The Benefits of Community Outings
Community outings are a wonderful opportunity for children and adults with autism, down syndrome, ADHD, Fragile X, anxiety, and other exceptionalities to get a chance to practice essential life skills. Just some of the benefits of these trips are socialization, communication, physical awareness, and transferring skills in the real world. I have said this before, and I will always stand by it. Our children need to experience the world and the world also needs to experience our kids. You can always ask your Love & Company therapist to take your therapy out into the community.
Community Outing Prep
- First, pick your destination. This is helpful because different situations can call for different things, but giving your child’s therapist a heads up on where you would like to go can help them come up with ideas for things to bring that will help. Therapists can make social stories or communication cards to help ease anxiety. Speech therapy can also program your child’s AAC to incorporate words they will need for the outing.
- ALWAYS BRING YOUR CHILD’S METHOD OF COMMUNICATION. I have forgotten it on a couple of occasions and my child has no way to talk to me. If your child uses Picture Exchange Communication, you can always keep a small emergency binder in the car, just in case this happens. My three have now graduated to AAC devices, just in case this happens again, I have an app on my phone as a backup. Something that really helped me stay organized, they each now have their own, personally picked out backpack so we know before we leave anywhere, they have to pack up their backpack.
- Bring essentials: a change of clothes, wipes, extra pull-ups, hand sanitizer, snacks, drinks, special eating utensils, if they need them, and adapted bowls and plates if needed. My boys have special silverware to help them eat using utensils. These have been a game changer. I bought an extra set just for on-the-go. When I bring them home, I wash them and put them right back in the bag. The rest of the things, I always keep in the bag. I know if we are out and one of them needs a shirt change, I write myself a note to put a new, clean shirt in that boy’s bag so next time we have it. I also have a bag in my trunk that is always in there, full of clothes, pull-ups, and wipes. Just for emergencies. Being overprepared does not hurt.
- Comfort items, if your child has a comfort item, bring it. Most times my middle son doesn’t need a blanket when we go out, but sometimes he wants it. I say cool, let’s bring it! He also brings along his 2 favorite plushies. These help ease his anxiety. I have always followed the school of thought that you never deny a child their comfort item. If they want to bring a hanger with them or a spatula, that hanger or spatula can go with. My youngest has literally brought a Lowe’s bucket of his favorite toys with us. The goal is to help ease anxiety. Whatever that looks like for your child, it is ok.
- Sensory items: if your child is sensitive to loud noise, noise-cancelling headphones would be great here. If music calms them, headphones with Bluetooth would be great. My oldest needs his music and if he requests a song, I am going to play it. Chewy necklaces, body socks, blankets, etc. Whatever helps your child with their sensory needs goes in their bag.
Community outings are so beneficial. They work on waiting, patience, communication, and academics. Bringing your Love & Co. therapist is like having your very own helper. It may not go so great at first. Learn from what went wrong, but please keep trying. These outings are so important. Nothing makes me happier than to see kids with exceptionalities out in the community.
Next week, I will talk about some different types of outings and things that can learned at each type. I will even whip up some visuals to help you succeed.
Love & Co. Therapeutic Interventions
referrals@loveandcompanytherapies.com
☎ 1 (941) 557-3881
☎ 1 (941) 264-8641
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
If you like our resources, please like and share our pages!
Leave a Reply