Games Games Games!

Hello!

If your child on the Autism Spectrum loves playing with cars, or any type of vehicle, click on the video below for a new game idea.

Add The Son-Rise Program 3 E's and techniques to create an motivating and exciting game for your child.

You can modify this game in any way to fit your child motivation. If they are not motivated by cars, but are motivated by jumping, you can jump through the maze, or down the roads. If they are motivated for Dora the Explorer, you can plot an adventure through the maze.
With a little bit of creativity this game can be adapted to suite your child.





Have fun with your children
With much love
Kate

Hello,

This weeks video blog from The autism Treatment Center of America demonstrates a few building ideas you can try when reading your child their favorite book.

Just click on the video below.

A Profound Experience with Joining

From Amanda: As you may have heard, the Autism Treatment Center of America has been on the road, visiting various communities as a way to share our knowledge and love for the Son-Rise Program®. On June 21st, I traveled to North Syracuse and spoke at the North Onondaga Public Library where I had a most amazing experience; An experience I will hold close to my heart and never forget.

The content of our lectures takes nearly 1.5 hours to present, and then we open the floor for a question and answer period. After the lecture in North Syracuse, a man raised his hand said, " I am having a really hard time believing in this idea of joining my daughter in her world. Children need education. You mean to tell me that I am supposed to go into her world so she can just stim (ism)more? She is just going to want to stay there forever. I was told to stop her from doing that" I lovingly explained, "I totally understand your concern since you have been told something very different. I will tell you this though, we have been joining children for over 30 years and we have never seen children become more exclusive. We have actually seen quite the opposite; When we join children we notice they are looking more, talking more, playing longer games when they become available, and deepening their connection with us." I then re-explained that joining is a way of bonding through acceptance which in turn builds a connection and a relationship with your child. You get to know your child in a way you may have never known them before. What happened next crystallized my support of joining.

A man,who was sitting in the back of the room throughout the lecture, raised his hand to say something. I noticed him early in the lecture; He was looking off to the side of the room as I spoke,rarely making eye-contact with anyone. He was also shaking his leg in the beginning of the lecture, but stopped as time went on. When I saw his hand up, I immediately called on him, and this is what he said. "I have severe Asperger's, and when I was younger, my mom built me a stimming room so I could go there anytime I wanted and stim if I needed to. I think that it's because of my stim room that I was able to do so well growing up. I live on my own and drive a car." The room was still as he spoke. The man, who said he was "having a hard time believing this idea," smiled as he listened, while his wife who was sitting next to him, looked at her husband and said, "See." I then asked the young Asperger's man a question. "What do you think that room would have been like if you had another person in there with you, loving the things you loved." He replied, " I think it would have been really cool."

This moment for me, was the most profound moment I have had since I began my journey with the Son-Rise Program®. I had certainly witnessed first hand the power of joining and how it leads to more connection and social interaction, but I had never heard it spoken in this way from the person who does the isming. There was nothing more to say; Nothing more to question; Nothing more to doubt from anyone in the room. This was the plain truth spoken from a man who knows.

So, if you are in the playroom with your child and you begin to doubt the effectiveness of joining, think about what this young man had said. "I think that it's because of my stim room that I was able to do so well growing up," and how he believes it would have been "cool," to have someone with him doing what he loved to do.

With love, Amanda

How do I know what my child is motivated for?

FROM BECKY: This is such an important question if you have a child with autism. In fact, if you have a child that you want to support and teach, MOTIVATION is the number one learning tool that you can use to help them. There are few forces more powerful than a motivated child or adult. It's actually very easy to figure out what your child is motivated for if you know how to look.

