Cultery and Crockery

2nd July 2024Website Admin

Learning how to use cutlery effectively is a common goal for many of our children at Gesher. Here is a link to a YouTube video that will help your child learn how to use their knife and fork and practise their skills at home. This is a great way to help younger children remember how to correctly hold and use their knife and fork using the ‘stab with the fork, down the slide and saw saw saw saw saw’ sentence.

Resources for home:

There are several options when it comes to cutlery and many shops and places to purchase different ones. We recommend using Caring cutlery with children as this cutlery has an indentation where the index finger is to be placed and is specifically designed to fit the child or young person’s hand. This cutlery comes in both child and junior sizes and many different colours. Utensils with thick and/or textured handles are easier to hold. A spoon or fork with a short handle is easier to control.  Consider the weight of the cutlery.  Sometimes something heavier can be easier to control.

Use plates with shallow and rimmed plates with high sides so that the food can be pushed to the side of the  plate, to make it easier for them to pick it up with a fork or spoon by pushing it onto the sides.

Check the plate/bowl isn’t sliding around. A Dycem non-slip surface or mat may be useful.

Consider using plastic plates rather than crockery or metal as some children may be adverse to the sound of the cutlery hitting the plate.

Below are some links to where you can purchase items mentioned in this post.

Cultery

️ Rimmed plates

Non-slip mats

Toileting

2nd July 2024Website Admin

Many children find it difficult to achieve independence in toileting and this skill can be even more difficult when the child has ASD and sensory processing issues. Patience and practice are key!! Independent toileting is a very complex task with lots of steps. An important strategy we use when supporting toileting skills is ‘backward changing’. This strategy provides children with a sense of achievement and enables the skill to be broken down into achievable steps. Here is a link to a really useful website further explaining the backwards-changing approach and information on supporting your child to become independent with toileting.

TomTags

2nd July 2024Website Admin

Reduce anxieties and frustrations and make it easier for your child to understand, follow and remember what they need to do with the TomTag visual support system. Inspired by a mum and her autistic son Tom, TomTag has been created to help parents and children communicate. With a unique and innovative design, this award-winning communication tool helps children and young people develop coping strategies to manage their day, using structure, organisation and predictability – at home, at school and when out and about. There is also a very handy tips and resources page which you can find here.

BBC Tiny Happy People

2nd July 2024Website Admin

Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life The ideas and activities are easy to build into your daily routine. They’re quick and inspiring, but they’re also based on expert advice and evidence and are proven to help your child’s development. You can find out more here.

Makaton

2nd July 2024Website Admin

Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression. You can find out more about Makaton here.

Dobble Card Game

2nd July 2024Website Admin

This is a card game that supports attention, listening, vocabulary, and turn-taking. The linked version is the original, but various other versions can be purchased to support different vocabulary areas, or that are in line with your child’s interests e.g. there is a Harry Potter Dobble, Seaside Dobble, Paw Patrol Dobble. You can buy Dobble here.

STAMMA – Information and Support for Stammering

2nd July 2024Website Admin

STAMMA provides information, support, training, advocacy and community for people who stammer and their families. Learn about stammering, join campaigns, access services and connect with others who stammer. You can visit their website here.

Ms Rachel’s Toddler Learning Videos

2nd July 2024Website Admin

These videos are excellent for early language development. They are very engaging for children and model important early language and concepts. This is useful for early years children who need support with their spoken language. Below is one of her videos but you can find the whole channel here.