By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. 1. What can I work on with my child this summer? Please give me at least three goals that we can work on at home. Consistency is very important for your child. Help him by continuing to practice learned skills. While summer is a great time for your child to relax [...]
Read More School, Summer, teachers
By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. Most parents are familiar with using reinforcers—giving children positive feedback, and having a reward system in place to encourage appropriate behavior. Some children will not complete a 10-piece puzzle unless they are rewarded with verbal reinforcement, such as “Good job! Way to go!” As children get older, you may notice that [...]
Read More behavior, motivation, rewards
By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. It is often a challenge for parents to find ways to connect with their child with Autism. They face difficulties when looking for common ground with their child. How do you get your child, who makes no eye contact, to notice you? How do you get your child, who seems to [...]
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By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. Please note: I am going to refer to your child as a boy. If you have a daughter, please know that this is for you too. It gets confusing switching between genders. So here we go. Do you eat at home with your family every evening because it is easier [...]
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By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. How to keep your child calm when you need a ten-minute break It can be very challenging for parents of children with Autism to do a simple task, like cooking dinner for example, without worrying that their child is going to run out the door. Sometimes they feel like they can’t [...]
Read More autism, behavior, calm, parents
By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. From information gathered from interviews and surveys, many parents expressed that hygiene issues are one of their biggest concerns. Children with Autism sometimes experience a breakdown in understanding the importance of cleanliness. They do not automatically understand that if they don’t shower, germs may make them sick, and when they smell [...]
Read More bath time, behavior, hygiene, routine
By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. Do you relate to this scenario? It is 8:00 p.m., and your 7-year-old son is bouncing off the walls. He is overtired, had a long day of school and therapy, and is bumping into things, bouncing on the furniture, and repeating videos aloud. You think to yourself, “How in the world [...]
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By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. Children with Autism are typically visual learners. They learn by seeing and not necessarily by hearing. If you find yourself giving directions repeatedly, and your child is not complying, you may want to consider using visual strategies. Even if you think your child is familiar with his schedule, your house rules, [...]
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By Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed. Twelve ways to get your child to use the toilet Potty time can be very intimidating and scary for many children, and especially for children with Autism. There are many sensory components in the bathroom experience. The toilet seat may be cold and/or feel very hard, sounds may echo off the [...]
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Create Your Own Sensory Area During a recent workshop, I asked my audience to raise their hand if their child with Autism did not have sensory issues. Not one person raised their hand. Of course, not all children with Autism have difficulty processing sensory input, just as not all children with sensory processing disorders have [...]
Read More comunication, play area, sensory issues