Social Moments with HARS!

The Benefits of Outdoor Activities 

A growing number of research studies indicate that outdoor activities provide many benefits for people, including restorative or stress-reducing effects. One study found outdoor activities provide seven main benefits to children on the autism spectrum, including promoting communication, emotion-regulation, interaction, physical activity, and decreased sensory sensitivities. 

Our Outdoor Adventures!

Last Saturday, January 21, 2017, we all met at Lake Houston Park in New Caney, Texas. It rained hard the days prior to this and an intense rain storm blew through the night before. I thought about canceling for fear of an onslaught of mosquitoes and muddy hiking trails. Thankfully, my daughter encouraged me to practice patience and asked me to wait. I am so glad I did. It could not have been a more perfect day at the park with clear skies, a moderate temperature, and very few people. Splendid!

Live Snakes

We met at the Nature Center. In the Nature Center there were five rooms with different themes: Wilderness, Reptiles, Forest, Reading room, and Wetlands. The Wilderness was all display animals, some live turtles, and a beautifully created "Wilderness" environment. When all was quiet and still, one truly felt like one was in the Wilderness. The Reading room had a small reading nook that looks like a tree. The Reptile room had live snakes, charts, and snake skins that can be touched. The Forest room had a live Chilean Rose Tarantula and other non-living insects on display. And The Wetlands had a bunch of aquariums with live turtles swimming and turtle shells on display.

There was a small nature library, different animal furs that could be touched, and all kinds of interesting information to be learned. After the kids and parents finished checking out all the rooms, we all used the restrooms and prepared for our hike.

The Hike

Bridge Over Peach Creek

When everyone was present and accounted for we set off to hike the Magnolia trail. To get to the trail, we walked over a bridge that crossed over Peach Creak. The water was much higher than usual, due to the rains over the past few days, completely covering the beach area. Magnolia trail was the second left after we crossed over the bridge.

Once we were on Magnolia trail, the kids ["J", "L", "A", "N"], and one young adult sibling, ["R"] took the lead while us parents walked slowly behind enjoying the beautiful sounds of the woods, spotting all kinds of creatures and wild berries. There are signs on the trails with information on the uses of certain trees, animal tracks, and berries.

The trails had some puddles, but the kids managed them very well. It was so peaceful and energizing to be among natural life. Us moms were focused on our kids, but I got the sense that each of us truly needed this disconnect from the "rush of life". The kids stuck together and enjoyed being ahead of us, leading the way.

Chow Time!

After our hike, we asked, "Are you all ready to eat?" At the same time, they said, "Yes!". So we walked over to the Peach Creek Group site to unpack the food and build the fire. "R" assisted in building the fire and keeping it going.

While the fire was being built, two moms ["Ro" and "Y"] and their kids played board games. One mom, ["E"], grilled the hot dogs over the fire. Once the hot dogs were ready, we filled up our plates and sat together near the fire eating and chatting. After we finished our meal, we set off to find "marshmallow sticks". 

Two of the kids had never roasted marshmallows. "J" (right) was a bit apprehensive at first, but once he saw what was expected, he picked it right up; eventually roasting his own marshmallow. It was also "A's" (left) first time roasting a marshmallow. He knelt down next to his mom and roasted his marshmallow, then immediately got up with excitement and ran around the campsite. 

Insects!

We did not see many insects during our hike, so when "R" saw a Canker worm hanging from a tree by it's silky web, "L", and "N" jumped up with her to check it out. The worm fell to the ground and "R" picked it up with a leaf and put it back in the tree.

Toward the end of our adventures, "J" began listening to Beat It by Michael Jackson, so we jammed out for a while. It was such a relaxing time for all of us. Our next outdoor adventure is scheduled for February 25, 2017 at the same park. 😄

Social Moments with HARS!

Our First Social Skills Meeting of 2017

Some of the key characteristics of autism are difficulty with social communication, social interaction, and social imagination. Because of this, it is ALWAYS heartwarming to see our children playing and interacting with one another, as friends. It is also wonderful to get together with moms who are dedicated and keenly focused on the social dynamics of their children's lives. I absolutely LOVE our group. 

Our social skills group has been meeting for almost a year now. During this time, we all have been growing together. I love the varying dynamics in the children's personalities, language and communication skills, and cognitive abilities. And most importantly, I love the fact that our children have people to hang out with that accept them as they are.

To start the meeting, the children played games such as Lucky Ducks and "Sly Fox". 

Next, we had the kids sit in a circle and share with each other what they did over Christmas break. Each one of them had lots to say and some of them asked additional questions of their peers relating to Christmas break and presents received.

After the children finished their "Greet & Share", we had them come over to the tables to complete an activity, collaborative drawing. Collaborative drawing is when two or more people draw together to complete a picture. There are many variations, mediums, and methods that can be used to do this.

Collaborative Drawing

We put the children in groups of two and provided them with a piece of white paper that had one object already on it, the sun with clouds. Two moms modeled the directions while at the same time explaining the directions to the children. (We found out really quick that one mom was inept at drawing animals. Haha! No worries, thankfully, the other mom was skilled enough to make the animal look like an animal. Smiles!)

Materials for this activity 

White printer paper with one object drawn on it

Markers and pencils

Directions

One person draws an object on the paper. 

Then passes the paper to their partner. 

Then the partner draws an object on the paper and passes it back.

Each child draws four objects on the paper (Some children may enjoy coloring in their objects after they draw them.)

After each child draws their four objects, then each child "tells a story" to the group about their collaborative drawing.

(The objects could be anything the child thinks of. However, if the child expressed difficulty in thinking up an object one of the moms guided them.).

Exquisite Corpse

During the next activity, we created an Exquisite Corpse on white card stock paper. 

• We passed out sheets of animated characters to help the children with ideas. 
• The children watched this video showing and telling them what they would be doing, then they (with the help of their moms) completed the activity. 

We ended our meeting with goodbyes, hugs, and "See ya soon".

During the next meeting, our lesson and related activities will be on "interrupting".

Criteria to join our social skills group

• The participant must have the ability to sit in a group setting.
• The participant must participate in the activities.
• The participant must be 7-12 years old.

Currently, we have two spots open for girls 7-12 years old. If you are interested or have questions contact me, Maranda Marvin, at harsgroup2015@gmail.com or through our Facebook page.