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Archives for 2020

Archives for 2020

Starting School Strategies for Children with Autism

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When you have a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), entering the school system can be an overwhelming experience. Once you have finally adjusted to the kindergarten scene, it is already time to make the leap to grade one. Try the strategies below just before the school year starts, to make the transition smoother for you and your child.

Get Back Into Routine

Ease your child back into the school routine before school actually begins. Start by having your child go to bed and wake up at the times that will set them up for success. If you have time, practice your routine for going to school as well. Once you are at the school, tour the grounds to re-familiarize your child with the play area and remind them of the safety rules.

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Refresh Yourself

 Before the school year starts, review your child’s report cards and their most current assessments from the professionals involved with them. Use this information to help you advocate for your child once the school year begins. Generally, schools will use the assessments you provide, to develop a support plan for your child, says Angie Birchard, a kindergarten teacher with expertise in working with special needs children and their families. Birchard stresses that both parents and the school have to work together as a team to make the transition happen smoothly.  Start the school year right by being clear about your child’s needs and strengths so you can advocate well for your child.

Be a detective

 Observe and write down what works well at home and in the community for your child. Take note of what helps your child with transitions. Notice when they are able to sit and attend to a task. Notice what regulates them. The more information you can gather about what works well for your child, the better. Then, share this information with the grade one teacher when you have an opportunity to meet with them.  

Modify strategies for school

 Birchard shared that “not all strategies that work at home are feasible in a classroom” especially if support staff is not available. When this is the case, work closely with the school to create alternatives for your child that are based on what works at home, but make sense in the classroom.

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Reconnect Early

If you want to have a smooth transition to grade one, you need to be proactive, says Narmilee Dhayanandhan, speech and language therapist. Dhayanandhan has worked extensively with children, parents and professionals impacted by ASD for the past 10 years. One way to be proactive is to meet the grade one teacher before school starts. Most school staff begin returning one to two weeks before school reopens for the year.  Try to connect with the principal or one of the special education staff before the school year begins. Ask them for permission to visit the classroom with your child and to meet the grade one teacher.

Have fun at home

Dhayanandhan recommends giving your child play-based and academic opportunities at home. She explains that these opportunities end up being the building blocks for grade one and beyond. For example, helping your child to develop pretend play skills, where they act out a character or play theme, helps your child develop flexibility and creativity in their thinking. It is a challenge for most children on the spectrum to engage in pretend play. Check out the books More Than Words and Talkability, both by Fern Sussman, for tips to get you started. With academics, Dhayanandhan states that creating routines that involve reading books together, looking at sight words, having fun with numbers and practicing writing skills will be great preparation for grade one and the homework it brings.

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Have fun in the community

Swimming, gymnastics, and karate can be great opportunities for your child to learn a new sport, but also prepare them for the next school year. Dhayanandhan explains that physical activities help to regulate the body, so that the mind is better able to learn. This will depend on what actually regulates your child. Not all children on the spectrum respond favorably to physical activity. Determine what works for your child and pursue those activities. If your child can tolerate it, community-based activities can also be great social opportunities and a time to work on attention and follow through skills.

Stay positive and focused

 Some parents have encountered school staff that have not been receptive to working with them in a collaborative manner. Birchard says, “Parents need to stay as positive as possible, no matter how difficult.” In order to do this, be clear about what your child’s rights are and who has the power to ensure those rights are observed. Do your best to work with the classroom teacher, but if this is not working, keep moving up the chain of command until your concerns are adequately addressed. You can also contact your local ASD support group for an advocate that can attend school meetings with you.

Overall, Dhayanandhan recommends “parents avoid becoming overly anxious and nervous about the transition to grade one.”  Instead, she suggests finding fun ways to celebrate the transition with your child while you use the tips listed above.

By Karyn Robinson-Renaud MSW, RSW

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This Is How to Find the Right Day Camp for Your Kid

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Summer day camp is a place where children can learn new skills, acquire new interests and make new friends. But there is no one-size-fits-all camp. To find the right day camp for your child, consider these 10 tips.

