Slow down to speed up

"The best thing you can do is to slow your pace. Imagine your words cost money – therefore, you must budget accordingly. Speak less and be mindful of what’s going on between the two of you. This is no easy feat – but it will open the door to more meaningful interactions."

 - Sue Simmons

RDI Certified Consultant

Click here to read this entire article on her webpage, it is wonderful!

The Garbage Truck: A Touching Story

A 5 year-old boy with Autism loves to watch the garbage truck each week and runs outside to wave and greet the driver. It became a routine for him on the same day each week, that his mom decided to film him one morning. Unexpectedly, this morning was different than his usual routine. After emptying the garbage can, the garbage man got out of the truck and brought over a gift for the little boy. The garbage man didn't know that the boy had Autism, but said that he felt that God told him to buy this little boy a gift who greets him each week. The man expected to have no recognition from a parent, but the boy's mother just happened to be filming the garbage truck that day and recorded the interaction. This video has now gone viral, and has touched many people.

Click here to watch the video. 

Family Snowball Fight

It's time for another fun family activity! Let's have a snowball fight! To make this activity fun for your child on the Autism Spectrum, make sure that everything is prepared for the activity, and that boundaries are set. Put on snow clothes yourself, and have fun!


Here are some IDEAS on how to cater it specifically to your child:
- Help your child to make a pile of snowballs beforehand that they can use as their stash

- Depending on your child, have it be just you and your child, or include an additional parent or sibling into the activity

- If needed, make physical boundaries known to ALL participants before starting (this is his/her area and no one can cross into it - this may give more comfort to your child)

**This activity is FULL of uncertainty and surprises for your child that will create challenges to your child on their own. Be there to support, but also let your child "fight" for him/herself against everyone.

Make sure to set up the activity so that your child will feel confident in his/her ability to participate so do whatever accommodations to make this possible. Remember that it's about having fun, and now who is going to win or lose.

Mind Guiding

“The brain learns best when it is exercising in highly challenging, but low threat environments.” 21st Century Learning Initiative 

Dr. Steven Gutstein wrote a great article on Mind Guiding, which is one of the core functions of the remediation process of RDI. This is a great way to learn more about RDI, and what it means to be a "guide" to your child. Please contact us if you have any further questions!

Click here to read the entire article on RDI Connect

RDI in the Home: A Personal Story

One of our local RDI Moms, Jenny, wrote her thoughts and experience from doing RDI in her home with two of her children. Thank you Jenny for taking the time to write this for us!

RDI in the Home

by: Jenny

I have had a successful yet interesting experience with RDI in that I have worked with two of my children in the program.  RDI has become such an integral part of my life that it has greatly affected the way I parent and interact with my children on a daily basis.  I worked several years with my daughter working on collaborative play and activities that enhanced dynamic thinking.  She is now 7 and is the social butterfly of the neighborhood.  She loves to play with other peers and is self-motivated to think beyond herself and incorporate dynamic thinking to increase the enjoyment of her interactions with others.

I have also worked with my son with RDI and had immense success.  He lacked a lot of the social development that helps him read other people and use dynamic thinking when interacting with others.  But after a couple years of RDI he started to grasp how to read a social cues.  He now is able to make friends easily and has a group of friends he plays with regularly. RDI has greatly enhanced my children’s experience and enjoyment in interacting with other peers. They are able to share experiences and find meaning with their peers around them.

If you would like to share your personal experience with RDI, please contact nicole@pryorconsulting.net

Growth-Promoting Mental Challenge

Dr. Gutstein, one of the co-founders of RDI, wrote a very interesting article explaining a lot of the reasoning of why RDI is to helpful to develop the brain. He discussed the importance of "Growth-promoting mental challenge[s]."


Dr. Gutstein said, "Extensive research demonstrates that, while our drive for growth is inborn, our brains will only initiate neural growth-promoting programs under three specific conditions:

1. When learners perceive their environment as sufficiently safe and supportive.
2. When surplus physiologic & neural resources are available and that are not required for maintaining homeostatic life maintenance. If homeostatic demands are too great, then all of the brains resources will have to be devoted to maintaining the regulatory functioning of the organism.
3. When learners are provided with opportunities to engage with productive mental challenges, with the expectation that trusted guides will ensure that challenges do not become overwhelming."

Click here to learn more about RDI, and how it aides to the development of neural growth

Making Valentines

This month we are encouraging you to sit down at the table, get out the art supplies, and enjoy some time with your child. Since Valentine's Day is coming up, it is time to make some Valentines! How could you make this art project into a RDI activity with your child?

Here are some simple steps to follow:
1. To start, decide if you are going to sit side-by-side with your child and each make your own Valentine for someone, or if you are going to make one together. This may depend on which situation you feel your child will be the most successful. Make this decision before involving your child and starting the activity.

2. Explain what a Valentine is to your child (if he/she need it), and ask who they would be interested in making a Valentine for. If our child needs a little prompting, suggest a few people that they would be interested in, and also others they would NOT be interested in. Let your child make the choice.

3. Now you can either just start, or if your child needs a little help, start brainstorming what the Valentine is going to look like. Are you going to use words or just pictures?

Please remember that there are a TON of different ways to make a Valentine. There is no right or wrong way, it is just great practice for your child to make decisions and work together with you. It is okay if your child chooses to do a brown and green Valentine instead of a red and pink one. It is about the PROCESS of making it together instead of the end PRODUCT of the card itself.