Hello!
Four quick and easy tips to transform yourself into a playful and silly play mate for your special child, the Son-Rise Program way!
Just click on the video below - or if you are on face book right now, click on"view original post" this will take you to our blog where the video is - then simply click on the video.
Enjoy!
Much love to everyone
Kate
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Volunteers, Volunteers, Volunteers!
Hullo wonderful Son-Rise friends!
Volunteers - they may not make the world go round, but they sure can make the ride an awful lot easier, especially when they're helping you carry along your special kid! I have spoken to many parents who are SO grateful to their volunteers for assisting in their Son-Rise Programs, and I wanted to give a different perspective - MY experience as a Son-Rise Program volunteer before I came to the Autism Treatment Center of America to be a Child Facilitator.
Volunteering was one of the most significant, life-changing experiences of my life. I met my first Son-Rise family through an email advertisement that they sent to my university. The moment I saw the fun photo of this cute little boy, I could just picture all the wonderful times we would have together. Boy, was I right! Through the two and a half years that I worked with this family I came to love and appreciate them so deeply. I would travel an hour and a half each way to spend four hours a week with this incredible boy who I helped grow from using single words to talking in sentences and preparing for transition back to mainstream school! Dedicating four hours a week just to love and have fun with this little guy was almost like MY therapy! At times when I was feeling blue, I knew I could take time to find the deepest, most loving place inside myself with my special friend. His friendship was truly a gift to me, and kept me coming back for more and more.
All the families I have volunteered with are now like REAL family to me - we stay in touch, send photos, talk on the phone - they welcomed me into their lives and not only did I get to play with and help their kids grow, but in the process I gained lifelong loving friendships. Not bad, huh?
There ARE people out there who have so much to give. There ARE people out there who want to love your children. There ARE people you can trust and welcome into your lives. Always remember that your child is a gift to everyone.
Huge smiles,
Jack
Volunteers - they may not make the world go round, but they sure can make the ride an awful lot easier, especially when they're helping you carry along your special kid! I have spoken to many parents who are SO grateful to their volunteers for assisting in their Son-Rise Programs, and I wanted to give a different perspective - MY experience as a Son-Rise Program volunteer before I came to the Autism Treatment Center of America to be a Child Facilitator.
Volunteering was one of the most significant, life-changing experiences of my life. I met my first Son-Rise family through an email advertisement that they sent to my university. The moment I saw the fun photo of this cute little boy, I could just picture all the wonderful times we would have together. Boy, was I right! Through the two and a half years that I worked with this family I came to love and appreciate them so deeply. I would travel an hour and a half each way to spend four hours a week with this incredible boy who I helped grow from using single words to talking in sentences and preparing for transition back to mainstream school! Dedicating four hours a week just to love and have fun with this little guy was almost like MY therapy! At times when I was feeling blue, I knew I could take time to find the deepest, most loving place inside myself with my special friend. His friendship was truly a gift to me, and kept me coming back for more and more.
All the families I have volunteered with are now like REAL family to me - we stay in touch, send photos, talk on the phone - they welcomed me into their lives and not only did I get to play with and help their kids grow, but in the process I gained lifelong loving friendships. Not bad, huh?
There ARE people out there who have so much to give. There ARE people out there who want to love your children. There ARE people you can trust and welcome into your lives. Always remember that your child is a gift to everyone.
Huge smiles,
Jack
Monday, September 28, 2009
10 Variations for a Blanket
Here are 10 things you can do with a blanket in your Son-Rise Program
playroom
1)Roll your child up in it and pretend he/she is a hot dog. Experiment with adding mustard, ketchup and squeezing him/her in it.
2)Pretend that the blanket is a whirlwind whooshing around the room and have fun getting blown away in it with your child.
3)Lay it out and have a tea party on it.
4)Take turns whisking the blanket out from underneath the plastic tea set and seeing who knocks over the least amount of cups, plates, etc.
5)Spread it out over two chairs and pretend it's a tent, go camping in the playroom with your child.
6)Pretend it is a beekeepers outfit and there are hundreds of tickling bees swarming around you.
7)Twist it around and around and pretend it's your pet snake. Have fun, naming it, feeding it, etc.
8)Hold two corners of it and flap it behind you like wings. You can be a butterfly, bat or ladybug.
9)Give your child a ride in it.
10)Pretend it is your hair and play a game of hairdressers. Have fun, tying it in a ponytail, waching it, etc.
playroom
1)Roll your child up in it and pretend he/she is a hot dog. Experiment with adding mustard, ketchup and squeezing him/her in it.
2)Pretend that the blanket is a whirlwind whooshing around the room and have fun getting blown away in it with your child.
