As parents, we know all the things we should be doing with our kids on a daily basis.  We should make sure we have ample amounts of family time and one on one time.  There should be time allotted to eat family meals and to go outside.  Oh and of course, we should be reading to/with our kids every day.  However the rigors of life just seem to get in the way at every turn.  If you are like me, you get home and make dinner, clean up, oversee bath time, do the work you couldn't get done at work, and the list goes on and on.  Most days you are lucky if you get your kids in bed by bed time, and then you pass out shortly afterwards.  So, how do you work in reading time with your children and still fit the rest in?  Here are a few easy tips that will make it simpler!

I am a mom who likes to multi task whenever possible.  For instance, I will run a load of laundry while cooking.  Well, why not attack reading time the same way?  If you are sitting in our Houston traffic with your kiddos, point our words and read them as you spot them.  Then once your child knows the words by sight make a game out of it by asking questions like who can find the most words on the trip or who can find words that start with the letter A and so on.  If you are out at a restaurant, mall, or a grocery store, use those menus and/or signs to spot words and work in a little reading time.

Another trick for making reading time work for you is to get a pack of reading flash cards that are appropriate for your child and carry them in your purse or backpack.  The next time you are waiting at the doctor's office, the post office or in line to go on carnival rides you can pull those flashcards out and squeeze in time to read.

Finally, don't forget about those games in stores now that are a parent's best helper.  There are Leap Frog readers,  iPads, Kindles and lots of other wonderful technologies that will read to your kids at first and then later shift them to reading and spelling words on their own.  You could be cooking dinner and have them sitting at the kitchen table and ask them questions about a story they are listening to or help them repeat and spell words aloud.  Even during TV time, you could turn on the subtitles to their favorite shows and use that as a tool to learn new and exciting words.

With all of these easy tips and tricks, you and your kids will be reading non-stop and not missing a beat.  Plus, you are spending some great quality time together as well.  A parent can't ask for more than that!

Hello, TDLC family! I know that many of you read and enjoyed our 4-part blog series on the basics of ABA, found here. Over the course of the next few blogs, we’re going to take those basic ideas and expand on them, giving you insight into some of the more difficult concepts in ABA!

The time has come to wrap up our 4-part blog series! As I mentioned in our first blog, the goal of this series is to explain the basic tenets of Behavior Analysis: Reinforcement (Positive and Negative) and Punishment (Positive and Negative). In last week’s post, we looked at positive punishment, which is a means of reducing a behavior by adding an unwanted condition as a consequence. Today, in our fourth and final installment, we’re going to take a look at negative punishment and extinction.

In the last two parts of this blog series we looked at reinforcement, which increases a certain behavior. Today we are going to explore positive punishment, which has the effect of decreasing a behavior. As I mentioned in the first blog, we as behavior analysts want to understand why certain behaviors may occur, and what consequences either maintain them or prevent them from occurring again. Reinforcers maintain behavior, and punishers decrease the probability that they will happen again.

In our last blog installment, we explored positive reinforcement, which is when something is given or added as a consequence in order to increase a response. Today we’re going to take a look at negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement has the same effect that positive reinforcement does – it increases a certain behavior (reinforcement, whether positive or negative, always increases a behavior!). However, it is achieved by taking away something undesired, instead of giving or adding something that is desired.

As part of this 4-part blog series, we are going to explore the basic tenets of Behavior Analysis: Reinforcement (Positive and Negative) and Punishment (Positive and Negative). As behavior analysts, we want to understand why certain behaviors may occur, and what consequences either maintain them or prevent them from occurring again. Understanding these principles gives us better insight into not only our child’s behavior, but also that of everyone around us (including ourselves).

What is a Social Story? A Social Story describes a situation, skill, or concept in terms of relevant social cues, perspectives, and common responses in a specifically defined style and format.

The goal of a Social Story is to share accurate social information in a patient and reassuring manner that is easily understood by its audience. Half of all Social Stories developed should affirm something that an individual does well. Although the goal of a story should never be to change the individual’s behavior, that individual’s improved understanding of events and expectations may lead to more effective responses.

When meeting with therapists or reading progress notes from sessions, you may see or hear something like “He needed prompting to match pictures” or “She initiated to a peer with only gestural prompts.” You may wonder what that means, and what are the different prompts that are used?

Prompting is a way to show your child what you want him/her to do after you have given an instruction.

Some children become quickly dependent on prompts, unfortunately, and wait for you to provide that prompt before they make any type of response. Due to this, prompting should be faded as soon as possible. That is, the prompting should be gradually diminished until the child is performing the behavior on his own.

How did your parents teach you to tie your shoes? Bunny rabbit? Loop, swoop and curl? There are songs, poems, and rhymes dedicated to teaching this task. They are cute, but they may not be helpful for a child with autism. While it may seem like a simple task, tying your shoes is made up of lots of smaller tasks. This is true of many self-help skills and daily tasks children have to perform.

