Use Sensory Integration to Get the Right Start!

Have you ever had a student that comes to school upset pretty much every day.  They arrive at your door and this is what you see...

Here comes this kiddo who is having a tough time and there are many reasons why this could be happening.  It could be due to sensory issues, a rough morning at home, not enough sleep, hunger, being yelled at, communication delays, and the list of possibilities goes on and on.  The truth is, we don't always know WHY they are behaving the way they are, but there are certainly some things we can do to help them prepare their bodies for learning.

I'm dating myself now, but waaaaaay back in the mid 90's when I first started teaching, I was intrigued by a workshop I attended about sensory integration.  I was so interested in the results they were getting with children by addressing their sensory needs.  I tried some of the techniques in my classroom and immediately saw a difference.  Honestly, the biggest difference I saw was a shift in my perspective on behavior.  These sensory integration techniques gave me new tools to help my students.  I began to see that excessive movement or aggression could potentially be caused by unmet sensory needs.  

This past school year, I had a little girl in my three-year-old class who would come to me in an upset state frequently.  I found myself expecting her to come into the classroom and be ready to connect with me and follow the arrival routine without first addressing her internal state.  At a conference last spring I heard Dr. Becky Bailey say, "If a child comes to you in an upset state, why would you let them in the door?"  Well, we certainly aren't going to keep children in the hallway until the "get happy", so we have to come up with some other ideas.  Since state dictates behavior I knew I needed to be more intentional about changing her internal state. 

In our school, we use a program called Minds-in-Motion.  This program uses a series of movement activities set up in a maze that students go through in about 15 minutes daily.  This program is designed to stimulate a child’s VISUAL processing, AUDITORY processing, as well as their MOTOR skills. The outcome is a better integrated and balanced child who will perform better in school and at home. 

We decide to begin going to the maze every morning as soon as the children arrived.  We didn't even take off our coats and backpacks.  We gathered the children at drop off and headed straight for the maze.  Now my whole class {including the teachers} had the opportunity to disengage their stress and regulate their upset through organized movement.  What started out as a plan to help one child get ready to learn, ended up benefiting everyone!

You know me, I can't leave well enough alone.  I have to add a Conscious Discipline twist to learning as often as I can.  ;)  So, instead of sticking strictly to the maze plan, I modified it to make sure it included connecting activities and met the developmental needs of my students with special needs.  Here are some pictures of us doing the maze.

 

We start by doing Wall Push-ups.  We push with our hands, backs, heads, and feet.  I tell students we are going to try to see if we can move the wall.  We also count forward and backward as we push.  A great opportunity to create a pattern and squeeze in some academic skills.

 

We call this exercise the Electric Slide.  It's basically a side step, but instead of stepping, you slide your foot.  Older children are able to do it independently, but most of our three-year-olds needs some help organizing their bodies.  By holding hands we are also boosting this opportunity to connect with children through the sense of touch.

The Log Roll is usually a huge favorite!  For this exercise we play the Hotdog Game from Dr. Bailey's book, I Love You Rituals.  The child lays down on the mat and pretends to be the hotdog or burrito. Then the teacher or another student pretends to add toppings to the hotdog.  We make lots of funny noises and movements and enjoy this playful time before the hotdog rolls away across the mat!

Climb Every Mountain can be a very challenging movement for preschoolers.  The challenge is to lift one leg all the way over the obstacle while balancing on the other leg.  We really encourage children to complete this movement as independently as possible as it is designed to really strengthen their balance and core strength.

The Puppy Dog Crawl helps children cross the midline.  We like doing it on a line to give children a visual to help them cross their hands over properly.  In this exercise, children crawl in various directions while making x's on the floor with their hands.

It is a joy to watch the children push themselves and increase their skills over the course of the school year.  The Balance Board has taught us many lessons in communication, connection, and focus.  We sometimes hold a hand or two to help children feel safe.  This is also an opportunity to practice calming techniques as this can be a bit scary for little guys.

You don't have to do a maze to help children regulate their state and disengage the stress from their morning.  I have also found great success in using Calming Cream to address sensory needs.  I buy a cheap bottle of lotion and a pump from the Dollar Tree.  Put a small amount of lotion on your hands and rub it on the child's hands while singing a song or making a game out of it. 

Here is an example of a song you can sing:

Bye, Bye Crankies

Bye, Bye, Crankies

Bye, Bye Crankies

It's time for you to go.

 

We also have an adapted bike that we could use to take children on a bike ride around the school.  One of our classroom jobs is the milk helper.  This child would push a small cart that was filled with blocks down to the cafeteria to collect the milk for the day.  This gives the milk helper an opportunity to get in some heavy work, organize their bodies, and be helpful!  It is very important that you include organized movement patterns as well as opportunities for free movement {think recess or dancing}. 

