One Size Does NOT Fit All

Baby New Year has arrived!  The season of parties and changed schedules is coming to its end.  Back to the ‘normal’ routine! But what about those resolutions? The promises you make to yourself that come with the fine print that reads, “I maintain the option to not follow through with these resolutions because while I mean well, life truly gets in the way.”

A close friend shared her New Year’s resolution; she was NOT going to ‘sweat the small stuff’. My response was true to the bestie code: ‘Great idea!  That’ll really make a difference! I support you!’ And when we parted ways, I got to thinking how as adults we want our children to know and recognize the difference between small, medium, and large problems however lose sight of those as we become adults.

Sometimes we need to step back and take an inventory of how we categorize problems or issues.  While the resources I am using are predominately for children, it may be worth the extra 3 minutes to read through the rest of this post to reset your personal inventory and help your loved one manage his/hers.

Small Problems:

  • Affects 1-2 people
  • No one was physically hurt
  • Feelings were minimally hurt
  • Takes 5 – 15 min to ‘fix’
  • Problem can be solved by the individual OR can be ignored completely

Medium Sized Problems:

  • Affects 3-5 people
  • May be a small physical injury
  • Feelings were hurt, person/people upset
  • May take 15 min to a couple of hours to ‘fix’
  • Problem may need another adult to be solved

Large Sized Problems:

  • Affects 6 or more people
  • May be a significant physical injury
  • No easy or quick solution to ‘fix’ hurt feelings
  • May take days to weeks to ‘fix’
  • Assistance of other adults is required to solve the issue.

While these are definitely oversimplified for some of life’s problems, they do provide a pause when thinking of day to day situations.  Food for thought to start the New Year.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Practice Makes Permanent!

It’s the final countdown until the big day (cue Europe’s 1986 hit song). The lists have been checked twice, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and all that’s left is the wait……the long wait until we can rip open those gifts!

And when those gifts are torn into, we wait with baited breath willing and hoping our loved ones not only enjoy the gifts, but remember to say “Thank you” or at the very least acknowledge the others in the room.  Nothing says holiday fun like demanding your child say ‘Thank you’ to Auntie dear for the lovely footie pajamas and your child erupts into a stream of whining crying excuses while he/she will never wear them and how hot those PJs make their feet.

Give yourself an early gift this year, take a few moments and share with your loved ones your expected behaviors during the holidays.  Sometimes it just needs to be laid out there for everyone to realize it IS expected and no one, big or small, is exempt.

Greetings – for the most part, this one is pretty easy, HOWEVER, given the excitement of the day, simple reminders are good.  Practice walking into a room or through the front door and saying ‘Hi’ with your loved ones. If eye contact isn’t the best, coach your loved one to look at the person’s chin or hair.   If your loved one is non-verbal, practice waving or the sign for ‘Hi’ or a simple smile may be just as effective. Hiding behind you is NOT an expected behavior. Running in the door and hiding under the table is NOT an expected behavior. Spell out these unexpected behaviors very clearly.

Hugs, handshakes and the like – for some this is nothing short of a fingernails down a chalkboard moment. Give your loved one alternatives to hugging if that’s NOT the preferred choice of interaction.  Fist bumps, high fives, and waving are all expected behaviors everyone can live with. If there are  relatives that would be offended if they didn’t get a hug, take a few seconds before the holiday and explain to them why this is difficult.  Tell THEM what to expect and WHY you need their support.

Disappointment when opening gifts – this is something not foreign to most of us.  Practice expected reactions by opening ‘gifts’ of spoons or rocks or paper towels.  Smile and say ‘Thank you’. Smile and say ‘Thank you’. Make a game plan for when a gift is opened that your loved one already owns.  Make-up a simple gesture (channel your inner baseball coach) that tells your loved one, “I know you already have that. We will exchange this one and you can get something else. Smile and say Thank you.” . Once you have the gesture established, practice.  Wrap up current belongings and practice

In all of these cases, practice does not make perfect. Practice makes permanent….something that is more applicable for everyone.

And please, through it all, expected or unexpected find the joy. Find something to laugh about. Find those moments that fill your heart.

