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.

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.

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

The song, "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" from the Disney movie Frozen has been quite popular this year:

I'm right out here for you, just let me in
We only have each other
It's just you and me
What are we gonna do?

Do you wanna build a Snowman?

This part of the song creates a great moment after Anna invites her older sister Elsa to build a snowman with her. What a great opportunity for them to spend time together!

Playing in the snow can be turned into the most wonderful family RDI activity. If you can find a good day when the temperature isn't too cold and there is some fresh snow, it can make for a fun afternoon with your child.

Ideas on how to make building a snowman into a RDI activity:
- Both parent and child can push a big snowball together to create part of the snowman


- Between parent and child, you can split up the work - each of you roll your own snowman and then combine them to make a two-snowballed snowman

- Both parent and child can work together making a big pile of snow to be your snowman

- Both parent and child can problem solve together of how to make the flat snow on the ground look like a snowman. Make sure to validate your child's ideas, and be creative on how to "invent" your own snowman together.

They most important thing to remember is that you and your child are WORKING TOGETHER. It is important to remember that it is okay if your snowman doesn't end up looking like a "typical" snowman with three stacked snowballs. Be creative, and enjoy having fun together!

Wrapping Christmas Presents

our favorite holiday activities - week 3

WRAPPING CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Have you finished your Christmas wrapping yet? If you have family or neighbor gifts that need to be wrapped, it is a great opportunity to get your child involved!

Here are some different ideas on how to get your child involved:
- Have all of the presents out (preferably in boxes or simple shapes to start with) with the wrapping stuff set out that you are going to use. Before asking your child to come over, cut the paper to the appropriate size for each present and have pieces of tape ripped or cut beforehand. Ask your child to come over and help you, and designate their specific "job" to be in charge of taking a piece of the prepared tape and putting it on the wrapping present after you have folded it and are holding it ready.

- Have all of the presents and wrapping stuff out before bringing your child over. Ask your child to come over and help you, and walk through each step with them using problem solving to figure out how to wrap each present. Add in challenges by wrapping presents that are different sizes and shapes.

Invite your child to be involved in your Christmas preparations. Please ask us if you need any help coming up with ideas or are having a hard time involving your child!

Please remember that each different activity idea caters to different children with varying RDI needs. Choose which activity fits your child and your family situation, and then adapt the activity specifically for your own child. We would love to hear how the activity went for your family!

Decorating Christmas Cookies

 our favorite holiday activities - week 2

**With each RDI family working towards their own RDI goals, remember that there are a TON of different ways to do each activity that can specifically help you work towards your own goal for your child. Please let us know if you have any questions of how to adapt any of these activities to fit your own child!

 DECORATING CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Do you enjoy baking? If not, just head over to the store and buy some unfrosted sugar cookies, a couple tubs of frosting, some sprinkles, and some Christmas candy.

Below are some ideas of how to make decorating Christmas cookies into a RDI activity. REMEMBER that every child has different abilities and needs, so here are several ideas of different ways to do this activity. Find which way would work best to your child and adapt it to fit your at home situation.

- Have the already prepared cookies out on the table as well as a tub of frosting and a can of sprinkles. Bring your child over and hand them the can of sprinkles to be their "job" (when buying sprinkles, make sure to get the bottle that lets out the sprinkles VERY slowly. Often times it comes in the bigger colorful sprinkles from the grocery store). Work together to decorate the cookies by having your "job" be to frost the cookie and then set it down on a plate and have your child put the sprinkles on. Remember that your child will most likely NOT do this job perfect. Some cookies may have very little sprinkles, and other cookies may be completely covered. That is just fine. Remember that this activity is to work together and help your child feel valuable in the activity.

- Before you tell your child about the activity that you will be doing, have the cookies made, frosting out on the table, and any additional supplies out on the table. Have a few cookies already frosted and then bring your child over to help you decorate the top of the cookie. There are a couple of different ways to decorate the top - you could share the same cookie and each choose something to put on it, or you could both have your own cookie and decorate them side-by-side.

- Have the cookies made and all of the supplies layed out on the table. Bring your child over to help decorate the cookies with you side-by-side. Doing it this way, you chose how you want your cookie to look, and allow your child to choose how they want their cookie (even if it is COVERED in sprinkles and candy).

After decorating the cookies, sit down at the table with your child and a glass of milk to enjoy the cookies together!

