If your autist is anything like mine, he has a difficult time understanding feelings and emotions. Connecting the dots between the facial expressions he sees on your face to the emotions you feel on the inside, is just too long of a line to draw. He struggles to identify his own feelings and can't for the life of him figure out yours!
So, yeah, I know, break out the old standby, right? I have a drawer full of them myself. You know what I mean. Flashcards! Well, perhaps these worked at your house, but not at ours. My little girl didn't want to make eye-contact in real life or with cardboard. So, if your struggling to help your child learn about facial expression, feelings, emotions, in a fresh, fruity, and fun way; here's a 'slice' of a tip you can take, tweak, or toss!
Authors Saxon Freyman and Joost Elffers created these amazing books jam packed with feelings, facial expressions, and emotions. They do not boast that the books are created for children with special needs, but they were quite peachy in teaching my autist all about feelings. They were fun and the best part was my autist got it!
And, there are no people in the books. Yep, you read right, no people, no children. These books are juicy full of...fruits and vegetables!!
And, there are no people in the books. Yep, you read right, no people, no children. These books are juicy full of...fruits and vegetables!!
It's true! These authors have painstakingly pared and carved a jumbo array of facial expression and feeling into fruit and veggies. It's amazing how they arrange food into 'real life' situations and depict 'real life' feelings and emotions through their food art. You just have to see it to believe it!
We hand-picked them from our library and renewed them countless times as my daughter's understanding of feelings sprouted and ultimately blossomed. She also bunny-trailed into learning all about fruits, vegetables, seeds, roots, gardening, worms...
We hand-picked them from our library and renewed them countless times as my daughter's understanding of feelings sprouted and ultimately blossomed. She also bunny-trailed into learning all about fruits, vegetables, seeds, roots, gardening, worms...
You can find these books at your local library, or any bookstore that sells children's books, or any online bookstore like amazon. These are just a few of the books that they have published. There are many more. Happy picking!
Annie Eskeldson writes for parents of very young autists. Her own autist adored these books for several months on end. They did not, however make her hungry for these foods; Annie is sad to report. But, she will drink her fruits and vegetables which is almost as good.
Annie has 2 published children's books about autism that also nurture the parent. They can be found at http://www.authorannie.com/ Look for a third book to be out around Thanksgiving 2011.
Books look great ! Thanks for the post and will pass this on :-) delete
ReplyDeleteAnnieEskeldson Added: 16 Aug, 2011 3:38 pm
Yes! These books are fabulous - my little girl really took to them and learned all about feelings and facial expressions quickly. I guess it just helped that they weren't actual people - who knows?! I just remembered how much we liked them and thought I should share. Thanks ya'll! You really have to see them to believe them. The authors are more creative than what I could ever be:) delete
Claire_radley Added: 16 Aug, 2011 1:15 pm
Aww. Awesome! Thanks for posting ! delete
Michelley Added: 15 Aug, 2011 3:43 pm
cute! delete
birdakamaude Added: 15 Aug, 2011 12:44 am
How adorable! thanks for sharing ;) I quickly favorited this post in my computer lol delete
sschell73 Added: 12 Aug, 2011 6:03 am
Some good books. delete
MysonJACKSON Added: 22 Aug, 2011 4:35 pm
ReplyDeleteThank You for these recommendations :-) delete
daiel_boyd Added: 19 Aug, 2011 1:59 pm
Love this. The "Fast Food" book loos so cute. Thanks for the post, Annie. delete
Rebecca_mom_of_2 Added: 17 Aug, 2011 1:11 pm
Books look great ! Thanks for the post and will pass this on
"Fast Food"... that's the one most beloved here... my speed-freak hubby is the one who actually found it!
ReplyDeleteThis blog site has really a huge collection of articles with impressive information.
ReplyDeletetactical knives