Early Years Inclusion Support Team

The EYIS team are huge advocates of the use of visuals - we see the difference they make when used consistently - it can be transformational for a child ! 😍

And useful to all - so what’s not to like ?🤔

BENEFITS OF PROVIDING YOUR CHILD WITH VISUAL SCHEDULES

If your child struggles with following directions or if they have trouble with speech and language, visual schedules can be really helpful.

https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2017/03/benefits-of-using-visual-schedules.html

Time and space 🥰🥰

AUTISM & OVERWHELM

(text) 'The same activities that can cause a meltdown one day may not have the same effect the next day, but why is this?

'Each activity we do or stimulus we come across adds to "The Bucket." Stimuli might be something as simple as bright lights or background noise. Things we enjoy can also add to the bucket.

'As each individual stimulus adds to the bucket, the water level begins to rise. Some activities that can calm us such as stimming or time alone can help empty the bucket before it overflows.

'If things are added to the bucket faster than it slowly empties, the bucket can overload, causing a meltdown.

'Meltdowns are different for everyone. Please give us space and time and don't judge us. Meltdowns are out of our control.'

Credit: Autism Insights. Deeper dive resources in comments.

A wee reminder that our sensory system consists of 7 senses , not just 5 . 👌

We talk about Heavy Play and how it is important for lots of our wee ones - some great ideas here 💡 👍

Heavy work is more than a sensory tool that regulates and calms the sensory processing system...Did you know that heavy work activities help to "wake up" joints and muscles through proprioceptive input to allow fine motor dexterity and precision skills? These heavy work activities offer strength, coordination, stability, and other components to enable fine motor skills.

💜 Do you have this resource in your therapy toolbox? Print off the pages and use them for educating peers, families, educators! 💥 Get them free here: https://www.theottoolbox.com/heavy-work-activities/

💜 OT Toolbox Member's Club members can access them by selecting Handouts on the sidebar dropdown.

😂😂

😬😳🎃

Lots of our families enjoy watching Ms Rachel . Heres some tips on how to get the most from it . 👍

Lots of wobble board options as well as this one - large gym ball , teeter totter and balance boards - quite easy to source and don’t take up much space 😊

Here's another therapy tool found over on Prime Days... This wobble board is pretty streamlined, and a great price at $15.31. Wobble boards are a great therapy tool for:
🧠vestibular input
💪proprioceptive input
👓visual skills
🏋️‍♀️strength
🏅stability
🚴‍♂️balance
🎯attention

We love using wobble boards in obstacle courses or in activities while standing, sitting, or in prone. This is a great tool for a calm down corner, too.
Here's the amazon affiliate link: https://www.amazon.com/BalanceFrom-Non-Slip-15-55-inch-Diameter-Stability/dp/B07STTSXXN?&linkCode=ll1&tag=sugaun-20&linkId=2f1be47d98042794b38437594ae38995&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Some ideas for all children in class environments. 😊

Nice communication ideas for Halloween. 🎃

Sometimes kids need to hear a model A LOT of times before they will communicate (this can be spoken or modeled on AAC!) - for some kids it might be 5 times, others may need 25 times, and some many need to hear it hundreds of times.

It doesn’t really matter how many times we need to model it- we’ll give kids the support they need- but we can use wait time to encourage kids to speak!

For analytical processors, using fill in the blank phrases can be very helpful! This *could* work for some gestalt language processors, especially those at a later stage, but I’ll share tomorrow how this might look different for our GLPs!

Also- don’t put pressure on kids- if they don’t fill in the blank, just fill it in for them and move on! You’ve got this!

Yesterday I talked about how I’d use wait time for analytic language processors, and today I’m talking about how I might use it for gestalt language processors!

I also might sing the super simple song that goes “put on your shoes, your shoes, your shoes” to model this!

Aren’t sure if your child is an analytic or gestalt processor? Head to my page and check out Sunday’s post!

Many of our parents and families have accessed supports from NEST and have found it a really helpful resource . 👍😊🥰

⭐ Does your child have ASD, ADHD or FASD?
Ayrshire has a dedicated team to provide information and workshops to help you, called NEST.

NEST also work with businesses and other organisations to help them become friendlier places for people with ASD, ADHD or FASD and their families.

