Summer Watermelon
It is summertime in my corner of the world, and time for watermelon. Some of my friends with autism have dietary restrictions or food sensitivities that prevent them from enjoying ice cream or other summer treats, but I have not yet met a person who cannot eat watermelon, a healthy summer snack. Here are some cool ideas for enjoying watermelon in the hot summertime.
or
continue reading
If you have watermelon patches in your area, take a field trip so your friend with autism can pick his own watermelon. Or you can head for the grocery store to let your friend pick out that special melon.
The next step is to chlll the prize 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.
Now it is time to carve the watermelon. 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.
Don’t forget to have a seed-spitting contest. Then you can have a “rind-tossing” contest to see who can through a watermelon rind into a bucket or trash can. The prize is bragging rights. 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 after eating watermelon is to turn on the sprinkler. Older folks may prefer the “wash your hands with the hose” technique.
TIP FOR THE DAY: Don’t forget the simple pleasures of life. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of each day, take time to have fun, enjoying watermelon or any other healthy treat.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: 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. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Watermelon Fun Sometimes we get so bogged down in...
- Summer Traditions Sometimes we get so bogged down in...
- Summer’s Coming The lazy, hazy days of summer are...
- Long Hot Summer “The summer months are so long,” said...
- Retro Summer Sometimes something as simple as having a...