Spring Language Activity

A great way to work on increasing your child’s language is to do a hands-on activity together. As the weather gets warmer a fun activity to do together is planting in the garden! Whether you decide on a flower, fruit, or vegetable you can incorporate some language skills.

Skills you can target:

Increase vocabulary:

Examples of vocabulary words: soil, water, sun, shovel, seed, grow, plant, dig, etc. Don’t forget to include nouns and verbs!

Sequencing:

Talk about all the steps that took place and in what order.

Describing:

Talk about all the colors, smells, and textures you encounter.

Don’t forget to have fun!

-Kirsten

Help Us Create Summer Social Groups at Rock!

As many of you already know, social skills are something we work on with many of our clients here at Rock Therapeutic Services.  While a lot of social skills can be taught and practiced in a 1-on-1 setting with a therapist, many other skills are more effectively learned in a group setting with peers.  We know several of our families at the Maple Valley clinic are interested in their children (and possibly their siblings!) participating in social skills groups led by our therapists, and this summer is the perfect time to try to start some up.

The biggest challenge, unsurprisingly, is scheduling times that work for all parties involved.  However, if you are interested in your child participating in a social skills group -- or even a paired session with one other child -- let your therapist know or give us a call so we can get the ball rolling.  

One of our lovely neighbors next door to our Mercer Island clinic already has an established social skills program that incorporates arts and drama as well: Creative Arts Social Club.  They are currently enrolling for 2016 summer camps, so if you're in the area check them out!

Puzzle Piece Rice Crispy Treats for Autism Awareness Month

Following in supportive spirit as April is Autism Awareness Month.   Here is an activity to promote fun and awareness is a very yummy way!

Puzzle Piece Rice Crispy Treats for Autism Awareness Month:

1. Start with rice cereal or Rice Krispies….sometimes you can find colored versions for different holidays (i.e. Rainbow for Saint Patrick’s Day).

2. You will need a puzzle piece cookie cutter, cookie scoop, and food coloring.  These items can be ordered from Sweet Baking & Candy Making Supply.  http://www.sweetbakingsupply.com/

3.  Make rice crispy treats by following the directions on the box.  Just add food coloring to make the colors for the autism puzzle symbol (red, yellow, and blue).  Place the colored rice crispy batches in strips in your pan.

4. Use the puzzle piece cookie cutter to make the treats into puzzle piece shaped rice crispy treats.

5.  To go an extra step when sharing these delicious treats with friends and family, add some labels from Autism Speaks http://thirtyhandmadedays.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/04/autismspeaksfull.pdf

I hope this activity is a fun way for you and your family to support Autism and to spread awareness.

-Paige