  1. Consider your child. Talk it over and narrow the options based on your child’s interests and needs. Find out what he wants from the experience and together make a list of things he might like to do. Also consider his developmental needs. Is he ready for an all-day program? Would he be more comfortable in an intimate versus large group setting? If your child likes sports but has shown some interest in drama or art, encourage him to step out of his comfort zone. It may just spark a new passion.
  2. Gather information. Attend camp fairs, or pick up a local camp guide copy. Circle programs of interest then comparison shop. Call each prospective camp to inquire about philosophy, daily schedule and other topics important to you. Invest this time up front and you may find a camp to stay with for several years.
  3. Traditional or specialty. When choosing between a traditional versus specialty program, consider this rule of thumb: The younger the child, the more varied the activities should be. Children between the ages of 7 and 11 thrive in a setting where they can sample a variety of subjects. As their attention span develops, they may want to focus on a single activity. If you go with a specialty camp, find out how intense the program is. It may be labeled “specialty” but only have a one- or two-hour component with other activities scheduled in.
  4. Look at location. Find a camp close to your job or home to shorten travel time and allow quick access to your child in an emergency. Convenience, however, shouldn’t be the primary factor. Balance your decision with what the camp has to offer. If your child really wants to participate in a given camp, consider your willingness to drive out of the way. Or see if there’s a neighbor you can carpool with.

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  5. Ponder program length. Program length should be viewed in light of the family and child’s needs. If your schedule dictates him having to stay a full day ask about before- and after-care. If he’s younger, find out about naps or quiet times. It’s also important to find out who runs the before- and after-care program. Is it the same staff your child has all day? What activities will he be engaged in during this time?
  6. Scout out schedules. Before enrolling, ask about the daily schedule. What themes and related activities are planned? Will there be field trips or special guests coming in to keep camp exciting and extend theme-based learning? Will your camper receive any reading, writing or math experiences? Done properly, kids can enjoy games and activities that keep those academic skills sharp. Also look at resources the camp has to offer and inquire how often your child will participate in them. Don’t assume that just because there’s a pool, ropes course or archery field on the brochure it will be part of your child’s session. Ask to make sure.
  7. Ask about staff. Find out how staff and counselors are chosen, their experience, background, age and training, as well as counselor-to-camper ratio. The American Camping Association’s day camp recommendations are 1-6 for ages 4 to 5, 1-8 for ages 6 to 8, 1-10 for ages 9 to 14 and 1-12 for ages 15 to 17. Also ask how counselors are screened and what background checks are done. If you’re going with a specialty camp, what kind of in-depth knowledge and experience do the counselors have teaching the subject?
  8. Consider costs. Compare program costs and find out what the fees actually cover. Some camps include field trips, materials, meals and t-shirts into their initial fee; with others it’s an add-on. Also find out the camp’s refund policy and rules regarding transfer of weeks if your plans change or your child gets sick. If the camp is out of your price range, is a scholarship or financial assistance available?
  9. Explore open houses. Visiting an open house can get children acclimated to the environment and give you a better perspective of the staff, facilities and activities. Is the staff smiling and friendly? Do they immediately bond with the children? Are the facilities well maintained, clean, and free of safety hazards?
  10. Peruse policies. Eliminate future problems by reviewing the camp’s policies and procedures before you sign up. You don’t want to learn after the fact that your child can’t turn on his cell phone or that drop-off and pick-up policies differ from what you thought. Share pertinent information with your child too, so there are no surprises on his end.

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Questions to ask before choosing a day camp:

  • Are you licensed by the state or do you hold an accreditation or certification? What exactly does that credential mean?
  • What kind of background, training and experience do counselors and staff have? How are they chosen?
  • What is the counselor-to-camper ratio? How many students are in each group? How often are the groups together?
  • What kind of medical response is on hand? Camp nurse or CPR and first-aid certified staff?
  • Are you able to administer medicine?
  • What is a typical day like?
  • How often will the campers take field trips? Where do they go? Is there increased supervision in populated setting?
  • What other resources are available to campers, such as a pool, ice arena, farm, hiking trails, ropes course, archery, etc.? How often will my child be able to participate in these?
  • Are lunches and/or snacks provided?
  • Do you offer before- and after-care? Will it be the same staff caring for my child?
  • How often are the facilities cleaned?
  • What alternative plans do you have for inclement weather?
  • What does the camp fee cover? What extra fees will I be required to pay?
  • Do you offer scholarships or financial aid?
  • What is the refund policy and rules regarding transfer of weeks?
  • What is your policy regarding cell phones and other technology items brought to camp?
  • How do you handle homesickness and other adjustment issues?
  • What is the discipline policy?
  • How do you handle bullying?
  • What are your drop-off and pick-up policies?
  • Will you provide references?

By Denise Morrison Yearian who looks forward to finding the perfect camp match for her three children.

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Get Ready for Kindergarten

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For the next thirteen years, your child will spend as much, if not more, time in school than at home. School will be the springboard to learning, friendships, and ultimately, a career. Help your child prepare for this journey; get him ready for success; encourage him to enjoy discovery, and assist him to meet the challenges which are ahead.