1) What does your child do when they are on their own?
Take some time to observe your child when they are hanging out around the house. Do they watch the ceiling fan? Do they talk about Lightning McQueen? Do they balance on the window sill? Perhaps they hum a certain tune over and over again? Maybe they crawl underneath the couch cushions? if you take 15-20 minutes to watch them you will find a mine of information to work with. For example, if my child watches the ceiling fan or the washing machine, then they are motivated for visual stimulation and things that spin. If they talk about lightening McQueen then they like characters from movies and possibly slapstick humor. If they walk along a thin window sill then it's physical activity and balancing they like, if they hum, they like music and singing and rhythm and if they hide in the couch cushions they are motivated for small spaces and pressure on their bodies).

2) Be a detective!
When you are working one to one with your child in The Son-Rise Program, try doing different actions or introducing different objects and see what their response is, look at their face and body and see what they like and what they don't like. If I sing a song and my child stops what they are doing and looks at me more, then singing is a motivation. If I pretend to fall over and they giggle, they like silliness and big, physical movements. If I blow bubbles and they completely ignore me then bubbles is not their thing right now. If I impersonate cookie monster and they turn away and do something else then that doesn't do it for them either. It's all a big experiment!

3) What is their personality like? Is your child controlling?
If they are then they may enjoy cause and affect style games where they get to control what you do (e.g. they press a button on your nose and you do a fake sneeze). If they tend to like to know what's happening that day (e.g. they ask when the trash truck is coming or what happens next in a story) again and again, then play games with a structure to them like a step by step list of how to be a pirate. If they are an affectionate physical child, then create tickle, squeeze and hug games.

Have fun following these guidelines and being a motivation scout!

Embrace

From Kate Wilde:

It is Monday morning - the beginning of our week here At The Autism Treatment Center of America. The very first thing we do each Monday morning right at 8.30am is a mediation. Every single person on the Son-Rise Program Intensive team sits down together, we hold hands and begin to visualize how we want to be in the week ahead. The meditation varies from week to week, but it is always centered around embracing and loving our new Son-Rise Program Intensive family and child. We focus on finding a place inside ourselves that is the most loving the most embracing and making that bigger. This sets our intention and tone for the week ahead.

This is something you can do at home right now. As you think about the week ahead, is there anything that you are dreading, fearing or not wanting to happen? Are you hoping or wishing that your child will not tantrum this week, or do a particular ism that you find challenging? If you are this would be the most perfect thing for you to embrace verses push away. Close your eyes, find a peaceful and loving place inside of yourself. Then imagine the event you are not wanting to happen, see it in your minds eye. Then surround that event in a light of acceptance. As you do this, relax any part of your body that might be tense, and open your arms to this situation.
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The more we can relax and embrace the events that are challenging for us, the more of ourselves we will have to bring to the situation. Loving and embracing the situation will not stop you from wanting to find a way to help your child, it will expand your mind, and your heart, making it bigger so that you can see more clearly what is happening and thus help your child with more clarity.

Have fun with your children this week
with love to you
Kate

Games Games Games!

Hello!

The Autism Treatment Center of America brings you another game to take into your Son-Rise Program Playroom to play with your children on the Autism Spectrum.

This game is designed to help your child answer either simple or complex questions and express their own thoughts and ideas.

Just click on the video below to view.

Inspiration on Joining!

FROM BECKY: Please watch and enjoy this beautiful video that demonstrates what we do when we join our children with Autism in their own worlds as a way to bond with them and relate to them in a meaningful and loving way. Listen to the words carefully and enjoy!

Games Games Games!

Hello!

The Autism Treatment Center of America brings you another prop idea that you can take into your Son-Rise Program playroom with your child on the Autism Spectrum.

I have just got back form the Autism One conference, where we, The Son-Rise Program, provided child care for children on the autism spectrum so that their parents could attend the conference. It was such a warm, wonderful and joyous experience for me. It was incredibly fun to be with and love so many children all at once! Amongst other toys we brought with us "Ribbon Wands" to play with the children. They were a hit with the children of all ages.

Click on the video below to see how you can make your own ribbons wands and some game ideas on how to use them.

For The Love Of The Playroom!!

From: Kim


Imagine yourself in the playroom...

