I love working with families. I am so lucky to get to work with families every day. I help them learn to help their children with special needs progress. We also work on strengthening family bonds and putting in place routines that foster connection and continuous growth.
The people we love are precious to us. It is a beautiful thing to be able to help families learn and grow together each and every day in my practice!
Each family has their own special routines and traditions. It’s fun to add to your list as time goes on and you have new experiences, and hold new interests, as a family.
Here are some fun family ritual ideas to get you started!
1.Read aloud as a family. Reading aloud as a family is really fun. Make sure you set the tone by using lots of silly voices! For books ideas, check out my posts My favorite Montessori-friendly books and My 10 favorite bedtime stories for children with autism. One of my all-time favorite books is Eloise in Paris. Love, love, love!
2.Have a family drawing/collage date. Put out markers, stickers, paper, scissors, glue, feathers and anything else you can think of. Give everyone a sheet of paper and draw and glue away! You could even finger paint. Adults don’t often have the chance to engage in these kinds of creative activities without a specific goal in mind. This is a really fun way to connect as a family and let off steam. (My husband and I did this for each other’s Valentine’s cards this year. We set up a fabulous art table with colored paper and tons of decorations for our valentines and made each other valentines together. If was very romantic and we treasure the cards we made!)
3.Exercice together. Go on a family hike, go swimming at your local pool and do family yoga. Moving is essential for staying in shape, teaching your kids healthy habits and for letting go of stress after a long week.
(Thank you to the Huffington Post for this awesome image!)
4.Have a dance party. Crank up some fun and fast music and get moving. Dance your hearts out. Dance until everyone ends up in a laughing pile on the floor!
5.Cook together. The sky is the limit with this one! You can make your child’s favorite dish. Dad and child can make mom’s favorite breakfast dish as a surprise and bring it into bed for her (this is my personal favorite!). There are endless possibilities and this activity is guaranteed to be super fun. For recipe ideas check out my posts 3 Delicious yogurt cake recipes for kids (+ 2 bonus recipes), 10 of my favorite family recipes – pick one to try this weekend! and 3 of My Favorite Gluten-Free Recipes.
6.Create a silly family tradition. Buy the whole family matching pjs and everybody wears them every weekend. Eat breakfast for dinner every Saturday night. Make up funny songs filled with your family’s inside jokes.
More Family Resources
- Explaining Autism to Siblings
- Free Autism Resources
- Journal Prompts for Moms
- Work From Home Jobs
- Coping Strategies (my best stress reduction ideas for moms)
- How to Feel Awake After Little Sleep
- Best Self-Help Books for Women
More Autism Resources
- The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
- Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
- Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
- How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
- Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!
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