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Behaviour Change/// What’s Your Plan⠀⠀⠀⠀

Behaviour Change/// What’s Your Plan⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Now that we are settling into this new routine of daily living, this is when our children are more likely than ever to be testing limits and boundaries. The novelty is over and those new activities are not so new. So now what?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Having a plan for shaping those desired behaviours can be a very valuable parenting tool. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This might be:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
*star chart for up to 3 behaviours you are wanting your child to engage in⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* marble jar that fills when you those desired behaviours are seen⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
*allowance for completing chores⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ * and so much more⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's key, sit down and explain the plan, for little ones pair a picture that displays the target behaviour.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When there is a visual plan for shaping behaviour we are far more likely to remember to give that positive feedback children desire and thrive from.

Autism Awareness/ Acceptance Month Today is #worl

Autism Awareness/ Acceptance Month

Today is #worldautismawarenessday built into the month of April, autism awareness month.
My goal this month is to share with you information and resources to help build your knowledge and understanding around autism. As a behaviour analyst, a significant portion of my practice is supporting a neurodiverse community of children and their families.
Some areas I intending to touch on this month include:
* what are early indicators
* girls vs boys on the spectrum
* assessment and how to advocate
* sharing amazing IG accounts servicing this neurodiverse community
* intervention * and more 💫I hope you stay connected this month and come away with more information and awareness.

Simplicity of Play ///⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Simplicity of Play ///⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In this time of planning, organizing and likely feeling overwhelmed, let's not forget the SIMPLICITY in play. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
While I love planning and organizing fun activities, I am also a working parent and don't have the time to fill my little one's day with planned out play. So let's not forget much is still happening in the simplest forms of play. Play only requires some props and a little imagination <for many that imagination may need to be MODELLED and that is ok>. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I encourage us all to explore play from a less planned sense today and allow children to express (even in the mess) what play means for them.

Monday Play /// Easter Egg⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Monday Play /// Easter Egg⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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With Eater less than 2 weeks away I thought it was time to roll out a little Easter theme fun. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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All you need is some gelatine, loose parts and a willingness to explore. So much fun to be had exploring the different textures and props:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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* colour sorting ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* labelling ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* counting ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* turn taking⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* fine motor ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And so much more ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Have fun plucking your Easter egg🥚🐇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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* follow the directions for gelatine ( we added a little food colouring) and then dropped in some fun Easter parts for exploring. This one is relatively mess free 😉

Just a reminder that we don't have to have all tog

Just a reminder that we don't have to have all together all the time. On the best of days we can be challenged, challenged in our work, our parenting and our relationships with others. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Now add to the mix our current state of affairs and still needing to balance all that, well... let's all celebrate the small wins and as we step into the weekend focus on a reset if needed.

Listening /// Building Your Child's Responsiveness

Listening /// Building Your Child's Responsiveness⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Probably the question I am asked most by parents is how to get a child to listen, to respond when a parent is speaking to them. So here are a few tips:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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* make sure you have their attention before talking to them ... asking them to listen while they are playing a video game means they are not likely listening -- JOINT ATTENTION - this truly means they are referencing YOU.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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* Avoid repeating over and over and finding yourself getting upset. If you are repeating and they are not responding then you may need to see if the first point is being achieved.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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* Consider having them repeat back what you asked as a way to ensure they heard you ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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* Keep your request clear and brief⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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* If you make a REQUEST (can you ...) then it is important you honour their decision (no thanks).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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*Provide some choice in the instruction (putting your shoes on isn't a choice but which ones are ). When children feel powerless they are less likely to listen.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Most importantly avoid finding yourself getting more and more upset and then resorting to threats to try and get them to listen.

Play at Home /// under 5 years⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
(but the older ones will like these as well)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Part 3 of play activities is geared towards the younger ones and yes, they will require some parent supervision but some can be done with just some watchful eyes (i.e. I set up playdough next to me yesterday so my little one played while I answered emails). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The trick here, is keeping things novel and maybe incorporating just 1-2 in the day. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Remember, attention span for this age is lower, so don't be discouraged if all your efforts are met with 5 minutes of joy. They will return ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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DM me with any questions you might have around play activities.

Activities for Home /// 5+ Age⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Part 2 of my activities for home is dedicated to children who have a longer attention span and ability to play independently or with minimal instruction. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Some offer play alone and some offer an opportunity for connection with parents. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Hint, hint, the book club is a favourite of mine and so much is happening when you are reading a book together.

Activities for Home /// Teens⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Activities for Home /// Teens⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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With everyone in the home and kids having more time on their hands and parents wanting to reduce screen time I wanted to put together some ideas around actives. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The first of 3 that I will roll out today is dedicated to teens, so definitely project driven tasks.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Time to dust off the hammer and nails and paint.🎨

Schedules ///⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀

Schedules ///⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Establishing a sense of routine and having a plan in the day can be grounding for children. It can provide an anchor in their day, particularly during these times when there is much uncertainty and changes to predictable routines. And during these times of restriction to home, having a plan help children with a sense of direction and focus.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's important to keep in mind is what a schedule looks like for you. It might be:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* building in routines in your day (i.e. get dressed when you wake up, or breakfast, brush teeth, make bed, then free time)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* it can be a mapped out plan of your day that is detailed and providing a great deal of predictability⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* it can let children know when screens/tv will be available⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* it may even let kids know when working parents will have time to engage and when they will need to be working.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Remember, while a schedule may look different in each of your homes, establishing routines and a plan can bring anchors to children and anchors often lead to reduction in challenging behaviours in the day. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's your schedule look like?

© Copyright Michele Shilvock 2021.