 





Who knows what an Underdog is?  When I was a kid we loved getting underdogs on the swing because it was such fun.  I have had several students who respond very well to swinging to address their sensory needs.  For an underdog I get behind them and push them forward as I go under the swing.  They love that dropping feeling as they swing back and forth with a little extra boost.  Once I get started giving Underdogs it's hard to stop, but I'll tell you what, I will have those children "eating out of the palm of my hand" when we're finished.  ;)  It's worth a little extra physical exertion on my part!

I'll leave you with this...

My bloggy friend, Amy, over at One Artsy Mama shared this photo from her son's new school.  When she questioned the administrator about why they have a slide in the school, the administrator said, "Because, school should be joyful."  They really have the right idea!  We have been called to design learning opportunities for children that bring them pure joy!  Why would we want anything short of that?

The next time a child arrives at your door in an upset state, consider how  you might address their need for organized movement to help them change their state and get them ready to learn. 

Getting to Know You: Fun Games for Children with Autism

At the beginning of the school year I loved to play lots of games with my students to help them get to know one another.  There are a TON of opportunities to work on important skills throughout these games.  This particular game idea came from my favorite Autism Consultant several years ago.   I have modified it so we could use it over and over again. 

Grab an old coffee can, preferably one that will roll easily across the floor {and doesn't have rust or paint in it}.  Put a photo or name card in the can for all the students in your class.  Put the lid on and you are ready to play!

Gather your students on the floor in a circle.  One person starts by saying the name of a friend and rolling the can to that person.  {For children who are nonverbal, we used a voice output device or picture communication board to help them communicate and make a choice.} 

The receiving child opens the can and removes a picture or name card.  They will say the name and identify the person on the card.  The whole class can then greet that child by saying "Hi ____!" and waving in that direction.  Now the lid is replaced and the can is rolled to the child that everyone just greeted.  You continue this way until everyone has had a turn.

This activity offers lots of opportunities to practice necessary social skills.  When children are removing and replacing the lid on the can, they may need to ask for help.  You can use visual or verbal prompting to help them learn to ask for help appropriately. 

My favorite cue is the sign language for "help".  If they become upset, this is a great opportunity to practice calming techniques and wishing well as a class.

Games like this help keep the children actively involved while practicing lots of essential social skills in a functional setting.

Variations: 

1. Instead of rolling the can to the pictured child, have them offer that child a greeting such as a high five or fist bump.
2. Pass the can around the circle in a clockwise direction and use this as an opportunity to practice tapping your neighbor on the shoulder, getting their attention, and then handing them the can.  Inside the can you can place various greetings or movement activities that the children can participate in.  You could also place pictures of shapes, numbers, letters, objects, or sight words in the can for them to identify when it is their turn.  You could ask them questions about what they pulled out of the can or they could give clues to the class and let them guess. 
3. I had a speech therapist that did a super fun activity every year with the coffee can and instant pudding.  She would allow the children to assist her in following the steps in the recipe to make the pudding.  Then she would secure the lid on the can with tape or rubber bands.  We would mix up the pudding by rolling the can around the circle.  In turn, each child would say the name of a child across the circle and then roll the can in that direction.  When the can had made it's way around the circle, then it the pudding was ready!  We didn't eat it right away though.  Instead, we took it to the table and finger painted with it on wax paper.  It was always a big hit!  The kids even got a choice between vanilla and chocolate!

Chuck E Cheese Has the Right Idea

Yesterday I heard a commercial on TV that prompted me to write this post.  It was a Chuck E. Cheese commercial reminding parents that kids grow up way too fast and everyone needs to make time to visit a place where "a kid can be a kid". 

I think Chuck E. Cheese has the right idea.  How often do we expect our children to be something other than a kid?  It's like once our children learn to walk, talk, and feed themselves, we forget they are still kids.  We seem to think that now they can handle the world like an adult and that is exactly what we expect.  We want them to sit quietly at the table and eat their food while using good manners, listen and follow directions, and suck it up when life isn't going their way. 

Often I feel like I am just an "over protective parent" when I look at the activities of the other children I know.  They no longer play with babies, make mud pies, snuggle with their parents to read a good book, or enjoy being playful and silly together.  They seem to think they are too old for that. 

The line has been blurred between being a kid and growing up.  I have had four-year-olds tell me they have watched movies that I won't even watch because of the violence and use of inappropriate language.  Little girls no longer play Barbies and baby dolls, instead they are making music videos, giving makeovers, and playing games on their iPods.  What happened to spending the day building forts and fighting dragons?

