I bring you the Wilderness Festival

Last year I was overjoyed to win a family ticket with camping to the fabulous Wilderness festival set in the idyllic Cornbury Park Oxfordshire. It was the first year of an amazing new festival and this year they are all set to return bigger and better than ever.

I’m overjoyed at knowing that I will once again be joining festival goers, however this time I’m going child free.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a child friendly festival, but the children are spending this particular weekend with their dad so I’m going to be taking full advantage of the surroundings and of course… The night parties.

THE ULTIMATE CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE IN WONDERFUL SURROUNDINGS

Witchwood School of Rock, The Bushcraft Company, Flying Seagull Project, Tea Potty Shed, Barefoot Books and the chance to meet a fairy queen in the forest…just a few of the things for your ‘Little Wild Ones’ to enjoy at Wilderness Festival

Taking place from 10th-12th August at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire, workshops for kids and adults alike, interspersed with walks into the wilds and an enchanted woodland fairy trail.

Jo Vidler, Creative Director comments:
“We want to ensure that everyone attending Wilderness, no matter what age, can enjoy the unique offerings we have across the weekend. Our curators have raised the bar this year to create the phenomenal ‘Little Wild Ones’ area that will have all kinds of activities for kids. Wilderness will have opportunities for everyone to take part in something that they wouldn’t normally have the chance to experience, and for us that’s key.”

Family friendly entertainment from the Suitcase Cabaret who will host an army of brilliance from comedy to music and activities including, horse riding, fly-fishing, Zumba! classes and Guerilla Geography available across the site. The award-winning festival welcomes back The Bearded Kittens to host the famous ‘Not Your Average’ cricket match on the lawn, complete with lashings of Pimms and piles of cucumber sandwiches, and Future Cinema make their Wilderness debut with a Bugsy Malone takeover complete with a massive splurge fight.

The fabulous Bushcraft Company will be delivering their outdoor adventures influenced by nature, where children will be able to learn bushcraft skills from lighting fires to woodland playing games, shelter building and carving techniques. They’ll also be offering a twist on babysitting with an exclusive kids-only overnight camp where parents can drop their children off at 5pm for them to enjoy a night of walks, games, campfires and cooking with experienced Bushcraft staff. They’ll be back to meet their parents by 11am the next morning – a treat for both children and mums and dads.

Embracing the Wilderness spirit, the ‘Little Wild Ones’ area will be a hive of inspired children’s activity. The Flying Seagull Project returns with a range of entertainment based in a beautiful gypsy-esque, open-sided pavilion tent, complete with vintage horsebox and Willy Wonka style stage. Kids can also discover the magic of nature with a rainbow trail led by the Fairyland Trust. Families will embark on a fascinating journey as they enter a wonderful land of fairy folklore and natural history.

Let their imaginations run wild with a host of spectacular activities and workshops including jewellery making with Amy Surman, a Socktopus puppet workshop, which promotes creative recycling and will hold a dancing parade on the final day, and Witchwood School of Rock – the biggest little rock school in the world. The ‘Little Wild Ones’ also welcomes Hartbeeps – a unique blend of original music workshops and mini productions in this interactive experience.

Are you sitting comfortably? The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre will take adults and children on a trip to the author’s mythical world with poems from ‘Revolting Rhymes’ and ‘Dirty Beasts’, and continuing with the literary theme, enjoy live storytelling music, arts and crafts and yoga from Barefoot Books.

The ‘Pop-up Garden’ will ensure all the family get green-fingered with hands-on knowledge of gardening, the Kite Studio will offer creative clay and print making workshops and Meet the Species returns to Wilderness to engage children with the environment around them, as they identify species in and around the site.

Wilderness is also pleased to welcome Tea Potty Shed with the T Potty ladies and their old-fashioned sweet shop. Children can learn how to weigh out sweets and count out pennies in return for some tasty treats. Also across the festival weekend families can spend some time together and take part in drumming, storytelling, face painting, fairy crown making, cinema, pottery and hula-hooping.

As you would expect at a festival, the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down! Let the stars guide you on an enchanting woodland fairy trail, filled with beautiful secret fairy houses and the mesmerising Fairy Queen, who will tell old tales of ancient folk law about the nature that surrounds.

Family tickets (two adults and two children) are priced at £260.

For further festival information and tickets to Wilderness Festival, please visit: www.wildernessfestival.com

Sounds awesome… Doesn’t it?
Checkout the lineup below and visit the Wilderness website and Facebook page for more information.

Line-up:
Music
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA performing with C.U.B.A, WILCO, SPIRITUALIZED, SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS, THE TEMPER TRAP, CRYSTAL FIGHTERS, STORNOWAY, BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH, LIANNE LA HAVAS, CLOUD CONTROL, GIANT GIANT SAND, GRANT LEE BUFFALO, JENNY O, FIELD MUSIC, FATOUMATA DIAWARA, MILAGRES, TO KILL A KING, JAKE BUGG, LONDON FOLK GUILD
Cinematic Spectacular
FUTURE CINEMA PRESENT: BUGSY MALONE FESTIVAL TAKOVER ACROSS THE WHOLE SITE AND THE OTHER CINEMA’S PRESENTATION OF ‘LA HAINE’ FEATURING A LIVE RE-SCORE BY ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION

Food
YOTAM OTTOLENGHI, FERGUS HENDERSON + ST JOHN, VALENTINE WARNER, SAM & SAM CLARK’S MORO SOUK DINING TENT, THYME COOKERY SCHOOL

INTELLIGENCE SQUARED, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, THE SCHOOL OF LIFE, THE IDLER ACADEMY, THE LAKESIDE SPA, THE HEALING GARDEN

Late night parties
SECRET GARDEN PARTY presents RISE OF THE TRIBES, THE OLD VIC TUNNELS MIDNIGHT MASKED BALL, BOOM BOOM CLUB, RUMPUS, BLOODSTONE’S FEAST OF FOOLS

#Win Family Tickets For The Fabulous Lollibop Festival

It’s almost that time again for this years Big Bash For Little People… The amazing Lollibop.

I’ve seriously been looking forward to next months Lollibop Festival, so much so, there is a danger that I’m more excited about it than the children.

Myself and sister attended last years event along with our toddlers. I have stored away in my mind, the wonderful memory that was the look on my little Harley’s face when he came face to face with all his idols such as Bob the Builder, George Pig and Raster Mouse to name just a few.

Last week I posted an update on this years line up and if you’ve already checked it out then you will know where I’m coming from when I declare it be… Totally Fabulous and worth getting extremely excited about.

