Tag: infant day care

Tips for Communicating with a Nonverbal Autistic Child: Part Two

We recently took a look at some ways that you can encourage communication for a nonverbal autistic child. In that post, we discussed how play, social interaction, imitation of your child’s sounds and behaviors, nonverbal communication cues, and giving them enough room to respond can help the development of communication skills. Today, we’ll be completing this two-part look at how you can help develop your child’s communication skills. If you’re in need of childcare for your special needs child, call Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids.

-Simplify Your Communication

When you make your vocabulary minimal and simplified, it not only makes it easier for your child to understand, it also makes it easier for them to imitate that speech. If your child is nonverbal, keep it to single words (i.e. if they’re playing with a ball, say “ball” or “roll”). If they have begun to speak in single words, you can increase it to a short, two-word phrase (i.e. “throw ball” or “roll ball”). Keep the “one-up” rule in mind, where you use phrases with one more word than they are using. As they gain understanding, they’ll pick more words and phrases up and their communication skills can develop.

-Follow What They’re Interested In

Instead of steering your child’s focus away from something that has their interest, follow along by narrating their actions. Stick to the “one-up” rule with this as you describe their actions. The verbalization of what they’re doing allows them to make the connection to their actions with their corresponding names. Learning the vocabulary associated with something they enjoy and are interested in allows them to make connections easier than if they are presented with new actions and words all at once. That can cause them to retreat inwards, avoiding communication and interaction on the whole.

-Consider Devices and Visual Supports

There are many types of devices and visual supports available that can help facilitate communication while fostering the development of speech skills. For example, there are some devices and apps with pictures that produce words when your child touches them. Not only does that help a nonverbal child communicate, having a visual representation of the word they are attempting to say, combined with the audio of the word playing in direct connection to them, it can help them learn the vocabulary and how to vocalize what they are hoping to say.

While the strategies we’ve discussed in this two-part series have been successful for many parents with nonverbal and/or autistic children, it’s important to remember that every child is different. Something that may be successful for one person might not land with your child. Discuss with your child’s therapist strategies you’ve tried, what they connect with, and what they reject. They’ll be able to provide further advice depending on what is successful and what difficulties your child may be encountering. While it is a difficult situation, it’s vital to show patience to allow your child to develop at their own pace.

If you are in the Upper Darby area and you’re looking for childcare for your special needs child, call Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids. We’re here to help!
Tips for Communicating with a Nonverbal Autistic Child: Part One

Communicating with children can be a difficult task on its own, but it becomes even tougher with a nonverbal autistic child. However, it is possible to not only find ways to effectively communicate with them, you can also help them develop their verbal skills in a way that is comfortable to them. With that being said, it’s important to remember not all autistic children are the same. While one strategy may work perfectly for one situation, that’s not to say it will be right for another. In hopes of improving communication skills, we have put together this list of ways you can help a nonverbal autistic child communicate. If you are in need of childcare that doesn’t leave behind children with special needs, call Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids.

-Play and Social Interaction

Much of any child’s education comes as a product of playing, including learning language and communication skills. Find games that your child enjoys playing to engage them. Include activities that encourage social interaction, such as singing and reciting nursery rhymes. While you’re interacting with your child, keep yourself in front of them and close to eye level, as that will make it easier for them to see and hear you.

-Mimic Your Child

Pay attention to the sounds and behaviors your child makes while interacting. You can help them be more vocal by imitating the sounds they make, while encouraging them to copy you and take turns going back and forth with sounds. Only imitate their behavior when it is a positive action. For instance, if they roll a toy car, you roll yours as well. But, if they throw their car, don’t follow suit. This is an opportunity to show them good behavior first hand.

-Nonverbal Communication

Small things like gestures and eye contact can help an autistic child form the foundation for future language and communication skills. Exaggerate your gestures to get your communicate your feelings to them. Use your voice and body while communicating, such as extending your hand and saying the word “look”. Observe your child’s gestures and respond to them in kind. When they see you communicating like this, they will be more likely to use this technique to communicate with you and others.

-Give Them Space to Talk

When talking to your child, it is easy to feel like you need to help them along when they don’t respond right away. This can make them more shy about answering since they feel like you’ll answer for them. When you ask them a question, give them ample time to answer while watching expectantly. Keep an eye out for any sounds they make or nonverbal gestures, as this may be the only way they can respond at that time. Then, respond to that gesture promptly to help them establish the flow of communication.

That wraps up part one of our look at some ways you can help a nonverbal autistic child communicate. We’ll be diving into part two in a couple of weeks, but we hope these strategies help you with your little one. If you’re looking for childcare services in Upper Darby that will give your special needs child the attention and care they deserve, call Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids. We’re here to help!
The Benefits of Active Learning for Preschoolers
It’s well known that the right learning environment makes a big difference for preschoolers. In fact, it’s practically inconceivable to think of making a preschooler sit at a desk for hours. It simply wouldn’t work. Research has shown that preschoolers learn best when they engage in active learning that’s very similar to play. But why does this work? And how can you harness this knowledge to get the best learning outcomes for your preschool child? Here are some of the benefits of active learning for preschoolers.