Now bring into your mind the absolute yummiest most incredible playroom moment that you can remember with your child...

Grow this image huge... bigger, bigger, BIGGER YET!!

Sit with this image in your mind....

Now, focus on the JOY you felt, the LOVE you experienced, and the CONNECTION you created with your child. Whether this moment was spent joining your child, entertaining them with your sheer playfulness, or sharing a special moment playing a game together... anytime you spend loving your child in the Son-Rise Program playroom is perfect! This yummy and incredible moment you just focused in on is perfect!

Breath, smile, and now go experience another!!! Fill yourself with joy, excitement, and love for your child and have fun playing!!!

With Love,
Kim

The One Who Loves the Most Wins!

FROM BECKY: I have just returned from one of the most amazing weeks of my life at the AutismOne conference in Chicago. During this week-long conference, parents and professionals gathered to watch lectures and learn more about the latest and greatest interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders and to connect with others in the autism community. Several of our Son-Rise Program staff from The Autism Treatment Center of America, (me included), were lucky enough to be providing childcare for some of the children while their parents attended the events happening that week.

As you may well know, The Son-Rise Program works one on one with children in a distraction free playroom because this is the environment we see to be most supportive to our children. So the fact that we were going to be caring for as many as 20 children of different ages and diagnoses in one room each day was a new and exciting adventure for us.

We needed to be sharp, focused and energetic. We needed put love and safety first. We needed structure, a schedule of activities to keep these children stimulated, we needed a system, like a well oiled machine, some to make sure no-one was getting into anything unsafe, some to prepare snacks and lunches, some on bathroom duty and others to continually clean up and get out new toys, and some to entertain and play. In our room, there were four Child Facilitator's and another two joined us for the last 2 days where we had a few more children joining us.

What happened that week? We had the most incredible time! We confirmed for ourselves that all you really need is love! We constantly surprised ourselves with our ability to be completely present with the group as a whole and to sustain our energy, excitement and enthusiasm from 8 in the morning until 6 in the evening. We strived to support each other and work as the best team in the world.

As for the children, their parents reported that they actually changed throughout the week! Some said they were more affectionate or calmer, some reported they were more verbal with better eye contact, some mentioned that they couldn't wait to come back to play each day. We had parents who were already doing The Son-Rise Program, some who were new to it and signed up to learn more or even registered for the Start-Up Program, some who decided to take their children out of school after seeing the benefits of what we did.

What did we do? Well, we did childcare with a Son-Rise attitude, that's what we did. It was my absolute pleasure to be able to love and attend to up to 20 children at one time. To prioritize love, comfort and happiness at all times and to know that these children had never had this type of childcare anywhere else in the world before was an amazing thing!

The icing on the cake that week was going to the AutismOne awards at the end of the week and The Son-Rise Program winning the award for "Best Therapy Tool" and for Raun K. Kaufman, the original Son-Rise Program child to win “Best Presenter”, what an amazing thing to happen and to witness that week! This will open a new doorway to help, support and love even more families!

To coin a phrase from Samahria Lyte Kaufman – "The One Who Loves the Most Wins".....well we won in so many ways that week!

7 Guidelines to Try When Your Child Cries or Tantrums

Seven Simple Guidelines to Try When Your Child Cries or Tantrums

For those of you who have attended The Son-Rise Program® Start-Up, this will be a great reminder to you, and for those of you who have not attended The Son-Rise Program foundational course, this will help you when your child (regardless of their age or diagnoses) cries, tantrums, screams and shouts, etc. These basic guidelines will help you help your child learn to communicate in a sweeter easier way when going after their wants and desires. To communicate what you want in a sweet and clear way is an important social quality to have, particularly in your relationships with family, friends, in school, in work, etc.

1. It Is Just Communication: Remember that when your child cries or tantrums they are simply using this as a tool to let you know that they want something to happen (i.e. to get the cookie; to get a video; to go for a ride in the car; etc.) or to get something to stop happening (i.e. to be removed from an over-stimulating environment; to get others, who are interfering with their repetitious play, to stop interrupting their activity; etc.)

2. Don’t Light Up Like a Christmas Tree! If you get upset and quickly move to give your child what they want when they cry or tantrum you teach them that this is the best way for him/her to get what they want. This type of reaction is similar to turning on the lights of a Christmas tree, it is big, bright and easy to remember! This behavior shows your child that their crying and tantruming is very important to you, that you “sit up and listen” and move quickly to get them what they want. Your child will learn very quickly that this is the way to communicate when their wants are not happening fast enough or it looks like they won’t get what they want.

3. Attitude: Be as calm and easy as possible. Getting upset is the power that lights you up like a Christmas tree and gets you moving fast, and this just re-enforces to your child that crying or tantruming etc. is the most effective way to get what they want. Allow yourself to think how wonderful it is that your child has this motivation and determination and that through using The Son-Rise Program you will help them use these very same qualities to talk, interact and become more social.

4. Move Slowly and Stay Calm: Instead of being a Christmas tree, upset and moving quickly, be like a person walking on the moon. Move slowly and talk calmly as you help your child get what s/he wants. If they are not verbal yet, offer choices and only on the third or fourth offer give them what you believe they are seeking. If your child is verbal tell them you can’t understand them because they are crying and that if they spoke without crying you would be able to help them quicker.

5. Do Not Give In – Offer Alternatives: Your child may be crying and tantruming for something that you have decided that you do not want them to have (i.e. more cookies; going outside because it is raining; using the computer or TV; etc.). In this situation, again be slow and calm and explain that even if they cry they will not get the item or activity they want. You can be kind and gentle as you explain this versus frustrated and annoyed. Slowly offer alternatives that you can give them (i.e. offering a piece of fruit or rice cake instead of a cookie; etc.) If they continue to cry, tell them it is ok if they want to continue crying, then simply go do something else (read a book, do the dishes, etc.) and leave them to cry, making sure to keep an eye on them to make sure they are safe and others (i.e. siblings) around them are also safe. Remember, your child is not fragile – they can handle not getting what they want. Additionally, you are not fragile, you can handle them crying and screaming.

6. Celebrate When You Get What You Want: If your child does not cry or tantrum when you have not given them what they wanted, celebrate them for this, pointing out how wonderful it is that they are calm and easy.

7. Run Your Son-Rise Program: Again and again we hear from families that the more their child is in The Son-Rise Program playroom being worked with, the less they cry and tantrum. When in the playroom they get to have 99% control and so when situations arise (and they will) when they don’t get what they want they are better able to handle it in a calm and easy fashion.

Remember these are guidelines and while applying them never let go of common sense (i.e. if your child hurts themselves and cries of course move quickly to help them.)

If you are having a particularly challenging situation with your child crying, tantruming, hitting, etc. then please let us help you. We (The Son-Rise Program® Staff) have all been cried and tantrum-ed at, hit, bitten, been the target of a swiftly thrown object, etc. and we have all learned to follow these guidelines, and more, to help a child learn to communicated in a sweeter easier way. We would love to be of service to you – give us a call.

I hope you will use these ideas with your child, we have seen how effective they are with all the children we have had the pleasure and honor of working with.

With love and smiles

William

A Week to Remember - Autism One

From Amanda: Hello Amazing Son-Rise Program® Friends,
As you may know, or not know, what makes the Son-Rise Program® unique to other programs is the concept of joining our children when they are exclusive. We join our children in their world as a way to form a relationship and build connection with them, so we can then lead them into our world and inspire growth. It truly is a beautiful experience!

What happens though, to the Son-Rise Program® without the concept of joining? Read on and you will learn.

