Teaching 6 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Watching TV and videos often is a preferred activity for a child; however, we need to remember it is a passive activity that allows few opportunities for a child to communicate.            

Penndco children loves to watch TV or videos, and therapists can use TV only with a reason to interest a child in books, songs and communication. Many computer programs teach our children new vocabulary and provide an opportunity to listen and to follow directions. We recommend our parents to have a limited time watching TV with a child, and if watching TV together with a child, using the pause button for videos. Discussion during a watching TV is very important for child’s brain development. If child has a limited vocabulary, we recommend to use more effectively books activities, 3D book activities, songs and rhyming, and labeling. Our goal is limited TV/videos time, and more time in using Visual Helpers to help our children understand and talk about feelings and social situations.                     

Diana’s mother shared that she decreased TV time for her child, and she did a focus on reading the books with the real pictures. As a result, a child’s vocabulary is increased! Mother of David shared that she has used a combination of the videos, especially family videos, with reading a book to help her child to communicate and to ask help.                                    

One of the valuable Penndco recommendation is turn TV time into talking time! Penndco Board of Directors supports this statement in reaching our social and communication goals.

Dear our Donors,

We appreciate your generous gifts especially during the Covid-19 pandemic time. We have supported our children having tele-intervention sessions now. We try to find an appropriate balance between using the technology that our children love very much and communication in person. Our children required a lot of prompting and attention to participate in social situations. Our therapists continue to use the Hanen strategies and the visual helpers to support the children in increasing their social skills. 

We know how our children and their parents are waiting to have the classroom social skills activities by learning to follow routines and directions appropriately. We encourage our children to learn new signs and new words by playing with the toys and family members. Age-appropriate books and toys were sent to our children for increasing their vocabulary and play skills too.

We are happy to announce that we are ready to have the play activities in person by using the masks and hand sanitizing and following the state Covid-19 policy and procedures. Our children will have supports with hand washing practice as well as with social skills. 

Again and again we continue to say our supporters a Special Thank You! We appreciate you in reaching our goals.