Outdoor Socially-Distanced Summer Activities

Summer is upon us, and even though things are finally starting to open back up, many parents are still, understandably, proceeding with caution. Are you among them? By now, most kids have gotten accustomed to social distancing, and understand that it helps them stay safe. Fortunately, we’ve got some great ideas for fun, outdoor, socially-distanced, summer activities.

Teach the neighborhood kids some old-school games. Kickball, Simon Says, hopscotch, and other old playground games don’t require kids to get close but do allow them to interact with each other. You can also play a dancing game in which everyone must freeze as soon as the music stops.
Update some old games to create something new. You’ve heard of tag, but have you heard of noodle tag? Incorporate pool noodles into your game of tag and it’s easy to social distance. Chutes and ladders is a classic board game, but what if you made it an outdoor game, drawing a giant game board with sidewalk chalk? Sidewalk chalk is also great for playing hangman or hopscotch, or drawing an obstacle course. Think outside the box to update old favorites.
Make something big and beautiful. Create a neighborhood mural by enlisting all of the children to draw in front of their own homes with sidewalk chalk. If sidewalk talk is becoming old hat, try sidewalk paint, made of cornstarch, water, and food coloring. You can also decorate your fence with paper flowers made by the children out of construction paper, paint, markers, and paper plates. Your kids can have fun creating these large scale art projects and it may brighten the day for people passing by.
Have a scavenger hunt. You can walk through your neighborhood, challenging kids to find things like a blue house or a mailbox in the shape of an animal, or make it a sensory scavenger hunt, directing kids to look for things that are rough, smooth, shiny, warm, and so on.
Go geocaching. With a mobile device and a free geocaching account, you can be launched into an outdoor treasure hunt that provides good family fun outside in nature. It also helps kids learn to follow instructions and use their powers of observation. The treasures you find are real objects that people have hidden, typically a trinket or souvenir.
Host an outdoor movie night. Social distancing this fun even is totally doable. Just set up your screen, position the chairs six feet apart, and serve individually packaged snacks. Movie theater candy, anyone? Everyone will have a blast and they may not even notice it’s socially distanced.

Check back here often for more tips on finding fun family activities! If your child has been diagnosed with ASD, STAR of CA is here to help by providing important support services. Founded in 2006, we provide behavioral and psychological services to people with ASD and related disorders in an environment that offers support for the entire family. You can contact us through our website or by calling 805.588.8896.

- June 2, 2021

Teaching Your Children Self-Care

A child’s ability to take care of themselves is about more than just dressing and undressing, brushing their teeth, and using the restroom independently. While these skills are important for physical health and self-reliance, good emotional habits are also critical for a child’s well-being.

The past year has been a trying time for all of us. If your kids are struggling with the effects that COVID-19 continues to have on their daily life, a little self-care can go a long way. Here are some tips for teaching healthy emotional habits to your children.

Exercise daily: As little as 20 minutes of moderate daily exercise may help prevent symptoms of depression, making it an essential part of self-care. To make exercise fun, help your kids find an activity they love, such as skateboarding, biking, or playing fitness video games.
Minimize media usage: Excessive social media and screen time can lead to increased distress to your child, provide them with other worthwhile ways to pass their time.
Teach stress management: When you know a stressful event is coming up, it helps to discuss it with your children in advance. Help them understand that everyone goes through challenges and they’re not alone in facing hard times. Then, suggest ways to cope, including play time, mindfulness, and yoga.
Find kid-friendly self-care resources online: You’ll find many mobile apps and websites offering mindfulness activities and yoga exercises to make these self-care techniques more accessible to your children.
Be open about your emotions: There’s a stigma against negative emotions in our society, but it’s healthier to experience and process normal levels of anxiety, stress, and anger than to stuff these feelings down. When your children get upset, reflect and validate their emotions without trying to offer a quick fix. Don’t insist that they calm down right away before having a chance to experience the full depth of their feelings.
Encourage downtime every day: As with adults, children can often be over-scheduled. They may be so busy with school, clubs, and extracurricular activities that they have little to no downtime. Cancel some of your children’s obligations so they have time to spend engaged in unstructured play and to relax with the family.
Be a good role model: If you expect your kids to exercise every day or spend less time on their phones/devices, practice what you preach. You can also use your need for downtime as an example of how important it is to let your body and mind relax.
Practice self-care as a family: Get everyone on board with the concept of self-care so it’s easy to share experiences and tips with one another. Not only can this improve each person’s self-care routine, but it may also help you grow closer as a family.

