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Autism is a neurological disorder. It impacts how an individual learns, interacts and behaves with another. The condition affects social skills and causes repetitive actions yet has a distinct set of strengths. The good news is that besides therapy and study programs, a park can also contribute to the good emotional space of an autistic child.

In this environment, a child with autism are less likely to be scared of socializing, have a clear understanding of safety awareness and reduce the fear of misunderstandings with fellow visitors. CDC estimates that about 1 in 44 8-year-old children have been identified as ASD which is 23 per 1,000.  According to the newest autism statistics, the ASD prevalence in the US has increased by 312% since 2000. Therefore, the focus on effective methods of therapy will continue to be vitally important.

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A specially designed play area offers sensory inputs. It is tremendously useful for children with autism since it helps boost their tactile, visual and auditory systems. Getting the layout and facilities right is vital else it can turn into a dangerous place for kids with disabilities. They may have meltdowns or struggle with going to busy places. Depression can also set in which anyway affects 7% of all children with autism. Below are a few tips to design a playground that can be a safe space to express themselves.

1.  Incorporate Sensory Play

Engaging the senses can help a child develop proprioceptive and vestibular systems. This can improve orientation and balance. More than 90% of children with ADS report hypo and hyper sensitivities in different domains which range from mild to severe. This can be handled with a sensory play which ensures healthy brain development to build nerve connections. It can be done by adding sensory panels, motion play, musical instruments and water fun to support problem solving-skills, cognitive growth and social interaction. Educate parents so that highly sensitive kids do not get overwhelmed.

2.  Build Quiet Places

An autistic child may feel sensory overloads leading to entering a freeze, flight or fight mode in response. They start feeling panicky or unsafe. A cozy space away from the main play area can create a positive environment. Parents can also enjoy peace of mind knowing that their child is less likely to run away. This is a common tendency and surveys have found that children diagnosed with autism aged between 4 and 10 have often tried to elope to escape unpleasant sensory stimuli. Hiding spots offer a good break and help them recenter. You may consider pods, small shelters or anything cocooned.

3.  Highlight Nature

Children with autism benefit from staying close to nature. They gain motor skills and agility. Exposure also boosts observational skills, reasoning and awareness. The child must be able to scoop leaves with their hands, jump in puddles or smell flowers. Teach them to take photos of their surroundings, paint trees and ponds and feed birds. Autistic children can also learn about changing seasons and being kind to animals in the playground.

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Young kids get a clear idea of colors like blue, green, yellow and orange when nature is in abundance around them. They tend to become calm and relaxed in the presence of natural elements like a cool breeze.

4.  Smooth Surfacing

This is a big step in creating a safe space for children living with autism. Engineered wood fiber, poured-in-place rubber, recycled bonded rubber, recycled rubber loose fill and recycled rubber tiles are the best choices. Make sure these are not highly textured to avoid the hassles of children with crutches or wheelchairs. Kids with ADS are likely to stumble upon anyone who does not experience motor impairments. They may also jump off equipment like monkey bars which could be slightly harmful. But a safety surface can diffuse the impact and keep them from severe injuries like fractures.

This is especially crucial since playground accidents are responsible for approximately 200,000 US emergency department visits in children below 18 years. You may add special paths and tracks covered with mulch instead of an open layout. This gives a sense of direction for them to move in and reduce anxiety levels.

Autistic kids should be able to naturally interact with peers with different abilities. Build a socialization area with benches and picnic tables since these special children have a strong desire for friendship. Do your best to accommodate all skill sets and sensitivities to introduce them to new experiences as well.

Whether it be because a school’s science programs have been neglected or simply struggle to get kids to pay attention in class, many science classes could use a hand in improving themselves. That way, they can provide future generations with the knowledge they need to thrive in STEM subjects.

Here are a few ways to improve science programs in schools that will help kids stay engaged and prepared for the future.

Improving Curriculums

Because America doesn’t have a national standard when it comes to school curriculums, many science classes and programs don’t have a consistent schedule that ensures kids are learning what they’re supposed to and ensure that later programs build off what students have already learned.

