Tools & Resources for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum
List of resources, ideas, and helpful guides during this COVID-19 situation:
Our goal is to empower our families and community members to have tools and ideas to support them during Public Health Canada's recommended social distancing period.
For any questions, please connect with us at info@autismns.ca and we will do our best to support you during this challenging time.
This page will be updated frequently with more resources and updates to come. [Last Update: April 3, 2020]
Comprehensive Guide on Supporting Individuals with ASD during Uncertain Times
A 60+-page downloadable guide developed by UNC FPG CHILD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE AUTISM TEAMKid-friendly COVID-19 Q&A with Dr. Strang
SOCIAL STORIES on COVID-19
Social Story on Pandemics & COVID-19 (by Carol Gray)What is Coronavirus? A Comic Book Social Story (by MindHeartKids)
My CoronaVirus Social Story (by Easter Seals)
Fun Hand Washing Ideas
Hand washing is very important in keeping our bodies safe from sickness! Here are some fun ways to encourage your children to wash their hands. So fun, they may not even realize they’re doing it!
20 ideas to make hand washing fun:
Songs to sing while washing your hands:
Hands-on activities including water, soap and bubbles:
Give your animals a bath! Put your dinkies through a car wash! Bathe your Mr. Potato Head or your baby doll!
https://happyhooligans.ca/toy-wash-cold-flu-sanitize-toys/
Make dish soap silly putty:
Make jelly soap:
Handwashing Infographic
Resources to help keep kids busy during Covid-19 Pandemic
Television Channels free!
Sites for Families to use while school is closed:
Lindsay Hurley Fine Art - Kids Art Lessons
https://www.facebook.com/artistlindsayhurley/
All grade curriculum for Kidzone - Music (FREE)
https://www.nyphilkids.org
Fun & Games with Music (FREE)
http://www.sfskids.org
Splash Learn - (FREE) K-5 Math
https://www.splashlearn.com
Old Farmer’s Almanac - Science (FREE)
Scholastic - Reading (FREE 30 DAY ACCOUNT)
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/…/learnathome.html
Adapted Mind - Math & Reading (FREE 30 DAY ACCOUNT)
https://www.adaptedmind.com/Begin-Enrollment.html
ABC Mouse - Reading - Math - Science - Art & Colors (Ages 2-8) (FREE 30 DAY ACCOUNT)
https://www.abcmouse.com
Raz Kids - Reading - (FREE TRIAL)
https://www.raz-kids.com
Adventure Academy - Math - Science (Ages 8-13) (FREE 30 DAY ACCOUNT)
https://www.adventureacademy.com
Prodigy - Math (FREE ACCOUNT)
https://www.prodigygame.com/blog/
<span 30="" class="SpellingError SCXW70755205 BCX7" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-position: left bottom; background-image: url(" data:image="" r0lgodlhbqaeajecap="" 8aaaaaaaaaach5baeaaaialaaaaaafaaqaaaiilgaxcchrtcgaow="=" );"="" border-bottom:="" 1px="" solid="" background-color:="" span="" data-contrast="none" xml:lang="EN-CA" lang="EN-CA" -="" educational="" games="" br="" a="" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" data-ccp-props="{" div="" segoe="" ui="" font-size:="" p="" paraid="1665456824" paraeid="{bb21dc67-a73b-404f-a44f-e620a4644867}{114}" reading="" free="" day="" learning="" for="" kids="" math="" language="" highlight="" jokes="" treehouse="" shows="" fun="" brain="" video="" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.funbrain.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3PnmuRUoCG0Nfu4T312yKgk5MMi9wT61maFGjci2jdGz8sy_lgkld16fA&h=AT3dWL3xYjnB8bYO8Ibt4OGDF_JSXi_kl6V_1LMvfGh18chspz15wWEz9YXonisKs-Kg2TDPCsSbC579RTZdm7PpbGiaoWVxbevxT6vEXth3NDFcDengIKB0QZKpDJbtQl9kL84dNJKdqh51-WYmBeIFw_gt1w" online="">Kidz Page - Online games, Jigsaw Puzzles, Coloring pages (FREE)
http://thekidzpage.com
National Geographic Kids - (FREE)
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com
Cool Math 4 Kids - Math & Games for Kids (FREE)
https://www.coolmath4kids.com
PBS Kids (FREE)
https://pbskids.org/games/
Coloring Printable Pages (FREE)
https://www.fg-a.com
Coloring Pages - Drawing Tutorials - Paper Crafts - Puzzles & Games (FREE)
http://www.supercoloring.com/sections/paper-crafts
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Yellowstone National Park - https://www.nps.gov/…/lea…/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
Canadian Farm & Food Tours https://www.farmfood360.ca
ANIMAL CAMERA'S (FREE) Monterey Bay Aquarium - https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams
Houston Zoo Cams - https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/
Jellyfish & Beluga Webcam - https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/
How to Remain Physically Active at Home
Physical activity is an important part of the day for both adults and children. Along with the long term health benefits, being physically active can help us feel calmer, sleep better, and improve attention during other activities.
Lots of opportunity for a variety of physical activities also provides toddlers with the movement experiences and practice they need to develop future movement skills. Children aged 1 to 4 years old should have 180 minutes of physical activity per day, spread out throughout their day. This may be more challenging during the current COVID-19 pandemic, as family routines change and access to outdoor spaces are limited. However, a toddler’s need for physical activity are well suited to a lot of indoor and backyard ideas.
Remember, physical activity is important for parents, too! Not only are you keeping yourself healthy, you are modelling these activities for your little ones, which is an important way they learn to make these activities part of their life.
The Active for Life website’s “Recipe for an Active Day” (https://activeforlife.com/recipe-for-an-active-day/) shows an example of how families can include a variety of physical activities into the day. Fun activities that can be part of your “recipe” are below.
Indoor Physical Activities for Children and Toddlers
50 ideas for indoor physical activities for children: https://thinkgreenparentin.wixsite.com/home/single-post/2015/12/15/50-indoor-physical-activities-for-kids
38 indoor gross motor activities for toddlers: https://toddlerinaction.com/fun-indoor-physical-activities-for-toddlers-who-dont-sleep/
Giant Collection of Physical Activities Toddlers Love: https://handsonaswegrow.com/physical-activities-toddlers/
12 Physical Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers: https://playworld.com/blog/12-indoor-physical-activities-for-toddlers-and-preschoolers/
12 Ways to Play with a Cardboard Box: https://activeforlife.com/cardboard-boxes/
49 fun physical activities to do with kids aged 2 to 4: https://activeforlife.com/49-fun-physical-activities-to-do-with-kids-aged-2-to-4/
Yoga for Children
Dog Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWSgNEs4IPg
Crocodile Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obzFP6eEGAg
Troll Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Q6FKF12Qs
Some Ideas for Parents:
Yoga
Yoga with Adrienne: https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene/videos?app=desktop
Instagram Accounts offering free or discounted yoga:
@rstudiosns
@stefaniewintersyoga
Online Exercise Classes for Adults
5 Best Online Workout Programs That are Free: https://1051thebounce.com/2017/08/30/5-of-the-best-online-workout-programs-that-are-free/
Fitness Blender: https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos
A list of free or discounted online workout programs: https://makeyourbodywork.com/how-to-exercise-at-home/
Instagram Accounts offering free workouts:
@rstudiosns
@jabsbygina
Other Links
Canadian 24 Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4)
Active for Life