3)Lay it out and have a tea party on it.
4)Take turns whisking the blanket out from underneath the plastic tea set and seeing who knocks over the least amount of cups, plates, etc.
5)Spread it out over two chairs and pretend it's a tent, go camping in the playroom with your child.
6)Pretend it is a beekeepers outfit and there are hundreds of tickling bees swarming around you.
7)Twist it around and around and pretend it's your pet snake. Have fun, naming it, feeding it, etc.
8)Hold two corners of it and flap it behind you like wings. You can be a butterfly, bat or ladybug.
9)Give your child a ride in it.
10)Pretend it is your hair and play a game of hairdressers. Have fun, tying it in a ponytail, waching it, etc.
Tantrums
Tantrums, Meltdowns, Wig-Outs, Episodes, Fits, Whining, Whinging, Crying - so many words to describe one event.
Here at The Autism Treatment Center of America we have many useful and successful techniques and attitudes to help children on the Autism Spectrum remain calm when things do not go their way. Today I am writing about just one attitude that is key to helping our children move through their tantrum.
1. My role is not to stop my child from tantruming, it is to show them that it is not an effective way of communicating.
When our children begin to tantrum, what can happen is that everyone around them is centered on trying to get them to stop. Imagine if you did not feel the need to do this? Imagine the message that would send to your child. Their tantrums would no longer cause the adults around them to rush around trying to fix the "problem", it would instead change nothing. Wow, often times we see that this alone helps children to change their once very effective behaviour to something else. Our children are very clever, they will not continue to do something that no longer gets them what they want.
If you really take this on board, "I don't have to stop my child from tantruming", really breath that into your very core, that will help you change the way you react when your child tantrums. Maybe you would even say to your child, "Hey honey knock yourself out, scream as loud and as long as you want, this is OK with me, just want you to know that it will not help you get what you want."
I remember very vividly saying a version of this to a little girl I was working with, who literally did a double take , scratched her head, stopped crying, and said "oh", and then carried on playing as if nothing had happened.
Enjoy showing your children that you do not need them to stop their tanrums anymore.
Love to you all!
Kate
Here at The Autism Treatment Center of America we have many useful and successful techniques and attitudes to help children on the Autism Spectrum remain calm when things do not go their way. Today I am writing about just one attitude that is key to helping our children move through their tantrum.
1. My role is not to stop my child from tantruming, it is to show them that it is not an effective way of communicating.
When our children begin to tantrum, what can happen is that everyone around them is centered on trying to get them to stop. Imagine if you did not feel the need to do this? Imagine the message that would send to your child. Their tantrums would no longer cause the adults around them to rush around trying to fix the "problem", it would instead change nothing. Wow, often times we see that this alone helps children to change their once very effective behaviour to something else. Our children are very clever, they will not continue to do something that no longer gets them what they want.
If you really take this on board, "I don't have to stop my child from tantruming", really breath that into your very core, that will help you change the way you react when your child tantrums. Maybe you would even say to your child, "Hey honey knock yourself out, scream as loud and as long as you want, this is OK with me, just want you to know that it will not help you get what you want."
I remember very vividly saying a version of this to a little girl I was working with, who literally did a double take , scratched her head, stopped crying, and said "oh", and then carried on playing as if nothing had happened.
Enjoy showing your children that you do not need them to stop their tanrums anymore.
Love to you all!
Kate
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Games, Games, Games
Hello Everyone,
Click on the video below, or on"view original post" and then on the video link to view another game from the Autism Treatment Center of America.
This game is called, "Ipod".
Enjoy!
Love Kate
Click on the video below, or on"view original post" and then on the video link to view another game from the Autism Treatment Center of America.
This game is called, "Ipod".
Enjoy!
Love Kate
Monday, September 21, 2009
Limitless Possibilities
One of the many things that I love about The Son-Rise Program is that we do not put limits on our children. Even if a parent has been told by a professional "Your child will never walk", "Your child won't talk", "There is no hope", etc.
We believe in limitless possibilities for every child that we work with.
Check out this video about possibilities and be inspired.
We believe in limitless possibilities for every child that we work with.
Check out this video about possibilities and be inspired.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
10 Variations for Bubbles
In all my years of working with special children, I have seen many of them to be motivated by bubbles. One of the autism strategies we use at The Son-Rise Program is adding variations to activities to help our children be more flexible.
Here are 10 things you can do with bubbles to keep them interesting for both you and your child:
1) Pop them with different parts of your body (e.g. nose, elbow, belly).
2) Blow them on toy cars and pretend they are going through a car wash.
3) See who can blow the biggest bubble and measure it with a tape measure.