Last year, I found that despite the festival heaving with little partygoers everyone got well looked after. The festival is totally accessible for those with disabilities, it even has a raised platform with wheelchair access. which has been directed towards the main stage. This therefore means everyone gets to see their favourite children’s characters over the sea of heads which is formed the crowd. This doesn’t just apply to those in wheelchairs but also those children with autism or sensory processing disorder who cant do the whole crowd thing (normally resulting in meltdowns). Despite the fact little man didn’t attend last year I was confident that the lollibop was ensuring all children and families the time of their lives.

There is just so much to do and see while attending Lollibop that if I went through everything this post would simply never end.

So… Below I have posted a mini update highlighting some of the exciting surprises in store for this years little festival goers.

If You like what you read and I can’t see why you wouldn’t then make sure you enter our awesome competition to win some very sought after family tickets to this amazing event!

ZINGZILLAS & DICK AND DOM TO ROCK REGENT’S PARK
Lollibop, Billed as The Big Bash for Little People, will take place between August 17 and 19 and is aimed at children up to the age of 10.

Festival highlights, include The ‘LolliBop Live’ stage which plays host to some of the hottest names in kids entertainment with performances from the likes of the ZingZilla’s, Jassa Aluwahlia (Art Attack) and The Mr Men & Little Miss Party Roadshow. TV favourites Dick and Dom will also take to the stage to entertain crowds with their unique blend of music and games.

Celebrating its first year in the West End, Shrek the Musical will also make a special appearance with a performance from the award-winning show (Sunday 19 only).

Global phenomenon Moshi Monsters will also be on site, bringing the UK’s first Moshi Monsters Mash Up Tournament to Lollibop. Taking place each day, children are challenged to put their Mash Up skills to the test. All players will also receive a free pack of Mash Up cards, so everyone can join in. Fans are encouraged to bring their own collections with them, as there has never been a better chance to trade with other Moshi Card collectors. Head over to the Moshi tent for lots of other fun and games including character appearances, monster quizzes and more!

Halfords are creating a bespoke Bike City, which will include a Wacky Races obstacle course for under 5’s, where children can be the first to try out a brand new range of Balance and Apollo kids bikes. For older kids, highlights include a BMX stunt display and demo area.

In the Lollipaladium, see the story of The Gruffalo brought to life on the stage with plenty of audience interaction and CBeebies favourite, Mister Maker will be on hand to demonstrate his unique arts and crafts skills.

The brand new life-size Transformers Optimus Prime Truck will also be at the three day event, giving fans the chance to get up and personal with this movie legend.
Other headline attractions include yoga sessions with Waybuloo, workshops by Horrible Histories, Roald Dahl Museum and Storytelling Centre, performances by 8ft Titan the Robot, an Alice In Wonderland tea party and a chance to meet ‘Tiny’, a 125 million years young dinosaur.

Check out the official video (it sure does get you in the party mood)

All of the activities, stages and events are included in the entry ticket price, which start at £22 per person. For more information, including a full programme of events, visit www.lollibopfestival.com

Lollibop have kindly offered me a family pass (consisting of 4 tickets) to give away to one lucky “A Boy With Aspergers” reader. This is a brilliant prize, one worth over a £100 so if your wanting to attend its really worth entering.

All you have to do is complete the mandatory question below leaving the answer in a comment which includes some form of contact details (twitter handle or email is fine).

Question… What will the Moshi Monsters bring to the Lollibop for the first time?

Extra entries (one comment to be added for each additional action please)!

Tweet: “I want to win a family ticket to the #Lollibop with @clairelouise82 & @loillbopuk”

Follow me on twitter

Follow the Lollibop on twitter

Like the Loillbop Facebook page

Pin this Competition on pinterest and include the following hash tag #Lollibop use the button located on the sidebar or if you have one in your tool bar that’s even better.

Lastly: Google + 1 this Competition.

T&Cs
Standard publication T&Cs
• A family pass is 4 tickets to the event and can be used on either Friday 17 August or Sunday 19 August.
• The prize is non refundable and non exchangeable
• No cash alternative will be offered
• Travel is not included
• Closing date is 20th July 23rd July 2012 at 5pm

Competition open to those in the UK only, please leave a contact with your comment so I can contact you in the event you win. Winners are given 72 hours to respond to winning notification. Drawn at random.

 

 

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

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Autism and Chores

Lets face it, household chores are really not much fun. We all need a little encouragement every now and then to get going.

My son, who’s now 11 and has a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome quivers at the word housework or chores, but then so does my 9-year-old daughter. Little man just needs a hard dose of motivation that’s all!

This isn’t only down to the fact he despises any housework related activity, though this does account for the majority of his reluctance, it’s also other factors, such difficulty following instructions, doing things in sequence and that of poor sensory processing.

As Little Man’s mother I’ve admittedly at times thrown in the towel and given up, though this maybe the easiest option at the time, it makes things a whole lot more difficult later on! This is part of life and as my mother still tells me to this day, “Life sometimes requires us to do things we don’t like, but that’s just life!”

In order for the little man to grow up and become fully independent, he will need to require simple skills such as these to make it on his own in the big real world. He must learn how to do the basics accruing more complex skills as he grows older! Another important factor in this situation is the fact he will also need to learn the value and importance of helping other people… So what if you didn’t drop those wrappers on the floor, helping shouldn’t be an issue non the less!

Firstly, I must say before rambling on any further, I’m just a mother, and I don’t have all the answers, in fact I’m unsure to whether I actually have any! Though I will always try to find answers, when I succeed, or even partly so, then I’ll share with you all, in the hope it helps you too!

So… here’s some suggestions on how to encourage a child on the autism spectrum to actively engage in household chores without all hell breaking loss and then regrettably freezing over. These tips may work for one child and not the other, you may be required to try a number of different techniques or maybe just the one, every child is different regardless of abilities and diagnosis. Note: I’ve also tried this with my 9-year-old daughter who isn’t diagnosed with the condition and she’s actually done brilliantly with many of them.

1) Children on the autism spectrum tend to be visual learners, they may use written or symbol prompts as to plan events, following instructions in completing a set task, or just to alert them as to what happens next. Little man has been using both a visual schedule at home and school keeping it consistent. He likes to know what’s planed and this is the same with chores, so, if he has chores as well as homework etc, these are added to a chore chat which he helps to devise on a weekly basis.

2) Don’t give rewards for every completed chore as this then doesn’t become a normal daily routine but instead a way to gain rewards. If one week you wasn’t in a position to provide the promised reward, failure could result in undesired meltdowns. Rewards can be given as a weekly treat and you should ensure its done for all children in the household.

