Fall Scheduling

With it being the first week of September, that means that school has started and fall is on its way. This is the perfect time of year to reevaluate ourselves and how we spend our time. How are you going to spend your time this fall?


One of our consultants, Nicole Davis, shared how she has been reevaluating herself for fall:

As a new mom, I have gone from working full-time, to part-time so it has allowed me to spend time with my son. Over the past week I have been thinking about how easy it is for me to over-schedule our time together. I have always been one who doesn't like to miss out on any events or gatherings, and has a hard time telling others "no" when I am asked for assistance. I have been able to break down the word "over-scheduling" into three different categories that have helped me reevaluate and manage my time better.


1. Over scheduling ourselves (meeting friends for lunch, running errands... etc.)

2. Over scheduling our kids (signing them up for sports, music lessons, cooking classes, academic tutoring... etc.)

3. Over scheduling our minds (not unplugging from the world - phone calls, texts, social media... etc.)


So what is the solution? I have found that for me, it is helpful to schedule time to sit on the family room floor and play with my son. The more I take the time to unplug from the rest of the world and spend time with my son, the more I realize how fun it is to get to know his little personality better. I love our time together, and fear that these moments why he is young are going to slip through my fingers quickly as he grows up. Scheduling events for both me and my family are fun, needed, and very valuable, but I am going to make it a personal goal to keep all of our scheduling in moderation. What is the solution for you?

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.

New Years Challenge to YOU

"SETTING GOALS IS THE FIRST STEP IN TURNING THE INVISIBLE INTO THE VISIBLE"

- Tony Robbins

Has the time that you spend doing RDI with your child become invisible? With the new year just passing, January is the perfect time to stop and reflect on our own lives. What am I doing well? Where can I improve? We are not here to tell you the answer to either of these questions, but to encourage you to stop and ponder about your own life.

From our Pryor Consulting family, we challenge you to reflect on your own life and see where you could cut back on spending time, and replace it with meaningful RDI time spent to enrich your child's life. Could you take an extra 10 or 15 minutes a day to spend with your child?