Happiest of Holidays!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Programs Available Starting January 2019

Lakeshore Speech Therapy is as busy as the North Pole this time of year! We are excited to share upcoming programs starting in January.

Teen Social Skills Group: This social skills group is designed specifically for teens. The purpose of our group is to practice expanding and building social skills in the areas of communication, problem solving, social media, friendship, fitting in, empathy and leadership skills.

And

Assistive Technology for Executive Functioning: High School students can drop in for an hour session on how to use assistive technology to increase organization, work completion, and ultimately independence. Skills necessary for college and the workplace.

Please click on the links above for more information about both of these great opportunities.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Gift Guides for Loved Ones with Special Needs

As I sit and watch  the movie ‘Buddy the Elf’ I can’t help but think that I really should be making a list, checking it twice and comparing prices.  Lists and lists of gift ideas are everywhere this time of year. People fall into two categories – easy to buy for and difficult to buy for. Our loved ones that experience communication difficulties may fall into the later category.

Below are links to articles and lists  that are available online that may assist in making and suggesting purchases for our loved ones.

Gift Giving Guide – TheraPlay

How to shop for Special Needs Children

500+ Gift Ideas for Child/Teen with Special Needs

2018 Holiday Gifts / Autism and Special Needs Christmas Gift Ideas

2018 Mom Approved Gift Ideas For Special Kids

The best toys for kids with special needs under $50

Holiday Gifts for Kids with Neurobehavioral Disorders

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR SENSORY PROCESSING GIFT IDEAS

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC. does not endorse any specific toy company or vendor, this is merely our attempt at saving you time in researching ideas so you can get back to the important parts of this time of year, being with loved ones.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Adventures and Memories

In the midst of sorting through your Black Friday deals and your Cyber Monday steals, you may be interested in some Winter Holiday activities in the greater Cleveland area.  This list is just the start of all the area has to offer; please share via Facebook or email if you find others that provide you and your family some fun adventures and treasured memories.

Remember most city centers (especially downtown Cleveland at Public Square – https://www.clevelandpublicsquare.com/what-s-happening ) have lovely light displays as well as many neighborhoods.  

 Share adventures and build memories!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

Holiday Prep – Part II

In a few days we will gather with family and friends to be thankful for all we have our lives. The days leading up to Thanksgiving (or any holiday) can be exciting, yet filled with anxiety, which could result in unexpected behaviors and reactions for some of our loved ones.

We talked about making changes in the actual celebration to better support your loved ones.  We need to focus on preparing them for what they might experience – the different smells, sounds and expectations – during the Thanksgiving celebration.

Social Stories:  These tools help by creating a simple straightforward explanation of what will happen during or leading up to an event, as well as behavior expectations.  Ideally social stories should be reviewed multiple times prior to an event and directly before. Bring the social story to the event and reread it in a quiet place. This may help to decrease the stress and refocus behaviors.  Please feel free to print and use these social stories or you may find some free by searching the web.

Visual Schedule:  Enjoying a relaxed unscheduled day may sound perfect, however your loved one may need to ‘see’ his/her day to decrease anxiety and unexpected behaviors.  A visual schedule may prove to be the needed tool. Visual schedules are helpful for all family members. You can use actual photos, simple stick-figure drawings or icons to depict your daily events.  You may choose to split the day by listing the AM schedule first and then changing it to the PM schedule at a natural break. You may choose to list the entire day and have your loved one remove the icon/picture as each part of the day is completed. Please feel free to print and use these icons to create a visual schedule of your loved one’s day.

First-Then cards: First-Then cards may be a new tool in your toolbox.  These cards use the same icons or pictures as a visual schedule, however are presented two at a time.  This tools gives your loved one a focused message of the immediate expected event or behavior and what will directly follow.  You may consider following a non-preferred activity with a ‘break’ or ‘leisure choice’ to increase his/her attention to the non-preferred activity.  For example, First: eating dinner – Then: going outside to swing. Please feel free to print and used these materials to create a First-Then card for your loved one.

