Demo of 'How Are You?' game!

You can take a look through the game here -

just click on the link below:

http://www.hometrain.ie/howareyou/#demo

Enjoy!

Claire.

'How Are You?' Game helps with bullying

A descision for many parents who have children with special needs
is letting their child out to play with their peers in the street, play area or local green. Developing relationships and playing with friends is a natural part of growing up, and a positive step forward, but a hard decision for parents to make when the time comes.

Nurturing and encouraging new friendships with your child is fine when it's comfortable, and you know the parents of the other children well.


However, it can be difficult if you notice your child is not being treated well by the other children, by ways that include: name calling, bullying, teasing and even physical violence.

Your child may not have told you this is happening, have the words to express their upset, or have a true understanding of what is happening to them.

Finding out how much your child understands about social skills and rules is by playing the game 'How Are You?' at home or in the classroom.

One of the sections of the How Are You? game is called 'Dont' Do That' - this section (like all of sections in the game) was designed with a group of schoolage children with different special needs. It explores scenarios including:

• Pushing and Kicking



• Name calling



• Being ignored



• Someone taking your toys/belongings

This part of 'How Are You?' teaches simple language skills for conflict resolution and responses to bullies. It also has a section called 'Ouch! That Hurt' - which helps children understand pain and how to tell someone where they are hurt. A whole range of printable worksheets and coloring pages are on the programme.

'How Are You?' covers basic emotions and social skills too. Other sections are called: 'How Are You?' 'Why Emotions Change?' and 'Staying Calm' - all with the eight boy and girl characters. There are three great games too.

With this game, children are playing and learning, letting you know how they feel about social highs and lows without feeling under pressure to directly discuss confusing emotions.

Take a look - it's here now: http://www.hometrain.ie/howareyou/

Best regards, Claire.

Read all about it! Hyperlexia

As a pre-school home tutor, I would normally avoid teaching a child to read, so as they would progress at school and not get 'bored' if they were too far ahead.

However, one child who I have been working with since the age of two, is now 5. We discussed the idea of maybe introducing some basic words prior to school.

That was four weeks ago.

What happened? He could instantly read and remember over 50 words and is now on his third junior reader.

Better than that, we are using this skill to help his speech. He is using a word chart with no pictures to verbally request. For example: 'Can I have', followed by his choice of breakfast, lunch or dinner etc. He is literally 'eating words'.

Written words have opened a new door for this child, his desire to read and make sentences is rapidly improving his speech and general communication. It seems to be exremly grounding, and is helping him make sense of language.

Hyperlexia is the term for this trait, please feel free to share any insights, teaching ideas or experiences you have on this, I would be very interesed.

Claire x