If these self-care tips aren’t enough to combat your child’s heightened anxiety, stress, and negativity, STAR of CA can help. We offer behavioral and psychological services to children, adolescents, adults, and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. Please contact us at 805.588.8896 to find out more about our evidence-based services.

- April 30, 2021

Cooking Activities for Children with ASD

Cooking activities are a great way to bond with your children. If you’re the parent of a child with ASD, you may read that with some degree of skepticism. But trust us, food is fundamental to life, and when you cook with your kids you impart important life skills and connect with them in a meaningful way.

Visual instructions make cooking activities simple. Start with a rule chart that addresses washing your hands before preparing food and simple kitchen safety. Then create visual or adapted recipes to make things easier for children to remember.
Preparing ahead of time is the key to success. All of your kitchen equipment, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, and so on, should be ready ahead of time. You should also make sure you have all the ingredients and that they’re stored in logical places easy for children to locate. This helps children learn where various items are kept.
Working in the kitchen helps kids develop important skills. As they scoop, measure, chop, cut, spread, and stir, they’re working on fine motor skills and coordination. Following a recipe helps teach them to follow directions, and cooking and eating with others helps improve social skills. It can also be a good time to bond with them and have fun as you help them learn these new skills.
Recipes don’t have to be elaborate to be fun for kids. You can start with making sandwiches and letting them help you make cookies or cupcakes. Even young children can place cupcake liners in pans or put sprinkles on a cupcake or cookie. If you’re looking for recipes that are more in depth, here are some great examples, complete with visual versions for your child with ASD:
Embrace the sensory joys of cooking. Kneading bread, rolling dough, breaking and separating eggs, and many other kitchen tasks provide opportunities for messy, sensory fun. If, on the other hand, you have a child with sensory challenges and aversions to certain textures, there are a few ways to approach this problem. You could provide non-latex medical gloves, which are thin enough to provide sensory input while protecting against direct touch. You can also expose the child to different textures in play situations, with things like Magic Sand or slime.

If your child has been diagnosed with ASD, STAR of CA is here to offer support, keeping you informed of opportunities for fun with your kids and providing important support services. Founded in 2006, we provide behavioral and psychological services to people with ASD and related disorders in a nurturing environment that offers support for the entire family. You can contact us through our website or by calling 805.588.8896.

- February 25, 2021

Setting Goals with your Child for 2021

As the year winds down and we start looking ahead to 2021, most of us set goals for the coming year. While you’re setting your goals, why not take the time to help your child set some as well? Teaching children the valuable skill of goal-setting is important because it’s something they’ll carry with them throughout their lives.