4) Use a fun sound effect each time your child pops one (e.g. a rooster sound, raspberry, etc)
5)Blow a bunch of bubbles and then use buckets to catch them in. It will be like soccer but you are bringing the goal to the bubble.
6)See if you can blow a bubble with your nose instead of your mouth.
7)Make bubble art by letting bubbles land on different colored card or construction paper.experiment with putting a drop of food coloring into the bubble mixture.
8)Play keep the bubble in the air for as ong as possible by blowing it around.
9)Have a bubble race by blowing a bubble and holding it on the wand and running across the room. The winner completes the race without the bubble popping.
10)See if you can blow a bubble down a toilet paper tube without it popping.
Here are 10 things you can do with bubbles to keep them interesting for both you and your child:
1) Pop them with different parts of your body (e.g. nose, elbow, belly).
2) Blow them on toy cars and pretend they are going through a car wash.
3) See who can blow the biggest bubble and measure it with a tape measure.
4) Use a fun sound effect each time your child pops one (e.g. a rooster sound, raspberry, etc)
5)Blow a bunch of bubbles and then use buckets to catch them in. It will be like soccer but you are bringing the goal to the bubble.
6)See if you can blow a bubble with your nose instead of your mouth.
7)Make bubble art by letting bubbles land on different colored card or construction paper.experiment with putting a drop of food coloring into the bubble mixture.
8)Play keep the bubble in the air for as ong as possible by blowing it around.
9)Have a bubble race by blowing a bubble and holding it on the wand and running across the room. The winner completes the race without the bubble popping.
10)See if you can blow a bubble down a toilet paper tube without it popping.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Autism
This week at The autism Treatment Center of America we have the sweetest 9 year old boy here. He loves Disney characters, and rolling on our therapy balls. He does all sorts of flips off them, back flips and front flips, and finds many interesting ways to fall off them while looking in the mirror.
What strikes me the most about him is his sweetness, and his ability, (when he is not rolling on the therapy balls) to be completely still.
When he is asked to do something he will often nod his head and say "yeah" or "yep". There is so much about autism in the news today, but nothing about the true sweetness these children and adults have. Often times after I have played with a child I come away with this amazing feeling that I have been in the presence of such an special and spiritual being, and that it is I who have received something special and magical from them.
I still feel this when I am in the presence of my God daughter, Jade, who was once autistic, but after working with her for 5 years using the Son-Rise Program no longer is. She still has this amazing quality of kindness and sweetness.
I am sure that all you parents out there understand what I am talking about.
Love to you all
Kate
What strikes me the most about him is his sweetness, and his ability, (when he is not rolling on the therapy balls) to be completely still.
When he is asked to do something he will often nod his head and say "yeah" or "yep". There is so much about autism in the news today, but nothing about the true sweetness these children and adults have. Often times after I have played with a child I come away with this amazing feeling that I have been in the presence of such an special and spiritual being, and that it is I who have received something special and magical from them.
I still feel this when I am in the presence of my God daughter, Jade, who was once autistic, but after working with her for 5 years using the Son-Rise Program no longer is. She still has this amazing quality of kindness and sweetness.
I am sure that all you parents out there understand what I am talking about.
Love to you all
Kate
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Yet Another Game Idea
Hello Again,
To view another game idea from the Autism Treatment Center of America, just click on the video below. Or click on "view original post" and that will take you to a place where you can view the video.
Enjoy playing with your children.
Love Kate
To view another game idea from the Autism Treatment Center of America, just click on the video below. Or click on "view original post" and that will take you to a place where you can view the video.
Enjoy playing with your children.
Love Kate
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
10 Variations for a Therapy Ball
We are working with a child this week who loves to roll on the therapy balls that we have here in the Son-Rise Program playroom.
Here are 10 creative things you can do with a therapy ball in your playroom.
1) Balance on it without your feet on the floor for as long as you can.
2) Play catch with it (with your feet).
3) Pretend it is a giant boulder tumbling down a rock that you have to run from.
4) Bounce off the Walls with it in your arms.
5) Pretend it is a giant wart that has grown on your face and cast different spells on it to try and make it disappear.
6) Use it as a gigantic bowling ball.
7) Lie on the floor and try and roll it across your body from your feet up to your head without it falling off.
8) Draw a face on it with dry erase markers and give it a name. Then let have it play in your games as a third friend.
9) Have a competition to see how high you can each bounce and mark the highest bounce on the wall with artist's tape.
10) Play a game of giant ping pong using frying pans as bats.
Here are 10 creative things you can do with a therapy ball in your playroom.
1) Balance on it without your feet on the floor for as long as you can.