When I was a kid some of my favorite things to play with were the pots and pans from the kitchen cupboard. I would sit on the kitchen floor and bang away on the bottom of the cookware with a couple of wooden spoons. I am pretty sure my musical endeavors single-handedly kept Tylenol in business, what with all the headaches I gave my parents. When my parents finally kicked me out of the kitchen so they could make dinner (and salvage their eardrums), I would dump Legos all over the floor and build worlds for the Lego people to inhabit.

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Troubleshooting Common Potty Problems - Part 5 of a 5-part guide to toilet training your children.

It would be lovely if one day we decided that we wanted our children toilet trained and, poof, it happened. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. Children often hit snags during the toilet training process. 

Going Potty on a Schedule - Part 4 of a 5-part guide to toilet training your children.

If devoting an entire weekend to a potty party isn’t your style, you can just add toilet training to your regularly scheduled daily activities. Initially, you should plan a bathroom break for every 30-45 minutes. When you take your child to the restroom, have him sit there for at least 10 minutes. Provide toys or books to keep him occupied as he sits on the toilet, but also make it clear why you are there. Explain that you are going to try to use the toilet. I emphasize “try”. It is impossible to force a child to use the toilet and by making an issue of it you are creating a situation your child will find aversive. Look at it like meal time: you provide a healthy meal and have your child sit at the table, but it is up to him to decide to eat. The bathroom breaks are merely opportunities, it is up to your child to take advantage of them. If your child is successful on the toilet, praise and give him high rewards. If your child is unable to go, explain that you will try again in a little while.

Potty Parties - Part 3 of a 5-part guide to toilet training your children.

Some parents are ambitious and want to knock out the whole toilet training thing as quickly as possible. Well, if you are that committed, know that toilet training can be done in a single weekend. This method, known as the “potty party”, can be quite useful as a primary crash course or as a refresher course if your child’s toilet training skills regress at some point in the future. It requires your intensive efforts for 2 to 3 days, so be prepared to devote your weekend to this procedure.

Is your child ready? - Part 2 of a 5-part guide to toilet training your children.

Before you begin toilet training, it is important to make sure that both you and your child are ready to tackle this challenge. Now by ready, I am not advocating the ever popular “readiness method”, which says you should wait until your child signals that he is in need of a diaper change, expresses interest in the toilet, and says he wants to use the toilet. Let’s be real about this: today’s diapers are incredibly absorbent; they could soak up half the Gulf of Mexico and still feel dry to the touch. If a child can continue to play with his toys while he pees and still be comfortable and dry afterward, there is no incentive for him to abandon his toys and proactively seek the restroom. However, there are some necessary skills that a child must have in order to master toilet training. 

First blog of the year, and I start with this? No it's not a typo, and I haven't fallen off my rocker just yet. We'll get to the subject quickly, but here are some behaviors that little kids are able to perform:

Why behavior may not be the worst thing.

 First blog of the year, and I start with this? No it's not a typo, and I haven't fallen off my rocker just yet. We'll get to the subject quickly,

A guide to traveling with your children.

 

Family vacations when I was a child meant fitting two adults, three children, a 130 lb Rottweiler and a whole lot of camping gear into a Jeep. Once everyone was crammed in, there was the drive into the mountains or to the beach, which was inevitably punctuated by the dog getting carsick, copious bickering over the lack of space in the back seat and people usurping more than their share, and threats to pull the car over or turn it around. Eventually, we would make it to the campsite and spend a week or so exploring and enjoying the outdoors.

How Super Mario Brothers may actually help your child.

When I was a kid, the coolest house on the block was the one that had a Nintendo system. When it was too cold to play outside, all the neighborhood kids would gather in someone’s living room and take turns trying to beat Super Mario Brothers. I was hopeless at it; I don’t think I ever made it past the second or third level. But that was irrelevant; Nintendo afternoons were about more than just conquering the castle and saving Princess Peach from Bowser. They were about having fun and making friends.

Helping your kids enjoy their summmer break!

It is now officially summer, the favorite season of childhood. Parents often dread summer vacation. They fear their children will lose any knowledge gained during the past school year and wonder how they are going to entertain their children for months on end. And those are definitely valid concerns. But although academics may be sidelined for the season, summer presents unique opportunities to improve social skills and work on community outings. Summertime brings an abundance of kid-friendly community activities to choose from. And the best part: there are always so many kids at these events that any behaviors your child exhibits are likely to get lost in the commotion. Here are some ideas:

Taking a break (again)!

 

In the quest of getting ready for our summer programs, I will have to take another break from blogging temporarily. I like to make these whimsical and informative and I want to put out quality blogs for you guys. Give me a little time and I will back to blogging in no time!

Michael Conteh