Barb's Daily Dose

Connecting and Crafting: Children with Autism Part 3

Meet Barb Dehn and Kathy Peterson, The Craft Practitioners

Children with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have many challenges. See Part 1 for an overview of some that might be helped with crafting. See Part 2 for crafting ideas for improving eye-hand coordination and working with various senses. 

Some of the Other Challenges These Children Encounter Are:

Improving Verbal Communication

Children who are pre-verbal have always been immersed in crafting, from finger painting to gluing objects on paper. Many people are not particularly verbal while crafting, as their hands and minds are occupied creating. In these scenarios, children who are withdrawn and still developing their ability to communicate verbally are still able to be part of a larger group as they develop more and more communication skills both one on one and in groups. Children will be listening to instructions, looking at examples of what the finished work might look like, and talking when they’re ready about the process or their completed work.

My Interview on Diva Craft Radio

Click here to listen to my interview on Diva Craft Radio.

Connecting and Crafting: Children With Autism Part 2

Children with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have many challenges.  See Part 1 for additional information.

Some of the other challenges these children encounter are:

Developing Eye Hand Coordination & Fine Motor Skills

From finger painting and crayons to using pencils and brushes, painting and drawing develops fine motor skills and the ability to express thoughts, feelings and perceptions without words. Scissor skills, gluing, beading, stamping and building with popsicle sticks are all activities that help children of all ages work on improving their eye hand coordination

Craft Idea: Creating a Collage

This is an activity that can be adapted for anyone regardless of their verbal or social interactions and can be done individually or within a group. Creating a collage is not only an expression of what the person is thinking, but also involves multiple different skills, from tearing photos out of a magazine, to using scissor skills to cut them out, or for other children, choosing photos that have been pre-cut for them. With a collage, any object can be covered completely or partially, and words as well as images can be used.

Autism: Connect With Your Child Through Crafts

1 of a 3 Part Series

www.CraftForHealth

Children with autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have challenges that most people can’t begin to comprehend. Families learn to adapt to their child’s unique way of communicating with others while at the same time searching for ways to help them learn how to interact with the wider world.

It seems that every month, we learn more about the spectrum of various manifestations of autism.  Just as no 2 snowflakes are alike, the same is true of all individuals, whether they have autism or they don’t, and yet, there are some aspects of life with a child with autism that are similar. As parents look for activities that foster their child’s cognitive, social and emotional development, crafting can be a way for children to connect with their families, their peers and their own inner voice while helping them express their innate creativity.