3) Help your child to chose their weekly chores as in number 1, however try to encourage some weekly chores in-which you can both contribute in together, making it a fun bonding experience.

4) Don’t change the chores without giving a warning to your child, keep them consistent in the way in which you and your child devised them. Also try to agree on a time your likely to keep too, as this will only cause problems otherwise.

5) Do the same as in part 1 and 4 but remember to not make your child overly reliant on his routine, so try to adjust times for different weeks, but as mentioned in part 4, stick to them for that entire week.

6) Teach your child how to have a focus, this works fantastically for Little man. An example would be if vacuuming, say the living room, point out the half way mark highlighting how his almost there, then point out the finishing post. You will find that even though the break is offered at half time, 9x out of 10 they’ll keep pushing themselves all the way.

7) Don’t keep asking as it drives children like little man round the bend. If your child fails to look at the chart remind them to do so, if they just refuse then you may need to decided if a sanction may need applying. Stick to your guns and be consistent, as you will be in an even worse position for next time.

8) Don’t bombard a load of request upon your child at once, example, take up washing, put shoes under stairs, hang coat up then run your bath…. overloading will produce the undesirable. Remember children on the spectrum tend to be unable to follow instructions if not given time to process the information given, this is why I’ve suggested the chore chart.

9) Have something nice to look forward too! I’m not talking a treat as such, more like something you’ll be sitting to watch as a family that evening. Talking about the film etc why doing chores with your child, will help them complete without the dragging boredom.

10) If like little man, your child on the autism spectrum doesn’t do well in supermarkets (despite how much he protest he wants to join you) ensure you have prepared distractions and you are aware of any sensory triggers, avoiding where possible. I get Little man helping me write the list, this helps his handwriting and spelling skills, reading the list while we shop also helps reading skills (so they don’t know they are doing chores and a fair bit of education based work too). Little man is also fantastic at maths which he actually enjoys too. To keep his mind from distractions that may cause sensory overload or some type of social anxiety episode I ask what’s best value for money when deciding if to buy a product (example, buy one get one 1/2 price coke or that of the 50% extra free priced at 10p more) His actually quicker than I am and has on occasions save me some money.

Another thing that Little man loves is the “Self Service Checkout” I guess he feels independent. It’s a great way to distract your child or engage in a little social skills training.

11) Little man loves music and despite sensitive hearing (he can hear a pin drop, or a buzzing freezer sends him barmy) music however doesn’t have the same effect, he loves music, and the louder the better.

If you can tolerate a bit of loud music then its an awesome way to motivate both child and adult into doing the chores and it really does do well to speed things up.

12) Since being in special school little man’s become a dab hand in the kitchen. He cooks or bakes at school every Tuesday and has brought home some delightful dishes. I do think its the Italian in him as the kitchen isn’t my favourite place to be. Because of this I ensure he is appointed jobs that he really enjoys, like helping prepare a meal under supervision. He loves this and it’s simply not a chore in his mind at all.

13) One thing extremely important for the child on the autism spectrum, is that of prise, your child should be praised for the smallest accomplishments as these will eventually lead to those bigger ones, plus you’ll find over time that your child is setting out to please you.

14) Little man love’s some items that many other children have considered strange and undesirable. On little man’s christmas list, I’ve found all sorts such as juicers, smoothie makers, blenders and even a chip pan (don’t ask). His always begging to get his mitts on some type of appliance. This can be used as reinforcements, allowing your child to use the popcorn maker to create a movie snack under your supervision! However, your child will need to clean up and wash any dirty dishes (making sure sharp objects and blades have been removed first).

15) Occasionally, surprise your child with something nice. Do not directly state that it’s a reward for his engagement in chores but prise him for how his displayed good skills and is a good role model for younger siblings and now seems more grown up. This kind of thing makes Little man very proud, he then thinks about other ways of impressing me, not just for treats but the overall confidence boast he receives.

16) Don’t overload chores, give little on Saturdays and none on Sundays, allowing them some chill out time and space. They will continue their chores more efficiently once rested or having had some fun.

17) If your child has hygiene difficulties due to sensory reasons, then you should work with him to remove or reduce the trigger if at all possible, adding these activities to the chores chart also.

18) Encourage your child to recycle by speaking about the fascinating things that it involves and how certain objects can cleverly be used to make something completely different. Do a scavenger hunt, encourage your child/children to collect as many newspapers as they can as well as other recyclable items that can each be placed in its own boxes, example…. Glass, Paper, cans etc… making this a fun afternoon game.

19) If your child has their own pet (little man has Bella our pregnant cat) get them involved in feeding and grooming making it a responsible job and good practical chore.

20) Take the chores out into the garden this summer. With the beautiful sunshine and longer days. Little man and his sister enjoy the garden, and along with their father they are already planting and getting there fingers all green, which is perfect for me, given I hate gardening.

So, there you have it, a nice long list of 20 things that may help your child on the autism spectrum to complete their chores.

If you’re a parent of a child with or without autism, I’d love to hear of any tips with in your comments.

Tara’s Music Magic – Snuggles in Scotland

Tara’s Music magic, is a children’s production consisting of both DVD’s and CD’s specially developed for little ones 5 and under. I thought it would be a nice DVD for Harley to review, something for him to watch while his siblings were at school.

 We received the DVD the week that south London got covered in a layer of snow, so there were fewer trips out about and more snuggling by the fire indoors. It was on one of these cosy afternoons that we settled down to watch Harley’s new DVD, here’s what we thought!

Tara’s Music Magic, Snuggles in Scotland is made up of 20 songs, including classics like ‘Row, row, row your boat’, (one of Harley’s favourites) ‘Old MacDonald had a farm’ and ‘Snow Angels’. With each song Tara (presenter and singer) a group of children & snuggles (the panda) dance, play around or  have fun acting out the words to each song.

This is not an animated protection and reminded me of how children’s productions were when I was small. This was great though, as the DVD had a feel of simplicity about it, making it pleasurable viewing. It was easy for Harley to remain engaged as the DVD runs for just 30 minutes. Harley is also a huge fan of Snuggles as his already crazy about Pandas! This came about as a result of  last years summer festival to celebrate the release of the New Kung Fo panda 2.

When a song came on that Harley recognised, he would start clapping, jumping up & joining in! Its great that the DVD gives you the option to select which songs you want to play, as well as the option to play all. Harley did a fine job of recreating the Teletubbies as he shouted, “Again, again” after a number of songs, especially the ‘Old king Duke of York’ and ‘Row, row, row your boat’ so, being able to select each song from the menu saved me having to constantly rewind it.

