Helping our kids develop their independence

Raising our kids is a real privilege.  Many people miss that just because they have challenges that it's  wonderful to watch them grow and flourish as they grow.  i'm proud of so many of all my kids achievements but have to admit that with our autistic son's, one of the most difficult aspects of raising them is their struggles with freedom and independence.  It's sometimes easiest to just let them rely on me   as their parent for nearly every part of life. Easiest.. for a while but I've been thinking especially as they are now 10 and 12 that I really need to help them do more themselves. 

Fun craft to help kids with dressing

The weather is getting a little warmer.  There's slightly less frost in the mornings and some days it's getting into the teens! So, it's time to think about what we are putting on.

Supporting independence in the morning routine

Mornings in our home are a sort of regimented chaos.  Three kids who all require some form of supervision, two schools to get to and all their gear. Although my kids may seem old enough to be doing a lot of the morning routine themselves, they have a few challenges

When growing independence is frightening

Have you seen Rain Man?  If not you should.  There was a scene in it where Raymond, an adult with autism,  tries to cook frozen waffles in a toaster.  It all goes wrong, smoke pours out of appliance and the smoke alarm goes off.  His brother, played by Tom Cruise, comes rushing in, smashes the alarm off the ceiling and sorts out the smoking toaster. Raymond isn't safe to be by himself.  He was just trying to do was make himself breakfast,  but he is not independent.  He needs support, even to make breakfast.  And so does my son.