Last week, from May 25th – May 29th, a team of 7 child facilitators (including myself) and 3 teachers from the Autism Treatment Center of America went to the Autism One Conference in Chicago to provide childcare for children on the Autism Spectrum so their parents could attend the conference. This is the largest conference on Autism in the Nation and we were given this amazing opportunity to care for these beautiful children. We were all incredibly excited. In doing the childcare, we recognized that we would not be doing our typical Son-Rise Program®, which is different than we have ever done before. We would not be able to join these sweet children in their world as we do in the Son-Rise Program® due to the large number of children as we wanted to be present for all of them and available for all of them in each and every moment. We could however, love each and every child as fully and as deeply as if we were doing the Son-Rise Program®, and that is exactly what did.

Throughout the week, we showed these beautiful children how excited we were to be with them; we loved them and cheered for them. We were play-full with them and noticed the wonderful things they did in their world and in ours. We blew bubbles and laughed; we gave rides on blankets and laughed more; we listened closely for language and celebrated; we read stories and felt a calm; we sang songs and danced; we watched the children line up cars, look in the mirror, count numbers, circuit the room, or sit and stare, and we LOVED THEM. We were doing the Son-Rise Program® in our minds and in our hearts and our children responded.

While at the Autism One Conference, our team solidified just how important the attitude of love and acceptance is for our children, all of us in fact, and how the attitude flows into them like water when we model this to them. Wow! Even without doing the full Son-Rise Program®, parents were seeing changes in their children. Changes they had never witnessed before. One parent said her daughter had been with same babysitter for 2 years and cried everyday for most of the day, yet she only cried briefly on transitions to the childcare room and the rest of the day she playfully popped bubbles, and laughed from her belly as she received loving tickles. Her parents said she appeared calmer and happier. All this because we loved her, laughed with her, accepted her, and cheered for her on all day long.

I remember working with a little boy whose name was Eli. He was lining up cars and once in awhile looked up at me. When he looked up, I excitedly celebrated him for his looks, at which point, he too smiled and then went back to playing with his cars. After another minute or so, he looked at me again, so I cheered and clapped, and he clapped with me. Soon this turned into a great game, and then at the end of the game, he came running to me for a giant hug. Even without joining, I was able to be with Eli in this way. I decided to love him, accept him, be present with him, and enjoy him. He in turn gave me a huge green light.

Almost every child who came into the Son-Rise Program® childcare room had a parent who commented on the changes they witnessed in their child. They were calmer, smiling more, sleeping better at night, talking more, easier with transitions and more. I believe this was possible due to the full expression of love and acceptance we offered their children and the joy we felt when we were with their children. For 5 days we treated their children as if they were our own. It was truly an unforgettable and amazing week.

Thank you to all of our little friends at the Autism One Conference for helping us to create a memorable experience.

With love, Amanda

A Beautiful Autism One Conference Experience

Two weeks ago I had the AMAZING and HUMBLING experience of caring for and playing with a group of children who are on the Autism spectrum. Below, I have written a poem about a little girl who spent her first forty five minutes curled up in my arms in the bathroom crying. I was blown away by the beautiful ability that she had to take care of herself. Whether it was resting her head underneath my arm for squeezes, or pressing my hands against her ears. She knew how to lead the way and I was more than happy to follow. When her Mother picked her up, I was told that this little girl usually spent the majority of her day crying with her caretaker. I was moved to tears when I thought of my sweet little friend crying for forty five minutes and then smiling and giggling for the remaining six hours. LOVE and ACCEPT without JUDGEMENT and watch the world change around you!

The Calm of Love

She slightly turned her head and dipped her right shoulder downwards
as she buried her face within the darkness beneath my arm

No harm to be found inside of the subtle movement of her tears
No sound too profound as I blocked its entry from her ears

No light shone too bright as her eyes closed like crashing waves
No moment unfamiliar as she inhaled the explanations that I gave

And her cry it rose and fell like a bow from the rushing wind
And between her sighs my lullaby whispered that she had a friend

And I am in awe of exactly how this soul she chose to smile
And move towards a room of strangers and away from that bathroom tile

More on Eating New Foods!

