What’s new in the blog...
(Photo 133939877 © Nomadsoul1 | Dreamstime.com)
Did you know that parents of autistic children have higher stress levels than other groups of parents?
Many studies reveal that parents of autistic children often report increased stress, depression and anxiety.
You might argue that becoming a parent is a significant life change and parents need to adjust to their new life situation,...
(Illustration 34606441 © Tigatelu | Dreamstime.com)
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week
Can you believe there are only six weeks before the school year finishes? Visiting schools, I love feeling the buzz: more outdoor activities, sports days, and school trips—lots of happy fun things.
So, in this video, I will show you the Lámh sign for HAPPY.
Watch the video to see...
(Illustration 214091761 © Arducha | Dreamstime.com)
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week
Lámh Sign For MAKE.
To sign for MAKE, place both hands in S hand shape, with your palms facing sideways at chest level. Then tap your dominant hand on the other twice.
Watch the video to see the video for the sign TO MAKE and sign along with me.
(The Lámh official website is ...
(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...
(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...
(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...
(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...
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...
(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...
(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...
(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,...
(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...
(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...
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...
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...
(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...
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...
(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...
(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 ...
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...
(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.
