Tips for Caregivers of Children with FASD FOR MORE INFORMATION: 633 Wellington Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3M 0A8 PHONE: (204) 235-8874 EMAIL: [email protected]TIPS FOR USE • Use earmuffs or headphones that completely cover the child’s ears. • Use ear protectors in noisy environments to lower the noise levels. • Use ear protectors during quiet times to increase your child’s concentration and to shut out ambient sounds. • Try different ear protectors before deciding on which one to choose.Your child’s reactions will show you the ones they prefer. What Are They? Ear protectors are any ear covering that protects your child’s ears from sound.They help to lessen auditory stimuli that may be overwhelming or distracting for your child. How Will Ear Protectors Benefit Your Child? Children with FASD may have difficulty filtering out environmental noise. It’s easy for us to ignore non-essential sounds but some of our kids with FASD may not be able to determine what is important and what is not. They may lose focus and become overloaded with sensory stimulation in a loud setting.They may experience anxiety when they hear unexpected noises such as a fire truck passing by. Reducing auditory stimuli with ear protectors can be useful in these situations. Why Use Ear Protectors? Ear protectors can be calming for children. If they can deal with most environmental information, their ability to focus, react appropriately and organize themselves may be improved as well. Ear protectors can also reduce auditory self-stimulation including actions such as humming or self-talk. Where Can My Child Use His/Her Ear Protectors? At school • Recess • Lunchtime • Quiet time Outings: • At restaurants • The mall At home: • When your child needs to do homework • At meal times Where Can I Purchase Ear Protectors? (2012) Ear protectors are available at local automotive and hardware stores – specialized child sized protectors are also available online. For More Questions, Ask Your Occupational Therapist! Ear Protectors Sensory Organizing Tool
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Tips for Caregivers of Children with FASD
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 633 Wellington Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3M 0A8 PHONE: (204) 235-8874 EMAIL: [email protected]
TIPS FOR USE• Useearmuffsorheadphonesthatcompletelycoverthe child’sears.
Visualschedulesoutlineexpectationsforchildreninawaythatis easytounderstand.Childrenshouldbeginusingthescheduleswithadultassistance,andslowly,withguidance,theylearntointerprettheschedulesindependently. Why Use It?
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 633 Wellington Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3M 0A8 PHONE: (204) 235-8874 EMAIL: [email protected]
TIPS FOR USESpecial equipment may be purchased to help your child with deep pressure. Ask your occupational therapist about equipment that would be best suited for your child. Examples of deep pressure equipment are illustrated on the side panel of this sheet.Herearesomesimple,funandsafeactivities youcandowithyourchildathomethatinvolve deeppressure!1.Giveyourchildlotsofbigbearhugs!2.Youcanplaysquishinggameswithyourchildthat useconstantfirmpressure(makesuretoavoid restrictingairflow!).
• The Hot Dog Game:Getyourchildtoliedownonthefloorandplaceabodypillowontopofthem,
Deep PressureWhat Is It?DeeppressureisatypeoftouchusedtoprovidecalminginformationtothebodyandhelpchildrenwithFASDrelaxwhentheyfeel “over-excited“duetotoomuchstimulationfromtheirenvironment. Itisoftenseenasprovidingconsistent,firmtouchtothebodyor byusingstretchymaterialsormoldablematerialstoimitatedeep pressuresensations.ManyresearchersonchildrenwithFASDindicatethatsensoryinput,suchasdeeppressureandfirmbutgentletouch, arebeneficialtowardscalmingthesensorysystem.Thesensationsprovideanoverallcalmingsensationtothebodyandthebrain,whichpositivelyaffectsthewaychildreninteractwiththemselvesandothers.Askyouroccupationaltherapistifthisisagoodfitforyourchild.