1. Movement helps knowledge stick in the brain

Have you ever suspected your preschool child of being distracted and not paying attention because they are moving around everywhere? Actually, the opposite might be true. For children, moving the body is a critical way to help the brain to absorb new information so that it sticks. This is not just for kinesthetic learners; it’s for everyone. And it’s not just for children; it works for adults, too. Think about the last time that you sat through a long conference or seminar where the presenter didn’t give people enough breaks. It’s hard for the mind to keep learning information when you’re stiff and sore because you just want to walk around.

How to harness this tip:

Combine movement with learning when you work with your child. For example, do jumping jacks while you help them to practice counting, or make silly poses while you review flashcards. You’ll be amazed at how well it works.

2. Movement helps promote brain development

The brain of a preschool child is still developing and learning about the world, and movement is one of the big ways that helps the brain to develop. And it doesn’t just develop motor skills, coordination, and balance. It also helps to develop cognition and thinking.

How to harness this tip:

Guide your child through movements that cross the midline of their bodies. For example, have them touch an elbow to the opposite knee, and then switch. Also, try having them touch their hands to the opposite toe or the opposite shoulder. Crossing the midline helps to coordinate the two different hemispheres of the brain, and can help with auditory processing, writing, and using your eyes to track the words from side to side on a page.

3. Movement helps increase a student’s interest

When you’re interested in a subject, you can usually get much farther than when you’re bored. Interest and enthusiasm for a topic help your child to pay attention longer and focus more deeply. Looking for ways to increase their love of learning? Incorporate movement!

How to harness this tip:
- Dance to a silly song with your child
- Incorporate hand movements and actions that go along with what you’re saying.
- Create a drama or a skit to act out a story.
When a child is getting too much screen time, they won’t naturally move around enough, and this could rob them from vital brain development and learning experiences, so do what’s available to limit their screen time and encourage active play.

Enroll in Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids today

Our day care for preschoolers is committed to providing high-quality learning experiences that make it fun to learn new things. Start the enrollment process by contacting us.
Healthy Habits To Teach Your Young Child

It’s January, and the season of New Year’s resolutions is already starting to fade for many of us. Our commitments to go to the gym, eat less junk food, and save money are already fizzling. It’s well known that trying to make resolutions (and keep them) isn’t likely to succeed for most people. However, what is successful is building healthy habits. A habit, once formed, is easier to stick to. It’s a daily, constant friend that becomes a comfortable part of our routine, rather than being a surge of excited energy that fades as quickly as it comes. Set your children up for success by teaching them these healthy habits.

1. Brushing teeth

As a parent, you don’t want to subject your children to tooth decay at an early age. This can leave them with lifelong fear of the dentist as well as persistent trouble with their oral health all through life. Dentists recommend that you begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears. Once your child is three to four years old, you can begin to transition the tooth brushing routine to closely supervising them while they do it themselves. Then, when they reach the age of five or six, you can begin to reduce your close supervision while still being close by and making sure that they do it. Make tooth brushing time feel fun, not like a drudgery or a chore. The idea is that brushing teeth will become so automatic that your children feel odd if they don’t do it.

2. Picking up toys

When you have a two-year-old in the house, it can feel like you have a little hurricane. While having toys strewn around everywhere is a constant fact of life for many households, it doesn’t have to be this way. If you train your children in the habit of picking up after themselves, they’ll continue in that habit as long as they live. Make it a point to involve your children in cleaning up one activity before beginning the next. Again, you’re shooting for the result that it becomes automatic to them to pick up one thing before starting something else.

This will take a lot of consistent effort on your part as the parent. Expect to have to guide and supervise your child’s cleanup activities, every single one, from about the age of three to approximately the age of eight. If your child shows initiative and begins to pick up after themselves without being asked, praise and reward that behavior. You’ll thank yourself when you have a neater house, and your child will thank you when they become an adult and realize how valuable this investment was.

3. Going to bed and waking up on a consistent schedule

Children need consistency, and a consistent bedtime is one of the most powerful things that you can do for their brain development and overall health. Yes, it’s difficult to have a consistent routine, and many times your child will try to buck your efforts to put them to bed. However, the benefits are tremendous to having a well-rested child who is used to a predictable routine.

Enroll your child in Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids Today

We care about kids, and one of the things we’ll help you with is establishing healthy habits and routines for your children. Start the enrollment process in our daycare in Upper Darby by contacting us today.
6 Alternatives to Screen Time For Your Preschooler

There’s no question about it: it’s tempting to let screen time be your preschool child’s babysitter. Whether it’s time on TV, YouTube, a tablet, or your phone, screen time is a mesmerising and all-absorbing thing for children, and it can be a method to allow you to get some much-needed rest, peace, and quiet. However, since too much screen time can hurt your child’s brain development, you need some alternatives of things that you can do with your child to engage their attention, teach them about the world, and build memories of time you’ve spent together. Here are a few ideas from our preschool daycare in Upper Darby.

