Is my son connecting with the new autism inspired character on CBeebies?

Did you see the Chris Packham programme 'Asperger's and Me' on BBC2 at 9pm last night? I'm planning to catch up on iPlayer.  I'll be honest, once we've got our three children, two of whom have autism, into bed and started having dinner it's usually easily past 9pm.  I've read some inspiring reports about it this morning.   Truth is at the moment I feel spoilt for choice when it comes to watching autism inspired TV.

Autumn fruits motor-skills home made stencil painting activity

It's not yet properly cold and wet and if you look around you'll be able to spot some of the last fruits of the year.  Jane says it's a beautiful time of the year with all the autumn colours too.  Fruit picking is a great motor skill in itself.  But if there aren't many to pick where you are or you just want to have some fun at home then this easy to make stamp painting activity is good for motor skills and learning about fruit at this time of the year.

Top three books with autistic kids

I don't get the chance to read often and when I do get a bit of time, I like a bit of fact and fiction.  Like these books with autistic adult characters, I often go back to ones with autistic kid characters too. Not only are that full of fantastic plots or heart-breaking truths but I connect with them in a way I don't with other books.  My boys connect with books in a unique way too.  Why not have a read of my top three and see what you think?

Learning motor-skills with Gruffalo Terrible Tusks fruit kebabs

The Gruffalo has been very big in our house since last Christmas and I know we'll be watching it again plenty this year.   Jane even got the Gruffalo Crumble and other recipes cookbook and it's been out a few times, most recently to make Gruffalo tusk fruit kebabs.

SEND and SpectrumSunday #58

Welcome to SEND and Spectrum Sunday No. 58! If you were at Britmums Live last weekend and I missed you then I'm sorry.  One of the things about running a faceless blog is that no-one recognises you at conferences and things.  Whatever you were up to last weekend or anytime over the last few weeks, we'd love to hear about it here. 

AutismParenting: Never underestimate the value of routine

Everything in life has an intrinsic value.   Some things are more important to some of us than others. Some value family, some health, some money. My six year old autistic son values routine.  Routines keep him safe.  Routines ensure things happen right.  Sometimes I'm blown away by the impact a tiny change can have.

Helping the kids be happy in their clothes

Did you have one of those kids who wanted to spend their whole childhood.. umm... naked? Or did they insist on being wrapped up completely even on the hottest of days?  Maybe now they seem to be constantly fidgeting and fiddling with their clothes.  It might not just be a desire to be feral or ants in their pants, with my lot it's far more likely to be the way their clothes feel.

Getting our family through an airport

I wouldn't class us as frequent flyers, but we're on flights as a whole family at least twice a year.  My brother lives in the middle of the USA and if we aren't taking our kids to meet their cousins there, we may meet them somewhere else to go on holiday together.

Coping with the stress of parenting our kids

Baby brain? Had that. Sleepless nights? Yep, I've still got them. The kids have definitely had an impact on my body and health. I love all my children to bits but let's face it, despite my youngest now being four years old, there's still a lot more tummy than there was nine years ago.  It looks like someone has spirographed on a pigs belly. And that's not the half of it.

WonderfulWednesday: UK Autism Hero Awards

Last Wednesday of the month - time for sharing something great I've found or learnt about online in my Wonderful Wednesday post.  And this month I'm highlighting the UK Autism Hero Awards.