Begin on a positive note. Brainstorm with your children, first making a list of things they do well, then looking for areas where they’d like to improve or learn something new. Consider “Three Stars and a Wish” as a planning exercise. Have the kids establish three “stars”, or strengths, and one “wish” of something to aspire to.
Strive for goals that are both ambitious and obtainable. This year has been a challenging one for most students, so there’s likely to be an area in which your child doesn’t feel especially competent and would like to improve. By making sure the goals he or she sets are obtainable, you’ll help to build confidence.
Choose some goals that are just for fun. Maybe your child wants to learn origami this year, or how to blow bubbles with bubblegum, or how to whistle. It makes working towards goals more interesting if there are aspirations in the mix that aren’t too serious.
Turn wishes into goals. What’s the difference between a wish and a goal? It all comes down to having a plan. Help your child determine exactly how he or she will reach the goal you’ve set together, breaking it down into achievable steps.
Write everything down. It’s helpful to have a visual reminder of the goals you’ve chosen, perhaps in the form of a chart. When you have a chart on the wall, you and your child can easily record progress being made toward achieving the stated goals.
Set a timeline and check in periodically. Talk with your children about a reasonable length of time needed to achieve their goals. Establish expectations, not just for the main goal, but for the little steps along the way. Determine intervals at which you’ll check in to see how your child is feeling about the progress being made.
Don’t assume the achievement is its own reward! While your child will feel a sense of accomplishment upon achieving the stated goal, rewards are a great motivator. This can be as simple as stickers on the chart along the way, or you can plan for a big reward once the goal is met.

- January 6, 2021

Backyard games for kids with ASD

One in 68 American children has what’s known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. Children with this condition face many challenges, including issues with nonverbal communication, speech, social skills, and repetitive behaviors. They also often have unique strengths that make them different. One way in which children with ASD are very much like neurotypical children, though, is in their need for play.

Play is so important in childhood that the United Nations has declared it a human right, and for children with ASD, it’s an extremely useful tool to teach developmental skills. Playing outside is especially important, because it promotes both imagination and problem-solving skills as well as reducing stress, improving vision, providing vitamin D, and boosting immunity. The challenge for parents of children with ASD is learning how to create a back yard that’s safe, accessible, functional, and sensory-friendly.

Create sensory activities to develop fine motor skills. A sandbox, bubbles, and water play are all examples of activities that stimulate the senses and the imagination. By using your own imagination, you’ll be able to think of other sensory opportunities as well.
Provide fun, physically stimulating activities. Swinging is a great activity for kids, and children with ASD find it especially calming. Playground games like hopscotch and Simon says can be fun, as can drawing with large sidewalk chalk.
Make it a family affair. Playing with your child benefits both of you, helping to create deeper bonds while you get exercise and fresh air. Have a family campout, play games together, watch wildlife or stargaze, or set up a background treasure hunt.
Give your child opportunities to interact with nature. Use a birdseed bin to create a bird sanctuary, allowing your child to experience not just the joy of birdwatching, but also the various textures of seeds and the use of buckets, cups, and shovels. Start a garden, perhaps growing vegetables, or maybe just planting flowers that will attract birds and butterflies.
Build an accessible space. Consider your child’s special needs, as well as the needs of other children who will play in your back yard, and design areas in your backyard that will facilitate inclusive play.
Make your back yard both fun and safe. For any child, safety measures like fences are a necessity. For children with ASD, it’s also important to create a space where they can feel safe if they feel overstimulated, like a play tunnel, a tent, or a clubhouse. Reducing noise can also be beneficial.

If your child has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, STAR of CA is here to offer support. Founded in 2006, we provide behavioral and psychological services to people with ASD and related disorders in a nurturing environment that offers support for the entire family. We love what we do, and are devoted to improving lives through focused, caring services. You can contact us through our website or by calling 805.588.8896.

- June 18, 2020

Helping Your Child with Autism Thrive

If your child has recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you may be worried, wondering what will happen next. While ASD is not something that people grow out of, there are many treatments and therapies that can help your child build skills and overcome developmental challenges. Assistance is available, from free government services to in-home behavioral therapy to school-based programs, and you can find ways to help your child learn, grow, and thrive. Be proactive about your child’s treatment, seeking help as soon as you suspect there’s an issue. Early intervention is important in successful treatment of autism. Learn as much as you can, not just about autism, but about your child, and learn to appreciate your child’s individuality and the things that make him or her unique. Then, employ these tips to help your child thrive:

