June 2009

Tips from Camp 1

Ways to Involve your Child during Family Outings.

Bring them along to the grocery store:

  • Have them pick out an item that they would like to take home.  Make sure they ask if they can have it.
  • Have them ask the store clerk how to find a specific item or how much an item costs.
  • When taking your groceries to the checkout counter, have your child help hand some of the items to the checkout clerk.
  • While at the checkout counter, see if your child will either say hello to the clerk and ask them their name or have them wave hi and give them a smile.
  • Have your child give the money to the checkout clerk.
  • When entering or leaving the grocery store, ask your child to hold the door open for you or someone else.

Take them to the park:

  • While at the park have your child go up to another child and introduce themselves.
  • Have them ask a few questions such as: (Choose between 1-2 questions)
    • How old are you?
    • What is your favorite color?
    • Do you have any pets?

(Later after you leave the park see if they remember anything that they learned about their new friend.)

  • Take your child to the sand box and have them hand a few toys to another child that they may want to play with.
  • Bring a cooler with a few drinks or some popsicles and have your child pass them out to their new friends that they have just met. (Make sure that they use language and ask the other child if they would want one.)
  • If the swings are all full, have your child ask one of the children on the swings if they can have a turn next.
  • Bring sidewalk chalk or bubbles to the park and have your child ask if they would like to play with them.

If your child is starting to label the equipment at the park, continue to use the same vocabulary and slowly add on to the labels such:

  • There is the ladder and we go up the ladder.
  • There is the slide and we go down the slide.

Involve them at a restaurant:

  • Have your child tell your server what their name is when they come and greet you at the table.
  • Have your child tell your server what they want to drink.
  • If you need more napkins, silverware, or condiments have your child ask for them.
  • After your family is done eating tell your child to ask for the check.

While at the restaurant, when your child has asked your server their name, have them continue to use their name when asking them for items or the check.
Bring your child with you to the post office:

  • Have them ask the clerk for a:
    • Stamp
    • Box
    • Envelope
    • Pen

Practice getting your child involved in as many situations as possible such as these.  It may take some time, so do it when you are not in a hurry.  Stay consistent making sure to only give short and simple commands or questions to ask the other person as well as staying consistent with the questions and labels that you give them.  You can use the same phrases to ask multiple questions in an effort to keep your child from being confused (i.e.  “Can I play?” or “I need a ____ please.”).

Also, get your child involved in sport activities or extra-curricular activities, anything where they can get involved with other children or teachers such as:

    • Swimming
    • Art
    • Music
    • Horse Back Riding
    • Gardening

As your child continues to participate in these activities you will notice them getting more comfortable with other children around them as well as their teachers.  They will begin to ask for things on their own and begin to communicate the things that they want as well.  They will learn how to respect others and how to make friends.

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