Each youngster arrives at the Kindergarten door with a different level of preparedness. You want your son or daughter to be ready to learn. Some of the basic “readiness” skills are: number concepts, naming colors, identifying shapes, comparing things that are the same and different, speaking and listening vocabulary, and general information about self and the world in which he or she lives.

Here are twelve quick and easy at-home activities you can do with your youngster to enhance these skills:

  1. Cut and paste pictures from magazines; name the items in each picture, make up a funny sentence about each. This will help develop find motor skills and build vocabulary.
  2. Trace around hands, feet, cookie cutters, jar covers, popsicle sticks and other objects. This is another fine motor activity and enhances creativity.
  3. Line up items such as blocks, spoons, cups, and clothespins to create left to right progression and visual patterns. This improves visual perception, sequencing, and organization. It helps children to find similarities and differences in objects. It also simulates the left to right eye movement used when actually reading books.
  4. Start with a one-step direction, then a two-part, to help children learn how to listen and follow directions. You can help your child follow directions and complete tasks by using auditory and visual clues. For example, use the words, first, next, and then when breaking jobs into various steps. You can also hold up a finger and as you state each step in the direction, stating #1 do …, #2 do …, and #3 do … Another helpful tip is to have the child repeat the task(s) back to you. You can ask, “What are you going to do first? And then?”
  5. Share your “junk” mail; open envelopes, sort by size, discuss the picture on the stamps, find letters or numbers and circle them. Children can sort envelopes by size, color, and those with and without windows. They can sort the actual mail by size. You can use a highlighter to find a certain letter, perhaps start with the first letter of your child’s first name. They can cut the stamp out and paste them on pretend mail they can give to family members. You can have your child sort the stamps by their design, for example, flags, animals, flowers, people, and so on. You can extend this by allowing your child to put stamps on your outgoing mail, and let them purchase stamps at the post office.
  6. After a trip to the store, post office, or church, have your child tell something about what he saw on the ride. To practice sequencing, ask: what happened first, next, etc.; write it down and let him draw a picture. This increases vocabulary and organization of time sequences. You can prompt your child by asking, which event happened first, for example, “Did we get dressed first or did we drive in the car first?” Also, ask about people you saw or buildings you passed along the way.
  7. Write or draw in sand, flour, sugar, etc.; Hint: keep it in a zip-lock bag for reuse. Shaving cream is also fun for art expression. This activity begins to stimulate an interest in both art and science. It develops recognition of tactile sensation and differences between solids and liquids. It encourages creativity and free expression. It can also be used to reinforce shapes, letters, and numbers. Additionally, this is another activity for fine motor control.
  8. Cut out pictures from magazines and classify them into groups of food, animals, clothing, toys, sports, and transportation. Using scissors is an important learning tool, and requires fine motor skills. This activity extends and enriches vocabulary. Organization, comparisons, and seeing similarities and differences are reinforced with this activity. You can also name colors and shapes and make up stories to go with the pictures. Two or three pictures can be placed next to each other to create the concept of sentence formation by putting words together.
  9. Find upper and lower case letters in magazines or newspapers match them with each other, spell out simple words, put them in alphabetical order, or cut and paste onto cards. Have your child group tall letters, such as b, d, l, and t and letters with hanging tails, such as g, j, p, q, and y.
  10. Draw a picture on a post card and mail it to a friend, relative, or neighbor. Drawing with pens, pencils, crayons and markers use slightly different motor skills. It develops appropriate grip technique, and steadies those small muscles in the hands and fingers. Cutting out a picture and using glue are two more skills for control of fine motor skills.
  11. Draw a line or design with a thick marker along the edge of a piece of paper and use a holepunch to go over the design. Use lightweight cardboard from file folders or packing materials. Use a dark marker to make a different shape line along the four sides and have your child punch holes along the line. You can also draw with a pencil and have your child trace over it with a brightly colored marker. This is a fine motor skill combined with eye-hand coordination. You can also discuss colors and ask where your child has seen this type of line. For example, a shoe string could be a straight line, a cookie is a circle, the kitten’s ears look like triangles, and so on.
  12. Encourage your child to speak in complete sentences, talk about the family pet, a television show, the clothes they have on, a visit to grandma’s, or plan an outing. Use three to five words to complete a sentence instead of a one-word response. Ask your child for more details to describe what he or she saw, or what something tasted like or felt like when it was touched.

What is most important? Visit the library every week and read to your child every day. Dedicate these weeks of summer to enjoy time with your child; make him your priority. Invest time in your child now and you will both reap rewards for a lifetime.

