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Teaching communication skills with Ready-Steady-Go games articles May 11, 2022

(Photo 228218828 / Child © Aaron Amat | Dreamstime.com)

Teaching communication skills with Ready-Steady-Go games.

Ready, steady, go games help develop your child's listening and attention skills and early communication skills.

In today's blog, I outline the benefits of Ready-Steady-Go games for young children with autism, so you can use these activities to help them develop early...

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Lámh Sign For ANIMAL sign of the week May 04, 2022

(Illustration 65642301 © Neda Sadreddin | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

As we are approaching the end of the school year, many preschools and schools have organised day trips to Kia Ora farm and other places for the kids. Such great fun in the sunny weather!

To sign for ANIMAL, place both hands ‘a’ handshape, palms facing each other. Circle both hands close...

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Is your child/student using avoidance behaviours to escape a task? articles Apr 20, 2022

(Illustration 57520720 © Klara Viskova | Dreamstime.com)

Is your child/student using avoidance behaviours to escape a task?

Some children with additional needs learn behaviours that help them avoid doing activities they don't want to do.

From a young age, they may have learned, for example, that performing "party tricks", shouting, or hiding under the table are useful behaviours...

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Lámh Sign For WHITEBOARD sign of the week Apr 20, 2022

(Illustration 57520720 © Klara Viskova | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

In this video, you learn a sign very useful in the classroom, the sign for WHITEBOARD.

The sign for WHITEBOARD is a two-part sign. First sign ‘White’, then sign ‘Picture’. Watch the video to see a demonstration of this sign, and sign along with me.

(The Lámh official...

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Do parents have unrealistic expectations for their autistic children? articles Apr 07, 2022

 

Do parents have unrealistic expectations for their autistic children?

 

Recently, in conversation with a group of educators, I recommended some resources and videos from well known autistic self-advocates.

 

One of the teachers shook her head and said, “I have to be careful with that. Parents might look at some autistic self-advocates and think their child will have...

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Lámh Sign For BOTTLE sign of the week Apr 06, 2022

(Illustration 97728453 © Maher Shukir | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

In this video, I have picked the sign for BOTTLE. It can be used with babies referring to their milk BOTTLE. And it can be used with school kids as well, referring to the water/drinks BOTTLE.

Watch the video to see the demonstration and try signing along with me.

(The Lámh official website...

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7 tips to foster a love of books in autistic children (Part 3) articles Mar 30, 2022

(Photo 222860659 © Chernetskaya | Dreamstime.com)

7 tips to foster a love of books in autistic children

As an early intervention specialist and a mum of an autistic boy, books and reading have always been my best allies to help children learn

In their early years, I use books specifically to support language development and teach children about the world around them.

I always...

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Lámh Sign For SHELF sign of the week Mar 30, 2022

(Illustration 142735463 © Blueringmedia | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

In this video, you will learn a sign that you may not know yet, the sign for SHELF.

You can use this sign in the classroom or at home when you ask your child to tidy up and put the books or toys back on the SHELF or get a book or a toy from the SHELF.

If you use the sign with the verbal instruction,...

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Lámh Sign For PAPER sign of the week Mar 23, 2022

(Illustration 94812500 © Yevgenij_D | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

To sign for PAPER, place your left hand (non-dominant hand) in an L handshape with your palm facing up in front of your chest. Then, place your right hand (dominant hand) in A hand-shape, palm down, and tap it on your left hand twice.  

Watch the video to see the demonstration and try signing...

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How do you know if your student is ready to learn reading? (Part 2) articles Mar 16, 2022

How do you know if your student is ready to learn reading?

In my last blog (Teaching Reading To Children With Autism), I discussed some key aspects to consider when teaching reading to autistic children. Today, I will address the question, “How do I know if my child/student is ready for reading?”. You may be surprised when you hear my answer.

I introduce early literacy skills...