2) Play catch with it (with your feet).
3) Pretend it is a giant boulder tumbling down a rock that you have to run from.
4) Bounce off the Walls with it in your arms.
5) Pretend it is a giant wart that has grown on your face and cast different spells on it to try and make it disappear.
6) Use it as a gigantic bowling ball.
7) Lie on the floor and try and roll it across your body from your feet up to your head without it falling off.
8) Draw a face on it with dry erase markers and give it a name. Then let have it play in your games as a third friend.
9) Have a competition to see how high you can each bounce and mark the highest bounce on the wall with artist's tape.
10) Play a game of giant ping pong using frying pans as bats.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Another Game Idea
Hello Everyone,
Click on the video below for another game idea to bring into your playrooms with your lovely children.
Much love to everyone
Kate
Click on the video below for another game idea to bring into your playrooms with your lovely children.
Much love to everyone
Kate
Friday, September 11, 2009
Turned My Life Around in 72 Hours
Dear Ellen:
God love you because I do, big time. Whenever I read one of your posts on our Facebook walls, the energy, enthusiasm and love just jumps out from your words. But what I particularly note is how truly smart and helpful your comments are...like "I am writing Adam right now." Often, your notations highlight a program or a process or even give guidance. Terrific.
Love and appreciation, Bears
PS: Hey, would you want to join our bloggers on either/or/and OI and ATCA sites. These blogs now stream onto the OI and ATCA Facebook Fan pages so it gets to many more folks (1000 plus at OI, 1500 plus at ATCA). And your posts on my page, goes to over 1500. We want to recruit bloggers who are smart, savvy, fun, sincere, loving and have something to say...and who would do their best to post at least once a week...maybe twice if possible. Let me know what you think? Again, big love and gratitude
Oh Bears!
Thanks so much! It is one of my greatest pleasures to be helpful to The Option Institute. Everyone there helped sooo much in getting me to The Son-Rise Program® Start up (2 weeks ago I believe) for Emma... it was so perfect, a week of coming to terms with her issues in an honest way (that was a long time coming, huh (big smile)? And learning with total clarity of purpose how tangibly I could help her. I came home and within 72 hrs had a temporary play room done, $600.00 in donations toward the real focus room, poster designed and at the printer.. when I know what I want.... had done 6 hrs of heavenly playroom time with my daughter, and had spectacular results--- stooling on the toilet for the first time! These are great things for us. I would love to help others to know that this program can help kids like mine, ones that would fall through the cracks, that aren't diagnosable (is that a word?!) but still have real issues that get in their way.. it's such a great program for our whole family.
When you walked into the classroom Thursday of that week, tears of joy streamed down my face.. yes, indeed, I was glad to see you, but also in that moment, I really realized that I had found a way (that was there all the time) to let my beloved Option Institute help Emma, my most precious gift.
I would adore blogging for you ... I will keep it in mind as I embark on this journey with The Son-Rise Program and Emma. I want to focus right now on getting my Son-Rise Program up and running, my business bringing in money, and being of assistance to Chris who has had a tremendous opportunity given to him ... his employer of 20 years berated him, stripped him of all is responsibilities and cut his pay 20%. The great news is that because of all his work at The Institute, in the middle of this he almost had to keep himself from laughing.... realizing it was truly all about them. What a gift. Anyway, how about if I just send you ( or whoever I should send it to) anything I write that's relevant, and you can use it or not as you see fit . I can't promise I will make time, but if I do, I will send on something. I hope this helps. I love all of you so much.. as usual please feel free to send a copy of this to anyone there etc. Deep, deep oceans of gratitude.
Love, Ellen
God love you because I do, big time. Whenever I read one of your posts on our Facebook walls, the energy, enthusiasm and love just jumps out from your words. But what I particularly note is how truly smart and helpful your comments are...like "I am writing Adam right now." Often, your notations highlight a program or a process or even give guidance. Terrific.
Love and appreciation, Bears
PS: Hey, would you want to join our bloggers on either/or/and OI and ATCA sites. These blogs now stream onto the OI and ATCA Facebook Fan pages so it gets to many more folks (1000 plus at OI, 1500 plus at ATCA). And your posts on my page, goes to over 1500. We want to recruit bloggers who are smart, savvy, fun, sincere, loving and have something to say...and who would do their best to post at least once a week...maybe twice if possible. Let me know what you think? Again, big love and gratitude
Oh Bears!