Instead, irregular curriculums mean students often have to relearn things they already know or jump ahead to subjects without context—both of which can be discouraging and kill student engagement.

A Consistent Schedule

In lieu of a national curriculum, schools should endeavor to create a consistent schedule for their students and, if possible, even create a curriculum that spans the entire school district. Providing such structure not only ensures comprehensive and consistent learning but also helps retain a student’s developing passion for various scientific fields.

This is especially useful for students if they don’t feel like they’re having to backtrack or lurch ahead in their learning—the former being unstimulating and boring, while the latter causes confusion and frustration.

Invest in Equipment

Lectures and diagrams can only go so far. Kids, especially younger kids, don’t have that kind of patience and will quickly lose focus. That’s why it’s important that science programs have the resources needed to invest in lab equipment. This will allow science teachers to engage students with examples or displays of experiments in person, making classes more interesting and informative.

Ideally, schools should strive to provide equipment for students to use. This is one of the best ways to improve science programs in schools because the students gain experience working with the equipment and gain a more in-depth understanding of the scientific process.

Student Participation

Everyone learns best by doing. It’s the most direct and thorough lesson and will not only allow kids to participate and engage with the lesson but allows them to apply their critical thinking and problem-solving skills in experiments they get to conduct themselves. For that reason, equipment like microscopes engages kids by giving them new experiences and helping them interact with the lesson more intimately.

Performing experiments themselves make science lessons feel less abstract for students. In addition, having the chance to experiment and perform the scientific process themselves may also help spark and foster a love of science that could propel kids into STEM careers. Even smaller, more hands-on projects like building a model rocket can be a great way to improve student participation.

These are just a handful of the ways to improve science programs at your school. Consider starting with these tips to help your students grow their passion for this field.

How to Write Learning Objectives

Snapchat has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years. Due to its increased popularity among kids and teens, this app is available on almost every kid’s device. This social networking app lets everyone in the world quickly connect with each other, and it can be used on both Android and iOS smartphones.

This application is a lot of fun to use, and it comes with a wide variety of functions, such as how to Pin Snapchat Conversation on iPhone, Find Your Friend’s Location on Map and much more.  It is, nevertheless, surrounded by several online threats as well.

When the vast majority of parents believe their children are completely secure while using Snapchat, the reality is very different. If you care about your kid’s online safety, you must activate Snapchat’s parental controls.

Well, the application has gone through a number of changes since it was first released, and one of those updates included the capability to store photos and videos that were sent to you by other people. If you’re concerned about your child’s safety while using the app, it’s best to stay up-to-date on the most recent changes and follow the app’s official instructions for activating parental controls.

What Do You Need to Know About Snapchat as Parents?

Children and teenagers both are addicted to Snapchat these days due to its mind-boggling capabilities, but they have also complained about a number of issues such as the Snapchat Loading Screen issues and a few more. Beyond that, it’s likely that your child has already downloaded the app and is using it on their smartphone. There are several important considerations for parents about Snapchat. Snaps are used to describe all the stuff posted to this app. There are three methods to view the photographs on the app, and each one has a unique time limit.

The photos you share with your friends disappear as soon as they’re seen. The group photos, on the other hand, may be seen twice. Finally, photographs uploaded to stories are visible to anybody and everyone for a limited time only.

Without a doubt, Snapchat is a popular social app among young people. They like using this app because it facilitates discreet communication by erasing texts once they have been read. But parents should talk to their children about the potential consequences of using this app.

In your role as parents, you have a responsibility to inform kids that anybody may capture screenshots of their photos and send them to others. Everything you do online can be permanent even when thought to be temporary, thanks to ephemeral features. Sharing photos of your kids on Snapchat is probably not a good idea if they are unhappy with the idea of having their photos posted online.

How Snapchat Parental Control Feature Can Help Parents?

Snapchat’s built-in Parental Control tool makes it simple for parents to limit access to certain functions. If you do this, you may lessen the likelihood of your kids being hooked to the app. You may prevent them from using the app by simply blocking it on their smartphone. Furthermore, time limits may be imposed on the device. The app’s usage is time-locked, so they can only access it for a certain period.