1. Bake cookies

Preschoolers are not at the age where they can follow a recipe, but they absolutely love to dump the ingredients in the bowl and stir them up. Talk to them while you’re letting them help bake, explaining what you’re about to do at every step before it happens. Give them a heads up of things they won’t know, like “stir gently so that the dough doesn’t come out of the bowl” or “flour will make a mess if it spills, so dump this carefully.” Your child will most likely love the interaction and attention and aim to please. If you do get a few spills, have a moist paper towel handy and don’t make a big deal of the accident.

2. Go outside

Whether you can go to your own backyard or a neighborhood park, taking your child outside is crucial for their development. You will be giving your child fresh air and sunshine as well as a whole host of opportunities to build their motor skills, increase their understanding of cause and effect, and improve their imaginations through exploration.

3. Do puzzles or board games

Doing simple puzzles together helps your preschooler to develop their problem skills, and playing board games helps to develop social skills like turn-taking, how to handle winning and losing, and patience. Age appropriate activities like these are fun for your child, and they’ll probably ask to repeat them again and again.

4. Color

Coloring is a simple activity, but it’s amazing how long a child can remain absorbed in it, especially after you’ve invested a little bit of time in teaching them to color. Provide a little bit of guidance and praise them for the beautiful picture they’ve colored, and you’ll find that coloring can become a staple activity in your repertoire.

5. Read aloud

Reading aloud will boost your child’s vocabulary and language comprehension, and it will also teach them vital skills they’ll need in school, such as page turning and holding their attention through the whole story. Try to make it a practice to read aloud to your toddler or preschooler on a daily basis.

6. Involve them in what you’re doing

This may be one of the very simplest ways to give your child something to do without derailing yourself from your tasks. Whether you’re folding laundry, dusting, picking up clutter, or doing yard work, give your child an age-appropriate opportunity to help, whether it’s holding two socks or following you with their own personal dust cloth.

Enroll in Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids Today

For all the times that you can’t be there to give your child hands-on care and attention, enroll them in the daycare center in Upper Darby that cares about their well-being. Contact us today to get started.
5 Nutrition Tips for Toddlers

Getting a toddler to eat is easier said than done. Often, even before a child hits the age of two, they develop strong preferences for foods, and these likes and dislikes can be extremely hard to overcome. However, the value of a nutritious, well-balanced diet can hardly be overstated, and it brings immense benefits to the developing mind and growing body of your young child. Here are a few nutrition-based tips to help your child to get a great start in life.

1. Introduce foods with a positive attitude

Toddlers are masters at reading body language, and they are excellent at mimicking or mirroring the nonverbal signals you’re giving off. If you offer your child a broccoli sprout while your facial is a dead giveaway that says, “I bet my kid is not going to like this,” but you offer them a popsicle with a face that says, “Oh, they’ll be excited about this,” your child may reject the healthier snack purely based on what they’re reading from you. When you introduce healthy snacks to your child, try doing it in a way that conveys excitement, delight, and an upbeat attitude. If your facial expression and body language is saying, “This is going to be absolutely magical,” then your excitement may be contagious and your child may end up loving that broccoli or celery.

2. Limit the availability of junk foods

When you feed a child who is a picky eater, it’s sometimes hard to get them to eat anything but junk food. One simple method that works for adults might work for your child, too: Just refuse to buy it. If you don’t have it in the house, you can’t succumb to taking the easy way out when they are putting up a fuss over eating healthier options.

3. Let your child eat with you

One of the mistakes that parents make is having children eat at a separate table or at separate times from when you’re eating. Like we said, children are masters of imitation, and if your toddler or preschooler sees you eating carrots, they’ll be more likely to want to do it themselves. Your good example can only go so far at getting a young child to eat the right things, but it can play a part.

4. Don’t overlook the power of play

Our grandparents’ generation tended to frown on letting children play with their food, but this is how they interact with everything in the world. Watch how your young child explores almost every toy by putting it into their mouth. Why shouldn’t they explore new foods the same way? If you give a child the opportunity to play with the foods they are supposed to eat, they may just unconsciously start tasting them. You can even increase this propensity by playing with the food with your child.

5. Start at as young an age as possible

The younger your child is, the more they will have a palate that doesn’t discriminate between different-tasting foods. Introduce them to a wide variety of nutritious treats early. And to make it easier on yourself, don’t introduce them to the things that you’ll have to struggle to limit later on, such as ice cream, soda, and candy.

We hope these tips have been helpful to you. Choose our preschool in Upper Darby for a day care program that’s fun, affordable, and nurturing to kids of all ages. Contact us today to start the enrollment process.