Progress

(click for larger view)

I feel it's my public service to inform the military public (especially retirees and soon to be retirees) that we have a little victory.

Let me explain. In the past, if you had a child with any variant of autism and you were a military retiree you were out of luck if you wanted ABA therapy (Applied Behavioral Analysis which is one of the most effective forms of therapy for kids with autism). Which meant they were just out of luck. ABA is ridiculously expensive. Mostly because it takes lots of work (and schooling and hours) to become a behavior analyst, so there aren't a lot of them. It's a hard therapy to render, but it basically takes behavior therapy (if you're in to psych at all think of B.F. Skinner or Pavlov).

But because of a lawsuit it is available. It's still in litigation right now, so it's not for sure it will stay, but it's looking pretty good because Tricare's not looking to file a counter suit (which is what they would have to do). Also with ECHO going out the door soon, this will also make ABA easier to get (without jumping through their bureaucratic hoops).

I think this is a step in the right direction. Hopefully this map below will have more coverage in states:

If you want more information, please contact me (you can comment below) and I'll see what resources I can find. Some states have grants or scholarships for kids who need ABA too. Or at least I can try to help point you in the right direction.

Funny parenting meanderings

No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I'm not talking about the kids.~ Bill Cosby

My rules for parenting [that keep me laughing]:

* I can sleep when I'm dead. Forget that sleep when the kids are sleeping. Because that's when I get
   STUFF done!
* Hiding in the closet because you don't want to share your food- totally acceptable. In fact,
   sometimes that is the only way I can eat the food that I made for myself at times.
* It doesn't matter if I made the kids the EXACTLY the same thing I am eating, they will
   want a bite of mine. (The food on my plate magically tastes better).
* Slobber and snot are bold fashion statements.

*If you want to distract you child for hours, just let them play in empty boxes. It's superior
  to any toy you may own.
* An acceptable social distance between your child and any other human being is 2 inches.
   Just so you know.
*  Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the
    walk before it stops snowing.
* Sing out loud in the public even, especially if it embarrasses your children.

Road Trip!

Seeing that we're moving soon, I thought this was a timely post for us. Maybe others will find our sanity saving tactics useful. (Don't judge me for the tactics I use, just keep in mind I'm trying to keep 4 kids entertained. 2 of which who don't wait well. AT. ALL.)

#1 Portable DVD player, my kids actually don't watch this the entire trip. Last time my kids
     only watched a few things (keep in mind 2 day drive, only watching a couple things-
     pretty awesome in my book).

#2 Nintendo DS. Yes, they play traditional games on there, but they also play A LOT of educational
     games. My list of educational games: Scribblenauts, Super Scribblenauts, Reading Tutor (there's
     multiple grade levels for this one), Hello Kitty, Crayola Treasure Adventure...

#3 Books

#4 Coloring books, Twistables Crayolas, pencils, journal, and workbooks.

#5 Snacks & drinks

#6 Audiobooks and the music THEY like. This has saved me so many times.

#7 Etch-a-sketch or magna-doodle

#8 Cars, dinosaurs, animals, a couple Barbies, or other small toys.

#9 Stickers

#10 Magnetic toys (some of my kids fav's):

Playsets like these. We've gotten the more character themed ones and they 

went over well (these ones by Lee Publications tend to be the best value though)

Melissa & Doug Dress up dolls. There's several kinds of these

so far we've found they're all great.

Tangoes. Classic puzzle solving at it's best.

Letter matching! Also there's one with words too. Great learning toys!

#11 Sewing cards (or small crafts for bigger kids)

#12 Car games like car bingo, I spy, alphabet game

#13 Color Wonder! 

More Gross Motor

Yes MORE Gross Motor. Why? Because [at least for my kids] I've found when I trade off between a gross motor skill and and fine motor [or one that requires more attention], they do a lot better with those finer tasks. Sometimes we even do gross motor and fine motor together. So a list of some of the tasks we do:

* kicking a ball- either just for the fun of it or playing soccer or kickball
* balloon volleyball. My kids LOVE to play this!
* jump and/or stomp on bubble wrap
* rolling around (especially down a hill, and then they have to run up the hill to do it again)
* play Hullabaloo, Tag, hopscotch, musical chairs, or Twister
* Obstacle Course

* play at the park

* dancing party

* balance sitting on a ball while writing (I do this to my kids ALL the time)

* bike riding

* My kids' additions:
     virus tag: where one person is "it" and as they tag people they are also "it" until everyone

               is tagged. Last person tagged is the first person it.

     shark attack: one person is "it" and tries to hit others with a giant exercise ball (one of our fav's)

              once tagged you sit out til all are tagged.

     fishing frenzy: relay race where you try to get a gummy worm off a clothes pin fishing pole.

     freeze tag

* basically any sport. My kids like football, baseball, kickball, soccer best of all

Now get moving!

Top Toys

These are all toys that are good for a therapeutic purposes and my kids Love!

Little Tykes Magic Kitchen

Other play kitchens are great too, but this one says what the kids are cooking. Has about a 100 different phrases that is says & comes with food, silverware, plates, etc. Great for imaginative and social play.

Fisher Price Geo-Trax

Can make all kinds of tracks. Take apart & put together again. Play w/ either the remote and train or make them play by pulling it along on the track for fine motor and gross motor work all at the same time. My kids love to play with this thing!

Lite-Brite Cube

A spin on a classic. Great for imagination and fine motor play. I love this one because you can either keep more than one picture up at a time or let more than one kid play on it at once (which we do A LOT).

Fine motor games like Bed Bugs; Operation; Perfection; Connect 4; Kerplunk; etc

Mr Potato Head

Great for fine motor skills and body awareness (where do his/ her arms belong? Where is his nose? etc)

 

Giant Fitness Ball

I use this with my kids ALL the time. The can kick it, push it, balance on it (with help), bounce on it. So many uses. Or if you like you can get them a Giant Hopper instead. Both fun and useful!

Magnetic Responsibility Chart & Calendar 
(Let it be known I <3 Melissa & Doug)

Lacing Cards; Puzzles; Stacking/ Nesting toys

Stamps

Sit & Spin or a swing

Tag

This one is great for language development/ reading skills. All of my kids LOVE it. (There's also the Tag Jr for younger kids which I haven't tested/ used, but I would wager it's probably a pretty good toy as this one is so great)

Legos/ Blocks

Pretend playsets/ dress up kits

That's my list/ collection so far. What would you add?

Heavy Jobs

I know I've been totally guilty of sometimes thinking for my special needs kids "oh they can't do that!" I was given this list of heavy job tasks by an OT, but I think these tasks help OT, PT, and focusing tasks, depending on the kid. Two of my girls use these tasks as means to get refocused/ for my OT/ PT goals to work with them (don't be intimidated by these, even if you have to do these tasks hand over hand they are worth the effort, they get therapy and learn work ethic through these tasks). Do make sure they are age appropriate though ;-) Here's the list:

Jobs & Chores [inside]...
  * Bring groceries in from the car. Put them away, including low cupboards where he needs
     to be on hands and knees.
  * Take cushions off the sofas, vacuum under them, then put them back
  * Mop or sweep the kitchen floor
  * Scrub rough surfaces with a brush
  * Wash off kitchen/ dining room table and/ or counters with rag
  * Help dust furniture (this one is one of my kids fav's b/c they get to use the swifer).
  * Clean the windows or from of appliances (spray bottles are great for hand muscles!)
  * Carry laundry basket to room and put away clean clothes
  * Change sheets on the bed, and put them in dirty laundry basket
  * Rearrange bedroom furniture

Jobs & Chores [outside]...
  * Sweep porch or driveway
  * Do yard work (rake leaves, pull weeds, mow the lawn)
  * Shovel sand/ dirt into wheelbarrow, wheel the wheelbarrow to a spot, dump out sand/ dirt and
     use rake to level out (good for filling low spots in yard)
  * Carry buckets to water flowers, plants, trees.
  * Recycle (carry box of bans or newspapers to curb)
  * Pull heavy trashcan
  * Stack patio chairs
  * Wash the car (another of my kids' favs)
  * Bathe the dog
  * Perform wood projects requiring sanding & hammering