You can keep an eye on your children’s social media activity with the use of a parental control app. This will allow them to use the platform intelligently and efficiently.

How to Set Snapchat Parental Control for Your Kids?

Here is a step-by-step guide for parents on how to set up parental controls on any phone so they can ensure their kids are safe on Snapchat by keeping an eye on what they are doing.

First of all, you’ll need to make some changes to “Privacy Settings” in your kid’s Snapchat App. Take their smartphone, open the Snapchat app and find “Gear Icon” on the top right corner to enter into the Privacy Settings. Now, keep scrolling down and find “Who Can” and that’s the option where you may need to make changes.

Under the “Who Can” section, you’ll find different options in which you need to make changes. So instance:

• Option 1 – Contact Me

In Contact Me, you will see two different options – “My Friends” or “Everyone.” Don’t let strangers contact your child by choosing the “My Friends” option. It will stop all the calls, messages as well as snaps from an unknown person.

• Option 2 – View My Story

Under the “View My Story” section, you’ll find three different options – Custom, Friends Only and Everyone. Be sure to choose the option “Friends Only” to keep protecting your kid. However, the Custom option further allows you to choose which specific friends can have conversations with your child.

• Option 3 – See Me In Quick Add

The next option you’ll find is described as “See Me In Quick Add.” Be sure you uncheck the box that says “See Me In Quick Add” and now unknown people won’t be able to find your kid on Snapchat any further.

• Option 4 – See My Location

At this point, you may choose a few different ways to proceed. For instance, you may restrict your child’s location sharing to just friends, or to a select group of friends. Additionally, you may prevent certain friends from tracking your kid’s location.

However, Ghost Mode should be “On” so that no one can track your children. That will secure your kids completely from anybody who would want to harm them, including abusers, kidnappers, scammers, and even friends who can come up unexpectedly and bring your kid somewhere they don’t really want to go.

Besides, turn off the option to “Allow Friends to Request My Location” by scrolling down a little. If you don’t disable Live Location Requests, your child’s friends may still see where they are in real-time even when Ghost Mode is on.

Wrapping Up

It’s too easy to keep monitoring your kids through Snapchat’s built-in Parental Control feature. However, you may also protect any family member from potential risks by using a wide range of 3rd party applications that comprise many more features for extra security.

They are a great way to keep an eye on your kids’ online activities and ensure they’re safe by listening in on their calls, text messages, GPS positions, screenshots, keystrokes, and chats.

You’re now at a different stage of parenthood. Gone are the days of your baby wanting to be a superhero when they grow up. Now, they’re about to enter the world of adults. So the most you can do is help them plan their career. While having a career provides your kid with direction and purpose, it gives you a sense of relief, joy, and a bunch of other emotions in the mix.

Nonetheless, there’s no such thing as the perfect career option. As a parent, you’re their guidance and main support system. Still, you can’t make this life-changing decision for them. The best and only way to help your child is to open their eyes to the possible results of making reckless decisions.

Why help your child with career planning?

Career planning is one of the most deciding moments of your child’s life. With so many career paths to choose from, it can be stressful to pick the right one.

About 30% of first-time college students change majors at least once within three years of their initial enrollment. This can prolong their graduation or, worse, not graduate at all. So, it’s vital to ask them about their career choices every now and then.

Your child is already facing never-ending questions as to what they want to pursue. Some kids may already know what they want. Others make up answers because they’re unsure what to do. Get them to talk to you about jobs they see themselves in and assist them with realizing their strengths and weaknesses. Doing so can give them a sense of direction and certainty.

6 Ways to help your child plan for a career

Some parents have high expectations for their kids, while others put their career frustrations on their children. However, this constant pressure can take a toll on their mental health, affecting their career development. So here are six ways to help your child plan for a career:

Let them experience internships or volunteer work

Both volunteer programs and on-the-job training are helpful ways for your child to decide on a career path. Not only will this real-world experience assist them with job offers, but it’ll also aid in building their grit and character.