Coming up in September, they have a free workshop on Selective, Restrictive and Limited Eating as well as an Introduction to Complex Behaviour. ⭐

Want to find out more and sign up? Visit: www.nest.scot

Using Objects of Reference is such a useful approach that helps all children know what is happening next . 😊
And so easy to employ - just ensure you agree within your family / Early Years which objects represent each activity and be consistent with this Eg . Bowl for lunch . Jacket for outdoors .

You can help your child’s comprehension by using an approach called objects of reference.

This is when you use a physical object to help represent or identify something, like a particular person, activity or place.

⭐ For example, show your child their goggles to help them understand that they’re going swimming or the bath towel before they get into the bath. Once your child is familiar with the object, they might move on to using the object to communicate with you too.

Sometimes, depending on your child’s needs, when they know how to use objects of reference, they might be able to move on to signing, or using photographs and symbols. ⭐

For more information, watch SaLT by the Sea’s Youtube video: https://youtu.be/NlBMB6A3Axs

Ask your Early Years Inclusion Support Teacher to show you some basic Makaton signs to support your communication with your wee one . 🤗

⭐ Have you heard about Makaton?

It’s the UK’s leading language programme for adults and children with learning or communication difficulties. It’s useful for all of us though to provide extra clues about what you are saying to your child, no matter what your child’s needs are.

Over 100,000 children and adults use Makaton symbols and signs, either as their main method of communication or as a way to support speech. ⭐

Want to learn more? Visit: https://makaton.org/TMC/About_Makaton/What_is_Makaton.aspx

More deep pressure activities that can be easily taught and incorporated into daily programmes at school . 🤗

Here are some deep-pressure activities via Pinterest.
We apologize there is no citation but it seemed too good not to share.

Speech language pathologists often talk about modeling language (which I’ll be talking about A LOT this week!) - but first, we need to know WHY it’s important. 🌈♾️❤️

This week I’m talking modeling language for analytic language processors and gestalt language processors- there’s a lot of similarities with small tweaks for how it actually looks!

This is for early communication stages ❤️

Excellent advice . 👍

Sometimes kids need to hear a model A LOT of times before they will communicate (this can be spoken or modeled on AAC!) - for some kids it might be 5 times, others may need 25 times, and some many need to hear it hundreds of times.

It doesn’t really matter how many times we need to model it- we’ll give kids the support they need- but we can use wait time to encourage kids to speak!

For analytical processors, using fill in the blank phrases can be very helpful! This *could* work for some gestalt language processors, especially those at a later stage, but I’ll share tomorrow how this might look different for our GLPs!

Also- don’t put pressure on kids- if they don’t fill in the blank, just fill it in for them and move on! You’ve got this!

Lots of our little people have under developed interoception systems .
They may need support and promoting to know and recognise when they feel eg . hot 🥵 or thirsty 🥤 or when they need to use the loo . 🚽 .

What is Interoception? Here's the nitty gritty...

Interoception is the sense of knowing what is going on INSIDE our bodies.

Things such as feeling:

Hunger
Thirst
Tired
Feeling pain
Temperature (Feeling hot or cold etc.)
Using the bathroom
Any other internal sensations

Here is everything you need to know about the science behind interoception: Www.theottoolbox.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-interoception/

Lots of our little people have under developed proprioception systems so they require support with this .
It’s really important to provide regular opportunities to experience movement and balance in a variety of safe environments . 👌

The proprioceptive system receives input from the muscles and joints about body position, weight, pressure, stretch, movement and changes in position in space.

Our bodies are able to grade and coordinate movements based on the way muscles move, stretch, and contract.

Proprioception allows us to apply more or less pressure and force in a task. Instinctively, we know that lifting a feather requires very little pressure and effort, while moving a large backpack requires more work. We are able to coordinate our movements effectively to manage our day’s activities with the proprioceptive system. The brain also must coordinate input about gravity, movement, and balance involving the vestibular system.

Kids who are showing signs of proprioceptive dysfunction might do some of these things:

+Appear clumsy
+Fidget when asked to sit quietly.
+Show an increased activity level or arousal level.
+Seek intense proprioceptive input by “crashing and bashing” into anything.
+Slap their feet when walking.
+Flap hands.
+Use too much or too little force on pencils, scissors, objects, and people.
+“No fear” when jumping or walking down stairs.
+Or, are overly fearful of walking down steps/jumping.
+Look at their body parts (hands/feet) when completing simple tasks.
+Sit down too hard or miss chairs when sitting.
+Fall out of their seat.
+Fluctuates between over-reacting and under-reacting in response to stimulation.
+Constantly on the move.
+Slow to get moving and then fatigue easily.

