Month: November 2017

There is a time and a place for electronics in your Child’s life

What age do I give my son or daughter their own electronic device? Good question. I feel it depends on what your child is going to use it for. If it is for pure entertainment I would say not till they are 14 or 15. If it has a function to play in their ability to get through the day easier then, that is another story.

There are so many learning apps you can download.  I have mixed emotions about using an Ipad or tablet as a teaching tool. In my opinion, children these days get more than enough screen-time and I feel anything you can teach on an Ipad you can teach with a pencil and paper or any of the other tools teachers used well before computers. There is always the case of attention and motivation though. Sometimes the picture or voice at the end of a problem on the computer is motivating and the child is more engaged than with other non – electronic tools.

Some of the apps I do use regularly with some of my clients include:

The handwriting without tears app teaches proper letter formation.

Injini: Child development app has play based games that teach such things as shapes and colors, writing skills, auditory and visual discrimination, patterns and cognitive and fine motor skills.

There are several apps I use for desensitization programs for life skills like:

Hair cutting

Dentist

There are several different dentist apps that I like.

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/tiny-dentist/id561690275?mt=8

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brush-teeth-toothbrush-timer-dental-brushing/id1052694241?mt=8

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brush-up-the-toothbrush-training-game/id967009000?mt=8

Doctor /hospital

Here are two but there are so many Dr./Hospital apps I have used with kids.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kids-doctor-dr-office-salon-kid-hospital-games/id709617197?mt=8

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doctor-kids-hospital-game-for-children/id876312848?mt=8

There are also some really helpful apps for life skills.

Google calendar has so many options that help children on the Autism spectrum, with high anxiety, and or with an executive functioning disorder.  The calendar allows the child at any point to know what to expect that day or that week at a glance. I use reminders for children who have trouble with the sound of the fire bell, or the chaos that happens when it goes off. It gives them a heads up and a minute or two to prepare themselves. For example get their ear protection on, or just know it is coming so it will not catch them off guard.  Also, like Google calendar, because you can color code it so the child knows their schedule and that of the families. It’s great for when the child’s schedule changes from their normal schedule. I also like how it adds pictures to the background of an event to give the child a visual cue of what is to come.

Many children also use I pads as their communication device. The beauty of this is that many of the ACC apps have locking mechanisms so your child can only use it as their communication device and not as a U tube device.

There are also several meditation apps available. Insight timer is favorite one that I use when the children I work with need some down time or before bed for my respite kids. It has a wide range of types meditation and a variety of lengths of time. Some of my favorites I use with the kids include balloon breaths, Kids bedtime prayer, Kids mediation Story: Billy and Zac the cat go to space,  and Snowman relaxation for kids.

 

 

Transitions are often a trigger for kids, ending one activity and starting another one can be challenging especially when the next activity is not preferred. I have compiled a few tips here that might make them go a little easier for you.

Use Visuals

I use visuals such as first / then all the time so mostly for motivation. You do what I want you to get what you want. Visual schedules are also useful because kids interpret pictures faster and more effectively than our words. Especially when children are upset, they do not hear our words, but studies show they interpret the pictures faster.

Give lots of notice

I like to give the 10 minute, 5-minute, 2-minute and 1-minute warnings for ending an activity. This works for some kids but it stresses out others, so know your child. It gives your child time to wind up what they are doing so they are not taken by surprise when it is time to move on.

Use a timer

Using a timer keeps you true to your word and allows the timer to be the bad guy instead of yourself. If you use the timer often enough a child will eventually get to know how long five minutes is.

Give them time to adjust

Even after all the warnings and the timer goes off let your child finish printing the sentence, coloring the picture, put the last beads on. You would not appreciate being interrupted and being forced to clean up in mid-sentence or in the middle of a thought.  Give them the courtesy of finishing up within reason of course.

Prepare your Child for the Day

During Breakfast talk about what their day is supposed to look like and talk about what kinds of things could change and what to expect in those instances. Let them know who is coming to pick them up, if they have a sub at school and what to do if you’re running late to pick them up.

All too often I see parents who believe they have to do this all on their own. They feel guilty for “phoning off their needy or behavior ridden child” on to someone else. Believe it or not, there are people out there who love to give you a break and enjoy your children, behaviors and all, many of them very well trained to deal with your child’s situation. Not only is it important for the parents about the children also.  How to does one expect to have the patients, the ability to think straight and provide the best care for their child when one anxious, exhausted, stressed and burnt out? “A recent Commonwealth Fund study reported that 60 percent of the family caregivers surveyed, ages 19-64, reported “fair or poor” health and one or more chronic conditions or disabilities, compared with only 33 percent of non-caregivers.” A parent’s health physically, mentally and spiritually is essential to providing the best care possible for their child.

Some of the benefits to utilizing respite care include:

Saving your relationship and your health

Providing care for your child can be very demanding and stressful, which no one is equipped to do on their own without help.  So much of a family’s time with a child who has special needs is spend providing support for activities of daily living, caring for, and getting kids from one appointment to another during the day. By night often time is spent researching /learning about the child’s diagnosis, what are the best practices, and agonizing over their stretched budget, which leaves little time for relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.

Respite care gives you a short break to relax, revitalize and regain your perspective on the world around you, allowing you to be better equipped to handle your child in challenging situations later. To expand on that the break allows parents to work on their relationship, or connect with friends and family as isolation is often a huge issue for care providers of any sort. It also gives a break from the daily routine and allows parents to do things they love, giving them a sense of self again. Whether it is laying on the beach with a book, painting, or running ten K, it all contributes to their overall happiness.

Benefits for Your Child

I can’t speak for all children but the ones I take for respite care are excited that “Kat is coming”. I, like many respite caregivers, take the kids to do fun things, new things, things that Mom and Dad don’t always have the time and energy for.  It also teaches children that they can ask for help and trust other adults besides their parents. The last thing I think it does it allows a child to miss their parents, even just a little so they remember how lucky they are.

On a personal note, I work with some of the most challenging kids during the week and I still enjoy respite care because it is way more relaxed. I can enjoy the kid’s company without having to check a box, meet a goal, and best of all if the child doesn’t want to do something and expresses that appropriately, we don’t. We make a new plan together.

There are many government agencies like children and families, Human resources and there are also local organizations like Community Options (http://communityoptions.bc.ca/services/childrens-respite-care/) to help you find the best care for your child. Often if you contact organizations like ACT BC (https://www.actcommunity.ca/) or your local children’s therapy center for respite information.