The clip for ‘Old MacDonald had a farm’ was particularly well-played out, as it showed clips of all the different animals, allowing Harley, age 2 years, to easily relate each animal to the sound that it made within the song. I find that the singing was of a really good quality and despite the number of times we have watched the DVD, the songs are yet to take over my brain and send me potty!

However, their was one thing that slightly worried me and this was the recreation of the well known rhyme “Ten Green Bottles” We instead got “Ten Little Panda’s” which was fine, though the fact that Snuggles can be clearly seen to be pushing each cuddly panda of the wall, as the words ‘Accidentally fall’ were sang out, was definitely a little bit confessing for my Little one who with each push, put his hand over his mouth and with a look of horror, stated “Oooo… bad Panda”  Harley also watched the DVD  with his big brother a few days later and of course my eldest spotted this and was therefore the first to state, that it wasn’t actually an accident at all! Nonetheless, I do understand that the production is aimed at children under five, it’s just that many parents may be in the process of teaching their child what the word accident or accidentally actually means, or like Harley, some may end up accusing Snuggles of being a naughty panda!

 Regardless of the above, we did enjoyed the DVD and Harley has requested we stick it in the player on a number of occasion’s. With each one he remains entertained, showing no signs of boredom whatsoever! A great feature is that, Tara and Snuggles (the life size Panda) are joined by a group of children who sing and dance throughout, its this I feel gave it that special touch as children do well at relating to other children out and about, having fun!

 This is a production that both encourages and motivates little one’s to get up and dance and move about, while teaching them the words to both new songs and classic nursery rhymes that are loved by all.

‘Tara’s Music Magic Snuggles in Scotland’ can be brought from Amazon for £8.00 click HERE to check this out or have a look at any of the other productions titles, such as ‘Tara’s Music Magic Winter Fun’ You can also follow Tara’s music magic on twitter or check out their Facebook page for all the latest need to know news.

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Winners of the Popblast Album

There are four winners each taking a popblast album each.

These are…

Donna Smith emes
Rebecca Coyne
Nes Gorton
Jess Whitehead Stevens

Congratulations to you all, please send your postal address to me via the email address in the sidebar

We have some awesome competitions running as part of our Santa’s Little helpers-Christmas Countdown, such as win £100 Argos vouchers, Wow toys, Tekkers hoody, Janod Confetti Piano. All can be found under the Countdown to christmas or Competitions header

A-Z Of Me

OK, I was actually tagged to do this post entitled the ‘A-Z of me’ in  WAIT FOR IT… September! Yes, useless I know! I discovered I had been tagged by the fabulous & lovely Heidi  writer of the blog ‘Him, me & three’ via ttwitter! I checked out Heidi’s post, thought, “Great idea let’s get started” yet somehow got distracted, as you do! Only to be reminded some 2 or more months later when Mummybird (another lovely blogger) posted her A-Z of me after being tagged.  I do wish to add that I only discovered that mummybird had written the A-Z of me, due to her taste in men! “Mummybird if you are reading this…. KEEP YOUR MITTS OF ROBBIE, HIS MINE WOMAN, MINE…”

SO, my fashionably late article, just like it’s writer is finally live… Here is the A-Z of me!

 Me in my festive get up.

Anorak… Do you have a sad side? I have a little bit of a stationary obsession and can’t help buying pens, diaries, note book, anything stationary really! I guess that is a tad sad isn’t it?

 BODY…What physical attribute would you most like to change? What part wouldn’t I like to change should be the question! Seriously I want my pre-preggers body back, it was dead easy with the first two, not with Harley his almost 2 and I still can’t get back in my size 8s… Gutted, but working hard on a number of keep fit projects… Bring it on!

 CELEBRITY…Which one would you most like to date and why? Robbie William’s  is a little bit of alrite isn’t he 🙂 but his now a taken man and I’m feeling pretty upset about that actually! Why would I like to date him? Do I really need to answer that? (Mummy bird, you really need to keep your eyes of my Robbie)   

 DEBUT …Tell us about your first ever blog post. What made you start blogging? I introduced myself, talked about Little mans autism and ranted about the system and how slow….. It was. I look back and think to myself how rather poor my blogging skills were back then, though it helps me to appreciate how far along my writing skills have developed! I may not be the best writer or have the top marks for grammar but I inject passion into what I write and I really hope that comes across to my readers!

 ERROR …What’s been your biggest regret?  Not finishing school because eventually you have to do even more to get where you wanna be! Its better to work your arse of when you’re a youngster so you can rake in the benefits as early on as your twenties. Despite this, I do believe it doesn’t take an A level or even masters degree to make a success of your life!

 FUNNY – who’s making you laugh? I think Lee Nelson is a very funny dude, its my childish side, I just can’t help but laugh at his Dr Bob and Faliraki Nights sketches! Also a big fan of Lee Evens and Russell Howard! 

 GRAND…If we gave you one right now what would you spend it on? If I’m honest I’d be dead tempted to get myself a new Macbook (currently have Mac air and though it’s stunning I need to move on!) I’d also quite like to get me mitts on a nice ipad 2! But what I want and what I get is two different things altogether! Yes… with three children & a Christmas list as long as my arm, plus the added addition of having a huge family network, I’d more than likely spend it on Christmas.

 HOLIDAY… What’s your favourite destination? Greece (Island of Rhodos) I lived and worked there when I was just 17 years old, gosh they were the days! Don’t get me wrong, although I love my children more than life itself, I do miss them days of sun, sea, sand, fish bowls, cocktails and late nights (Oh, yer I guess I still get plenty of late nights, don’t I!)

 IRRITATE… What’s your most annoying habit? The fact I keep using the word ‘Awesome’ God I don’t know where it came from, I don’t say it ever, just write it, why? I really don’t have a clue, I come across like some beach dude. AWESOME!!

 JOKER…Whats your favourite joke {the one that makes you laugh everytime you hear it}? I saw a bloke Moonwalking in the street. He was really good so I went over to commend him on his silky Jackson moves. He said “Get lost smart arse, I’ve got dog s*** on my trainers” Well, I honestly laughed loudly as I sat on the bus when I read this in a text from my nutty mate! She sends me at least 5 great jokes a day! 

 KENNEL… Do you have any pets? Yes, I have two kittens, two very naughty kittens I might add.

 LOVE…Are you single, married, engaged, living with a long-term partner? Live apart I have three kids already!

 MEAL… Whats your ultimate starter, main and dessert? Italian Salad followed by a pasta dish of some sort and finished of with Cheese cake. A couple of bottles of white makes a cracking addition wouldn’t you agree?

