FAQautism

Sometimes we get so bogged down in dealing with special diets, meds, therapy, behavior management, and other issues related to the special needs of individuals with autism that we forget to make room for good old-fashioned fun. So take some time to enjoy that long-time summer favorite, WATERMELON!

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1. WATERMELON PATCH: Take a trip to a local watermelon patch to see how watermelons grow on a vine and to let your friend with autism pick out his own watermelon. If you can’t locate a place to pick the watermelon off the vine, then head for the grocery store to pick out that special melon. Don’t forget to “thump” the melon – I don’t know what sound I’m listening for when I thump a melon, but my Grandmama always said, “Now, don’t forget to thump that melon before you buy it.”
2. CHILLING THE MELON: Watermelons can be chilled in the refrigerator, but it is even more fun to pour half a bag of crushed ice in a cooler, then put the melon in the cooler and pour the rest of the ice over the top. Either way, you need to chill for at least 6 hours and preferably overnight before eating.
3. CARVING THE MELON: Although you can carve the melon in the house, it is far less messy and far more fun to carve up the melon outside. Just spread some newspaper on the sidewalk and carve the juicy melon. Sharp knives are very dangerous, so, of course, a responsible adult needs to cut the melon.
4. SEED-SPITTING: Don’t forget to have a seed-spitting contest. The prize is another chunk of watermelon. Let everyone help put all the rinds in a trash bag, then clean up before going in the house. The BEST way for kids to clean-up is to turn on the sprinkler. Older folks may prefer the “wash your hands with the hose” technique.
5. WATERMELON PUNCH: There is never any left over watermelon at our house, but, just in case you have some left over, you might want to whir up some frosty watermelon punch. Remove the seeds from chunks of watermelon. Put about 1 ½ cups of small watermelon chunks in a blender with ½ cup of fresh or frozen strawberries. Add one teaspoon of sugar or Splenda, and ¼ cup frozen lemonade concentrate. Whir it, stir it, and serve it with a straw or a spoon. YUMMY!

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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