When Would Your Child Benefit from Deep Pressure?•Whenyourchildisanxious(e.g.newsituations,newexperiences)•Whenyourchildisoverstimulatedorover-excited(e.g.whenyourchildisrunningaroundandunabletofocusatschooloratthemall)
•Whenyourchildseemsdisorganizedorlessgrounded.
Warnings and Precautions• Providingdeeppressureshouldalwaysbemonitoredbya responsibleadult.
Helpingchildrenseetimehelpsthemunderstandhowmuchtimeisleftforagivenactivity.Thisprovidesavisualcluetofinishanactivityandstarttransitioningtoanewactivity.Avisualtimeralsohelpsthechildwaitpatientlyandtaketurnsbygivingavisualpictureofhowmuchlonger is left.
Time Timer (timetimer.com)
• Appsandsoftwareavailable
Sand Timer
Free app available for iPads and iPhones
For More Suggestions, Ask Your Occupational Therapist!
Tips for Caregivers of Children with FASD
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 633 Wellington Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3M 0A8 PHONE: (204) 235-8874 EMAIL: [email protected]
Movement Break Suggestions• Pushorpullfurniture
• Shovelsnow
• Putawaythedishes
• Carrythingsaroundthehouse(e.g.laundry)
• Getaforgottenitemfrom anotherroom
• Pushtheshoppingcartorcarrythegroceries
• Putgroceriesawayinto thecupboards
• Usearockingchair
• Dowallorchairpush-ups
• Playanactivegametogetherlike‘SimonSays’
• Goforawalk
• Playoutside
What Are They?Theyareshortbreakstoletthechildmovearoundbeforegoingbacktoaprevioustask oractivity.
Who Would Benefit from a Movement Break?Everyone!Movementbreaksgiveusa chancetomovesowecanfocusduring activitiesthatrequire:
• Maintainingfocus/attention
• Sittingstill
• Maintainingappropriateenergylevels.
Why are Movement Breaks Effective?Itishardworktofocusononetaskforalongtime.Ourbodiesaremadetomove,interactandfeeltheenvironmentaroundthem. Thinkabouthowtiredyoufeelaftersittingalldayatyourdesk, studyingalengthybook,orlisteningtoalongtalk.Ourbodiesneedabreak!Bymovingaround,thebodygetsachancetore-energizeandrefocusattention.Thishelpsusimproveourconcentrationtogetthejobdone.
• Movementbreaksdonotneedtobeastructuredsportor exerciseprogram.Simplechoresorerrandsaroundthehouseworktogivechildrenthebreakstheyneed.Teachyourchildhowtoaskforamovementbreaksothatovertimetheycanbecomemoreindependent. For More
Suggestions, Ask Your Occupational Therapist!
Tips for Caregivers of Children with FASD
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 633 Wellington Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3M 0A8 PHONE: (204) 235-8874 EMAIL: [email protected]
TIPS FOR USE• Rememberthatyour expectationsshouldmatchyourchild’scapabilitiesduringthattime.Whatyouexpectandwhatyourchildcansuccessfullydomaybe differentthings!
What Are They?Expectationreviewsareremindersofwhatspecificbehaviorsare appropriateandacceptableandmayincludealistofrules,stepstodo orevenadescriptionofwhatsuccesslookslike.
Who Would Benefit from Expectation Reviews?Childrenwhohavedifficultywith:• Applyingoneruletodifferentsituations• Rememberingrulesandhowtoact• Engaginginanewactivity,event,orsituation.
Why Remind the Child of Expectations for a Situation?SomechildrenwithFASDmayhavedifficultieswithmemoryand generalization.Reviewingexpectationscanjogtheirmemoriesandletthemknowwhatappropriatebehaviorslookliketohelpthechildfocusonbeingsuccessful.
Some Strategies for Reviewing Expectations • ReviewexpectationsBEFOREgoingintotheactivity;coachDURINGtheactivity;andpraiseyourchildAFTERtheactivity.
