12 February 2010

Valentine Hearts

Behavior Issues Communication Personal Interaction Rituals and Routines Social Skills

In my corner of the world, February 14 is Valentine’s Day – a day of expressing love and friendship with family, friends, fellow students, and others whom we see daily. Today we’ll share some ideas for helping our friends of all ages with autism join in the fun. And take a minute to click on our recent VODcast for a quick, 4-minute video with even more ideas

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MIRROR BOXES. My friend and professional colleague, Gloria McDaniel has worked with dozens of individuals with autism as a music therapist and a classroom teachers. She send an e-mail with several ideas, one of which was her popular “mirror boxes.” Her instructions are as follows: Cover a shoebox with red wrapping paper or with valentine theme paper. Cover the lid and the box separately so lid can be put on and taken off of the box. You can decorate the inside and the outside of the box with stickers, valentine cards, paper hearts or photos of friends and family. Attach a mirror in the bottom of the box. You can find inexpensive, framed mirrors in the cosmetic section and camping sections of stores. You can also purchase unbreakable plastic mirrors designed for sports lockers or camping. Gloria finds that her students with autism – as well as typical kids – enjoy looking at their own reflection and using the mirror to look at the scenery behind them or beside them.

RIP-PROOF VALENTINES. My mom was an occupational therapist for many years. She used wallpaper from out-of-date wallpaper sample books to cut paper hearts that were rip-proof. Many individuals who were unable to resist tearing paper valentines could enjoy these custom-made hearts. Some carried them around for months in their pockets. The wallpaper valentines even survived washing machines and dryers!

TIP FOR THE DAY. There’s nothing like a personal gift or card to tell someone you love them. Use some of these ideas to share a valentine with a friend with autism. And remember to share this resource, http://FAQautism.com with family, friends, and colleagues interested in the well-being of individuals with autism.

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

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