Provide consistent structure. Know what your child’s teachers and therapists are doing, so that you can create a sense of continuity at home, helping your child transfer techniques from one environment to another. Keep your child’s schedule highly-structured, and try to minimize disruptions to the routine. Be consistent in dealing with challenging behavior, and offer positive reinforcement for good behavior.
Connect with your child nonverbally. Your voice, touch, and body language are all important, and by learning your child’s nonverbal cues, you’ll be better able to communicate. Be observant, and you’ll be able to pick up on your child’s cues and what they indicate. Look for the motivation behind challenging behaviors, and you’ll be better at managing them. Remember that your child with ASD is still a child, and make sure you’re finding time to have fun together. Be aware of your child’s sensory sensitivities, understanding that some children with ASD are hypersensitive to sensory stimuli, while others are under-sensitive. By understanding your child’s responses, you’ll be better able to anticipate and prevent difficult situations.
Find a treatment plan that fits your child. A good plan will build on your child’s interests, teach tasks through simple steps, offer a predictable schedule, provide highly structured activities that actively engage your child, include regular behavior reinforcement, and involve the parents.
Seek support. In addition to finding support for your child, look for ASD support groups, respite care, and individual, marital, or family counseling. For your child, be aware that children with ASD are eligible for a range of free or low-cost government services, including early intervention for very young children and special education services for children over three.

- December 13, 2019

11 Tips for New Autism Parents

Has your child been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? The good news is that the diagnosis offers a certain relief: you now know what’s going on. What’s next? We have a few tips.

Know that it’s ok to take breaks. Parenting a child with ASD can feel like a marathon, so take care of yourself. Read, watch TV, go to the gym, do whatever helps you check out for a bit, understanding that it’s ok to be less than productive sometimes.

Stop Googling. Don’t drive yourself crazy looking for an autism cure online, or scaring yourself with “what-ifs.”

Find support online. While the internet can be terrifying, it can also be a great place to network. ASD can make parents feel isolated, but a parent or caregiver is always awake and online somewhere in the world, and getting to know parents on social media sites can be a great source of support.

Learn to ignore advice. Expect unsolicited input, and decide how you’ll answer it.

Respect those who have gone before. Parents who have been dealing with ASD for years know more than you do, so respect their knowledge and learn from them.

Know that every technique doesn’t work for every child. Kids with ASD are unique, and just because something worked for someone else doesn’t mean it will help your child. Some therapies, medications, and cures will flop, and that’s ok.

Expect to spend money. ASD is expensive, so be prepared to ask for therapy or lessons as gifts.

Know that some people won’t give these things as gifts. Your kid will receive inappropriate toys from well-meaning people, but that’s ok. Eventually, your child might like it. If not, you can donate, re-gift, or return it for therapy money.

Be open-minded. You never know what will help your child, so be willing to try things even if they seem ridiculous.

Go out in public. Taking your kid everywhere helps teach coping skills. Acknowledging your child’s limits, take little trips and build on them. Maybe you’ll go out to buy milk, maybe you’ll go to the library. Let your child know what’s going on, but provide as much exposure to real life as you can.

Feel sorry for yourself sometimes. Give into self-pity every now and then, because this is not the life you planned. Then snap out of it, ask for support, and remember that this is your new normal, and it’s going to be ok.

- December 6, 2019

Parenting Styles to Avoid When Raising a Child With Autism

Raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder involves many challenges, because your child may not often communicate, play, or behave like their neurotypical peers. Sometimes, these behaviors can confuse or overwhelm parents, but parents can bring out strengths and abilities you may not even have realized your child possessed. It doesn’t always come naturally, though, and there are certain parenting styles you’ll need to consider avoiding especially when parenting a child with ASD.

