FAQautism

“Because my daughter is echolalic, she has begun repeating her grandmother’s negative remarks about hot weather,” said the mother of an elementary-aged youngster with autism. “The constant complaining from both generations is wearing on the patience of everyone in the family. We need some ideas to help focus on the positive aspects of summer and to raise our spirits.”

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SPECIFIC STRATEGY I suppose we can just sit around complaining about how hot it is, or we can have fun with these “dog days.” I’m assuming you have already considered explaining the situation to your daughter’s grandmother and requesting that she avoid making negative comments about the heat when you daughter is in earshot. But, even if Grandmother complies with your request, your daughter may need some encouragement to begin focusing on the positive. Take some purposeful steps to make the hot summer days memorable for your daughter. Maybe her grandmother will join in the fun occasionally!
+ CHART THE TEMPERATURE. Have your daughter cut out the weather summary from the newspaper and glue or tape in a spiral notebook. Help her learn how to make a chart recording the high temperature of every day.
+ DEGREE CENTS. Count out one penny for each degree of heat. Save pennies in a jar to spend the first day the temperature drops below 90 degrees.
+ ICE HOT. Put an ice cube on a hot sidewalk and see how long it takes to melt. Put two ice cubes on a hot sidewalk and see which one melts first.
+ COOL BANDANA. Moisten a bandana, then wring it out and put it in a ziplock bag. Keep the bandana in the freezer overnight, then as the heat builds up in the afternoon, tie it around your neck or put it on top of your head for an instant cooling.
+ LAZY DAYS. Lounge under a misty sprinkler in a lawn chair.
+ SNOW CONES. Find a snow cone stand and enjoy an icy treat.
+ HELPING HAND. Take a quart of ice cream to a homebound neighbor.
+ SNOW DAYS. Explore books, videos, and nature magazines that focus on topics like polar bears, penguins, the Arctic and Antarctic, skiing, ice-fishing, or the winter Olympics. Sing songs like Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, and Let It Snow.

NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com

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