 

My daughter, now 10, has always loved babies!  Since she was very young, babies have been her favorite toy.  Over the years her play has developed and become much more complex, but her favorite thing in the whole world is still playing babies.

 

I love listening in on her play as she sets up such complex scenes with her babies and the stories she creates using her imagination.  I know she is working out the complexity of the real world through play.  I hear her describe life while her "husband" is away in Afghanistan serving in the Army.  She does chores, goes on vacations, and even adopts a new child once in a while.  All while doing what she does best...playing and being a KID!

I want to encourage you to think about the children in your home or classroom.  Are they truly "acting their age"?  Have you allowed them to just be a kid?  Reflect on your expectations of your children.  Do you expect them to be seen and not heard?  Would you like them to suck it up and take it like a man?  If you find yourself continually frustrated and see the frustration in your children as well, maybe it's time to take a trip to see ole Chuck E. Cheese where a kid can be a kid!  

Teaching Without Rewards and Punishments

How do you help your children be accountable for the quality of their work without using rewards and punishments?  Are you able to help your children reach goals without using stickers, gold stars, clip charts, and time out?

Since beginning our Conscious Discipline journey, one of the biggest shifts that has happened for me has been learning to use my creative brilliance when disciplining my children instead of relying on rewards, threats, and punishments when my children aren't doing what I want them to do.  Believe me, it hasn't been easy!  I work hard every day to try to bring the best of who I am to each discipline encounter.  Do I mess up?  You bet!  I make lots of mistakes, but I try to reflect and learn from them so I can use these mistakes as opportunities to grow. 

In Proverbs 26:11 it says "As a dog returns to its vomit; so a fools repeat their folly."  This scripture inspired me to help my children and I learn from our mistakes instead of repeating the same things over and over again. 

I came up with a system that helps us give a number to our behavior.  For example, a 1 would be our worst effort.  These are the times when we are tired, stressed out, and just plain ugly!  The 5 would be our optimal performance.  This is when we are in the "zone", connected, and feeling really good! 

These numbers aren't a way of judging, competing, or comparing our behavior, rather a way of reflecting.  This little bit of reflection helps us move into higher centers of the brain where we can access our executive skills and begin to do better.  It helps us define what certain behaviors look like, feel like, and sound like.

The other night my son and I were talking about the quality of his school work lately.  He felt like maybe the work was a little too hard for him and that's why his grades aren't as high as we would like.  As we continued our discussion and we started giving his effort a number he realized that he hasn't been giving his best effort.  His lack of effort, not doing his best, has resulted in missed opportunities and a little bit of disappointment.  This little bit of reflection really helped us get to the root of the problem so we could put some new tools in place and handle the emotions that accompany missed opportunities.

I made a little chart with some criteria on it to help define what each number between 1-5 would look like when doing homework.  I thought this chart might also be helpful in the classroom when students are turning in their work.  They can look at the chart, reflect on their work, give it a number and jot it down on the bottom corner of their assignment.  They could choose to keep the number they have or use the chart as a reminder to check a few more things before handing in their assignment so it will truly reflect their best!   

If you would like to have a copy of the chart you can find it in my brand new Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Just click on the image below and it will take you to the free download.  Make sure you leave some feedback and follow my store while you are there so you don't miss out on any of the new products I post!  I hope you find it helpful!

 

When disciplining our children, do you think it is best to do what we have always done?  If we know better don't you think we should do better?  Isn't that what we expect from our children?  We know so much more about child development and brain development now than we did in years past.  We know that if we want children to learn new information and retain what they are learning we need to create optimal learning environments.  This cannot happen when we use discipline methods that are based on fear. 

 

So, where would your behavior be on a scale of 1-5?  Are you creating an optimal learning experience for children and bringing the best of who you are to each discipline encounter?  If you need more ideas or information on how to create this type of learning environment check out the Conscious Discipline website  and Facebook page to find out how you can learn a better way.

Taming the Homework Giant: Tips for Helping Your Children Do Their Best!

If your house is anything like mine, homework time can be very stressful and overwhelming.  The kids and I have to proceed with caution so we don't lose our minds! 

One thing is very clear in our house.  The work that the children bring home is theirs, not mine.  I am here to support them and give them the tools they need to be successful, but I WILL NOT do their homework!  

Let's be honest, this is not an easy job!  I have to work very hard at keeping my cool when we sit down at the table to go over what needs to be done each evening.  The kids are tired and really just want to play and relax after a long day at school.  So homework can be a challenge for everyone!

I have figured out a few tips that help all of us get through the homework AND keep our sanity!  That's what I want to share with you today.  For heaven's sake...if we just keep focusing on the fact that we hate homework...it won't get us ANYWHERE will it!!!