Helicopter parenting can stunt a child’s development. This is true for any child, but it’s especially important not to constantly hover over children with ASD because when you do, you prevent them from achieving independence and self-determination. It’s important to allow your child to experience the challenge of trying new things, enjoy success, learn from others, and learn from failure. If your child presents with behaviors that pose a safety risk however, then close supervision or safety precautions are often warranted.
Competitive parenting can affect both you and your child negatively. When you feel like you’re competing with other parents, it can cause you to develop a feeling that your child and your parenting are not up to par. When you feel this way, it may impact you and your child’s self-image.
Free-range parenting is inappropriate for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Children with ASD need higher levels of focused parental engagement, with parents who help them learn how to socialize, converse, pretend, ask questions, investigate the world, and build other important skills.
Perfectionist parenting creates unrealistic expectations. Some children might thrive under “tiger” parenting, but those children do not often have ASD. While it’s important to have high ideals for your child, it’s also crucial that you don’t set your sights on goals that will only frustrate and upset both of you.
Permissive parenting can cause serious problems in the long run. While you shouldn’t set your expectations too high, you also need to make sure you don’t set the bar too low. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder need to experience the feeling of confidence that comes with accomplishment.
Frenetic parenting can overwhelm your child. School, therapy, and other activities are important in helping your child learn and grow, but too much packed into the schedule can leave no room for practicing new skills and interacting with others. Children with ASD are still children and need time to play and rest. When you’re scheduling activities, make sure to work in some calm, unfocused parent and child time.

- November 21, 2019

How to Make the Christmas Season Bright and Sensory Friendly

The holidays can be hectic under the best of circumstances, but if you have a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, you may be facing them with a sense of dread. This busy time of year, with all its sights, sounds, smells, and crowds can be absolutely overwhelming. How can you make the Christmas season merry and bright, while keeping it sensory–friendly?

For a child with ASD, the holidays can be a time of sensory overload. The mall can be overwhelming, even for neurotypical people, so do your best to avoid taking your child there if it’s not absolutely necessary. Shop online, find a sitter, or ask someone to pick a few things up for you. Look for “sensory-friendly” Santas and other low-key holiday options, and if you’re heading to a big holiday event, have a plan B in place just in case it’s too much for your child.
Another issue with holidays is that they disrupt the normal routine. Consider carefully before you commit to things that will put a crimp in the schedule, and try to keep things as normal as possible. If you’re traveling, make sure to bring along your child’s favorite things, and try to stick to the regular routine in regard to things like mealtimes and bedtimes if you can. When you do choose to attend a special event, practice behaviors ahead of time so your child knows what to expect. Don’t be afraid to say no to things that you don’t believe will be in the best interest of your child.
Visiting with unfamiliar friends and family members can be stressful for a child with ASD. Make a plan ahead of time, and anticipate which gatherings and traditions will be stressful for your child. Be polite but firm, and explain your child’s needs to family members, so that they can understand how best to help you, but bring your own necessities and have a plan in place to escape to a quiet room or another location if things become overwhelming.
Have a plan in place for managing your own holidays. Keep things simple, and establish traditions that will be fun for everyone in your family. Don’t set unrealistic expectations, but try to stay low key when you can, while still considering the needs and desires of your other children and family members. Take care of yourself, too, and create the kind of holiday season that you’ll remember fondly in years to come.

- November 19, 2019

Holiday Tips for Children with ASD

For many people, the holiday season is a joyous and eagerly anticipated time of year. For families of people with autism spectrum disorders, it can also be a time of disrupted schedules, broken routines, and other challenges. How can families lessen the holiday stress and make this time of year more enjoyable? We’ve got some ideas, garnered from input given by the Autism Society, the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, Easter Seals Crossroads, the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism at Logan, and the Indiana Autism Leadership Network.