Please remember that each of the three different activity ideas cater to different children with varying RDI needs. Choose which activity fits your child and your family situation, and then adapt the activity specifically for your own child. We would love to hear how the activity went for your family!

Setting Up the Christmas Tree

Can you believe that it is the first week of December already? It is time to start thinking about this upcoming Christmas season!

This Christmas season is a great time to be thinking about your own family, and how you can incorporate RDI into your own holiday traditions. Each week this month we are going to introduce a new family activity that can create wonderful RDI moments around your house and community. With each RDI family working towards their own RDI goals, remember that there are a TON of different ways to do each activity that can specifically help you work towards your own goal for your child. Please let us know if you have any questions of how to adapt any of these activities to fit your own child!

our favorite holiday activities - week 1

SETTING UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE 

There are so many different ways that you can make this into a family RDI activity by working together.. How are you going to do it this year? Here are a few of our ideas:

 - If you enjoy a "real" Christmas tree, have your child help you pick out which tree you are going to buy. This can be a great way to model/teach problem solving to your child. Verbally walk your child through your thoughts as you are looking at the different trees. "This tree looks a little too tall for our family room." "Oh, I love how full this tree looks with all of the branches. I wonder if it would fit in the corner next to our couch?"

-  When your tree is all set up, bring your child over to help you string the lights. If you have a tall tree, it might be helpful for you to have the top of the tree already strung as a model for your child to see. This may require a lot of time and patience, but what a great way for both you and your child to work together doing a hard task. Before you string the lights, make sure to plug the strand in to make sure they work. It can be a fun experience to string the lights on together and then share the moment of joy that comes when you plug the lights in afterward and are able to see the entire tree lit up!

- After the tree is all set up with the lights on, bring your child over to help you place the decorations on the tree. Depending on the abilities of your child, you could hand each ornament to your child and let them place them on the tree, assign your child a specific type of ornament to do as their "job" while you do another type, or assign each child a specific area of the tree to decorate. During this activity it is very important to remember that it isn't about making your Christmas tree look "perfect," it is about spending time together as a family and helping your child feel valued. If you fix or redo the ornaments that your child places on the tree, you are taking away their ability to make decisions.

Please remember that each of the three different activity ideas cater to different children with varying RDI needs. Choose which activity fits your child and your family situation, and then adapt the activity specifically for your own child. We would love to hear how the activity went for your family!

Thanksgiving Preparations

Have you figured out your Thanksgiving plans for next week yet? As you finalize your plans of what you are cooking for dinner, who you are gathering together with, and where your celebrations will take place, we encourage you to remember the importance of this holiday, family.

Holidays often become a stressful time as there are many things to figure out and prepare for our family gatherings. This year, we encourage you to find a way to include your children in these preparations, and also to lower your own stress.


4 WAYS TO HELP AVOID STRESS
WHEN INVOLVING YOUR CHILDREN:

1. Start early - Involving your children almost always takes longer than if you were to do the task alone. Adding extra helpers can definitely make your job harder, so make sure to start early to allow for extra time without adding the stress.

2. Plan out each family member's role in the activity - Before involving your child, make sure that you plan out the "job" that he/she will have. Make it specific so that your child will understand what their role in the activity is, and what your role is. Also, make sure that he/she will feel valued and feel like they are contributing to the activity.

3. Have no expectations - When choosing an activity for your child to help with, make sure that it is something that can't easily be messed up. If he/she is helping you cook, make sure that they aren't in a situation where the recipe has to be followed exactly to "work." It is always helpful to add room for error, so that if it does occur, it doesn't add stress.

4. Enjoy your time - As you are spending time with your child, make sure that you are in a good mindset. What do we mean by this? If you feel rushed or stress, your child will be able to tell and it might rattle them as well. Do your very best to make sure that you are enjoying spending time with your child. Remember, your job is to create an environment where memories can be made!

So now the most important thing to figure out is how you are going to get your child involved!

Could your child...

- help you carry in the groceries from the car?

- help you set the table?

- make place cards and set them around the table?

- help with any food preparation?

- help clear the table after dinner?

- help with the dishes?

- help you come up with an activity to play after dinner?

HOW ARE YOU PLANNING ON GETTING YOUR CHILD INVOLVED?

Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

With winter approaching quickly, bundle up and get outside to enjoy this beautiful, chilly weather! A neighborhood scavenger hunt is the perfect family activity.

Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt List

something fuzzy

something soft

something prickly

something straight

something round

something you can recycle

4 pieces of litter

5 different types of leaves

 something crunchy to step on

something colorful

something with sharp edges

Use this list to work together with your child to find these items as you take a walk around your neighborhood. Make sure to take a bag so you can collect all of the interesting things that you find.

How can you make sure this is RDI? Add in some changes and variations! Could you add in something interesting that you find along the way that is not on your list or go out of order in finding the items on your list? These small changes will keep your child thinking. Remember, make sure that your child feels valuable during the activity and that they are doing just as much as you are to contribute.

If this list is a little tricky for your child, feel free to alter the list to your child's abilities. Make sure to make it so they will be successful, but not too easy that it takes away the challenge and thinking.

Enjoy!

leaf collecting

Have the leaves changed colors yet in your neighborhood? It is the perfect opportunity to go out for a walk with your child! Take a bag with you and turn it into RDI time as you collect items together along your walk.


How can you make a simple walk around the neighborhood into productive RDI time?

- Collect all sorts of different leaves - different colors, shapes, and sizes, talking about each of them as you find them. Make sure that you find some and your child finds some so you are both contributing to the game. Also, point out interesting things and interesting people that you see to your child.

- Gather leaves for a project - After you have gathered your different leaves and returned home from your walk, make an art project with them using colored paper, glue, tape, markers, paint, or any other fun art supplies! This is a perfect activity to do together with your child!

19 Activities to do with your Teenager

When choosing engagement activities with your teen, there are a few things you may want to remember:

• The focus is more about competence then fun
• Ask them to help with one immediate step of a project to get started.
• The experience sharing does not always have to include joy or laughter, but it can engage a sense of quiet pride.

Here are 19 activities you can do right away with your teenager:

• Teach them how to drive! Start out by simulated breaking in the living room.
• Basic activities like laundry, can give a sense of independence.
• Exercising together, lifting weights, hiking (slow then fast)
• Taking out the trash, sorting recycling
• Gardening, shoveling, spreading mulch, raking weeding
• Nature walks, pointing out things of mutual interests
• Washing the car
• Bicycling
• Moving furniture together.
• Make snacks together
• Learning basic housekeeping, making the bed, cleaning windows
• Mapping out bus schedules together, then take the bus to your destination.
• Buy a fish, learn about basic care, clean the tank, and assemble the filter together.
• Organizing family pictures
• Drum together in the car with your favorite music
• Go through your closets and see if there are any clothes you can donate
• Jumping waves
• walking down a path at night with one flashlight
• Writing letters to relatives,think about what would be of interest to the person you are writing to

This information is taken from RDI Connect. Click here to read more!

10 Simple Activity Ideas

Are you looking for some new activity ideas?

10 Simple Activity ideas

1. Take turns placing toppings on homemade pizza.
2. Put loose photos in a photo album – take turns sharing thoughts about the pictures.
3. Refill the salt and pepper shakers using a mini funnel.
4. Sort the pens and pencils in your “junk drawer” (of course you have one )
5. Put on some rubber gloves and play CSI, searching for “hidden treasures” under the cushions of your couches.
6. Have your child empty pockets of pants en route to the washer (who keeps the change?)
7. Have your child help you pump gas.
8. Making hard boiled eggs? Show your son or daughter a trick. Watch how hard boiled eggs spin faster than regular eggs! Mark hard boiled eggs with a marker or pencil.
9. Wash sponges and dish cloths in the sink together. (keep those rubber gloves handy).
10. Build a structure with toothpicks and marshmallows (or clay).
11. Fill up your pets’ water bowls with a watering can.

This information is taken from RDI Consultant Sue Simmons from Equinox Family Consulting. 

Click here to read more of Sue Simmons ideas

Water Balloon Toss

Are you looking for ways to savor these last few warm summer days before school starts? Next time you're at the dollar store, pick up some water balloons for a fun activity with your child. Start by filling each balloon half way up with water and bringing your child over for a fun game.

Depending on your child, you could start with handing the balloon back and forth to one another to establish a pattern, or start by a simple toss. If your child isn't able to catch a water balloon, have fun throwing it against the side of the house or garage together. Make sure to go slow and build the anticipation through counting and facial expressions.

What variations and changes could you add to the game? Could you scoot back so you are throwing it further to one another? Could you count to see how many times you can throw it back and forth before popping it?