Thanks so much! It is one of my greatest pleasures to be helpful to The Option Institute. Everyone there helped sooo much in getting me to The Son-Rise Program® Start up (2 weeks ago I believe) for Emma... it was so perfect, a week of coming to terms with her issues in an honest way (that was a long time coming, huh (big smile)? And learning with total clarity of purpose how tangibly I could help her. I came home and within 72 hrs had a temporary play room done, $600.00 in donations toward the real focus room, poster designed and at the printer.. when I know what I want.... had done 6 hrs of heavenly playroom time with my daughter, and had spectacular results--- stooling on the toilet for the first time! These are great things for us. I would love to help others to know that this program can help kids like mine, ones that would fall through the cracks, that aren't diagnosable (is that a word?!) but still have real issues that get in their way.. it's such a great program for our whole family.
When you walked into the classroom Thursday of that week, tears of joy streamed down my face.. yes, indeed, I was glad to see you, but also in that moment, I really realized that I had found a way (that was there all the time) to let my beloved Option Institute help Emma, my most precious gift.
I would adore blogging for you ... I will keep it in mind as I embark on this journey with The Son-Rise Program and Emma. I want to focus right now on getting my Son-Rise Program up and running, my business bringing in money, and being of assistance to Chris who has had a tremendous opportunity given to him ... his employer of 20 years berated him, stripped him of all is responsibilities and cut his pay 20%. The great news is that because of all his work at The Institute, in the middle of this he almost had to keep himself from laughing.... realizing it was truly all about them. What a gift. Anyway, how about if I just send you ( or whoever I should send it to) anything I write that's relevant, and you can use it or not as you see fit . I can't promise I will make time, but if I do, I will send on something. I hope this helps. I love all of you so much.. as usual please feel free to send a copy of this to anyone there etc. Deep, deep oceans of gratitude.
Love, Ellen
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Choosing Love
Yesterday I was with my little friend David who I volunteer with. One of the Autism Strategies we use at The Son-Rise Program is joining a child's repetitious and exclusive behaviors in order to bond with them, accept where they are and build a rapport.
I was joining him by placing a wooden jigsaw puzzle in and out of a plastic in tray, again and again and again while saying "No thank you, put it back on the shelf". We did this simple action for a whole hour.
Now this activity was not an activity tht I would have chosen to do to relax in my spare time but for David, it was something he loved, therefore every time I placed my puzzle inside my own box, I decided to grow my love for David and the activity bigger and bigger.
I was rewarded at the end of the hour by David coming over to me and sweetly pushing my hair back off my forhead with his adorable little hands, looking at me with his beautiful smile and then wanting to write and spell with me for the following hour.
Just something I wanted to share with you.
I was joining him by placing a wooden jigsaw puzzle in and out of a plastic in tray, again and again and again while saying "No thank you, put it back on the shelf". We did this simple action for a whole hour.
Now this activity was not an activity tht I would have chosen to do to relax in my spare time but for David, it was something he loved, therefore every time I placed my puzzle inside my own box, I decided to grow my love for David and the activity bigger and bigger.
I was rewarded at the end of the hour by David coming over to me and sweetly pushing my hair back off my forhead with his adorable little hands, looking at me with his beautiful smile and then wanting to write and spell with me for the following hour.
Just something I wanted to share with you.
A Moment of Peace
This month, all of The Autism Treatment Center of America staff - Child Facilitators and Teachers - are more busy than ever before. We've taken on some new exciting projects to help even more families - and since we're doing it all at once, wow - it has made each day like a whirlwind of activity. But it has helped me realize the most amazing gift - that even on the busiest of days, it only takes one moment of pause to feel relaxed, energized and ready for more.
Monday was one of those days that was full to the very brim - my cats waking me up at 5:00 because they'd found a previously undiscovered mouse hiding in the kitchen...construction workers arriving at my house at 7:00am...eat, exercise, shower...8 people wanting my first 20 minutes at work...then 7 hours of back to back teaching and meetings and two hours of consultations...And finally arriving home at 7:30 pm to a sink full of dirty dishes and an empty refrigerator - realizing that I forgot to take my car to the mechanic for my scheduled appointment 12 hours before.
It was only as I sat down an old can of chicken soup I found in the cupboard, I realized that I wasn't tired - even after such a full day. All last week, I remember feeling tired every night when I got home - so what had changed?
I realized that it only took two simple intentions to have a FULL day and still feel relaxed...
1) Decide that one moment of pause is enough. That day, I did stop and go outside and sit in the sun for just 2 minutes - and that two minutes was enough to keep me going for the entire day. When I really let my brain stop for just a moment, it was like I had taken a relaxing afternoon nap.
2) Return to the task at hand with gratitude. No matter what is in front of us, or how many things are on the to-do list, if we decide to greet each task with a smile, then even when our day is completely full, nothing feels overwhelming.