 NOW…If you could be anywhere right now where would you be and who with? I’d be in either in Greece or Italy with the children.

 OFF DUTY…What do you do in your spare time? When I have some precious free time, I blog, blog & blog some more! When I’m not blogging I social network (Holds hands up, Yes I’m a twitter head) I also volunteer for NAS, catch up with friends and family and when the funds allow it… I shop!

 PROUD MOMENTS …What are you most proud of? My three children, I’m proud how far Little man has come, and how his now embracing his Aspergers. I’m proud of my daughters ability to cope so well when things get tough, and the amazing developments my almost two-year old is making every single day, though I wish he would stay small forever, I really do! 

 QUEASY …What turns your stomach? Needles I loth them, I fear them, I run from them!!!

 RELAX…How do you relax? Writing here on the blog while blasting music through my ipod, (It’s the only way I can process my thoughts, to drown out the background noise, which tends to reach high levels in my house. I also like to read, tweet with a glass of white and a naughty ciggy! I also love to get deep into some art, or tend to unwind shopping for shoes… One of life’s little pleasures!

 SONG…Whats your favourite song of all time? I love music and listen to music more than I watch TV. I like far to many songs to choose just one, I also like a wide range of music from old skool garage, to a bit of Cold play.

 TIME …If you could go back in time and relive it again, when would you choose? The last time I saw my Grandmother, If I knew it was going to be the last, I would have said a whole lot more, I would have been sure to tell her I loved her though I’m sure she knew, I would have still have liked to have said it that one last time! 

 UNKNOWN…Tell us something about yourself that no one else knows? That Nobody else knows? Your seriously crazy, that would be a secret and a serious one if I was the only one that knew! So… Forget it, I’m staying zipped!

 VOCAL…. Who is your favourite artist? Really couldn’t say I have to many. 

 WORK….. What is your dream job, and are you doing it now?  Solicitor specialising in education law (no, I’m not doing it now)! I’d also like to write for living and own my own brand.

 XRAY…Any broken bones? Just my little toe, the hospital didn’t need a xray to confirm.

 YIKES…What’s been your most embarrassing moment? Realising my skirt was tucked in my knickers at school (sad thing was I only discovered this once I had walked through a crowded assembly hall) The red face of shame, I’ll never forget it!

 ZOO…. If you were an animal, which one would you be? It’s got to be a chimp, cute but all so bloody cheeky.

I don’t have a clue who has been tagged already, what with this post being so…. late who bets I tag someone to do this A-Z, who has already done it? Looks certain I will doesn’t it! 

Ok if you have done this then “whoops, I’m sorry!”  I tag… 

• Romanian Mum (blog: Romanian mum in London)
• Debs (blog: Aspie in the family)
• 1teddiesmum (blog: Teddies family)
• Emma Clement (blog: Emma in Bromley)

Popblast the approved pop for teenyboppers

When we were asked to have a listen to Popblast album & give a few copies away, I thought why not, it could prove to be a bit of a hit and a top stocking filler for the little teenyboppers this Christmas.

Well, I wasn’t wrong, ‘Popblast went down a storm in our house, my youngest 23 month old Harley swung his nappy for an hour at least.

Popblast is a CD jam packed with non explicit pop music aimed at children who like to sing & dance. The CD is crammed with awesome upbeat pop music  that us parents can trust.

In my opinion, Popblast is simply wonderful, it’s fab tunes engage children in movement, song and dance, with all the dance moves given in simple steps like, ‘clap your hands’ or ‘stamp your feet’  making it easy to follow for even the youngest of ravers.

Yes, myself and Harley had a blast listening, dancing and singing along to this album. Harley loved the ‘Pyjama song’ and displayed some pretty cool moves to the ‘Monsters stomp’ Even the older two got in on the act!

I’ve already stated the benefits of dance for children on the autism spectrum and this CD is just perfect. Little man loves music and he loved dancing with his baby bro, it really has been a mini party at ours this past week.

Children will have a brilliant time dancing around the bedroom with a hairbrush as a mic. No more sitting watching the box as Popblast will engage your child in some energetic dance, helping them to stay fit and healthy while being dealt a massive helping of fun in the process.

Popblast is great for all and may provide a stack of benefits for the child on the autism spectrum or those with additional needs. This especially looks to be the case when it comes to the Live shows, that promise to teach children some important life skills through the use of motivational interaction using games, song, and dance routines. These skills involve the issues surrounding friendships, respect and personal well-being to name a few. I honestly haven’t attended an event and I’m purely stating my opinions having watched some of the videos of the live events and listening to this fantastic album which really kind of speaks for itself!

If you fancy attending one of the live events, I’d suggest keeping your eyes peeled and ears pinned back listening out for dates and checking the Popblast site for event updates. 

The fabulous new Popblast album consists of ten fun tracks including that of the groovy ‘Pyjama song’ that Harley went mental for! All songs are available for download from all major outlets or can be purchased through the ‘Popblast website’ or at one of their spectacular live events.

You can even listen to the songs on the Popblast website before you buy… How can you get it wrong?

However, despite the ease that comes with getting ahold of a copy of this album, wouldn’t it be just awesome to get your hands on a one for free?

I was given 5 copies of the Popblast album… one for myself to review and 4 to give away!

So… Do you fancy doing the Monster Stomp or the Pyjama Dance on Christmas Day?

If that was a yes, and I do hope it was! Then here’s how you can win yourself and you’re teenyboppers an official Popblast album…

Compulsory action

Follow  @popblast on twitter and let them know I sent you by tweeting “I would love to win a @popblast album with @clairelouise82” ADDING THE POST URL

Extra entries

Say Hi to Popblast on facebook letting them know how you heard about them (Note this does not give you an extra entry, but leaving me a comment to let me know you have done so, validates your entry)

“Subscribe to this blog via RSS reader.

Stumble the post

Share on facebook using the share button below.

PLEASE LEAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT 4 EACH ACTION TAKEN AND LEAVE AN EMAIL, TWITTER OR OTHER FORM OF CONTACT WITHIN YOUR COMMENT. 

Competition will end on the 4th December 2011 at Midnight and 4 winners will be drawn at random. Winners have 72 hours from the time of contact to send their postal address so I can post this out directly.

Competition is open to those in UK only

Disclaimer: We received  a free copy of the Popblast album for the purpose of this review

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• Giant Jenga (aspergersinfo.wordpress.com)

Creative minds, pupils with autism use ICT to create Art.

There are so many things I love about blogging, hearing good news alongside inspiring stories of success from my readers, has to be the ultimate highlight to blogging.

Last week, I got my kicks of happiness, when I received an email from reader and teacher, ‘Joanne’

Joanne contacted me and asked if I was happy to upload some art work to the, ‘Autism & Art’ Page, here on the blog.  The art was created by pupils with Autism and Severe Learning Difficulties who attend a unit for children with autism and SEN (special educational needs) that forms part of the mainstream school, “Evergreen”  Most of the children at the unit are non-verbal but are very expressive when it comes to art. The  children’s artwork has been created on computer with the use of free art software packages, which Joanne has been kind enough to share (this can be found later on in this post).

Of course, I informed Joanne that it would be an honour to feature the children’s fabulous artwork on the blogs Art page, however, while chatting with Joanne, I felt inspired to write a post to show the world how talented these budding little artist are!

Yes, they really are some talented lot, and it’s not just me, Joanne or the rest of the staff at Evergreen Primary school, who think so!

The pupils were nominated for the Northern grid awards (ICT In Education Awards) where their work has been widely showcased and celebrated as a result.

The Northern Grid Awards recognise and celebrate the excellent practice happening in North East Schools. The pupils at Evergreen, were actually Highly Commended in the “Surprise me” category. This was for an activity that was actually formed to support literacy for the KS1 class. The presentation began as a teacher made resources to present the story, ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’ to pupils. The pupils were then involved with developing the presentation into their own, ‘Bear Hunt’ story through their interaction with the story props and resources. Seriously guys, check it out on the site hosting the awards, the teachers and parents of these pupils must be beaming with pride!

Joanne is a lady who is very passionate about her work and she has a great fondness for those she teaches. She told me that, “Most of the children are non-verbal but can actually teach me a thing or two!” It’s refreshing to see teachers and teaching assistants, so passionate about what they do, I really love that, it’s something so simple but for a mother of a child on the spectrum, it’s something you are truly grateful to find.

Joanne’s role with the children is to create creative & sensory friendly learning experiences and her success shines through within the children’s beautiful, yet talented work. She talked about the way the children use computers to create and learn and like myself and many other parents, she really understood the importance of using ICT as a resource for children with autism, both in education and within their everyday lives.

It’s my belief  that children and adults on the spectrum, have an amazing way about them when given a computer. A child that is branded a menace due to their refusal to participate in written work can then excel if put in-front of a computer. When I went to view Little man’s work at a past parents evening, at his old mainstream school, they didn’t have a single exercise book to show me! The only work they had to display was all done with the use of a PC. Little man has fine motor skills difficulties and like many children on the spectrum his handwriting took the force of this. Little man is extremely aware off these difficulties and the fact he is often considered less able within certain areas of his learning (despite his intelligence). He is overly proud and he would rather not engage at all if it meant that by doing so, It would only portray him as some kind of “failure”. Its my opinion that every child with autism as-well as those children with other communication difficulties, should be able to express themselves with the use of ICT, by way of having regular access to a computer. Now, I’m not stating we should give up, stop encouraging them to engage with written work, not at all! I’m just stating that expression is important especially for non-verbal children like those whom Joanne teaches.

 Here’s the wonderful creations of art, that will feature on the Autism and Art page.

Spiderman, By: Thomas Age: 9 

Mr Men, By: Liam Age: 6 

Thomas the tank engine By: Ethan Age: 5

Worms By: Jacob Age: 4 

Wow, I think they are simply wonderful!

 Joanne was kind enough to share the resources that herself and the teaching team regularly use with the children in the unit. All resources are ICT packages that are used to create  different types of art. What is so awesome about these resources, are… amazingly all are “FREE!” meaning you can use these with your child at home.

Tux paint: A great piece of free computer software for kids.

Sumo paint: A free piece of software introduced to Joanne by one of her pupils. Sumo paint has a complicated yet detailed set of features. Greater colour and texture options, fine detailing, filters, layers, and effects. Here you will be presented with endless possibilities.

Nga Kids: Interactive art you can make online. The National Gallery Of Art’s great range of resources enables you to create your own classic masterpieces.

Art pad: An online canvas with basic tools, its appeal to it’s users is that you can re-play you’re painting to watch your creation take shape; you can also email a finished painting.

Cbeebies: Cbeebies have a fantastic selection of activities with characters that appeal to Joanne’s pupils’ interests. Programmes such as Mr maker and Get Squiggling, have magic paint-box activities.

Help kidz learn: Free online games from the guys at inclusive technology with its own creative section.

Create Comics: Create your own comic strip Joanna’s pupils like Garfield, DR Who and Marvel comics.

Audactiy: a piece of kit that can be used to record voices, sound effects, music etc… and can also be used in developing resources. (Free downloads)

Having obtained these from Joanne, I discovered there was only one or two I have used before (Cbeebies, Help Kidz Learn). So, I tried the rest with both Little man and Alice.

Little man enjoys art on a much greater scale when It’s created with the use of a computer. He loved Sumo Paint and has used it for the last three days.

Alice is very creative and like me she has a passion for Art. Though she loves the more practical aspects of art, she also had great fun with this.

I love the comic strips and find the software an invaluable tool for children with autism. These comics can be used to build social stories together which your child. The Comic strips you make, can also be used to help a child with autism to communicate perspectives, feelings and more. All this while remaining fun and creative.

 A massive thank you to Joanne and her wonderful pupils at Evergreen Primary school’s unit for children with autism. Check out the Class website by Clicking HERE  (please note… there is also a special members only section for parents of the pupils whom attend the unit).

Disclaimer: Please note that the above images are the property of Evergreen Primary school and should not be copied without the permission of its owner. The images are subject to copyrite and all terms apply. 

If you are interested in the story or want to find out more, then please leave your details, and I’ll be sure that Joanne gets them.

Thanks Claire-Louise

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A message for Mr Cameron

Ok, So I had some problems with my auto publisher yesterday and this is a bit later than planed! However I think you will agree it was worth the wait. Colin explains how life is like for him today and back when he was a child. He tells us about his late diagnosis and the effects its had on his life. He even sends out a message for Mr Cameron, stating a few home truths.

Here’s my interview with Colin… A man with Aspergers

Enjoy.

Claire… Hi Colin, firstly let me thank you for taking part in the interview and also a big thanks for your continued support with the facebook page ABWA by way of the great advice and input you give within the page. So my first question to you is…

Would you be so kind to Describe yourself  in five words?

Colin… Obsessive, Stubborn, Shy, Intelligent, Creative

Claire… It’s my understanding that you were diagnosed as being on the spectrum as an adult… If you don’t mind me asking, how old was you when you were diagnosed and what diagnosis was you given?