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Lámh Sign For MOTHER (Updated) sign of the week Mar 16, 2022

(Illustration 72259536 © Tatiana Kulikova | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

One of my favourite days of the year is Mother´s Day. And not so much because I get breakfast in bed and flowers, which I love, but because I love celebrating my children and my own mother.

Kids are super excited about this day, preparing beautiful cards for their mammy or mother figures...

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Teaching reading to children with autism (Part 1) articles Mar 09, 2022

Teaching Reading To Children With Autism

I have noticed over the years that many children with autism are interested in letters from a young age. Many of my young students enjoy matching letters, the alphabet song and looking at printed words.

My son Sebastian was the same. He was fascinated with letters from a young age: some of his first words were letter names!
However, when autistic...

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Lámh Sign For GREEN sign of the week Mar 09, 2022

(Photo 187054542 / Green Blob © Victor Moussa | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

St. Patrick´s Day is just around the corner, and this year we will be celebrating like there's no tomorrow :-)  

In this video, I will show you a colour sign you will be using a lot in the classroom over St. Patrick's week: the sign for GREEN.

Green shamrocks, leprechauns and...

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Lámh Sign For IRELAND (Updated) sign of the week Mar 02, 2022

(Photo 42200569 / Ireland © Destina156 | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

St. Patrick´s Day is nearly upon us, and this year we will be celebrating big!  

After two years of not being able to celebrate our national day, many of us are excited about the parades returning to the streets.  

Whether you feel comfortable venturing to your local parade...

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Helping Autistic Children Have A Better Sleep interviews Mar 02, 2022

Helping Autistic Children Have A Better Sleep

The one BIG issue we rarely think about...

Families are often at sea as specialised advice is hard to find on this subject.

Did you know that children with autism are more likely to have sleeping problems than their same-age peers?

Did you know that autistic children are more likely to have sleeping issues than their same-age peers?

Children with...

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Lámh Sign For READY sign of the week Feb 23, 2022

(Photo 21976874 © Rangizzz | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

Are you ready to learn the sign for READY?

I often use this sign to practice listening and waiting. For example, I play racing games with children, and I encourage them to wait and listen when I say “ready”, and when they hear “go”, we start to run.

Play the video to see the video for ...

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Teaching Children Their Full Address early intervention Feb 16, 2022

Teaching Children Their Full Address

Does your child or student know the full address of where they live?
If they got lost or anything happened, would they be able to tell where they live?

Knowing the address of where they live is an essential thing for them to be able to say.

For children who can´t communicate with words yet and are a flight risk, you may consider having an ID bracelet...

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Lámh Sign For BALLOON sign of the week Feb 16, 2022

(Photo 21976874 © Rangizzz | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

In this video, I will show you a fun sign, the sign for BALLOON.

To sign for BALLOON, first sign for “ball”, and then gradually move hands apart as you change from ‘bent 5’ to ‘5’ handshape while blowing.

Watch the video of me doing this sign, and sign along with me.

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Lámh Sign For PINK sign of the week Feb 09, 2022

(Illustration 2690369 © Yudesign | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

Is your classroom covered in pink and red hearts yet? Valentine´s day is upon us again and you can feel the love in the air everywhere.

I hope you are having fun making arts and crafts with the kids, so in this video, I will teach you another sign that will come in very handy for when you do this.

...

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Lámh sign for CARD sign of the week Feb 02, 2022


(Illustration 80338922 © Kchumakova | Dreamstime.com)

Welcome to the Sign Of The Week

Valentine´s day is around the corner. All my students are making pretty Valentine´s day cards for their loved ones. Are your students working on their cards too?

With that, I thought you might want to learn a new sign related to this activity.

And that is the Lámh sign for CARD.

...

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Five Little Monkeys With Lámh Signs story books with lámh Feb 02, 2022

Five Little Monkeys With Lámh Signs

Parents and teachers have mentioned how much children enjoy my videos of stories and songs with Lámh.

Those comments always fill my heart. I do these videos to entertain and teach little kids who use Lámh signs.

If you haven’t seen my stories and songs with Lámh, head over to my YouTube channel, and you will find them all...

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