a visual model of the targeted skill or behavior (i.e., turn-taking). Types of video modeling include Basic Video Modeling, which involves recording someone (other than the learner) engaging in the target behavior or skill; and Video Self-Modeling, which uses video to record the learner displaying the targeted skill or behavior. It is important to edit the videos to remove adult prompts. This evidence-based practice may be used to address perspective taking and initiation and reciprocity (i.e., commenting, asking questions) in conversation or play.
Addressing social skills in an engaging, meaningful, and practical way is vital for learners with high-functioning autism.
Inspiration Autism
Therapy Corner in Wellness
9 Places to Go for Your Homeschooling Needs
Homeschooling is slowly becoming a trend nowadays and most parents are having fun with the interaction they are having with their child. Some parents are still having second thoughts regarding homeschooling though. Their main concern is that they might be having some problems finding resources to use for homeschooling.
Bookstores
The first stop is a ride to your nearest bookstores. Armed with a list of possible books to buy from a curriculum of a school, you can buy the books at any convenient bookstore. This will save you a lot of time and give you flexibility with regards to your child’s studies.
Magazine Stores
An alternative stop would be a trip to your closest magazine stores. Magazines provide you a lot of catalogs where you can choose from a lot of advertisers listed in it. This will help you from spending lots of time searching through bookstores and also gives you a sense of what your child is going to get.
Websites
Of course, with all the technology available on the internet, you should not be really surprised that you can find websites offering help in your child’s studies. Some of them can be easily found when searching at Google and some of them can be given to you by other people who are also having their child homeschooled.
Libraries
The simplest place to look for resources is by going to a public library. Public libraries have books and references for you and your child to take home and use. To help with that, libraries have different instructional materials such as videos (like those from National Geographic) and cassette tapes (like tapes that will help you learn another language). These instructional materials not only help with the books in teaching, but they also help in easing out the boring quality and monotony of books given out to children.
Computer Software
Libraries also offer a lot of computer software which will not only help with your child’s learning but will also help him in understanding different computer technologies and how they work. Often computer software is easy and fun to use, therefore attracting a lot of young people to use it.
Book of the Month Clubs
Some libraries also host book of the month club discussions. Book discussions not only train your child to read but also to think and criticize everything that he/she reads. This will not only develop reading comprehension, but it will also help your child in critical thinking.
Homeschool Parent’s Home
Another place to look at is at the house of another parent who decided to homeschool their children as well. You might find it interesting that they are willing to share both their experiences and their used materials (books, references and other activity materials). You could save a lot of money and at the same time learn from these people who have already experienced the joys and the pains of homeschooling a child.
Museum
A trip to a museum will not only help your child appreciate art and history but your child will also learn a lot from observing and listening to the history of all the museum displays. The best way to conduct this is by joining a group museum tour where there will be an instructor to guide and give you bits of information that will help your child.
Home Sweet Home
The last place, but definitely not the least in this list, is inside your home. Search your cupboard and teach your child some simple baking lessons. This will not only help your relationship with your child, but it will also promote your child to learn patience and of course will teach your child how to bake.
You could also do outdoor activities such as planting seeds. This will help your child be interested in plant life but if coupled with other activities (such as mathematics), this has a potential to be both fun and instructional. You basically just have to find out where your child’s attention is focused and turn it into something educational.
Monthly Blog Post: Summer Plans
Seasonal Summer Recipe: Summer Vegetable Soup (Life Skill)
Summer is coming and so is the hot weather. Nobody likes to cook in the heat of summer. A really hot meal on a hot day is almost as unpopular. It could be that a cool, easy to prepare summer soup is just what you need.
This soup can be made in your food processor or blender and easy enough for your autistic child to try with help and/or and easy first-time cooking recipe as well. If you have the ingredients on hand, it should take no more than 10 minutes(maybe longer depending on how much help your child may need). This is delicious, nutritious, and really refreshing on a hot day. While the recipe does suggest you use a food processor, you can also get great results with a blender or hand blender too;-).
This is a very simple recipe, so don’t be shy to modify it and get a taste that your whole family can enjoy.
Summer Vegetarian soup
This is great tasting soup with a touch of Italy included. It is super easy to make and very healthy. It is particularly good on a hot summer day
an avocado – skin and pit removed of course
4 Roma tomatoes – they may not be quite juicy enough (see below)
Basil to taste (Thai basil is really good in this)
4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Process
How easy is this soup? Simply throw everything into your food processor and mix until it is smooth. If you find that it is more like a smoothie than soup, simply add more liquid (or swap one of the Roma tomatoes for another juicier variety). Pour into bowls, garnish as you wish (minced chives are nice) and enjoy.
I hope you have a fantastic summer and enjoy all that life has to offer you during this summer break with your family. Until next time, stay sane, stay safe and have fun.
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