Learning Social Skills With Kimochis

Attending school can be difficult for children with ASD and they can struggle with social and emotional challenges as they try to connect with both their teachers and their peers. One brand in particular seemingly has their finger on the pulse when it comes to helping children identify, understand and manage their feelings, and that brand is Komichis. Kimochis, (pronounced key-mo-chee) meaning feeling in Japanese, create plush educational toys to allow learning in a fun and comfortable way.

The products encourage kids to express themselves as they learn about appropriate feelings-driven behaviour and also how to manage those feelings.

At The Toy Bug we have a range of Kimochis products available from the basic feelings packs which cover a wide array of emotions as well as a variety of soft adorable character toys.  

Huggtopus - Huggtopus is, needless to say, all smiles and hugs. She is very affectionate and strong and sometimes gets a little carried away by her big friendly personality. Huggtopus doesn't know her own strength and can sometimes be a little overbearing. She always means well but has to learn about boundaries!

Bella Rose - Bella Rose is very sweet and conscientious of others. She loves nature and is accepting of all the living wonders that the Kimochis World can bring. Bella Rose’s sensitive side and ability to empathise always has a way of bringing emotional balance to the group.

Kimochis Cat - Cat is full of surprises! She knows what she wants, when she wants it and why. Cat can be very persuasive and when she makes up her mind there is not stopping her. She loves to be in charge but can sometimes be a big bossy!

What is unique to this range of toys is that loved in each Kimochis character is a personality of strengths and challenges for children to relate to, recognise and celebrate.

Watch this video for more details on the delightful Kimochis range of products and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Preparing Your Teacher

A new school year can be challenging for kids and parents/carers alike, regardless of the individual's abilities or diagnosis. Throw a little something extra into the mix and it can be downright scary, for the teacher as well.

In a perfect world, you will have already met with your child's new teacher, identified areas of concern and developed a management or Individual Education Plan (IEP). Even then however, not all aspects of your child’s needs may have been discussed.

So how do you make the world a little more perfect, your child’s transition a lot smoother and ease your own anxiety and worry in the process? Preparation, and communication is the key to success.

No one knows your child like you do so don’t be afraid to share your expertise.

 

The information you share will depend on the age of the child and their prior education experiences but some details remain the same regardless of such things.

Sadly, diagnosis and health concerns are first and foremost. Whilst labels can be harsh, confronting and sometimes limiting, with a diagnosis often comes extra support and funding, which can only help your child to excel.

You will no doubt have identified strengths and weaknesses and sharing these is extremely helpful. Allowing your child to shine and develop confidence in a particular area will assist them in getting comfortable in their surroundings and developing a sense of fitting in, so let the teacher know how they might facilitate an opportunity for your special person to shine. The same with weaknesses, if you can prevent a meltdown, difficult situation or embarrassing event just by sharing one simple trigger or challenging area, then do everyone a favour and speak up.

Does your child have a special talent or area of expertise? If they are on the autism spectrum this is not uncommon and can be a useful tool in engaging the child in learning they might otherwise avoid or struggle with. Hates numbers but loves trains? Maybe counting trains could be a useful strategy. A creative and enthusiastic teacher will be happy to hear your suggestions and will benefit from knowing what traits they might use to bring out the best in your child.

You know your child best. And you know how to share the information about your child in the best way possible, so work out a format or checklist that suits your needs. 

Don’t be afraid to write a letter to the teacher, sharing the tips, tricks, triggers and talents of your special little one. Like you, your child’s teacher wants them to do their very best and get the most out of their learning experience in the classroom. 

Give your child’s teacher a helping hand and tell them everything you know so they get a leg up and don’t learn the hard way. You did that already.  

Transitions – Back To School

Well summer holidays have officially ended and school has returned to its normal schedule.  For some parents it is a relief, for parents of kids with autism it can be a time for concern as their children may experience social problems and transition issues.

The daily routine which would have changed since school ended last year will need to alter once again as kids head back to the classroom.  For many kids, it will be their first time attending school which will bring about a whole new world of issues to navigate around.

Have a look at some of our back to school products which may help your child adjust to their new surroundings.

One item which may be particularly helpful is the book entitled Arnie and His School Tools:  Simple Sensory Solutions To Build Success.  This book written by Jennifer Veenendall, a school-based occupational therapist, is useful to introduce elementary students to basic sensory tools used to help kids in classroom settings such as fidgets, chewy pencil toppers and weighted vests.

Lacing shoes can be particularly problematic for little ones and this dual action board has a set of 3 different types of footwear including a hiking boot, football shoe and sneaker to help them with their shoe tying practice.  Each shoe can be taken out and used individually.

 

The My Busy Week Magnetic Chart is designed for school age children to give them a visual view of what is happening in their school week from day to day taking out some of the surprise element.  It is also a great way to acknowledge achievements and positive behaviour throughout the day. 

As parents, we know there are going to be issues we have to face this school year and the best thing we can do is to stay as organised and as prepared as we can to deal with each and every concern as they arise.

The Panicosaurus

With the new school year about to commence, it is normal for any child to have some anxiety or uncertainty about going to school.  A book worth reading that can help with this situation is called The Panicosaurus:  Managing Anxiety in Children Including Those with Asperger Syndrome.

This book is ideal for parents, teachers or carers with children aged at least 6 years old who may be suffering from anxiety including Asperger Syndrome. 

The Panicosaurus is that feeling of anxiety or panic your child may feel when faced by certain situations they are not used to.  The book focusses on one character, Mabel, who is sometimes tricked by the Panicosaurus into panicking about certain challenges such as walking past a dog or when her favourite teacher is away.  With the help of the Smartosaurus, Mabel realises that there really is nothing to be afraid of.  Together they manage to defeat the challenges from the Panicosaurus.

The examples used are very practical and your child will have no problems reading and understanding the book as it is fully illustrated, fun to read and importantly will inspire your children to face the challenges and defeat them.

The book also has practical sections for the parents, teachers or carers as the introduction provides an explanation of the anxiety in children and the end of the book lists the techniques for lessening the anxiety.

The Panicosaurus is definitely a worthwhile book to have on your bookshelf.