toddler life Archives

Why Sign Langugage Matters

October 1, 2018August 19, 20186 Comments

It has been a while since I wrote about our autism progress. Quite frankly, I don’t remember where we left off. A lot has changed; we started a new program. This program is fantastic, but at first, I was so bent out of shape and cried. I was scared that it wouldn’t work after having a bad experience with the previous one.

I was in denial, I was hopeful, I had to push ALL my feelings aside and be a mother. I had to get my act together so that my son could move forward. I didn’t have time to think and be mad. I put everything aside and was open minded.

I was impressed with how structured this place was and how they had great communication. But besides that, I was able to learn a lot more about autism. It’s important to understand all you can and ask questions. It’s essential that they know his strengths, goals, and weaknesses. These were all great elements that the new place had.

The first thing that I noticed was that we kept track of progress. We are focusing on a lot of sign language, along with some other gross motor skills, but the sign language we learned was implemented at home immediately. We kept data on how many times he signed without us showing him and how many times he did it on his own when he wanted it without us asking.

For example cookie – show me cookies (he shows the sign for cookie). Independent is when he can show cookie when he wants one and not when we prompt him.

All of these signs help us communicate, and not get frustrated, but also know what he wants. Before, we never knew what he wanted. We are continually making noises and sounds, even with the sign language, so that we can take away the sign language in a few months and get him to be verbal hopefully.

The fact that he understands all of this makes me feel like the proudest mother ever. And, that he can communicate and tell us what he wants makes life so much easier for us both; from this moment on, I realized that we are on the same page and doing alright. So, yes,I am glad I made the decision that I did and pushed aside all the personal problems.

Check out some of our other autism posts:

WHY YOUR CHILD NEEDS A SPORT, ACTIVITY, OR PRESCHOOL

HOW SIGN LANGUAGE HAS HELPED US

BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR THREE YEAR OLD TODDLERS

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Birthday Gifts For Three Year Old Toddlers

August 3, 2018June 7, 2018Leave a comment

My son is turning THREE soon, y’all THREE!!!! I can not believe it, but it has been such a fun time going through the past two years. I can’t wait to see what the next year holds for us!

I put together a list of items that are educational and fun for him to have for his birthday gifts. We like to always make sure that the toys are practical and are going to help him, especially being autistic. We know that he LOVES all of these items (from daycare and other misc toys). I hope that you can enjoy these fun interactive learning toys!

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Autism Progress Weekly

February 2, 2018December 5, 2017Leave a comment

Each week, I like to share information about Antonio and his autism. This week I want to sort of take a step back and tell you about some of Antonio’s weekly accomplishments! Autism diagnosis not with standing, it’s always important to notice the small baby steps and victories you see each day.

Antonio points now. This is a constant pointing he thinks it’s cool. I can see him smiling when he is pointing, feeling a sense of self-fulfillment. He points for small thing like a drink or toy and expects them when he does it. This is a good thing, a skill we have worked on for many weeks. My kid can be stubborn sometimes but this really showed a breakthrough!
He likes to take someone’s hand and walk with them to what he wants. There was a balloon on the table that he wanted, so he took his daddy’s hand brought him to the table and pointed. It’s tough that he still isn’t talking, but the fact that he has found other ways to communicate is incredible. As he is doing these things I make sure to talk and give him words of encouragement so that it sticks with him.
He loves playing hide and seek. Not that he didn’t before but he is totally loving opening a door and closing it then making us ask “Where’s Antonio?” and when we find him he giggles so hard. And then he quickly runs to the next door. It is the cutest thing ever and this is a new development.
We are slowing breaking bad habits. One of the habits we are trying to break is biting on his sippy cup. He used to chew through so many nipples and refused to use other cups. It’s been frustrating, because even if we watch him closely and remind him to stop chewing on it, he still ended up damaging it. We have encouraged him “put down” the sippy cup when he is done using it.
Playing with balls. He has loved balls for a little while now. But he loves to throw it and watch it bounce. This is one of the greatest things ever, for him. He will be amused with this for quite a lengthy period of time. We are currently working on helping him roll the ball, to show there are other ways to use a ball.
His eye contact has gotten better. He doesn’t look when we call him yet, but he definitely looks at us when we play together and I am in his face.
He sits for longer periods. When he is playing with a toy he likes, it can hold his attention for five minutes. I know it may not seem like a long time, but five minutes is a huge improvement. We want to make sure that we are continuing to reward him when he accomplishes new things, reinforce good habits and continue striving for more improvement.

A few of our upcoming goals include using verbal commands without the gestures he has been used to and getting him to use another sip cup, one that doesn’t have a nipple.
He is super smart and knows what he can get away with. It’s been quite fun and entertaining to see him change each day!

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Regression & Pointing with Autism Kids

November 8, 2017September 26, 2017Leave a comment

Everyday is a learning experience now with an autistic kid. This is the truth and the new normal now. It seems to hurt me somedays since I feel like my kid should he “farther” and different than the rest. But I have to remember that is incredibly unique, happy, healthy, and smart.

It seems that today people put so much pressure on us to leave this “ happy life” You know that picture perfect that you envisioned when you found you were younger. I tell myself that God wouldn’t give me anything that I can’t handle and that is the truth.

Let’s put all those “picture perfect” visions and thoughts away because they wont ever be true; that is just reality. Its the same feelings you get when you are about to get married, you think your life will forever change and be perfect. Then you have that first fight and the second and you realize it isnt what you envisioned because society makes us think this stuff!

So now back to the autism… I can’t expect things to happen overnight. I can’t expect my kid to be like others. I can’t compare my kid to other autistic kids. The only thing that I can do is be a parent to my son. I have to accept all of this for what it is worth and realize nothing is perfect and wont ever be.

Being a parent is the hardest freakin thing, ever. If someone would of told me this years ago, I wouldn’t of believed them! So what does all this even mean? There is going to be times for me as a parent when things are rough with an autism kid. I can’t help it when he throws a tantrum, I want to give in.

I get upset when he can’t communicate to me and he doesnt understand me… I get anxiety thinking what should I do to make this easier for us? He is incredibly freaking smart, don’t get me wrong. I get so excited when he accomplishes the simplest tasks, but it just hard to communicate to one another!

Helping your kid point his or her finger is the number one thing we have learned, and are working on, since it is a form of communication. I literally have to get in his face to try to communicate and get across to him.

Regression sucks! There isnt any consistency in anything that we do and its hard. We will point to our nose, work on all day, then the next day, he just doesnt remember it. We have to go over it all again. Its the same thing with speech and so much more. So it is really tough guys. I have no really ideas to help get through to him as of right now since we are still in the beginning stages, but I promise you I am working HARD on this!