Our miracles in progress: September 2012

We are all about music!

Here are the notes of the meeting:

DUCH

Observation: Duchis is initating games more.

Goal: Help Duchis to initiate consistently.
·         Upon entering the room, animatedly and excitedly expect for Duchis to make a suggestion.
·         Wait for Duchis for at least 5 minutes, then give more ideas such as, “I’m here to play! What are we gonna do? Hmm?” Wait again.
·         After waiting for some time, make comments about all of the toys on the shelf. Also, feel free to explain to Duchis that we can do whatever she wants.
·         Jump and respond quickly to ANY of Duchis’ ideas. For example, Duchis said, “Hide the squirrell.” Run and offer the activity in an enthusiastic way.
·         Celebrate her ideas and tell her what a wonderful and fun idea it is.
·         After 20 minutes, introduce your game and keep it open for her to build on it.
·         Remember that being non-directive and allowing Dusya to initiate games is another step in helping her to be even more social than she is. The goal is for her to go to any girl in the park or school and tell her: “hey, let’s play ….”

Observation: Duchis is flying from idea to idea.
Goal: Invite Duchis to be consistent in lengthening and sticking with her initiations.

·         Call her back to the game.
·         Tell her: Wait, wait, What are you looking for? What do you want to do? What happened with _____ that we were playing? Will we come back to ____? Are we putting _____ away?
·         Help Duchis to SLOW DOWN and PAUSE, and be aware that she is switching and that she had had a wonderful idea before.
·         Weave everything back to her original idea.
·         Make the idea bigger and bring it to life.

Observation: Duchis is using more spontaneous with her friendship skills/expressions

Goal: Help Duchis to be consistent in her friendship skills (E.g. hi, bye, what’s your name and age, please, thank you).
·         Each time you begin an imagination game, start at the very beginning with introductions. MODEL with all of the characters and show the fluidity of the back and forth conversation.
·         Each time you enter the room and leave the room, take several moments to say hello and good bye. Also, upon transitions model with one another.
·         Use non-verbals when you enter the room. Animatedly, wave your hand back and forth and anticipate a response.

Observation: Scripting is going down

What to do when Duchis scripts?
· Build off of Duchis’ ideas!! Especially as she is just getting into an interaction.
· Once in an interaction and Duchis scripts and it does not fit appropriately into the game, “call her on it.” (E.g. Wait, what does a click have to do with our party?)

Observation: Language is more and more complex

Goal: Help Duch to keep expanding her language
· When Duchis makes mistakes with pronouns (e.g., “I help you” instead of “help me”), explain to her what she is saying and model to her what she should say instead. Model with her toys, too.
· Rely on open-ended questions more. Multiple-choice questions and yes/no questions are very easy for her. The challenge is the open-ended questions, so keep exposing her to those and WAIT for an answer.

LIAM

Observation: On some days Liam is very regulated, on other days he relies on some of his calming behaviors (e.g., tearing paper, sitting on the grass, throwing balls, more swinging)

·         Assess the type of day. If he needs more regulation, and for example, wants to do puzzles over and over away, follow his lead and try to show him novel ways to complement the puzzle (songs, sounds, dialogues, hiding pieces, etc).
·         In the case of paper, put some boundaries. Find recycle paper or newspaper and limit it to a certain number of pieces. Once he is done with those pieces he can keep tearing those same pieces. Find another calming activity to do, like jumping, squeezing, deep pressure hugs, etc.
·         Keep promoting your game, but join Liam when he needs a break.
·         If he goes away and hides under pillows or under a blanket, make a game out of that.

Goal: Help Liam to have a clear and specific way to participate in games.

·         Give Liam directions as you model the game you are playing. Remember to model the game with enthusiasm, slapstick, sound effects and silly energy to entertain and grab Liam’s attention. Once he is invested request for his to participate physically versus verbally. Saying things is harder for him, doing things is easier for him. When you ask Liam to participate ask him to imitate your actions.
·         Continue to introduce imagination games as well as board games. Remember to break each game into steps.
·         Strongly request from Liam!! Even if he walks away, call him back to the game. And, just because he may not do it at first does not mean he won’t do it the next time you ask!
·         Even when he is asking you for kisses and tickles, after a while, asking him to give you kisses and tickles, too.

Goal: Model language within the game and make it fun.

· Continue to show Liam the fun of communicating and talking to another by backing off on specific requests for specific sentences/words etc. Instead do more commenting.
· When you do request language from Liam, request for him to imitate silly sounds and silly ways of using your voice.

Goal: Help Liam with the consistency of the language (e.g., saying yes and no, using “give me” appropriately etc.)

·         When Liam is at the shelf asking for something and you figure out what it is, ask him. Is this what you wanted? Then, respond to him literally.
·         Continue to use head nods or shakes as you are helping him to say the word that you think he wants. Refrain from verbally using the word.
·         Remember to change your dialogue with Liam if you find yourself going around in circles or he continues to repeat what you say.
·         Use full explanations with Liam. For example, “Liam, think about what you are saying. I cannot give you a swing. Try again. What else could you say to be clearer?”
·         Acknowledge Liam when he repeats by saying, “Liam, you are repeating all of my words. Try again with your own words.”
·         Celebrate when Liam is clear. He has been using his words and phrases in a stronger voice as well as being more spontaneous. Acknowledge all of it!

SUGGESTIONS OF GAMES RELATED TO TARGET OR OTHER PLACES LIAM IS TALKING ABOUT:

1.       Bring a Map of the US (we have one) and lots of little logos of Target and other stores:
·         Put the logos on the States and talk about the number of Targets in Georgia, etc
·         Pretend you are buying stuff in different States
·         Count total number of Targets

2. Jeopardy game with different store logos:

·         When you walk into Target, the first thing you smell is that food you get in the movie theater ….. which food is that?
·         When you walk into Target, the first thing you see is: ……
·         Give him Clues for things you see in stores

3.       Bring the play money and the target flyers and see how much money you need to buy things.

4.       Play the “Where would you rather go?” game
·         Bring a bunch of logos from the internet.
·         Show him two logos at a time. Would you rather buy tomatoes at Heb or Target? Would you rather go to NASA or the Zoo?
His part in the game is making choices. Your part of the game is asking the questions and commenting on his answers.