Try it - just for a moment - just step outside for a moment, take a deep breath and return to whatever you're doing with a smile. It's amazingly simple, but it works. Have you gone yet? What are you still doing sitting here? Go! Enjoy your moment! And enjoy the rest of your day.
Monday was one of those days that was full to the very brim - my cats waking me up at 5:00 because they'd found a previously undiscovered mouse hiding in the kitchen...construction workers arriving at my house at 7:00am...eat, exercise, shower...8 people wanting my first 20 minutes at work...then 7 hours of back to back teaching and meetings and two hours of consultations...And finally arriving home at 7:30 pm to a sink full of dirty dishes and an empty refrigerator - realizing that I forgot to take my car to the mechanic for my scheduled appointment 12 hours before.
It was only as I sat down an old can of chicken soup I found in the cupboard, I realized that I wasn't tired - even after such a full day. All last week, I remember feeling tired every night when I got home - so what had changed?
I realized that it only took two simple intentions to have a FULL day and still feel relaxed...
1) Decide that one moment of pause is enough. That day, I did stop and go outside and sit in the sun for just 2 minutes - and that two minutes was enough to keep me going for the entire day. When I really let my brain stop for just a moment, it was like I had taken a relaxing afternoon nap.
2) Return to the task at hand with gratitude. No matter what is in front of us, or how many things are on the to-do list, if we decide to greet each task with a smile, then even when our day is completely full, nothing feels overwhelming.
Try it - just for a moment - just step outside for a moment, take a deep breath and return to whatever you're doing with a smile. It's amazingly simple, but it works. Have you gone yet? What are you still doing sitting here? Go! Enjoy your moment! And enjoy the rest of your day.
Persistence
How do we know when to keep being persistent with the things we want?
I have been thinking about this question recently, in my personnel life as well as my professional like. Working At The Autism Treatment Center of America with families who have children on the Autism Spectrum I am often asked by parents, "Do I just keep asking him, or should I drop it when he does not respond?"
There are many ways to respond to this question, for instance, if your child is still involved with you, for example looking at you or talking to you, and seems motivated to play a game with you then keep asking.
If they are exclusive and focused on something else, then we would suggest you stop asking and join your child in their current activity until they reconnect with you, then you can ask again. This is not about dropping your request it is about the timing of when you ask.
However the over riding principle is, believe that your child at some point will do the thing you are asking them to do. If you stop asking them you are really saying that you do not believe it is possible. Then there is no opportunity for your child to grow.
So persistence is really the belief in action that our children can change and grow.
This is a fundamental belief of The Son-Rise Program.
Much love to you all
kate
I have been thinking about this question recently, in my personnel life as well as my professional like. Working At The Autism Treatment Center of America with families who have children on the Autism Spectrum I am often asked by parents, "Do I just keep asking him, or should I drop it when he does not respond?"
There are many ways to respond to this question, for instance, if your child is still involved with you, for example looking at you or talking to you, and seems motivated to play a game with you then keep asking.
If they are exclusive and focused on something else, then we would suggest you stop asking and join your child in their current activity until they reconnect with you, then you can ask again. This is not about dropping your request it is about the timing of when you ask.
However the over riding principle is, believe that your child at some point will do the thing you are asking them to do. If you stop asking them you are really saying that you do not believe it is possible. Then there is no opportunity for your child to grow.
So persistence is really the belief in action that our children can change and grow.
This is a fundamental belief of The Son-Rise Program.
Much love to you all
kate
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
A Game Idea
Hello Everyone,
Click on the video below to see a game idea. This game is designed to encourage your children to ask questions of their friends.
Love Kate
Click on the video below to see a game idea. This game is designed to encourage your children to ask questions of their friends.
Love Kate
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Misunderstood? Judged? Maligned?
How often have you felt misunderstood or judged - and felt frustrated, hurt or defensive about what someone has said to you or about you?
I hear it from people all the time. Especially in relationships, there is so much we either try our best to communicate to our partners, but still may not feel we've been heard or perhaps the other person maintains their original point of view that we believe is not true. When we work with couples in our CouplesCourse Program, this is a common area of discomfort. Essentially, the important point is that we cannot change another person or their perspectives unless they choose to change it. We can't make them believe what we believe. And the desire on our part may be for the other person to agree with us - and if they don't, WE MAY BELIEVE THAT'S BAD FOR US. So if you're doing a Son-Rise Program, your partner may not agree with you or support you the way you want to be supported, or you may have relatives that think you should be doing something else, or may not understand. The trick is to let go of "needing" others to understand, agree or accept us. Whew! That's a biggie!