So, here it goes...

1.  Put some routines in place that work for your family.  Make the after school routine as predictable as possible.  The brain is pattern seeking!  In our family it helps when the kids come home and have a little time for a break before beginning their homework. So we are sure to work that into our routine.  Although they are tired and ready to relax, if we don't tackle the homework right away then the evening gets away from us and before we know it, it's bedtime and the homework still isn't done.  . 

2.  Give them a break.  My children prefer to come home kick off their shoes, have a little snack, and play around for about 30 minutes before we get to work.  This helps because it gives me time to look through their folders and assignment notebooks and see what needs to be done.  It also gives us time to connect and chat about the day and what's going on that evening.  Once they begin working, I allow for little breaks about every 30 minutes so they can move around and then get back to work.

3.  Get them moving!  I try to encourage my kids to take a short bike ride, jump on the trampoline, or kick a ball around before they start their work.  Movement activates the frontal lobes and that is where we access our executive skills.  Homework requires children to use many of these essential skills such as prioritization, organization, attention, impulse control, and time management just to mention a few!

4.  Provide a checklist. For younger children it helps if these include pictures.  We have one hanging near our table that reminds the kids to have all of their materials including their folder, notebook, pencil, and books with them at the table before they begin working so we can avoid too many interruptions.  Checklists also help them remember to check their work and make sure they have done their best, have all the signatures and materials they need, and everything is packed up and ready for the next day before they go to bed at night!  It sure makes the morning much less stressful!

5.  Remember, it's not about you.  I think this is one really tough for most parents.  As a "recovering perfectionist" my natural tendency is to expect perfection out of my children.  I have to work really hard at keeping realistic expectations that are age-appropriate AND child specific.  My two children have very different temperaments and what is "good enough" for one is not "good enough" for the other.  It also took me a really long time to realize that their work is not a reflection of my parenting skills.  I used to imagine that if my children's work was subpar that their teachers would think I was a bad parent.  I would rush in to the rescue and save them from making mistakes and experiencing the consequences of some of the choices they were making.  That belief put a lot of undue pressure on me and my children.

6. Make it fun!  Sometimes we add a little twist to the normal homework routine to help make it a little more fun.  We love to take the homework outside and sit on a blanket in the shade.  We also practice spelling words while jumping on the trampoline.  The kids love singing their response when I ask them to define a vocabulary word.  You could even use shaving cream to practice math facts or spelling words.  Come up with fun cheers or acronyms to help them remember important information.  Get creative and get the kids involved in coming up with ideas to keep them interested!

7. Break it down!  Help teach your child the same skills you use to plan ahead.  If you know they have a big project coming up or a lot of after school activities in the week ahead, plan to adjust the homework load each night so that it doesn't pile up and become so overwhelming.  These skills of prioritizing and planning ahead will really help your child become more independent and successful in the long run.

8. Look at the big picture.  I believe that the real purpose of homework is to practice skills that have been taught at school and occasionally complete a special project.  It is also an opportunity for children to practice responsibility and time management.  Try to focus on the big picture and keep these goals in mind so you are less likely to get hung up on the tiny details.  If you child has trouble completing homework or you are spending hours every night on assignments, you need to meet with the teacher and discuss these issues.  Work with the teacher to come up with a plan that works better for your child so they still have an opportunity to play and relax in the evening.  Without down time, your child may become over stressed and you may begin to see an increase in negative behavior as a result.

9. Create an atmosphere of calm.  In our house it helps my children relax and get their homework done if they do it in separate spaces.  My son works at the kitchen table while my daughter works at her desk in the other room.  Humming and movement helps my son focus and get his work done, so he wiggles around quite a bit in his chair while he works.  Having everything in order and quiet helps my daughter focus and get her work done.  That's why she does most of her work at her desk.  When the two of them sit together at the kitchen table it's like oil and water!  It just doesn't mix!

10.  Give them the opportunity to be helpful!  Sometimes siblings can help one another with homework.  When we have an opportunity to be helpful our brains release a hormone called Serotonin.  This  feel good hormone gives us that feeling of "I did it"!  Cha-ching!!!  We want to give our children as many opportunities as possible to get to experience this kind of success.  You could encourage older children to read to a younger child, practice spelling words with them, or help them research a project on the computer.    

We all want our children to do their best.  It is our responsibility as parents to give them the tools they need to help them be successful.  If homework time erupts into chaos or screaming matches, we are defeating the intended purpose and no learning can occur.  With a little planning ahead and using some of the specific tips listed above, you will make great strides in taming homework giant!