South Windsor Community Center classes take place on four Saturdays: Nov. 19, 26, Dec. 3 and 10. Classes for children with ASD only: 9:00-9:50 a.m. Classes for children and siblings: 10:00-10:50 a.m. Cost is $20 for each participant. Register through South Windsor Recreation Department by calling 860-648-6355 or online here.  If you've never tried music classes, this is a good opportunity to see if your child will enjoy them, at a low cost!

This is a chance for your child to learn swimming basics and become comfortable in the water!

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 25 and continuing for 5 weeks, children will receive basic swim instruction at the facility's Aquatics Center in Tolland.  Classes will be taught by WSI-certified instructors and lifeguards in a warm, safe environment.  Parents are asked to stay with their child but are not required to be in the water. Participants are not required to be members of Star Hill.  A fee of $25 per child covers all five classes; classes are from 11:30 a.m. to noon.  Children will be grouped according to ability level.
 

Register by visiting www.starhillsports.com.  For more information please contact Marci at Star Hill Family Athletic Center, Tolland at 860-871-8800 or marci@starhillsports.com.

Once you have a target skill, plan the play date. A visual aid can help your child know what to anticipate. The visual aid will tell the children what is going to happen. Use pictures or words to show them what they are going to do, like an activity schedule. If you do not already have pictures, you can go online and print pictures of the games or activities they will do.  For instance, 1) ball, 2) outside, and 3) free time. You may also use words and write down what will happen on a dry erase board or piece of paper.

When scheduling, it is important to structure some activities but also give your child some free time.  Free time will give your child an opportunity to feel relaxed.  During the structured activity, work on your target skill. Again, the speech therapist or special education teacher can tell you how to teach your child the target skill.

Here are some ideas for games to play:

1. Candy Land - Cut out several 6"x 6" squares of construction paper that match the colors in Candy Land. On one side, put pictures or questions for your child to identify or answer. Next spread the color squares on the floor to make a path. Then use the cards from Candy Land and have your child choose one. After he chooses one, he has to go to that color square on the floor, flip the card, and identify the picture or answer a question. Have the children take turns.

2. Don't Break the Ice - Have the children help you set up Don't Break the Ice. Before each child takes a turn, have them pick up an index card with a picture to identify or a question to answer. They must complete the card before they get to break the ice.

3. Pop Up Pirates - Have the children request the color sword they want from each other.

4. Yahtzee - Draw 9 boxes on a piece of paper and put numbers in them. The numbers should be from 1-6 or 1-12.  Next put 1 or 2 dice in the Yahtzee cup and have the children take turns rolling the dice. Once they roll the dice, have them add up the numbers.  Next, they will use marker to mark off the numbers on the paper, similar to a Bingo board.  For example, if your child rolls an eight, he will mark the eight off on his board.