BAD WEATHER? DON’T DESPAIR… THESE OUT-OF-THE-BOX INDOOR ACTIVITIES OFFER PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING.

by Karen Kaplan/Educational Specialist/SLP

So, the weather is bad... Yes, the weather does not always support outside play and learning. Of course, the rain and wind and even snow can limit activities. But do not let that stop you from engaging your individual who learns differently. There are so many ways to engage them indoors; yes, inside homes, buildings, restaurants, businesses, malls, stores, and special centers for movement and exercise. There are so many ways to buildup their motor skills, expand their vocabular y, increase their comprehension, teach social skills, and nurture their independence and problem solving.

I understand it all depends upon your individual’s current challenges, but try to step just a little outside your box and anxious thinking, and try baby steps towards these new suggestions.

Activities do not have to happen daily. Identify days of the week less complex in your life and start there. Activities do not have to take up a great deal of time. Sometimes, in the beginning, a few minutes engaging in something new is a great start. Then just increase the time gradually. Also remember, it is the preparation before that helps calmer engagement occur.

I still recommend to parents and teachers to use Carol Gray's, Social Story Approach Home - Carol Gray - Social Stories to prime and prepare the individual who learns differently, who has challenges with anything new and novel, and who may resist . I advise taking pictures of the new inside-site or activity. You could even have them find the new site on the web and view pictures of it there. Create a story around the new site or activity with the pictures; just a simple story that shows the activity and provides some structure around engaging in the activity, event , or site. Start reading that story to your individual several days before it occurs. Put a calendar in their bedroom or on the refrigerator that marks off the days until the activity will take place. Put a picture of the activity on the calendar date, for a visual reminder. Talk about this inside-adventure several days before. This is all priming, an effective teaching strategy that builds comprehension and decreases anxiety of new and different . This priming breaks down the unexpected which can put an individual in a flight or fight mode.