Colin… I Was diagnosed at age 44, with Aspergers Syndrome

Claire… Can you tell us a bit about how the diagnosed came about? Did you always know you were somewhat “different” to your peers as a child?

Colin… My diagnosis came about through a councillor I was seeing, through talking to me about my past and how I interact socially. He thought I might have aspergers , so then arranged an appointment for me to be assessed to see wether I was or not. as for knowing if I was different or not, yes I did feel different even though I didn’t know exactly what was wrong, I always put it down to shyness and lack of self-confidence and being a little eccentric.

Claire… Wow I’m guessing that the diagnosis was quite a shock then?

Colin… Yes the diagnosis was a shock, even though it confirmed a lot of behavioural patterns that I had put down to something else…  The meltdowns, obsessions, not being able to talk to people etc.

Claire… Has a diagnosis changed anything for you?

Colin… Well if anything the more I know about my condition the more I feel im not in control. I was told that I would either just get on with my life without a hiccup or it would take over my life. Well, its taken over my life, ive let the diagnosis affect me. if that makes any sense.

Claire… That’s a really interesting statement… Do you think in a way you would have been better off not knowing then?

Colin… In my case I would have to say yes, only from my point of view, others might say I havent really changed at all, that the diagnosis has highlighted that it’s a condition not an attitude

Claire… How did family and friends react to the news?

Colin…  My family don’t know about my diagnosis. I havent been in touch with them for six years. I’ve not many friends at all in fact the ones I do call friends live over a hundred miles away but I haven’t seen them in five years, they don’t know! The friends I have online I’ve only told a select few

Claire…” I’m very sorry I didn’t know that you had not spoken to your family for so long and your friends live so far. I’m pleased you have those few people online to be open with (Me included)”

What would you say to the ignorant people who claim our children on the spectrum will grow out of it?

Colin… I would say that my case proves that you don’t grow out of it, as I’ve been told you either have aspergers from birth or you don’t have it at all, well for 44 yrs I wasnt diagnosed but when I was I certainly hadn’t grown out of it from childhood, it just didn’t suddenly appear it’s always been there I just slipped through the net for many years.

Claire… I mean all children with ASD become adults with ASD and sometimes I think people forget this. What do you feel is lacking within the current system in terms of support for adults on the spectrum?

Colin… There is no or little support from the government for adults, cause its taken as read that the diagnosis will be realised early enough to support them at an early age the support seems more geared towards children than adults, we are left to really fend for ourselves. There is a charity drop in center I can go to, but no 24/7 service. Basically I was given a diagnosis and go.

Claire… “I would have to say that this concern is voiced by every adult on the spectrum that I’ve come to know. It would seem the government just ain’t “getting it” either that or they don’t give a S**t!!!”

If I told you Mr David Cameron reads the blog (u never know lol) what would be your message to him?

Colin… We adults deserve support just as much as anyone else! Sweeping us under the carpet don’t help anyone, everyone talks about inclusion but if it cost money or difficult then you can forget it!

Claire… As an adult with AS can I ask you… Do the meltdowns, anxiety and extremely challenging behaviours improve with age, are you better able to control such  meltdowns now?

Colin… In my case the meltdowns still happen, but are less frequent than they used to be. As for controlling them I’m not sure I can control them… All I can say is that they don’t last as long as they did.

Claire… If you could go back in time and do things differently knowing what you know now what would it be?

Colin…  Not sure to be honest, I would have liked to have finished my degree in mechanical engineering, but let things slip. Not sure if that was down to my aspergers or not.

Claire… ” I would say it’s never to late to finish the things you started Colin”

How was your school life growing up?

Colin… I Was bullied at school, was a quiet and shy child who was quite happy to play on my own as well as with others. My obsession with music was noticeable to me at an early age about 10 years old.

Claire… “Oh my goodness I’m now getting an insight into the mind of my own little Aspie! Little man is 10 totally obsessed with buses and nothing has ever come closed till…… Now that is. He is a fan of Bruno Mars has stored a huge amount of info on the guy and after getting his album two days ago has memorised every song lyric for every track on the album. He can’t sing through and can drive me a bit potty with his singing lol”

So a quick change of subject! What do you think of our current educational system given that ASD is much more known today?

Colin… I Can only go from my own experiences, since I left school in 1979, can only say that the educational system is slow to react to things even when highlighted. Bullying is still rife now so what does that say?

Claire… “No Comment Colin”…. You know what I think!

So… Do you have any “special interest” Passions that take hold of you? Are these long-standing or do they change over time. Is music still a big part of your life?

Colin…  Music has always been a big part of my life, I’ve  been collecting music in various formats since I was 13. I’m obsessed with downloading music, writing poetry. All other obsessions come and go.

Claire… When are you happiest?

Colin…  Plugged into my iPod and writing poetry.

Claire… Do you or did you have Sensory processing problems as a child? Have these changed, improved or just been replaced?

Colin… Noise affects me and always has…  Just different levels or situations are more difficult to deal with than others, people eating, dogs yelping, get woken by the slightest noise so my sleep pattern is bad.

Claire… “I’ve always thought that Little mans father is an undiagnosed aspie and his pet hate is hearing others eat. You crunch he freaks out”

So, they say some people with AS have a high pain threshold! Do u? Little man don’t really get ill or catch bugs that often (unlike his younger sister) but he feels pain “big time” (if there’s blood we are in trouble) so, this don’t apply to us lol.

Colin…  Not sure if I have a higher threshold for pain, but I have a high threshold for dealing with low temperatures, don’t seem to feel the cold as deeply as others do.

Claire… “Yep Little man is the same…. No coat in winter and don’t take it off in summer”

Did you have many friends as a child and do you now?

Colin…  None, that’s my problem I don’t seem to be able to keep friends. People come into my life and then I let them fade away.

Claire… How do you find social situations?

Colin…  Still difficult, even with people I know.

Claire… What subjects did you excel in at school and what ones never made sense?

Colin… Technical Drawing and Maths.

Claire… Interesting… Can I ask is it mental math that your good at? Just that little man is ace at mental math ( better than me) and other parents have reported the same.

Colin…  Yes mental maths… I used to go to the shops at age 5 for my mother and was always able to count and know it was the right change I was getting for the items I was getting. still don’t use a calculator much in daily life.

Claire… It’s said by some that those with AS lack empathy! What do you say?

Colin… Maybe we lack social skills, but we are loving we just don’t know how to express things well, as for myself I express my self better in my poems than actually speaking etc

Claire… What advice would you give to an adult reading this that suspects they are on the spectrum? Is it to late for a diagnosis, is it really needed?

Colin… It really depends on his or her situation, whether it is affecting work and home life never too late for diagnosis.