Dr. Valerie Allen is a child psychologist in private practice. She presents seminars for parents and professionals in the field of child development and has published two children’s books, “Summer School for Smarties” and “Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends.” Oh yes, she has also raised six children!

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This Is What Parents Need to Know About Registered Sex Offenders

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I often receive questions concerning the restrictions on registered sex offenders who live in the area of schools. Most of us have received those backpacked communications from schools advising that a registered sex offender relocated to a residence within the community. As a parent, I know how upsetting they can be. I’ve outlined some information for parents to use as a reference regarding sex offenders living nearby.

Designation of Sex Offender Risk Levels

Level 1 sex offenders, or low recidivist risk, must register for 20 years, unless they have a designation (sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender), in which case they must register for life. Level 2 offenders, or moderate recidivist risk, and Level 3 offenders, or high recidivist risk, must register for life. Recidivist, put simply, is a repeat offender.

New York State law restricts Level 3 registered sex offenders from being within 1,000 feet of a school in a parked vehicle or knowingly being on school grounds when on parole or probation. A Level 3 sex offender is designated as such due to their highest recidivist potential. They have a lifetime requirement to be registered and prohibited from being within 1,000 feet of a school or on school grounds.

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Level 1 and 2 registered sex offenders are ONLY restricted from being within 1,000 feet of school grounds while on parole or probation. Therefore, under New York State law there are no residency restrictions once parole and probation has been lifted.

By law, only Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are listed on the public directory. This directory now posts multiple photographs of registered sex offenders, as they become available, to provide New Yorkers with additional information to keep their families safe (per the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services or NYS DCJS). A notification will not be issued to residents when a Level 1 offender lives nearby.

You can view the New York State Sex Offender Registry at criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor/. You can search the registry by name to see if someone is a registered sex offender. You can also search by zip code or county to view a list of all sex offenders who live in a certain area.

Basic Requirements of Registered Sex Offenders

  • Report annually where they live by signing and returning an annual verification form to DCJS within 10 days after receiving it.
  • Notify DCJS in writing of a new address no later than 10 days after moving.
  • Report in person to a local police agency to have a current photograph taken every three years (Level 1 and 2 offenders) or every year (Level 3 offenders).
  • Notify DCJS in writing of any institution of higher education they are attending, enrolled, living or employed. Any change in status must be reported to DCJS no later than 10 days after the change.
  • Provide in writing internet service providers, internet screen names and email accounts.
  • Level 3 offenders and offenders with a sexual predator designation must personally verify their addresses every 90 days with law enforcement. Law enforcement may at that time photograph a level 3 offender if that offender’s appearance has changed.

The above is a basic list of sex offender responsibilities. You can refer to Correction Law Article 6-C for more information at criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor/.

By Mike Reilly, District 31 Community Education Council President and former NYPD Lieutenant

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Here Are Some Reasons Your Kid Should Try Yoga

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Your child might not be old enough to correctly pronounce “Namaste,” but she’s probably old enough to enjoy the benefits of practicing yoga. Today yoga is no longer just for adults. In fact, it has become all the rage among kids as young as preschoolers. Here are just some reasons why yoga is awesome for preschoolers:

Strengthens Growing Body

Children are born with an innate flexibility. Yoga taps into their flexibility, while increasing a child’s strength as their muscles grow.

Enhances Concentration

Kid’s yoga differs slightly. Some poses are fast-paced, while others are slow. This teaches children self-control, while enhancing their focus and awareness.

Body Awareness

Yoga poses vary from balancing, strengthening and twisting. All of these simultaneously teach kids about their body and how it moves.

Sparks Imagination

Child yoga often focuses on themes that transport a child to a tropical paradise like a “Hawaiian Vacation” and “African Jungle.” Children are having fun, while expressing their creative side and learning about different cultures.

This information was provided by Ashley Spicer, creator of FLYAROO Fitness.

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Raising Kids Who Can Code

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Over 600,000 computing jobs are available in the US, but only 43,000 computer science majors graduated last year. That startling statistic from code.org may explain why 9 out of 10 parents want children to learn computer programming.

Even kids who aren’t likely to choose programming as a career benefit from learning something about it. Coding teaches kids to analyze problems, think logically, and be persistent about troubleshooting. Getting results also gives kids a sense of accomplishment and confidence that they can make technology work for them.

