Cue What s on Deck
Special-education teachers rely heavily on routines and visual cues of what s coming up next so that students won t be surprised and then act out. You can adapt this tactic outside the classroom, says Roberta Dunn, executive director of the disabilities advocacy group FACT Oregon. For example, if your kid constantly asks, Are we there yet? even if you re just driving across town, Dunn suggests breaking up the trip the same way teachers break up the day. You might say, First we ll pass the used-car lot with the balloons, and your kid will peer out the window. Once you pass the dealership, tell them the next landmark, and so on until you arrive. Boom you ve turned a chore into a super-fun scavenger hunt. Breaking down a day, a schedule, or even a car ride into units establishes targets where children can direct their energy, Dunn says.