The holidays are a busy time, filled with running errands, shopping and making plans. Take a break from all the hustle and bustle for an easy to do holiday project with your child! This reindeer art is sure to help spread some holiday cheer and will provide your child with many language learning opportunities!
Materials:

Thanksgiving is just a week away! How can we make the most out of this special social holiday for our children? Here are a couple ideas:
Plan out your Thanksgiving day
Here are some important things to think about to help set your child up to succeed on Thanksgiving:
-Whose house will you be at?
-Is there any area for your child to play?
-Is there any area for a quiet time or break?
-Who will be at Thanksgiving?
-Will it be quiet or loud?
-Will there be other children to play with your child (older or younger)?

Halloween is just around the corner which means there will be lots of CANDY in your house very soon! Some children can’t eat candy due to allergies and special diets and others can eat candy, but as parents, you may try to limit the amount they eat. If this is the case for your family, you just might find the “Halloween Fairy” to be your new BFF. Here are a few ideas on how to use the “Halloween Fairy”:
1. All of the Candy

Halloween is approaching fast and one of the best parts about the holiday is decorating for it! Spooky cobwebs, cackling witches and bright-eyed jack-o-lanterns really help to set the mood during this eerie, yet fun holiday season! Getting to the store or pumpkin patch doesn’t always fit into our day to day schedules; this holiday set the mood at your house with our pumpkin craft! These paper bag pumpkins are super cute, easy to make, and you don’t have to worry about them going rotten!
Materials:
-Paper lunch sack
-Newspaper
-Orange tempera paint

Homemade Puff Paint

Potty training. Worst nightmare or piece of cake? This experience is different for everyone. With the first day of school being just around the corner, parents are feeling the pressure to get their child potty trained and to get them potty trained fast. Your system may be working or it may not. Whether you are looking for a couple of tips or a truckload, we are here to help!
There are two things to know that we consider most important about potty training:
1. All children are different. Because of this, some of these ideas may apply to your child and some may not.

It’s summer! In Texas, the temperature continues to rise each and every day. As much fun as it is to be outside in the sun at the park, at Six Flags, at baseball games or in the pool, many afternoons we just want to hang out inside. Making sun catchers is a fun and easy activity for all children during those long summer days.
Materials
1. Clear contact paper
2. Tissue paper
3. Cookie cutters or stencils (Bed Bath and Beyond has a set of 100 cookie cutters for $9.99 http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=12474253)
4. Markers
5. Scissors
6. Tape

With a busy holiday weekend ahead, you are probably preparing for good times with family and friends. So how do you keep the kids busy and entertained at home, in the car or within the community while maximizing on social opportunities with their siblings, cousins and friends? Here are a few links to some of our past summer blogs that will do just that:
Let’s Go to the Movies:
http://www.autismspot.com/blog/Summer-Fun-Lets-Go-Movies
Frozen Treats:
http://www.autismspot.com/blog/Summer-Fun-Frozen-Treats
Going on a Picnic:

Going to the mall can be a great place to take your kids on a long summer day when they may otherwise be jumping off the walls in the house. The mall is filled with so many opportunities to teach your child life skills, safety, play skills and social skills but let’s face it, it can be overwhelming. I’m not sure about you but my head typically spins at the mall on a busy Saturday when I’m attempting to battle the noise, the lights and THE PEOPLE. By the time I leave, I can guarantee that I have aches in my feet and back paired with a big ole headache.

Water parks are fun and popular destinations for families during the summer season. In addition to being an inexpensive vacation and a relief from the summer heat, trips to the waterpark can be wonderful opportunities for language learning experiences! Included below are tips for working on specific language skills while spending time with your family!
Social Communication: