Welcome to s2s Insights!
Welcome to the Steps
to Socialization newsletter
s2s Insights. Each month 'Social Thoughts' contains a theme article on a relevant social topic. Informative articles or books related to the theme can be found in 'News and Reviews'. The 'Tips and Tools' section contains social thinking tips and activities. 'In the Neighborhood' covers
related events and programs.
Summer vacation is the perfect time to help our children improve their executive functioning skills. Planning and organizing a project is this month's topic.
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Social Thoughts
'School's out for
summer...' That's the anthem our kids sing every June. As parents we don't
get much vacation time. The summer is a great time to begin planning and
practicing the skills our kids need for September. Many of the children we see
at s2s have deficits in executive functioning. Okay you're asking...what is
that?
Executive functions are the skills we need to live everyday
life. They include planning,
organizing, strategizing, paying attention and remembering details. Emotional control, self- monitoring, flexible
thinking and initiating a task or activity are also components of executive
functioning. Some of the age-expected executive functioning skills that Cooper-Kahn
and Dietzel outline in Late, Lost and Unprepared are listed here. Each level includes the skills of the grade
level below it.
Preschool:
1. Perform simple chores
and self-help tasks with reminders (clear dishes from table, brush teeth)
2. Inhibit behaviors (Don't run in the street, Don't grab toys)
Kindergarten - 2nd grade:
1. Bring papers and belongings to and from school or camp
2. Run errands (2-3 step directions)
3-5th Grade:
1. Plan simple projects and keep track of schedule changes
2. Inhibit/self-regulate behavior (behave when teacher's out of room,
refrain from temper tantrums and bad manners)
6-8th Grade:
1. Time management skills including scheduling after school activities,
homework, and family responsibilities (estimate how long it takes to complete
each task and adjust schedule)
2. Use a system to organize schoolwork (class assignments, projects,
study materials) such as a planner
High School:
1. Make adjustments in effort and quality of work in response to feedback
from teachers and others
2. Establish and refine long-term goals; create and follow time-lines
for long-term projects
3. Inhibit reckless and dangerous behaviors
Executive functioning plays a crucial role in self-esteem, impulse
control, flexible thinking, managing social situations and dealing with stress.
The good news is these skills can be learned.
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Tips and Tools
Concept
of the Month:
How to Organize and Manage Time
Though this seems to be self-explanatory many of
our children, regardless of age, have a great deal of difficulty managing their
time. They don't know how long it will take to complete a task or how to break
it down into do-able steps. Children have a strong need to feel competent and
self-assured. We need to help them learn how to solve problems on their own
rather than doing it for them or getting caught up in a battle of wills. Ask
them "What do you think you can do about that?" rather than telling
them what they should do
Activity:
Getting Organized
The purpose of this activity is to teach the skills
needed to plan, organize and time-manage a project. This task should be done
over several days to show the child that doing a project in small increments is
easier and LESS stressful than doing it all at once. The parent's role is to GUIDE the child in planning what needs to be done - NOT to tell them the
answers. Let them try out THEIR ideas for how to complete the task. Remember
it's summer it doesn't matter how long it takes - It just matters that they
learn the skill. Let them choose the task - here is one suggestion.
Organizing a part of the room:
Decide with your child which area of their room they are going to
organize i.e. the closet, the desk. Have them make a list of the steps
involved. What do they need to do? What cleaning supplies are needed? What
organizational supplies are needed (boxes, garbage bags etc.)? Break down the task into small components.
Estimate how long each part will take to complete. Does it have to be done in
one day or can it be spread out over several days? Have them write down the
estimated time versus the actually time to see how accurate their estimate was.
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See you next month! In the meantime, please visit us on the web and read our blog.
Evelyn
and Lisa |