Unfortunately, many K-12 schools don’t routinely offer coding classes. To correct that problem, the White House launched a CS for All initiative earlier this year. Parents can find out about exemplary school programs at digitalpromise.org and discover local programs in the “Learn” section of code.org.  You can also supplement what’s available at school with options like these:

Toys

Three-dimensional playthings can teach kids the kind of logical sequencing that is at the heart of programming. Code-A-Pillar, coming soon from Fisher Price, is a caterpillar that does different things depending on how a toddler sequences its segments ($50). Makeblock.com sells domino size blocks that have different functions. Kids, six and up, can snap them together to tell stories or create devices like a burglar alarm or a voice changing microphone ($125). Circuit Maze from thinkfun.com teaches kids to think logically about circuits with a series of 60 puzzles ($40).

Bots

Robots and droids can be fun for the entire family, but many models are expensive, delicate or tricky to operate. Exceptions include Dash and Dot (makewonder.com), freestanding, kid-friendly bots that can be controlled through an app. Sphero.com also sells several durable, rolling robots that will appeal to kids over 8, especially if they are Star Wars fans.

apps

a wide variety of apps claim to teach coding to kids. two of the better ones come from hopscotch (gethopscotch.com). their signature program lets school-age kids use code to design games and create artwork. a simpler program called daisy the dinosaur is available for preschoolers (free, apple products). kodable teaches coding practices by having 6 to 10 year-olds maneuver furry, round aliens called fuzzes through 30 increasingly difficult mazes by using visual arrow icons (free, multiple platforms, kodable.com). the foos asks elementary-age kids to help cute characters solve problems that just happen to involve coding skills such as pattern recognition and sequencing (free for most platforms, thefoos.com). lightbot is a slightly more abstract set of puzzles that can be addictive for older kids (free for most platforms, lightbot.com). swift playgrounds is a great and quite challenging app by Apple for older kids and adults to learn the swift programming language.

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Hybrids

Several interesting programs teach code with a combination of tangible objects and apps.   Bloxels has kids, ages 8-12, create video games by inserting brightly colored blocks into a grid to create a pixelated image. Capture the image on a smartphone and an app helps you convert it into a game with characters and obstacles (bloxelsbuilder.com). Bitsbox.com has a free website, but it also offers a subscription service for elementary school kids. Once a month, kids get a box of new programming challenges along with stickers, small toys, and trading cards.

Clubs

csfirst.withgoogle.com offers free modules that can be used in after school programs or summer camps. The materials are built around the Scratch programming language, a coding language devised at MIT (scratch.mit.edu) and are targeted to students in 4th-8th grade. All you need to start a club is a willing adult and access to one Internet-enabled device for each club member.

Lessons

For children who develop a taste for coding, several organizations offer a more systematic way to become proficient. Code.org has links to “Hour of Code” projects that offer free one-hour tutorials introducing students to code. They also have a series of videos that help kids master basic algorithms and offer inspiration from master coders like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Pluralsight, a company that provides online training to adults by subscription, offers several free classes for kids. At Codecademy.com, teens who are motivated can master several programming languages through free interactive lessons. Finally, Tynker.com, a program widely used by schools, offers over 1,000 coding activities with kid appeal to families willing to pay a monthly subscription. Try the free apps, available for Android and Apple, before signing up.

Camps

Summer is a great time to learn a new skill, and several camps will immerse kids in code. IDtech.com offers camps exploring a variety of technical topics at over 150 locations, including many campuses with prestigious CS programs. Their website makes it easy to find an experience that’s age appropriate for kids 7-18. The Emagination program intersperses lessons in coding with more traditional camp activities. Information about locations and programs, including a popular Minecraft session, is available at emaginationtechcamps.com.

Just for Girls

In the past, boys gravitated towards programming more readily than girls. A number of organizations are trying to reverse that trend. Madewithcode.com, a Google initiative, features exciting coding projects developed by young women. Girlswhocode.com sponsors tech clubs and summer camps for girls. And Girldevelopit.com offers supportive women-only classes in 52 US cities.

Stuff around the House

 
CSunplugged.org promises to teach kids some of the basic concepts of computer science through games and puzzles that use inexpensive materials like cards, string, ping pong balls, and crayons that are probably lying around your house. The site which is popular with educators includes downloads and videos explaining how to make use of the materials.

With so many options available, every parent should be able to find a program or project that matches your child’s age and temperament as well as the family’s schedule and budget. So what are you waiting for? Get your kids coding now!

Article originally published in 2016

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Carolyn Jabs, M.A., raised three computer savvy kids including one with special needs. She has been writing Growing Up Online for ten years and is about to publish a book called Cooperative Wisdom: Bringing People Together When Things Fall Apart. @ Copyright, 2016, Carolyn Jabs. All rights reserved. 

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