Five-Minute Fall Follies
Pumpkins. Cool mornings. Swirls of colorful leaves. Sometimes we miss the change of seasons and the beauty of autumn because we are so busy addressing all the issues inherent in the lives of our youngsters with autism. It is tempting to retreat into “survival mode” and just focus on making it to the end of each day. Our main goal can become to crash into bed each night without a medical emergency or without a call from our child’s school informing us of a serious behavior incident. Try breaking the cycle with these five-minute fall follies.
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To one degree or another, families of individuals with autism will always encounter extra stress and challenges. Caregivers may find relief from the pressure by setting aside five minutes (or more!) every single day to laugh, to celebrate even the smallest blessings, and to enjoy the changing season. Here are some low cost, easy autumn activities that are fun for folks of all ages.
+ Go shopping for pumpkins at a store or a pumpkin patch. Try to find the smallest pumpkin, the biggest one, and the silliest shape. In addition to purchasing a big family pumpkin, consider letting each person pick out a small personal pumpkin to take home. You can carve pumpkins in the traditional manner or draw bold faces on pumpkins with permanent marker.
+ If diets allow pancakes, add 1 cup canned pumpkin and 1 tsp cinnamon to pancake mix. Serve pancakes with real butter and sugar-free maple syrup or honey…yummy!
+ Collect some pretty fall leaves and place on a piece of wax paper. Sprinkle shavings of brown, yellow, orange and red crayons around the leaves. Top with a second piece of was paper. Cover with kitchen towel and have an adult press with warm iron. Cool and cut a circle or other shape and hang the artwork in a window or on the bathroom mirror.
+ Build a small campfire on a cool autumn night. Roast marshmallows and enjoy the vivid colors of the warm glowing coals.
Successful fall follies do not need to be complicated or time consuming. You can just walk through the leaves in the front yard, playing follow the leader by kicking leaves and throwing them into the air. Or you can lie down on a blanket on a crisp fall night, looking at the stars and listening for owls. Take the time to enjoy some five-minute fall follies – they will impact the level of stress at home and the quality of life of everyone in the family.
Note to FAQautism.com 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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