Make A Pokeball and Get The Kids Outside

Welcome to AuSumness!

I've got another fast and easy project for you.  Check out the simple steps and see what the hub bub is all about.

If you're not living with your head in the clouds (and really, there is nothing wrong with that) then you know about Pokemon.  Like many Autistic kids, both my boys are slightly obsessed with gaming.  Pokemon Go is all of the rage everywhere and in this house, too.

Frankly, I'm a bit thrilled myself.  It's something completely new to my boys and there is motivation to go OUTSIDE.  My youngest likes to be in nature and often visits around the yard even when it is freezing.  However, my oldest is a bit of a couch potato and making him go outside is a real chore and terrible for everyone.

He tried playing Pokemon in the house, but couldn't get any good stuff.  He HAD to go outside.  hehehe...He also decided he needed a Pokeball.  Knowing that I have quite a crafty stash, I asked for an image of this ball and knew right away what to do.

I grabbed one of my many styrofoam balls and some sharpie pens, red and black.  There already was a slight line all around the centre of the ball.  I only had to follow it slowly and carefully with my marker.  I grabbed a circular something from my desk and traced around it, leaving the centre white as was on the image.

Get out your red sharpie and colour the top half of the ball.  The ink comes off a bit when it's wet, but after a few short minutes, it dries and doesn't come off any more.

See how easy?!

Now, he's ready to go hunting!

Shoes, hat, back pack and tablet in hand and they are out of the door before lunch.

Even Dino couldn't wait!  Hehehe...and the dog  might be even more happy!

We all know how healthy it is to get these kids out of the house.  This game took the boys all over our neighbourhood and they saw all kinds of things they normally pay no attention to.  Our neighbourhood is very quiet and we did go with the boys.

It is very important to remember that accidents can happen when you are not paying attention and many have happened already.  So play carefully!

Have fun with your Pokeball and enjoy the outside.

Tips for Getting Your Autistic Kids To Listen

Welcome to AuSumness.

On Monday's we dive into ways to help parents, teachers, family and friends deal with Autism.  We provide tips that have worked for us and a couple of others that we may not have tried, but seem to be great ideas.

We totally understand that the Autism spectrum is huge and not all of these tips might work with your kids, but if you're like us, we'll try anything at least once.  Sometimes techniques work right away, but stop working.  Other times a technique might take a while until we see it's effects.  Just don't give up.

We're looking at ways to help children listen.  These tips are great for any kid or even for adults.  Some might be no brainers, but read through and try to implement as many as you can to see which ones work.

The very first tip is to stop doing what you're doing.

This might even be one of the harder tips.  Hehehe...  I only recently started doing this myself.  I have always been a mega multi tasker.  However, I noticed just how effective this tip works.  Who doesn't appreciate when someone puts everything aside and gives you their undivided attention?  What a nice thing to do to or for anyone at all times.  Especially, if you expect them to listen to you, when you speak.

For our Autistic boys it's different.  My youngest son with more symptoms needs a lot more than just me stopping what I'm doing.  While my other son can totally deal with it.

Physical Contact

I have found it most effective to actually look into his eyes and even better still, sit him on my lap, touch his shoulder or perhaps put my hand gently on his waist.  This works wonderfully even when they are older.

However, not all Autistic kids can handle this.  So use caution if you're not sure.  Some children or even adults do not like to look at folks who are speaking directly to them.  My youngest was like this and still has his moments where it is much easier to concentrate on what I'm saying if he doesn't have to look at me.  We certainly do NOT require our children to look at us when we speak.

I'm not sure how all kids are, but our youngest focuses so much on every detail of the face and how it moves that he cannot also digest what it is we are saying as well.  Which brings us to the next tip.

Use simple sentences.

This is not always easy, but it is often essential if you really want them to understand what you are saying.  Take a moment.  Gather your thoughts, then speak and always speak positively.  Avoid lectures.  Trust me, they will stop listening.

Speak evenly and softly.

Boy, is this one a tough one for me.  I grew up with a loud Archie Bunker kind of father, but I've learned over a lot of time, that this technique works wonderfully.  The more quietly I speak, the more they have to focus and listen.  Besides, even as adults, we often shut off if someone is shouting at us and kids are no different.  They stop listening.

Listen

It's only fair.  If you expect them to listen to you, then you should listen to them and prove you are listening by nodding or even better, repeat what they say or respond calmly using any of the tips above.  Always recognise their feelings.  This goes for anyone and it's a super lesson to learn.  What someone feels is all THEM and they are entitled to those feelings irregardless of what others think.  We might think it's silly or overboard, but it is what it is to them and we can't take that away.

Go To Them

If your child doesn't come the first time you call, don't shout even louder.  Go to them and make your point using the steps above.  It will show them an excellent example and save yourself a sore throat.

Check out this link at The Super Nanny.  They give some really awesome tips, too.

So try out these suggestions.  They all really work great.  Soon, they will become habit and you'll notice the house a bit a quieter and everyone less stressed.  As if?!  Hehehe...

Thanks for stopping by AuSumness.  We'll see you next week for more on Autism.