Parent Newsletters - Issue 32

No Limits Learning
kids goals Ezine

Issue 32, April 7th 2007

IN THIS PARENT NEWSLETTER

1. A WORD FROM THE EDITORS
2. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
3. KIDS CORNER COOKING AND CRAFTS
4. TICKLE YOUR FUNNYBONE (JOKES FOR KIDS BY KIDS)
5. WORDS OF INSPIRATION
6. SPONSORS

1. A WORD FROM THE EDITORS

Welcome to the next issue of kidsgoals.com Newsletter. April is Autism Awareness month and as a parent of a child who is affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder, I am very pleased to see that a lot of the talk shows such as Oprah, Larry King and now even The View are focusing on this important topic. There needs to be more information available to parents and caregivers so they can recognize the red flags as early as possible. The earlier the intervention the better chance a child (depending on the severity of the disorder) has of actually leading a normal life.

My daughter was not diagnosed until she was thirteen years of age. She has made huge progress working with a speech language pathologist since she was in grade school but I sometimes wonder how much further ahead she would be had this been diagnosed when she was still a toddler. When my daughter was younger the signs were all there but because back then the information was not available I did not know what was wrong. I took her to pediatricians and had her hearing checked, but was told not to worry, she had delayed speech and she was a bit "quaint" but other than that she was a normal healthy little girl. Autism is not usually diagnosed until a child is three or four years of age. You as a parent or caregiver may have a certain sense that something is wrong with your child at an earlier age and you should trust your instincts and talk to your doctor about your concerns.

Non-verbal communication is extremely difficult for children on the spectrum. They do not pick up on subtle cues that we all take for granted. My daughter works very hard on learning the language that is a part of our every day world but I still see her struggling from time to time. The article for this month is all about non-verbal communication and how we can teach our children to recognize the "social cues" such as body language, facial expression and tone of voice.

If you would like more information on Autism or Autism spectrum disorders go to http://www.autismspeaks.org

Happy Parenting,

Monicka

2. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

I watched the two golden-haired children from a distance and marvelled at how close they had become so quickly. The boy, Erin, was my brother and the girl was his new best friend that he had met when we moved in at the campsite just a few days ago. The only language Erin knew was English, and the girl, who by almost unbelievable co-incidence was named Erina, was German. At four years old, they were both the same size and even looked alike, both with silky, long blonde hair - Erin's had never been cut even though he was a boy.

The two little ones had not a single word in common. And yet there they were, playing together as though they had known each other all their lives. And Erin was so smitten with his new friend that he bent over backwards to please her - pushing her on the tricycle they shared and obeying her every command.

How was he able to understand what she wanted? When he could not understand a word she said, although she chattered away vocally without ceasing.

It didn't even seem to cross his mind not to understand her. It was completely apparent to Erin from Erina's gestures, facial expressions and body language what she was communicating - whether it was "Push me on the tricycle," "Come here," "Give it to me," or even "Go away."

A lot of body language and non-verbal communication comes naturally to children. But as they grow, and verbal communication dominates more and more, older children and especially adults can lose some of the ability to understand others on such an instinctive level. And the innate ability to communicate non-verbally also varies dramatically from person to person. Children on the autism spectrum especially may have great difficulty understanding any communication that is not spelled out clearly in words.

As your children grow to school age, it is helpful to teach them a little about body language so that they can recognize consciously the signals that others give them, and even deliberately give others certain non-verbal signs to help them get their message across.

You can teach these lessons by talking to your children and encouraging them to observe the body language of their peers, and particularly for younger or autistic children, by role-playing.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

* Explain the difference between "open" and "closed" communication. Gestures with arms open and palms up can show the person that you are talking to that you want to be friendly and honest. On the other hand, if you are talking to someone and they keep clenching their fists or turning away from you, they may be hiding something from you.

* How to exude an air of enthusiasm and confidence: Stand fully facing the person you are talking with, your legs slightly apart and your hands on your hips. And give them direct eye contact.

* Letting someone know you are listening to them - eye contact and tilting or nodding your head.

* Play games such as charades to help your kids practise non-verbal communication.

* Ask your child to tell you about various interactions he has observed at school - for instance, two friends playing, a teacher telling a child off or praising a child, etc. Ask him what he observed about the peoples' non-verbal communication. He may enjoy drawing little cartoons of these things he observes. It can foster a life-long interest in other people, and in communication - subjects we should all be interested in!

Many kids can benefit from this kind of encouragement. However if you feel your child has severe problems in communicating with others, it is advisable to seek professional help. The right kind of assistance can make a huge difference to a child, and the earlier the help is received, the more benefit he can reap.

by Cassie

3. KIDS CORNER COOKING AND CRAFTS

EASY QUICHE TO COOK WITH YOUR KIDS

Easy Quiche (delicious and healthier than the pastry version and the kids can help you make it)

4 eggs
1-1/4 cups milk
3 slices whole wheat bread, crusts removed, cubed
4 cups small broccoli florets, cooked, chopped
1 cup chopped onions
3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Beat eggs and milk with wire whisk until well blended. Add bread; mix lightly. Stir in remaining ingredients until well blended.

POUR into 9-inch square baking dish.

BAKE 45 min. or until center is set and crust is lightly browned. Let stand 10 min. before cutting to serve.

MINI EASTER EGG BUNNY BOX

We've made a special template for you at http://www.kidsgoals.com/easter-bunny-craft.html

Print or trace it onto card, cut it out, fold along the lines. Glue down the tabs and hey presto - a cute little bunny box for your kids to put mini easter eggs in!

4. TICKLE YOUR FUNNYBONE (JOKES FOR KIDS BY KIDS)

Why do elephants stomp on people?
That is how they play squash.

What is so fragile even saying its name can break it?
Silence!

What do skeletons use to communicate?
Cellbones!

Why did the T-Rex cross the road?
The chicken had not evolved yet!

5. WORDS OF INSPIRATION

"You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist." -- Indira Gandhi

"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said." --Peter F. Drucker

"Words are just words and without heart they have no meaning." -- Chinese proverb

"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"What we are teaches the child far more than what we say, so we must be what we want our children to become." -- Joseph Chilton Pearce

"The human body is the best picture of the human soul." --Ludwig Wittgenstein

"Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true." --Charles Dickens

"As adults, we must ask more of our children than they know how to ask of themselves...show them ways they can connect, reach out, weave themselves into the web of relationships that is called community." -- Dawna Markova

6. YOUR FEEDBACK

If you would like to request any topics for the newsletter for 2007, please email Cassie or Monicka at kidsgoals.com.

Thank you, from Cassie and Monicka

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