Let's talk about Autism. The ups and downs for guiding an individual that is on the spectrum. Let's not forget about the parents and other children during out talks.
Returning to podcasting feels like catching up with an old friend over coffee, and I’m thrilled to be sharing this space with you again. After a whirlwind of challenges, from managing classroom antics to navigating hurricane recovery in Florida, I'm here to offer insights into a balanced holiday season. Discover how keeping our children's routines intact amidst festive chaos can be a game-changer. I'll share why less is more when it comes to gifts and how meaningful presents can light up their eyes without overwhelming their spirits. Plus, I've got a trick up my sleeve: noise-canceling headphones for those bustling family gatherings, keeping sensory overload at bay.
As I gear up to return to the classroom, reflections on managing lively students have been top of mind, especially tales of a particularly spirited child who loves a good run. While I can't spill all the classroom secrets, I promise relatable stories that resonate with the trials and triumphs educators face. With plans to ramp up podcast content over the holiday break, I welcome you back to join me for engaging discussions filled with personal anecdotes and practical advice. Here’s to a wonderful week ahead, and a heartfelt thank you for tuning back in!
Hi everyone. I know it's been a while since I've done a podcast, but I am back. Hopefully A lot has changed since I've done a podcast. We had some hurricanes but we did okay and everything's fine here where I'm at in Florida. I also went back to work and so that has taken kind of a toll on me a little bit. And so that has taken kind of a toll on me a little bit. It's getting back to work and getting used to it and my muscles are kind of sore and stuff. And it's a pretty challenging class that I have. It's a great school, the people are wonderful. I got great parents again, so that's nice and a wonderful pair that is a very hard worker. So there's some positives at this job but we have some huge challenges in the classroom, so that has taken a lot from me. I've been just coming home, going to bed and that's about it. But I'm going to try on the weekends to at least get a podcast out, even if it's a short five, seven minute one, and try to do that.
Speaker 1:
The holidays are coming up, so we'll be talking about the holidays and what we can do to kind of help keep that routine going and keeping your child busy and not being stressed out with all the stuff that's going on during the holidays and I know we celebrate the holidays a little bit different, but a lot of us there's still a lot of hustle and bustle. If your child is in school, they're going to be out of school, so there's still a lot of changes, no matter how or if you celebrate the holidays that are coming up. We do here at Christmas. I love Christmas, although this Christmas is going to be kind of quiet for us. Everybody's kind of going back to are going to be traveling, so my husband and I and my son will be that here celebrating Christmas Day, and I have a couple weeks off, so that'll be, that'll be nice, all right. So let's talk about the holidays a little bit. I have a couple weeks off, so that'll be, that'll be nice, all right. So let's talk about the holidays a little bit. Um, I have a little bit of a list. I think I have seven things that I want to talk about and I'm going to go ahead and post this today and then on next weekend I'll do another one, so we can try to get at least one hour. I I like to get more, and then maybe during the Christmas break, when I have more time, I'm going to try to schedule for the whole month of January and try to get a couple out during the week. For those of you that are listening and have joined us, welcome. And those that have wondered where did she go. I apologize, but I am back, okay. So let's do.
Speaker 1:
Number one Don't overdo gifts. Okay, it can be overwhelming if you have too many gifts for your child. Yes, they may want a lot of stuff, but just don't overdo it. Do more meaningful type gifts, things that they do want. And that will bring me into number two. Remember that our kids don't have the understanding to pretend he or she likes something. So try to get ideas to your family or friends that are going to give gifts. Make a list or something, and ask them if you'd like to have a list of the things that they would like to have. Our kids, you know, need to have. How do I want to say this? Something that they enjoy doing, but they're not going to fake it. If they don't like it, they're not going to say that they like it. So they're very blunt. Which is okay. Which is okay, no problem, okay.
Speaker 1:
Number three don't think you have to buy an even amount. So like, let's say, if you've got other children in the house and you think you've got to buy a lot of people do this too that One kid needs, if one kid's got five gifts, the other kids all have to have five gifts. And that's not always necessarily true with our kids. As long as they're meaningful and they're engaging, they're not going to necessarily count. They might, and if they do, then you know, try to get something little, but don't think you have to do that. My mom always set a limit. You know each kid got this amount, so one kid could have three things and one kid could have two things or whatever. But I think that the other kids will kind of feel that way. If one kid is opening 10 gifts and she's only opening five, they are going to get that, but not always with our kids. So don't always think it has to be that way with our kids.
Speaker 1:
Try to stay with a structure you have built, even if it's part of the day, so that other words, their routine. I know there's people coming and going, there's going to be a lot more noises and if you need to go into somebody else's house or you're traveling and the routines are all going to be different. Try to keep something that is the same, even if, like I said, for part of the day, the bedtime, or if you do story time or when you eat, things like that try to keep those things consistent in their lives. Look into if they don't have, or, if they do have, make sure they're available headphones to. If they don't have, or if they do have, make sure they're available Headphones. You know that they can put on Noise canceling to kind of calm them down and help them with all the activities that are going on in the house. So try to get some kind of structure through the day that they're used to, that they can count on.
Speaker 1:
If family and friends are visiting, kind of keep it simple, you don't. You know, I know that it's kind of hard to do. You know people get together, they're talking, they're chatting their activities, they're watching TV, they're doing this and that and it's just a busy, busy time for everybody and it gets our kids kind of set off a little bit. So if you're homeschooling, don't feel like you have to homeschool during that time, you know, unless it helps them be some structure in their lives. If it does, then do a little bit, but if not, don't worry about it, because there's a lot going on.
Speaker 1:
Number six relaxing time for them and for you. For them, you know, or you, it could be a bath, a movie, read a story, maybe some music. Some kids, like you know, calm down with music. It depends on the music, I guess. Find something that you know calms them down, and make sure you find that time that okay, it's time for us to breathe and to relax and just take things a little bit, uh, slower. And then the last thing is uh, don't forget the other kids.
Speaker 1:
I know that, with all the hustle and bustle that's going on with uh, and it's going to be very stressful for our kids that are on the spectrum, just try to remember that there's other kids involved too, if they have siblings, that they need some attention to some of your me time, and you need some of your me time. And make sure you know I always say this make sure you get some time for yourself, because this is going to be stressful for you too. You've got to, you know everything that's going on. You're busy, you're working. It's just a lot, a lot on our plates during this time. But holidays can be fun too and enjoyable. And if we plan ahead that is one of the main thing make sure you plan ahead and, um, you know your child, you know what's going to set them off and try to, you know, figure out ways to avoid those triggers, if you can.
Speaker 1:
So, anyway, I'm glad I'm back. I hope you guys have a great weekend or week. Today's Sunday, so a week, and I go back to work Monday, so, and I will let you know how things are going with that, I have one child that's kind of a runner and so I'm learning how to deal with that. So it's been interesting, but I can't, you know, say too much about my classroom, or definitely no names or anything like that. But I will share some little stories and that are interesting. Anyway, I hope you guys have a blessed, blessed day and thank you for listening. Bye, bye.
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