Be prepared. Think about your child’s individual needs, and how much preparation is appropriate. If he or she suffers anxiety over upcoming events, you may need to consider how far in advance you reveal certain happenings. Use a calendar to mark the dates of different holiday events, creating a social story to explain what will happen at each event. Prepare yourself for the holidays too, realizing that you may be the recipient of unsolicited advice. Understanding that this advice will probably be well-meaning, practice saying “I’ll think about that” with a smile.
Consider your decorations carefully. For some children with ASD, decorations can be disruptive. To ready your child for the changes you plan to make to the house, it may be helpful to look at photos from previous holidays. It might also help to engage your child in the process of decorating, involving him or her in shopping for or putting up decorations. Once your decorations are in place, make sure you have direct, specific rules about what can and cannot be touched, and that you are consistent in enforcing the rules.
Ring in the holidays gradually. Some children with ASD have trouble with changes in their environment. If that’s the case for your child, it may be best to decorate the house gradually, keeping the child as engaged in the process as possible. Creating a calendar detailing what will be done each day can also be beneficial.
Limit obsessing over gifts. A child with ASD may obsess over a particular desired item, and if that’s the case, it can be helpful to set limits. Be specific about the number of times the gift can be mentioned, perhaps giving the child five chips or tokens, and explaining that he or she can exchange one token for a designated length of time spent discussing the gift. You can also offer to write the gift down on a wish list. Be clear with your intentions, and if you are not going to purchase the gift, explain that, too.
Empower by teaching self-management. Teach your child how to get support when a situation becomes overwhelming. If you’re having visitors, for instance, create a safe space so that the child can exit the event if he or she is feeling overwhelmed. Encouraging this kind of self-management is empowering, and will serve your child into adulthood. If your child is not at that level of self-management, work together ahead of time on a signal or cue that will indicate anxiety, so that you can prompt your child to use the safe space. You might even want to practice using this space in a calm manner ahead of time.
Bring a touch of home on your holiday travels. Take along your child’s favorite foods, books, and toys when you travel for the holidays because this can help to alleviate stressful situations. Before the trip, discuss what will happen on the trip, using social stories to rehearse scenarios like boarding a plane, and preparing the child for situations like delayed travel.
Use a photo album to prepare for visiting family. Show your child photos of relatives and guests you will see during the holidays, speaking briefly about each person. Then allow your child unrestricted access to these photos during the holidays.
Practice and use role–play to prepare for gift exchanges and other traditions. Rehearse scenarios like giving gifts, taking turns opening gifts, receiving gifts, and responding to an unwanted gift. You might also find it helpful to practice religious rituals your child will encounter during the holidays.
Prepare your extended family with appropriate strategies. Help your family members understand the person in your family with ASD, letting them know whether hugs are appropriate, and other factors that can facilitate smooth interactions during the holiday season. Coach them on strategies for minimizing behavioral issues.
Keep the sleeping and eating routines steady. If your child is on a special diet, have food available that he or she can eat. Be careful about sugar consumption, and try to keep the sleep and meal routines as close to normal as possible.
Understand your loved one with ASD. Think about his or her individual needs, and know how much sensory input can be tolerated. Consider your child’s level of anxiety, and how to prepare for situations that may arise. Avoid stressful situations when possible, and be sensitive to your child’s need for a quiet place to regroup.

Knowing how to prepare can help you have an enjoyable holiday season, and knowing where to find the right resources can help you overcome the challenges of ASD. If your child has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, STAR of CA is here to offer support. Founded in 2006, we provide behavioral and psychological services to people with ASD and related disorders in a nurturing environment that offers support for the entire family. We love what we do, and are devoted to improving lives through focused, caring services. You can contact us through our website.

- October 17, 2019

Outdoor Socially-Distanced Summer Activities

Teaching Your Children Self-Care

Cooking Activities for Children with ASD

Setting Goals with your Child for 2021

Backyard games for kids with ASD

Helping Your Child with Autism Thrive

11 Tips for New Autism Parents

Parenting Styles to Avoid When Raising a Child With Autism

How to Make the Christmas Season Bright and Sensory Friendly

Holiday Tips for Children with ASD

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