Remember to take a moment to step back and truly see all the beauty that surrounds you.  Cherish your time with family and friends. We at Lakeshore Speech Therapy are thankful for our Lakeshore families.  We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving day filled with laughter and happiness.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

Holiday Prep – Part I

The weather reminds us the season of Holidays is at hand. Cooler days and nights, leaves and snowflakes falling.

While your are prepping your house for the Holidays, don’t forget to prep your friends and family as well. Earlier this year, we suggested ideas for making your loved one’s time celebrating the 4th of July more enjoyable. Now is the perfect time to begin preparing for you and your family to create an environment during these Holidays that supports your loved one as much as possible.

Location of celebration. While your family may have always celebrated the Holidays at Aunt Millie’s house, is it really the best place? Does Aunt Millie’s house have enough room so your loved one can comfortably participate in the festivities? Does Aunt Millie’s house have a place where your loved one might be able to ‘escape’ the whirl of activity? You may need to suggest a different venue for the Holiday celebration, a venue that better supports your loved one. If a venue change is not possible, you may need to suggest or abridge the time you spend at Aunt Millie’s to a time frame that better supports your loved one.

Time of celebrate. Is there a law stating all Holidays must be celebrated at dinner time? This year you may need to suggest a different time of day to celebrate the Holidays, a time of day when your loved one is at her/his best. Holiday brunch? Holiday lunch? Holiday snack time? You know your loved better than anyone. When she/he is at their best, YOU are able to relax and enjoy the festivities as well.

Timing of events. Is the best part of the celebration held for later in the day or evening? Can the highlight of the day be the first thing that happens? Relieving the anticipation of the highlight will decrease unexpected behaviors, which better supports your loved one.

This is not a finite list of considerations.  These are examples to get you thinking of the best plan for you and your family. These are examples to begin your prepping for the Holidays to best support your loved one so ultimately everyone can enjoy being together for the Holidays.

 

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Halloween Ready!

You used your parental superpowers to navigate the full moon last week, and you will use those powers again this week, especially on Wednesday, October 31st.  Check your list: comfortable costume – done; communication method – done; prep for the big night – read on.

Halloween evening is filled with anticipated wonder.  This anticipation can lead to anxiety which can cause unexpected behaviors.  Preparing your loved one in advance may eliminate or diminish the anxiety.  These proactive techniques are not difficulty, expensive or complex.  

Communicating to your child about what they can expect on Halloween evening can make a significant difference.  This communication can look like a bedtime story – “Once upon a time, a little girl/boy was excited for Halloween. Her/His name was (your child’s name). Child’s name was going to be dressed as a (your child’s costume).  On Halloween day, she/he went to school and had a great day.  When child’s name got home from school she/he made sure her/his homework was done. Child’s name and her/his family had dinner. After child’s name ate her/his dinner she/he changed into her/his costume. Etc…..”

This communication can look like a picture book.  Draw basic stick figures to represent the expected activities o Halloween.  Please feel free to utilize these sequence pictures as well. trickortreatsequence.png

This communication can look like a social story.  We have provided a social story about Halloween for you. Social stories are more effective when read frequently.  While this is coming to you a few days before Halloween, reading the story two to three times prior to the event can decrease anxiety as well as increase success. halloween-social-story

Remember to breathe and enjoy the moment…… these moments go by too quickly.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

Costume Time of the Year

Halloween is just a few days away!  The night of candy collection! Whatever will your child wear?  How many times will that choice change? If your children are anything like the majority of the universe, she/he will have a definite idea of what they would like to be and then about 23 hours before the big night – change their mind!  Hopefully this will NOT be the case for your and your world this year!

Choosing a Halloween costume, while exciting, can create a completely different set of stressors one might not typically consider.  While being able to see clearly as well as being seen clearly is of utmost importance, there are more significant issues as well adjustments that need to be made for choosing a costume if your child experiences any sensory issues.

Masks – they are fun for some and not so fun for others.  When a mask might be part of the costume, have your child wear it around the house prior to the ‘big night’.  All children will tell you they LOVE the mask while in the store but when faced with having to wear it longer than 2 minutes, they are unable to manage.  Consider a soft version to a hard mask or even a half-mask. Using make-up vs a mask might really make a difference. Really look at the costume –  is covering the child’s face necessary?

