- Autism & Developmental Services
Autism & Developmental Services
Written By: Danielle Commander, M.S. Ed, BT.
Winter break provides children with a much-needed time off from school. During the break, children get a chance to sleep in, relax at home, eat their favorites foods, and just enjoy the holiday season. While the first few days go by fast in excitement, boredom can quickly arise. For this reason, try incorporating structured activities to keep your child both physically and emotionally entertained.
It is easy to fall into the trap of staying indoors this winter season. While some breaks throughout the day to watch TV, iPad and electronic is perfectly fine, you want to limit excessive electronics in your child day. Take some time and enjoy nature! Stop by your local park, playground, or amusement park.
Incorporate scavenger hunts on your walks which are a fun way to foster language and communication. For example, if you are going to take your kiddo on a nature walk have a printout sheet of things to look out for such as birds, flowers, or interesting rocks. Remember fresh air and exercise never gets old!
A great way to spend time with your child this winter break is reading! Reading published books is exciting way to engage your child in learning through words or pictures. Pick out a topic that you know your child would enjoy whether it be food, toys, or a specific animal.
If your child is verbal, ask them questions as you write a story together or have them point to different pictures in the book and you go through the pages. Make it a habit to read 2-3 books a day throughout the day. This will provide a positive interaction and structure in their day.
It is very common for kids to spend their winter break cuddled indoors watching tv and playing games. However, we must not forget the importance of socialization during this time. Socialization is imperative to cognitive and social development, and it is important to allow your child social opportunities during their break.
Check out your local library to see if they are holding any events, go to your local museum, check online for zoom-based events and check in with your BT or BCBA on more social skills recommendations.
Cooking is a basic living skill that requires motivation and practice! It is a good idea to expose your child to the kitchen as it can be fun and full of learning opportunities. There are many kid-friendly recipes online that are delicious and easy to make. When cooking with your child allow your child opportunities to participate actively, making them feel in charge of choosing and creating the dish.
Offer choices, label items as you cook, and place demands that are easy for your child to follow. Understanding your child’s level of functioning is imperative to making this a fun activity. Be aware of your child’s sensory needs and food preferences. Avoid foods that may make your child feel too overwhelmed to taste or touch. Complex flavors and uncomfortable textures should all be considered when making a dish!
As the holidays are celebrated this winter season, there are so many opportunities to make a festive art project that you and your child will both love! Pick out a holiday theme that is preferred by your child whether it be Santa, a favorite animal, snow, elves, or lights. Even a non-holiday idea can become a holiday theme with a little bit of creativity! Add snowflakes, Christmas lights, or even a Santa hat to any pre-existing activity.
The main point is to be creative and have fun! Whatever art project you and your child decide to make, make sure you display it in a place where everyone can see. This will give your child natural opportunities for social praise, which is great for building self-confidence and self-esteem!
Thanks to the popularity and ease of access of a smartphone, everyone can be a photographer! This holiday season, let your child explore their creative side and take pictures! Tell them to take pictures of people, places, objects, anything that interests them!
Go through the pictures together and pick your favorite one! Play with the lighting, dimensions and print them out! Once again make sure to display them in an easily visible place where they can look through easily. If you decide to print out multiple pictures, create a scrapbook! These are great ways to capture special moments while creating fun memories!
Doing an act of kindness with your child is a great way to celebrate this holiday season. It will teach them priceless values such as sharing, kindness, and compassion. Donate some food to your local pantry or food bank, go to your local animal shelter and volunteer for the day or make a cash donation to an organization that is meaningful to your child. The possibilities of doing an act of kindness are limitless!
After you do your act of kindness, talk to your child about what you did and why it is important. Having conversations with your child will ensure that they understand the purpose of the act and why it is important to continue to do kind things for others!
Date Posted:
Share this blog
Recent Blog Posts