What Are They?Socialstoriesareuniquestoriescreatedforchildrentopreparethemfornewordifficultsituationsorevents.Thesestoriesmaybeintheformofpicturebooksorintextonlyandareusefulinhelpingchildrenbetterunderstandeventsandexpectations,whichmayleadtomoresuccess.Thisapproachhasbeensuccessfulwithchildren,adolescents,andadultswithsocialandcommunicationschallenges.(Gray,2010)
When Should You Use Social Stories? • Fornewsituations
Why Use Them?Thesestoriesaddresssocialdifficultiesbygivingchildrenaperspectiveonthethoughts,emotions,andbehavioursofothers.Theyalsohelpchildrentobetterpredicttheactionsandbeliefsofothers.Socialstoriesgivechildrendirectcontactwithsocialinformationthroughtextand picturesratherthanthroughspeechandobservation.Thesestoriesprovidesomeseparationbetweenteachingandexperiencingthesocialsituation,whichgiveschildrenchancestopracticetheskillsontheir ownterms.
Social Stories
TIPS FOR USE• Socialstoriescanbeuseddailywithyourchild.Practicingthesocialstorybeforetheactualeventoccurswillhelptobetterprepareyourchild.
What Are They?Bodysocksarestretchy,breathablefabricbagsmadeofalycra/spandexmaterial.Theycanfitoverachild’sbodyorbewornwiththechild’sheadoutside.Thestretchymaterialprovidesmovementresistanceaswellasfirm,gentlepressureduringplay.
When Would Your Child Benefit from a Body Sock?ChildrenwithFASDareofteneasilyoverwhelmedby environmentalsensoryinput.Theymaybecomeoverlyalertand appearanxious,overly-excited,confused,disorganized,hyperactive oroutofcontrol.Useabodysockwhenyourchildisshowingsigns ofrestlessnessandoverexcitement.Itisalsoagoodtimetouseabodysockwhenyouwantyourchildtocalmdownforatask.
Why Are They Useful? • Theyprovidecalmingandreorganizinginformationthrough resistanceanddeeppressureinput.
What Are They?Verbalreinforcementsarepositivecuesgivenverballytoaffectchildren’sresponsestospecifictasksoractivities.Wordsratherthanrewardsemphasizegoodwork. Forexample,ifyourchilddoesagoodjobontheirchores,youmaysay“Goodjobondoingthedishes!Theyarereallyclean!” Thisencouragesthemtodojustaswellnexttime.Verbalreinforcementscanalsobepairedwithrewardssuchasfree-playtimeorafavouritesnack.Compliments,encour-agementsandrewardsarelikelytoincreasethechancesdesirablebehaviorwill happenagain.
Why Use Verbal Reinforcements?Verbalreinforcementsare usefulinmotivatingchildrenand shapingbehavior.Usingverbal praisecanhelpmaintainor strengthenexistingbehaviours andhelpdevelopnewbehaviours.
When Do You Use Verbal Reinforcements?Verbalreinforcementscanbe usedimmediatelyafterthe childhasperformedpositive behaviorsorwhentheyneed moreencouragementtoperformbetter.Whenthechildisaware theyaredoingwell,theywillbe motivatedtocontinuepracticing.Verbalreinforcementscanalsobe usedtocorrectnegativebehaviors. Forexample,insteadofsaying “Stoprunninginthehallway!” youcansay,“Trywalkinginthe hallway”.Positivelyphrasingwhatyouactuallywantthechildto dowillcuethemtoperform thebehaviorratherthanusing negativephrasing.
Verbal Reinforcements Shaping Positive Behaviour
Tips for Caregivers of Children with FASD
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 633 Wellington Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3M 0A8 PHONE: (204) 235-8874 EMAIL: [email protected]
TIPS FOR USE• Usesmall,quiet,safeobjectsasfidgets.
• Fidgetscomeindifferenttextures,shapes,andsizes.Ask your occupational therapist for suggestions on fidgets that may work for your child.