But imagine we can decide to have the perspective that, whatever the other person is doing, is actually happening to help us learn to be stronger, less needy, and more trusting of our own ideas and actions. Wouldn't that feel a lot better than the frustration and hurt?!
But what is the most productive, comfortable place for us to be in ourselves when this occurs?
1) Understand that we don't have the power to change anyone (our parents, our partners, our friends, and even our children) and if they DO change, (we may have spent time explaining, sharing, pleading) they still decided to change themselves; we didn't make them change.
2) Use it as an opportunity to understand ourselves more, and supply to ourselves what we are looking to the other person to give us.
3) If it bothers us that we're misunderstood or judged, then it's important to explore that discomfort with questions like: "Why do I need this person to understand me or not judge me?" (May sound crazy, but it will probably relate to a way in which we are judging ourselves and looking to the other person to love/support us or be accepting of us - SO WE CAN ACCEPT AND LOVE OURSELVES.) Take a look. Could prove very eye-opening.
4) Know you don't have to defend yourself nor feel something is wrong with you if you're misunderstood, judged or maligned. It's really about THE OTHER PERSON and the perspective(s) they choose FOR THEIR REASONS, which has nothing to do with you; they do it for their reasons (to take care of themselves).
5) First get comfortable about what they're doing and how you're feeling - and then, if there's something to do to take care of yourself (e.g. try a different tact, talk to others about your perspective, brainstorm how you can use the situation to become a happier, more effective person, etc. - let us help you get through your situation by doing an Option Process Dialogue), and then comfortably go for it.
You don't want your happiness and trust of life to be dependent on what another person does. There will always be those who make choices that appear to be against what you want. If, however, we use each one toward the enhancement of ourselves, we win (no matter what they do). Take the high road and welcome these people into your life - because they are the ones from which you will most likely learn the most.
With my love,
Samahria
I hear it from people all the time. Especially in relationships, there is so much we either try our best to communicate to our partners, but still may not feel we've been heard or perhaps the other person maintains their original point of view that we believe is not true. When we work with couples in our CouplesCourse Program, this is a common area of discomfort. Essentially, the important point is that we cannot change another person or their perspectives unless they choose to change it. We can't make them believe what we believe. And the desire on our part may be for the other person to agree with us - and if they don't, WE MAY BELIEVE THAT'S BAD FOR US. So if you're doing a Son-Rise Program, your partner may not agree with you or support you the way you want to be supported, or you may have relatives that think you should be doing something else, or may not understand. The trick is to let go of "needing" others to understand, agree or accept us. Whew! That's a biggie!
But imagine we can decide to have the perspective that, whatever the other person is doing, is actually happening to help us learn to be stronger, less needy, and more trusting of our own ideas and actions. Wouldn't that feel a lot better than the frustration and hurt?!
But what is the most productive, comfortable place for us to be in ourselves when this occurs?
1) Understand that we don't have the power to change anyone (our parents, our partners, our friends, and even our children) and if they DO change, (we may have spent time explaining, sharing, pleading) they still decided to change themselves; we didn't make them change.
2) Use it as an opportunity to understand ourselves more, and supply to ourselves what we are looking to the other person to give us.
3) If it bothers us that we're misunderstood or judged, then it's important to explore that discomfort with questions like: "Why do I need this person to understand me or not judge me?" (May sound crazy, but it will probably relate to a way in which we are judging ourselves and looking to the other person to love/support us or be accepting of us - SO WE CAN ACCEPT AND LOVE OURSELVES.) Take a look. Could prove very eye-opening.
4) Know you don't have to defend yourself nor feel something is wrong with you if you're misunderstood, judged or maligned. It's really about THE OTHER PERSON and the perspective(s) they choose FOR THEIR REASONS, which has nothing to do with you; they do it for their reasons (to take care of themselves).
5) First get comfortable about what they're doing and how you're feeling - and then, if there's something to do to take care of yourself (e.g. try a different tact, talk to others about your perspective, brainstorm how you can use the situation to become a happier, more effective person, etc. - let us help you get through your situation by doing an Option Process Dialogue), and then comfortably go for it.
You don't want your happiness and trust of life to be dependent on what another person does. There will always be those who make choices that appear to be against what you want. If, however, we use each one toward the enhancement of ourselves, we win (no matter what they do). Take the high road and welcome these people into your life - because they are the ones from which you will most likely learn the most.
With my love,
Samahria
Friday, September 4, 2009
What's Your Ism?
One of the strategies for Autism that The Son-Rise Program uses is joining the child's exclusive and repetitious activities (isms). Some children flap, some spin in circles, some recite lines to movies.