Claire… What advice would you give to a child/teen that is struggling to come to terms with their diagnosis seeing themselves as someone who is  “abnormal” with very low self-esteem?

Colin… We are normal, we just look at the world in black and white rather than shades of gray, we can be too trusting. but as people we are no different from what is described as normal! We want to be loved, laugh, etc

Claire… “I just showed this to little man and he said thank you… He likes that!”

Colin… Tell little man I said thank you, us Aspies stick together.

Claire… What advice would you give to parents like me raising a child on the spectrum?

Colin… It will be hard, but if you keep giving your love and support as much as you can, the rewards will come, you will see your child grow into adulthood… I’m not saying with less problems but with more understanding and maybe more control.

Claire… Finally, I’m a big fan of your beautiful poems… I’m wondering if you could write one for us to sum up how life on the spectrum is for you. This would be a great ending to our interview.

I am seen but not seen

They see the book cover

Not the story inside

I breath, I bleed, I think

But I am not part of the crowd

My world is black and white

I can not understand

Subtle shades of grey

Warm bloodied

I am still bereft of love

For emotions are hard to fathom

What is easy for most

I find a mountain to climb

Do not pity me or scorn me

Do not hate me or ridicule me

Born from the womb

I am of flesh and blood

I am human too

By Colin Weir

That was fantastic Colin 🙂 Thanks again for giving us all an insight into the mind of a man with Aspergers.

Please feel free to leave your messages for Colin and I will see he gets them. If anyone would like to contact Colin you can friend request him on Facebook. Let me know and I will be sure to pass you the link.

Getting to grips with the seven senses

Have you ever found that something caused you such annoyance that the stressfulness of the situation forces you to stay away, avoiding the source of stress at all cost?

What about if something caused you pain and discomfort would you avoid the source inorder to gain control, be free from the pain, living your life in the most prosperous way you could?

Imagine if the most common stimuli… sounds, smells etc… caused you the above on a daily basis! Everyday tasks being a protentral hazard causing you high levels of anxiety… But even worse you are unable to escape the trigger but instead expected to tolorate it!

imagine if you hated spiders, feared them more then anything else but u were forced to let one crawl all over your body… How would that make you feel?

Think of a situation, a fear or phobia that causes you high levels of distress, imagine having to deal with it every single day! Yet no one “gets it” your totally isolated and alone… Being seen as a drama queen, attention seeker or labelled as a trouble maker.

So many children & adults on the autism spectrum have difficulties with their sensory processing, some more then others, however when it’s a problem it’s likely to be a significant one! School, home, shopping centre where-ever the trigger lie, problems with sensory processing can be experienced just about anywhere. School is an obvious culprit for children given the amount of time they spend there. School can present huge problem, unstructured time is normally always a trigger for the child on the spectrum and you may find as a parent that your child is being labelled as challenging as a result of this.

There are seven senses that make up our sensory system… These are Vestibular (movement-balance), proprioceptive (body awareness), tactile (touch), auditory (hearing), visual (seeing), gustatory (taste) and olfactory (smell) Some may have problems with all the above, a few or non at all! It just depends on the individual.

The example of the spider was given to me by my very clever little man, who was trying to explain to me how he felt when forced to tuck his shirt into his school trousers (school uniform was a huge problem when in mainstream)

Little man has a range of sensory processing problems some worse then others. I would definitely say that he has the most difficulties with his tactile sense but auditory, visual and olfactory come pretty close. These have become more obvious with age.

It is said that people who are tactile devensive will likely have problems with fine motor skills that are related to academics and self-care skill which is very true for little man.

Lights tend to upset him too. While at the library with his tutor he was finding it hard to engage due to the lighting. This was because the lights were all different which meant they all let of a different degree of light, some brighter then others. When he first started he came home and asked, “Mum, why can’t the library stick to the one type of lighting instead of having all different types” he then went on to say… “Some flicker and buzz which is so… annoying!” He would also come home with a pounding headache. This was due to both the lighting and the fact he had actually engaged in work alday something he hadn’t done for the whole of 2010 while in mainstream. His now managing to cope reasonable well with the lighting and if anything his becoming quite good at blocking it out. As long as he isn’t sat in the brightest spot or beneath a buzzing bulb his OK.

His tutor is excellent and has worked out that by letting little man listen to music through his headphones (oh yes Bruno Mars is repeatedly played) while working he can engage better. Many don’t get this but his a bit like me there! I will blast music through my earphones while tackling important work as it means I am able to block out the world and completely get into my own zone resulting in getting important work finished ontime and to a high standard.

Every single day I learn something new about little man and how AS affects him. It was only the other day that I discovered the reason for little man wanting his trainers done up so tightly that it almost stops the blood flow! It’s actually a sensory related issue! It seems logical now and I can’t understand why I hadn’t realised it before. He says they need to be tight in order for him to remain in control of his feet. Shoes that move around freely give no control he told me. I completely get it now!

Little man can also be a little bit of a sensory seeker. He likes rough and tumble (play fighting) sadly due to the lack of understanding from school little man was all to often excluded for such behaviours. He also likes memory foam pillows, trackpants (he wants to wear the same ones everyday no matter how dirty they have become) and certain textures that he just has to touch.

The above are all fine but he does have a liking for fizzy drinks. This isn’t just a suger thing but definitely a sensory one too… How do I know? Well he cried the other day due to my refusal for him to have a can of fuzzy orangeade. I offered juice and he states “it’s not the same” He then goes on to inform me that it doesn’t feel the same in his mouth or going down his throat.

So there’s a bad habit need fixing.

So… My over all point to this post is for some awareness to come out of it, example… When a parent tells you that, “My child really can’t tuck his shirt in as this causes him physical discomfort that is one step away from what we describe as pain” We don’t really mean… “My child can’t be arsed to tuck his shirt into his trousers” or “My child can tuck in his shirt in but chooses not to as a deliberate attempt to piss you off” We really did actually mean It when we told you he can’t!!! For you to state, “Really I’m sure he can if he wanted to” is really offensive and like asking someone in a wheelchair to walk upstairs!

The child or Adult on the autistic spectrum has an array of difficulties aswell as qualities! Next time you sport a child throwing a “wobbler” in the supermarket, street, school gates or wherever else it may be. Stop and ask yourself is it sensory, is it autism or another difficulty, hidden disability you will never know so therefore should remain openminded before pointing, commenting or passing judgement.

After all how would you deal with fear, phobia, pain and discomfort if those around you had no understanding of it?

Sensory processing problems are very real, just as autism is! And for that reason it should not be looked upon as anything else!