Play time [inside]...
  * Push or pull a box with toys or a few books in it
  * Play cars under the kitchen table or make shift tent where your child is on hands and knees
     pushing car with one hand while weight bearing on the other hand.
  * Play "row, row, row your boat" both sitting on the floor, pushing and pulling each other    
  * Play "magic carpet" (pull someone on a sheet, blanket, small rug or in a box)
  * Bounce on a mini trampoline or on bouncy hop ball
  * Climb on pillows, hide under them, jump and crash into them.
  * Have a pillow fight
  * Fall into a bean bag chair
  * Do army crawl, crab walk, bear walk.

Play time [outside]...
  * Fill up big toy trucks with heavy blocks, push with both hands to knock things down
  * Play in sandbox/ at the beach with damp, heavy sand
  * Color a with sidewalk chalk on hands and knees
  * Play hopscotch
  * Play catch with a heavy ball
  * Play tug of war with a jump rope
  * Roll or sled down hill
  * Swing from monkey bars and play/ climb on playground equipment
  * Participate in gymnastics, horseback riding, karate, dance, wall climbing.
  * Ride a bike/ scooter
  * Play tag, baseball, basketball, volleyball

Transitions:
  * Push/ pull heavy doors with both hands
  * When traveling, let child pull own suitcase on wheels

Meal time:
  * Mix and kneed cookie dough
  * Help book w/ an onion chopper (my kids love this)
  * Push or pull tables in/ out from table
  * Sip applesauce or thick milkshake through a straw.

Homework time:
  * Chew gum, eat chewy foods, or crunchy food, or sip water from water bottle with thin straw
  * Push again the wall
  * Weighted lap belt/ weighted pencil

Bath time:
  * After bath, rub child briskly with large towel, firmly squeezing muscles. He can help fold
     towel when done. Rub with lotion too if he likes.

Bed time:
  * Help fold heavy quilt
  * Wear tight flannel or soft snug pajamas
  * Go "camping" with heavy blanket pulled across a few chairs. Your child can help set up and take
     down the blanket
  * Change the sheets on the bed

Different Lunch Solutions

A list of some our different solutions to get us out of a lunch rut!

Carbs/ Tummy Fillers
Whole grain crackers
pretzels/ baked chips
mini-muffins
goldfish/ snack crackers
bagel chips
rice cakes
cooked ball of rice
Leftover pasta salad (with veggies)
granola bars
banana/ zucchini/ pumpkin bread
cereal bars
dry cereal
bagels/ mini-bagels
buns/ rolls
garlic toast
pita bread
waffles/ pancakes
wrap/ sandwich

Fruit
apple slices
berries
cherries
grapes
bananas
melon
dried fruit
canned peaches/ pears
applesauce (and other blended fruit sauce found in the store by the applesauce)
pineapple chunks
orange wedges
tomatoes
fruit salad

Veggies
carrots
snap peas
pepper strips
cucumber slices
steamed green beans
broccoli/ cauliflower
celery
salad/ spinach

Protein
leftover meat cut into chunks
turkey/ chicken sausage
deli meat/ hot dogs (turkey dogs)
beans
peanut butter
taquitos/ quesadillas
baked tofu
mini-pizzas (with pepperoni)

Dairy
yogurt
cheese
cottage cheese
pudding

Sandwich "breads"
tortillas
naan
pita pockets
flat bread
biscuits/ crescent rolls
bagels/ mini-bagels
garlic toast

Switch up the Sandwich (just a few examples):
- Turkey & Swiss:
     * swap out cheese: muester, havaarti, cream cheese
     * add: mashed avocado; cranberry sauce; mango chutney
- PB&J:
     * swap out PJ: almond butter; sunflower butter; cream cheese
     * swap jelly: raisins, bananas, apples, pears
- Chicken salad:
     * add apple, grapes, celery, almonds, mango chutney, apricot jam
- Homemade lunchables
- DIY pizzas: cook mini crusts (or use mini bagels).
     Supply spaghetti sauce, cheese, toppings on the side.

For ideas visit my school lunch page on Pinterest.