The Cubeo Organiser

For children on the Autism Spectrum, trying to remember the things they need to bring to school everyday can be a difficult task. T hey usually work on routine and when that changes, it sets them off balance. Children on the Autism Spectrum are also usually very visual learners and sometimes can have difficulty verbalising their thoughts or needs.

This is why the Cubeo is a revolution in teaching kids how to remember and organise the things they need for school. It is visual and colourful so they will find it engaging and easy to use. It comes in the form of a bag tag so kids can access it without having to undo tricky zips to get to it.

The Cubeo has over 80 reusable stickers which feature common items you'd find in the schoolbag of a primary school student, as well as stickers for extracurricular activities. There is also an information card where you can write down the contact and allergy details.

So how easy is the Cubeo to use? It's really simple. There's a front window that displays all the items that the child needs for that day. The ingenious drop-down cards allows the child to see and remember the other things he or she needs for specific days of the week.

Each pack of the Cubeo contains the device, a set of 90 reusable stickers and is available in blue, green, pink, and yellow.

Overcoming Bath Time Fears

For most children diagnosed with Autism, bath time is something that's hard to go through. This is because some of them are hypersensitive to touch and every action that's associated with bath time, like soaping the body and hair or drying with the towel becomes a torture. Their sensory receptors are overloaded.


As with many children at bath time, the best thing you can do is to distract them with some games or activities.

If it is waterproof, allow them to take their favourite toy with them so they can play with it in the water. That will give them a whole new experience with that item. There are lots of games designed for bath play. Bath squirts are always fun and a little water mess is a sure sign of fun!

Toys like tea sets and dolls are great for bath time, too. Children mimic the adult world by learning to wash and dry plates and cups or washing dolly’s hair. Sometimes, by being able to wash the doll as you are washing them, the child learns to understand the routine and becomes less stressed. A clever doll to use in the bath is Wayne Needs a Bath (or Julia needs a bath for the girls). Dirt marks printed on the doll are treated with heat sensitive ink. When put in warm water of 32-35, the marks will go away.

Another handy toy is the Farm Friends set with soft foam animals that stick to the tiles when wet.

Pet Fashion in the Tub is very clever. It is a set containing a foam dog and cat and 32 different accessories that they can be dressed up in.

Each of these sets packs away neatly for use next time.

Toys are great tools to help children learn to cope with life. If bath time is a problem, bring out your favourite toy to help.

Musical Toys - Hitting The Right Note

Music is such an important part of people’s lives and has an impact on us in many different ways. It can relax us, make us want to dance, tap a beat or sing. Music is used as therapy for many different situations and for people of all ages and backgrounds.

In 1943, when psychiatrist Leo Kanner first introduced the term "autism", he observed that several of his patients showed a real love for music. Ever since then, therapists and researchers have agreed that children with autism often respond to music, melody and rhythm.

Music is a form of non-verbal communication which is non-threatening and can soothe and calm an autistic child. Music enables children to communicate and express their feelings.

Some simple music therapy to try at home:

1. Get a simple instrument such as finger cymbals or hand clusters and play it next to your face. This will help your child become more comfortable with eye contact.

2. Sing some simple songs while holding a doll or stuffed toy. Act out the song using the doll.

3. Using some castanets or maracas, take it in turns to play a rhythm.

4. The rainbow sound blocks are a wonderful toy that can not only make music with the beads in each block, your child can also look through the different colours as well as stack and construct objects.

We also have many other musical instruments including triangles, rainmakers and xylophones which are perfect for use at home with your child.

Parents and carers of autistic children usually find their child has a real affinity for music and will be able to recreate and remember songs. You might want to even consider getting your child lessons in a particular instrument which will provide both self-esteem and a creative outlet which will no doubt be of great benefit.

Waiting For An Autism Diagnosis

Suddenly you are called in for a meeting with your child’s teacher, preschool teacher or day care. Perhaps you have always had an inkling or concern about certain behaviours in your child? If the word “autism” has been mentioned or crossed your mind, you will certainly be eager to get a diagnosis. But then you find out it is weeks or months before you can get an appointment for a professional assessment and diagnosis.

So what can you do while you are waiting for a diagnosis?

At Home Play Therapy You Can Do Yourself

Early intervention is essential in any diagnosis of autism. However there are some things you can start with at home that will benefit your child, regardless of whether they get diagnosed with autism or not. Referred to as “developmental therapies” they can include floor time and play therapy. Basically they involve intensive parent-child interaction that feels a lot like playing.

Find Parent Support Groups And Information

Either in your local area or online, parent support groups can provide advice, resources, information and most importantly, a listening ear.

There are also some really great websites to have a look at:

www.raisingchildren.net.au
www.earlydays.net.au
www.autismspectrum.org.au

Your Reaction

Waiting for a diagnosis can be a very difficult time. It might feel like you are in ‘limbo’ until you get the results back. You could experience a range of feelings such as sadness, grief, relief, shock, denial or anger. It is important to work through your emotions and remember, a diagnosis won’t change your child, but it will open up services and a direction so you can begin to help them.