There are many different isms and we all have them. For example, I like to listen to the same songs over and over again on my IPod, I soothe myself with the sound and the rhythm and become absorbed in the music.
I think if I were an autistic child, I'm pretty sure it would be lying snugly under a soft blanket like a cocoon. What is your ism?
There are many different isms and we all have them. For example, I like to listen to the same songs over and over again on my IPod, I soothe myself with the sound and the rhythm and become absorbed in the music.
I think if I were an autistic child, I'm pretty sure it would be lying snugly under a soft blanket like a cocoon. What is your ism?
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Power of Love!
Hey friends! No - we're not quoting some cheesy eighties power ballad here - I'm talking about the power of our love and acceptance in making us magnetic, dynamic salespeople of social interaction when working with our wonderful special children with the Son-Rise Program.
Before I came to the Autism Treatment Center of America to train as a Child Facilitator I knew that I was playful, fun and energetic when working with autistic children. However, since being here I have grown and profoundly deepened my ability to LOVE, without limits or expectations, EVERY MOMENT of my time in the Son-Rise playroom. And wow - what a difference! One example - we have a gorgeous little autistic girl staying with us here for a whole month (what a gift for us!). On Monday, as a team we all set the intention to open our hearts further than we've ever opened them and pour our love into the lives of this wonderful family. For the first day of her Son-Rise Program Intensive, this fun little girl chose to be largely exclusive and controlling. On the second day we noticed she was looking at us more. On the third day she spontaneously turned to me while I was joining her, beamed at me and threw her arms around me! And not just once... three times!
I find this so beautiful - I truly believe that I loved this girl so enormously that she had almost no choice but to take me in and be drawn towards me. My love is helping her to step out of her autism and choose to interact with us. Isn't that the most wonderful reason to just love, love love?
(And it feels good too!)
Love to all of you,
Jack
Before I came to the Autism Treatment Center of America to train as a Child Facilitator I knew that I was playful, fun and energetic when working with autistic children. However, since being here I have grown and profoundly deepened my ability to LOVE, without limits or expectations, EVERY MOMENT of my time in the Son-Rise playroom. And wow - what a difference! One example - we have a gorgeous little autistic girl staying with us here for a whole month (what a gift for us!). On Monday, as a team we all set the intention to open our hearts further than we've ever opened them and pour our love into the lives of this wonderful family. For the first day of her Son-Rise Program Intensive, this fun little girl chose to be largely exclusive and controlling. On the second day we noticed she was looking at us more. On the third day she spontaneously turned to me while I was joining her, beamed at me and threw her arms around me! And not just once... three times!
I find this so beautiful - I truly believe that I loved this girl so enormously that she had almost no choice but to take me in and be drawn towards me. My love is helping her to step out of her autism and choose to interact with us. Isn't that the most wonderful reason to just love, love love?
(And it feels good too!)
Love to all of you,
Jack
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Love in Action
Picture this: A boy 6 years old, with short hair and skinny legs, dressed in shorts and a red t-shirt with the words,"Miracles in Progress" on the front. He is running in circles around the room, saying to himself, "Bat man - help me." He darts to the center of the room spins very fast in circles with his arms out to balance himself. Then he falls to the floor grabbing his leg, (as if he has just hurt it) all the time looking in the mirror while making a "comic pained " face. Then he gets up and repeats the whole thing again.
Beside him is an adult dressed in a blue t-shirt with the words, 'Son-Rise Program Staff" on the front, and a black cape around her shoulders, running around the room shouting to herself, "Bat- man - help me" She darts to the middle of the room spins in circles with her arms out to balance herself, falls to the floor grabbing her leg, (as if she has hurt herself) all the time looking in the mirror while making a"comic pained" face. Then she gets up and repeats the whole thing again.
This carries on for approximately 18 minutes before the boy stops tums to the adult in the cape and takes her hand and spins around with her while looking straight into her eyes.
This is love in action, social connection being formed between Son-Rise Therapists and autistic children every day at The autism Treatment Center of America.
Beside him is an adult dressed in a blue t-shirt with the words, 'Son-Rise Program Staff" on the front, and a black cape around her shoulders, running around the room shouting to herself, "Bat- man - help me" She darts to the middle of the room spins in circles with her arms out to balance herself, falls to the floor grabbing her leg, (as if she has hurt herself) all the time looking in the mirror while making a"comic pained" face. Then she gets up and repeats the whole thing again.
This carries on for approximately 18 minutes before the boy stops tums to the adult in the cape and takes her hand and spins around with her while looking straight into her eyes.
This is love in action, social connection being formed between Son-Rise Therapists and autistic children every day at The autism Treatment Center of America.
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