Mind your Manners

Kelli over at "There's No Place Like Home" hosts a show and tell every Friday. Hop on over and see her special treasures along with links from others who participate in this fun little activity!

If you follow my posts you will know that I am dedicating the entire month to Autism Awareness on my blog. I decided to continue with the few themed days that I participate in - but use these days to bring autism to the forefront.

This Friday for S&T I wanted to show you some of the items I was able to purchase for Zak. I use these cards during his therapy sessions each day. Children challenged with autism often have an easier time learning if they are taught concepts through pictures. This has proved true with our Zak. These cards are some of my favoirtes!

Here are the cards I use to teach him manners.


One side of the card has the 'bad' manner pictured:


The other side of the card has the 'good' manner pictured:
When doing therapy with Zak we go over these cards about 2-3 times each therapy session. When I hold up the 'bad' side he always says, "UT, ohhh..." and then tells me the best way he can what is wrong in the picture. I then turn it over; and as innocently as he can he says, "Much better..." It has been fun using the cards to help him. I am noticing that he is catching himself outside of the therapy session doing a 'bad' manner. He then will say, "UT, ohhh..." and then start doing the 'good' manner. He keeps doing it over and over again pushing me in the arm until I say, "Much better..." It has brought a few smiles into my days - and helped me feel like something is working.
Thanks for stopping by my S&T. Would you consider posting my picture with a link over to my blog to help raise Autism Awareness? Our kids need people to understand their challenges. If you would - I would be very grateful.

Blessings,
~Martie

22 comments:

Rebecca said...

Thanks for sharing today and for the work you're doing bring awareness to autism.

Anita said...

Dear Martie, first of all, I am really very much impressed by what you wrote about your dear Zak and autism. Some weeks ago, I saw a broadcast on a German family and their little autism boy who had the chance to take part in a dolphine therapy in Florida. It chanced the life of the whole family! I'll say a prayer for Zak tonight!

Thanks for sharing those interesting cards, what a nice game it is!

And last but not least, I want to say a big THANK YOU for your comment on my garden anniversary post! Yes, time flies! I can hardly believe that I've been gardening for three years now! Now nice that you even remember my last year's birthday post (I just some of the same pictures)!

Blessings,
Anita

Kindra-At Home With K said...

So glad they have wonderful tools to help with autism. I will be keeping Zak and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Anonymous said...

What an excellent idea, and wonderful that the cards are working so effectively too. I think those of us who have no experience of the autistic spectrum, just really cannot appreciate what the families of autistic children have to cope with. I take my hat off to you.

Hootin Anni said...

How fantastic are these? I think they're just super. And great for the therapy lessons to be sure.

My Show n Tell is bargains I got this week. Do drop by and say hi!!

Happy Friday, Happy weekend.

Linda aka yellowroseli said...

Good Morning Martie
Love the Good Manner cards. Life with Autism must be hard. My daughter teaches children with Autism in an early intervention program here in NY.Know that you will be in my prayers. Zak is blessed to have you

Simply Heart And Home said...

Martie,

Your work must be so rewarding! What a wonderful idea to use those Manners Cards. (I recognize some of those bad manner cards!)

Have a lovely day!

Gina

Susan said...

Dear Martie, Bless your heart and your dear Zak's heart. What a wonderful tool this Manner set is. It is so wonderful that we have so many things created by others to help us with various issues we face.
Susan

j said...

That is the sweetest story....Ut Oh! How cute! Glad the cards are being useful.

Jennifer

nancy said...

Thank you for sharing this. It's becoming much more commonplace and is very sad. I'll put the button on my site this evening with your link.
Nancy

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Thank you for helping us become more aware of autism. May God bless you, and Zak!

Katherine

Unknown said...

Yay for you. I have a friend whose son has autism, and this blog has inspired me to learn more. :)

Cheryl said...

Ut oh and much better... how cute! I'd just have to cuddle him each time I heard that lol

JEWELGIRL said...

I will add something in my sidebar
on my other blog Sandwichedmom about Autism awareness! I have a
few friends whose kids have been
diagnosed in the Autism Spectrum.
I understand! Many ((HUGS))!

Charlotte said...

I think it is great that you are blogging for autism awareness. My heart goes out to all those who have Autism in their family.
You asked if we were "military" in the comments you made on my blog. No, all the trips we made were sponsored by churches we were with. My husband was a pastor for almost 50 years. He also went to Ethiopia in 1988. The church we were with at the time sponsored a work there and it was during the time they were having the terrible famines in that country. I didn't go on that trip. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would have had the opportunity to go to all the countries I have visited. One church we were with sent us to Hawaii in 1987. That trip was strictly a vacation. All the others had church or mission connections.

Baba said...

Hi Martie, thanks for sharing your story with us and helping us learn about autism..Your Zak is so special to have you as his "Mom"...The Good manners Cards would be fun for all children to use and learn from them.You are the heart of love...I will be back to visit ..Blessings to you and your family. Hugs, Baba

Farrah said...

Thank you for stopping by!

I'm so glad Zak has a loving family who is understanding and knows how to care for him!

Blessings,
Farrah

on the ROCKS said...

Thank you for sharing with us. Your Autism Awareness is a very needed subject. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Thanks for stopping by my blog

Rose of Sharon said...

Dear Martie,

I did not know that you had an autistic child. Zak sounds like a beautiful child and you are a beautiful mother. I cannot even immagine the challenges that you all face, but I love your attitude about it. You are a great mother! The cards are wonderful and it is so sweet how he is remembering they are helping him. May God bless you. I really pray that they can figure out why autism is on the rise.

Bless you, Sharon

Joyfull said...

What a great tool those cards must be. Thank you for sharing them and thank you for raising awareness for autism.

The Apron Queen said...

You're doing a wonderful thing.

For your daily dose of vintage goodness & a bit of silliness, stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen, the home of Vintage Thingies Thursdays.

Bobbi said...

Hi, your site is really nice. I love what you say. Where did you find the manners cards? I'd love to get some for my son. He is 5 with autism.