All behaviors occur for a reason. To understand the purpose for a child's behaviors, as well as to encourage positive actions and discourage problem habits, we first must understand the four functions of behavior. In this post, we overview each of the four functions of ...
If you’re looking for fun educational activities that your children can enjoy regardless of the weather, head to the kitchen! Better yet, utilize kitchen activities while you need to get things done around the house or are preparing a meal.
In our occupational therapy (OT) sessions at the Sunny Days Sunshine Center, we sing a song called “Let Your Eyes Tell Your Body What to Do.” We use this song to gently remind children to look around, take note of the area, and then move. We are trying to replace “on-the-go” ...
For most families, Halloween is a fun and exciting experience. However, for children on the autism spectrum, the excitement, sensory stimulation, and “scary” atmosphere can feel overwhelming. We’re here to tell you that anyone can enjoy the festivities—as long as you prepare.
Once your baby has mastered stationary positions such as lying on their belly, sitting, and standing, it is important to promote movement in and out of these positions. Initially, children have to be placed in these positions in order to practice and become independent, which is ...
Taking the BCBA exam is something I have feared since entering graduate school and learning more about Applied Behavior Analysis. As someone who is not a great test taker, and as someone who struggles with test anxiety, the exam was a big, dark cloud looming over my impending ...
You have sat through 2+ years of coursework, an extensive amount of clinical hours, and have heard from the BACB that you are ready to schedule your exam. Now what? When I first received my confirmation email from the BACB, my initial reaction was complete panic. Out the window ...
Looking for some fun indoor activities to keep your child entertained during the cold winter season? Look no further! As an occupational therapist, I have three exciting ideas that will not only keep your children engaged but also promote their development and motor skills.
Toe walking is actually fairly common, and in most cases a part of typical development, especially when children are first learning to walk. Most children begin to walk with a “heel first” pattern after 2 years old. However, sometimes kids seem to be constantly on their tippy ...
Generalization is defined as the ability for a child to display a skill or behavior in the presence of a variety of people, across various settings/contexts, and over increasing lengths of time. At the Sunshine Center, we use Natural Environment Teaching (NET) to ensure that ...