Proprioception activities are a good way to calm and organize your child.

Read more: https://www.theottoolbox.com/proprioception-sensory-activities/

Sometimes we all need to stop and breathe !

This is an easy Autumn breathing activity for adults as well as for families and classes 🥰

Deep breath....Ahhhhhhh 🍂🍃
This print and go deep breathing exercise is great for this time of year!

To use this mindfulness exercise, kids (and adults) can point to the dots on the Fall leaves image. Trace the arrow as the child breathes in deeply. They should pause at the end of the arrow and hold their breath. Then, trace along the next arrow while slowly breathing out. They can continue around the image as they slowly breathe in and out. 🍂🍃

This slowed breathing with a pause at the end of the breath fosters breath control and allows the heart rate to slow, engaging the diaphragm for full, “belly breaths” allow for controlled breathing and is helpful in allowing children to reach a calm and alert state so they can focus. 🍂🍃

Get a copy & start using today:
https://www.theottoolbox.com/fall-leaves-deep-breathing-exercise/

Useful information for colleagues in schools 😊

⭐Do you use the NHS Ayrshire and Arran app?

Download it now and check out the Speech and Language Therapy section to access a wide range of information and advice on how to support your wee one’s development.⭐

Wanting to learn Makaton? Are you an Early Years Practitioner or Primary Teacher? Our SLT colleagues in East Ayrshire are offering training in Levels 1 & 2.

Parents and colleagues have given us very positive feedback from the workshops run by NEST 👏👏👏

⭐ Does your child have ASD, ADHD or FASD?
Ayrshire has a dedicated team to provide information and workshops to help you, called NEST.

NEST also work with businesses and other organisations to help them become friendlier places for people with ASD, ADHD or FASD and their families.

Coming up in September, they have a free workshop on Selective, Restrictive and Limited Eating as well as an Introduction to Complex Behaviour. ⭐

Want to find out more and sign up? Visit: www.nest.scot

You can help your child’s comprehension by using an approach called objects of reference.

This is when you use a physical object to help represent or identify something, like a particular person, activity or place.

⭐ For example, show your child their goggles to help them understand that they’re going swimming or the bath towel before they get into the bath. Once your child is familiar with the object, they might move on to using the object to communicate with you too.

Sometimes, depending on your child’s needs, when they know how to use objects of reference, they might be able to move on to signing, or using photographs and symbols. ⭐

For more information, watch SaLT by the Sea’s Youtube video: https://youtu.be/NlBMB6A3Axs

Love this wee sensory space idea - fairly easy to set up in any space / class / corner 👍

👋🏼 Welcome to my Sensory Spot! 💜

Having a sensory friendly space at home and school can be life-changing for kids who are easily dysregulated. It offers them safety, comfort, stress relief, and fun!

The spots are from Special Supplies - I used nano tape to hold them up, and yes- that does pull the texture odd the wall when it’s time to take it down (just a heads up!)

For more ideas for creating a sensory spot, check out my blog post https://www.mrsspeechiep.com/post/sensory-friendly-space

The first step to being Neurodiversity-affirming is understanding what Neurodiversity actually is.

Everyone is important, valued, and worthy AS THEY ARE- and these differences are expected 🌈♾️

Top toilet tips .
Add in a visual schedule too to help with consistency and predictability of routine 👌

Fantastic tips 🙌

⭐Here are some top tips to support your child’s attention + listening skills!⭐

Makaton training 👌

Wanting to learn Makaton? Are you an Early Years Practitioner or Primary Teacher? Our SLT colleagues in East Ayrshire are offering training in Levels 1 & 2.

Top tips for encouraging little ones to communicate at their own level 👍

5 reasons for schools to embrace Neurodiversity .🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

True Autism (and neurodiversity) acceptance may take time to unlearn ideas and internalized ableism. It is a process and not usually something one can achieve overnight, but it is SO worth it and adds such value to our neurodiverse world ❤️🌈♾️