Hats or headbands – here too are lovely items that make sense for some but will ruin an evening for others.  Similar to a mask, have your child wear it around the house for longer than 2 minutes. Initially you may have to start at 2 min and work his/her tolerance up to 15-20 minutes.  Consider a softer version and/or if it HAS to be part of the ‘look’.

Major clothing part of the costume  – tags, buttons, velcro, and zippers are scarier to some children than goblins and monsters! You might consider taking a page from your mother’s or grandmother’s handbook – make your own costume. Please do not think for one moment we are talking about getting the sewing machine out or whip stitching something together!  Consider the following ideas using the clothes that are hanging in the closet now:

Jeans and a flannel shirt:

  • Adding a tool box or tool belt = construction worker, carpenter, Paw Patrol character
  • Adding a piece of fake wood (ie: cardboard tube) = lumberjack or jane

Leggings and a long shirt:

  • Adding a cape on the shirt = superhero
  • Adding a belt with a few fake flowers on it = fairy

Jeans and a white t-shirt:

  • Adding maybe a scarf around the neck = ‘50’s girl
  • Rolling up the sleeves = ‘50’s guy

Shirt and bottoms that are the same color =

  • Tape a white ‘M’ on the shirt = M&M character
  • Tape a picture of any character from the movie “Inside Out” on the shirt

Look at the PJs your child currently wears – chances are those worn to school or to a party could pass as a costume without issue.

By now, your costume creator self has probably more than enough ideas for this Halloween. Feel free to share pictures of your costume creations with vkotansky@lakeshorespeech.com and we’ll post them on our Facebook page.  Your photo might be the inspiration which makes a difference in the life of a little one this year or for years to come.

Happy Halloween Prep!  And above else, remember to enjoy the time with your child making memories that will last a lifetime!

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC

 

Dress for Fall

Fall is officially upon us!  Crunching leaves, cooler air, pumpkin spiced everything.  There’s no denying it, Fall is here! For those who appreciate a cup of hot cocoa, the changing of the leaves and busting out the sweaters and long pants, your time has arrived.  Living in Northeast Ohio poses some issues when it comes to predicting Fall weather. We experience Spring, Summer and Heat Wave all in span of 3 days. Adjusting our wardrobes to match this  temperature roller coaster can also create issues for those who don’t understand what is going on with Mother Nature or those who are very sensitive to what they wear.

The “battle of the outfit” does not have to be a daily event. Using simple materials around your home, you can focus less on getting your loved one in  clothes to match the weather. These techniques not only bridge the gap of the daily runway, but promote vocabulary growth, inferencing, and reasoning.

Materials you will need to gather:

Items: 

Pictures of (at least 2 copies of each): 

  • Long sleeved shirt & short sleeved shirt                
  • Long pants & shorts
  • Sweatshirt or sweater
  • Socks and shoes
  • Sandals or flip flops
  • Lightweight Jacket
  • Heavier jacket/winter jacket

Resources:

  • Fliers from department stores and catalogues are great resources
  • Free icons @ www.flaticon.com
  • Free icons @ www.do2learn
  • Images from the internet

Items:

Pictures of weather/temperature:

  • Sun (3)
  • Cloudy (3)
  • Rain (3)
  • Warm (3)
  • Cold (3)

Resources:

Items:

Blank week calendar (large enough to hold 2-3 pictures)

Resources:

Items:

Glue, scissors, velcro or funtack, blank paper/cardstock

Resource:

Around the house (or in the ‘junk drawer’)

The overall goal is for the adult to indicate the weather and temperature on a specific day (using the weather temperature pictures) as well as the type of clothing needed for that day (using the clothing pictures).  Eventually, the individual may want to fill in the calendar with the corresponding pictures, but initially, this is intended to be a visual cue to decrease misunderstandings, etc. Too often the beautiful sun is shining but it’s nowhere near a day for flip-flops and shorts.

Please feel free to discuss creating this type of visual cue for your loved one with your Speech-Language Pathologist. If you would like more information, please feel free to call us at Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.

Yours in Speech,

Lakeshore Speech Therapy