Ask your child what avenues of life experience they want to explore that can benefit their careers down the road. Then, try to match their skill and passions to programs they want to go through.

Talk about their goals and aspirations

Discussing future plans can be a tricky topic for young adults. Even if they’re aware of their uniqueness, they may not have a deep knowledge of their interests. But having a deep conversation about their dreams can boost their confidence and strengthen your relationship.

Have them sit down and allow your child to pour their heart out to you. Better yet, let them ramble. Then see the light in their eyes when they start talking about their career goals.

Once you know what your kid’s dreams are, try aligning them with the type of career they can pursue to achieve them.

Have patience and be encouraging

The most important thing you can do during this transition phase in your child’s life is to have patience and offer encouragement. You’re their source of motivation so remind them about the future benefits of their hard work. Let them understand that the journey of doing the work they love is a long process of self-discovery and career exploration.

Your child may change degrees as they experience new fields and meet new people. So inspire them to keep learning to grow into the person they want to be.

Conduct career research together

Researching career options and degrees together is an excellent way to explore your child’s choices. If they took the initiative to do this by themselves already, you could help them narrow down their selections.

Another way to help your kid plan their career is to explain your and your spouse’s occupation. But keep it simple. Focus on how your knowledge and transferable skills relate to your job. Then, if possible, bring them to work with you. The earlier your kid sees the exciting things about the working environment, the easier it is for them to decide on a career path.

Help them realize their abilities

Every child has their own unique capabilities that help them stand out from others. These knacks can be anything from technology, science, and art. So as parents, your role is to help them realize their core skills.

You may either visit your children’s school career counselor or take online aptitude tests. This exercise aims to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and hidden talents. However, these are only quizzes, and their scores don’t dictate what they’ll become in the future.

Attend career fairs

Because of the internet, students don’t see any advantages in joining college career fairs. While searching online for job opportunities can be productive, it doesn’t offer the same value as attending career events.

Some of its benefits may include:

• Networking
• Access to free seminars
• Getting their resumes reviewed
• Learning about opportunities in their field of interest.

You can always conduct a quick Google search for career fairs near your location or talk to the school’s job placement center.

Common challenges in career planning with your child and how to overcome them

The whole career planning process can pose a challenge to the child’s ability to decide on a college degree or the university they’ll attend. In this profound moment of your child’s life, they may be going through insecurities that you may not know. So understanding what they’re going through is vital to make them feel reassured.

Lack of guidance

Every student needs someone to guide them in choosing the right path. But not all of them can get the proper counseling and career guidance they need to get ahead in life. Without it, they may feel discouraged to make a career plan.

Parents have a significant influence on their kids’ career development. While some try to shield their children from making mistakes, it doesn’t allow them to learn from them.

Encourage them to have a mature and sensible mindset to make informed decisions independently. Remind them that failure is a friend and a mentor that can guide them to success.

Copycat decisions

Since many children don’t have career guidance, it’s common for them to make irrational decisions. In the process, they may take a degree simply because their peers are pursuing it. Others, however, copy their parent’s career choices as they see their success.

To help your child make their own decisions, build their self-confidence. Make them feel certain that this new chapter of their lives will bring about new relationships and can strengthen connections with their old friends.

Understand that your child is their own person who is capable of making important decisions. So try to resist the urge to tell them to pick a particular direction just because you prefer it.

Financial constraints

Financial limitations are the most common challenge families face when planning their children’s careers. Since the average tuition cost increased in the 2022-2023 academic year, not everyone can afford to attend college.

Fortunately, there’s hope. Here are the following options your child can apply for if you have financial constraints:

• Apply for private student loans
• College scholarships
• Apply for student aid
• Find an affordable school

Let your kids understand your economic standing, but you can alleviate the tension by offering some support. For example, you may buy their books, let them live with you until they graduate, or help them build a college fund. These are the reasons why early career planning is essential to help your child attain their dream job.

You can bring your child’s dream within arm’s reach

Career planning is not so your children can have money to pay the bills; it is to give them a sense of fulfillment. So perhaps the best assistance you can offer your child is preparing for it.