FROM BECKY: This is the last in my series of blogs for inspiring your child to eat new foods. My last two blogs have been about how to introduce new foods to your child, this one is focused more on the technical side of implementing a new diet.

When running a Son-Rise Program, it can be very beneficial for your child with autism to also follow a Bio-Medical protocol. We recommend you find a DAN Doctor in your area who can set you up with a protocol that matches your child and their particular Bio-Chemistry. Once you are ready to change your child's diet for good (or at least until they can tolerate some old foods again), here are three more things to do to get behind this new way of being.

1) Out with the old and in with the new!
The only true way to help your child change what they eat for good is to get rid of all of the foods that they are not able to have and fill your refrigerator and cupboards with yummy new foods. I have heard this sentence from parents countless times"But my child won't eat any of the new foods!" and then later in the day, they are being given one of their old favorite foods because they didn't eat all morning. If you have members of the household that are not following the new eating plan then only have them eat those foods when your child is in the playroom or not around and lock the stash of illegal foods away in a cupboard out of reach and sight of your special child. Keep it locked at all times and hide the key really well because our children are extremely smart and they will know the food is in there! You can also put a padlock on the refrigerator door for children who tend to help themselves.

2) "I can stand to not eat, longer than you can stand to watch me not eat!"
Often our children have us wrapped around their little fingers and they know our weaknesses and how long we can stand them doing something before we give them what they want. How incredibly smart and sophisticated for our children to do the best they can to get what they want. If you can only stand to watch them not eat for a day then they will hold out a whole day. If it's two days, they'll make it through two. They will eat when they are hungry....as long as nothing else is on offer.

3) This is an act of love!
Think about what you are doing for your child. You are healing them socially as you do The Son-Rise Pogram with them, you are also healing them inside as you help them eat new foods. Think about it not as though you are taking something they love away from them but that you are giving them something that's useful, helpful, healing and nutritious for them. Coming from that perspective, you are much more likely to begin and stick to the new way of being.

4) It's ok if they whine, cry, tantrum, ask for the food again and again.
This is part and parcel of this new boundary you are setting, just because they want it doesn't mean it's good for them. You having a sense of calm and ease as they try and get what they want will help you stick to your guns. It will also help them to know that crying doesn't get you want you want and this is indeed a valuable lesson in life.

Please let me know if you have any questions about trying new foods.

Love Becky

More on New Foods!

FROM BECKY: Here is my second post on encouraging your child with autism to try new foods. Below are some more ideas that you can use in your Son-Rise Program playrooms and around the house when helping your child with this.

4) Third time lucky!
Our children sometimes need a littletime to get used to new things. To process and for ideas and new concepts to grow on them. It has often been the case that the children I work with touch new foods, smell them, put their tongue on them, and then maybe a couple of days into having the new food around them will finally eat it. Have you ever had the experience of hearing a song several times and then really loving it when you didn't much care for it at first? Or perhaps going back and forth with a living room couch you have had your eye on and then finally falling for it and buying it. Well it's the same for our children, keep new foods, ready and available around them throughout the day. They may need to get familiar with the look and smell first before they are willing to even touch it, let alone eat it.

5) Use this effective combination - Give plenty of CONTROL to your child but be PERSISTENT too!
If your child runs away from the food, pushes your hand away when you offer it or tells you "No", celebrate them for showing and telling you and have easily back off and fun eating some food yourself.......try again in 10 minutes, but do keep trying.

6) Incorporate food into your childs activities and interests.
If your child likes slapstick humor, make the food have you do funny things when you eat it. Sneezing broccoli, giggling carrots or jumping green beans. If singing is one of your child's motivations, sing about the food, dance with it, and make each food sing in a funny voice with you. If your child loves tea parties, get a blanket and some stuffed animals and place the food on colored plastic plates. Sit around for a picnic in the playroom. Maybe your child wants you to give them piggy back rides, have them feed you food for energy for more rides, as you have fun enjoying the foods, offer it to your child too!

More coming next week!