2017: Volume 1

What to Do When Your Child Refuses they have the option to add some layers during the day or AMICA Camp at Cherokee Day Camp Buy and sweatshirts with loose collars. If your on the way home. www.amica4autism.com Located in Bensalem. Give to Put on Winter Clothes child prefers his clothes to be close to his skin, do the children and teens the social skills they need to connect Leave extra time. Set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier to opposite and get tighter-fitting items or even turtlenecks. with their peers and the natural world in a traditional By Melissa A. Kay leave more time for getting dressed and wrangling with Settle on hoodies instead of a . Hooded sweatshirts summer camp experience. Youth and young adults will At a Glance outerwear. are a great compromise item because they can be layered have the opportunity to nurture their skills-based, age- Sensory processing issues can make wearing winter clothes over t-shirts and worn unzipped. If your child doesn’t mind Create a to-wear list. Hang a picture chart or written list of appropriate community activities. unbearable for some kids. outerwear in your child’s room or near the coat closet. This warmth or weight, buy some extra-fleecy ones. YMCA Camps Check your local Y for programs.  Kids may find winter too tight, heavy, hot or will help him keep track of what he needs to put on before Remove all tags. That goes for , mittens, , www.upymca.org, www.cbfymca.org, www.lbfymca.org irritating to the skin. leaving the house. sweaters—, too. Even if a tag is touching a layer of Negotiate with older kids. Carousel Farm www.carouselfarmcenter.com Carousel  There are ways to keep your child warm without forcing clothing rather than skin, it can be annoying to some kids. Having your child be part of the Farm is a summer day program serving teenagers and him to wear something uncomfortable. Also, consider buying with no inner seams. solution may be worth giving up young adults with learning disabilities (mild intellectual Many people—kids and adults—find putting on winter clothes Practice wearing winter clothes. Get kids used to winter some good ground. For disabilities), and mild autistic spectrum disorders to be a pain. But sensory processing issues can make it a real clothes by having them wear them for short periods before it instance, you might give up on (Asperger’s Syndrome), ages 14-21 years. The program misery. Kids who are hypersensitive or who are tactile gets cold. the and mittens if he will begin its thirty sixth season this year! Located in defensive may literally scream if they put on clothes that don’t Holland, Pa. For more information, contact 215-355-6498. Experiment with fabrics. Some kids might tolerate fleece, agrees to the coat and . feel right. The clothes might be too tight, too bulky, too itchy or for example, where they couldn’t handle wool or down. At some point, you may find that Ivy Hill Integrated Summer Camp. too hot. And that can make everyday life difficult for the whole it’s not worth the tantrums, www.ivyhillequestrian.org At Ivy Hill’s Inclusion Summer family. Stock up on soft clothes. If you find an item your child is Camp, we provide an integrated experience for children of comfortable in, buy a few in larger sizes. Hand-me downs arguments or frustration to insist that your child wear proper all levels of ability that and thrift-store clothes are good options, too. winter clothes. So do you best to let it go. develops horsemanship As he gets older, you won’t be able to control what he puts Dress in layers. If your and riding skills, and on—or keeps on. The best you can do is provide options child prefers T-shirts or build teamwork, and be sensitive to his needs. And then, if it gets too cold, other light clothing, awareness and he may opt to wear warmer clothes on his own! dress him in layers that understanding of what he can peel of indoors. Key Takeaways makes us uniquely different and what pulls Shop together. Have  Giving kids clothing choices us together. Contact your grade-schooler or and a sense of control can 215-822-2515. middle-schooler try on help reduce frustration. everything from sweaters to gloves to coats. The more say he has, the more  Making sure your child has Bucks LIFE On buy-in you’re likely to get– and the fewer returns you’ll have warm clothes at school and in Social Media to make. his backpack gives him the option to dress warmly later Twitter: @AccessServicesPA Let your child choose. The night before, have your child in the day. pick out what he wants to wear, and lay it out for the Facebook: www.facebook.com/accessservices morning. Let younger kids choose between two or three  Sometimes it’s better to let your child experience the Instagram: @accessservespa options. consequences of not wearing winter clothes. Check out our website www.lifeinbucks.org and join Put summer clothes away. When it’s time for long pants Summer Camps: Time to Start our email list to receive updates on monthly parent/ Getting your child with sensory processing issues to wear and boots, pack up the shorts and flip-flops and put them Planning winter clothes isn’t impossible. But it can take time, away. “Out of sight, out of mind” may really work here. professional workshop trainings, youth events, and Expressions Day Camp. www.campconcepts.org Ages 6 compromise and some creativity. The strategies you use will Keep warm clothing at school. For young kids, have the family community events. -18. Designed for kids on the spectrum and other social depend on your child’s age and his particular challenges and teacher hold on to a , sweatshirt or extra coat. Older sensitivities. But giving him choices and some sense of control kids can keep spares in their locker or backpack. Even if skills challenges. Day camps are held during the summer is key. Here are some tips to consider: they don’t manage to dress warmly enough in the morning, months at Big Oak Camp, Yardley, PA. Financial Assistance may be available. 2017: Volume 1

500 Office Center Drive, Suite 100 Fort Washington, PA 19034

In This Issue: How We Can Help: Bucks County LIFE Courtyard at Ivyland Mark Your Calendar!  Parent and mentorship support 882 Jacksonville Road, Suite 203  Helpful resources for you and your child Your Children and Winter Clothing Ivyland, PA 18974  Referral to other services as needed 1.888.442.1590 (toll free) Summer Camps: Time to Start Planning  Parent and Professional Workshops 215.259.1974 (fax) Peyton Heart Project  Youth groups and events [email protected]  Specialized care for youth in residential www.accessservices.org Sensory Free Zones: Ideas for Winter and in-patient settings www.LifeInBucks.org Months  Peer Support for youth

Peyton Heart Project Sensory Free Zones: Ideas for Winter Mark Your Calendar!

Months Our Bucks LIFE and Transition To Independence (TIP) *Please contact the LIFE office for additional information or to register for a training. Additional information Programs recently collaborated on the Peyton Heart Project. Sahara Sam’s Oasis. will be sent closer to event. 1-888-442-1590 x23 Special Events are hosted at What is the Peyton Heart Project? Sahara Sam’s Oasis and The project is named after Peyton made possible by the James, a 13-year-old boy, who in SAMBULANCE Safety the fall of 2014, died by suicide Squad. They provide fun, after years of being bullied. We judgment-free evenings for know far too well what the individuals with special needs negative effects of bullying are on to enjoy with their family and a child and how difficult it can be friends. Special Evenings at to believe that it will ever get Sam’s, or S.E.A.S., are better. Far too often, bullying leads to depression, self-harm offered to the community at a significantly reduced rate and are designed with the unique and even suicide. challenges of special needs individuals in mind. Our goal is to provide a comfortable evening that allows individuals to These delicate hearts, each one made by hand and each have fun and network with other families. Learn more at one representing the delicate heart of a life lost to suicide, www.saharasams.com/specialneeds/ . have inspiring quotes attached to them. They are placed in public places around the word for people to find. We hope Sensory Friendly Movies. the hearts cause people to stop for a moment and reflect on AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to bring you a young life lost to suicide, bullying and on the fact that unique movie showings where you can feel free to be you! everyone’s life matters. We want to leave people with a We turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can feeling that there is still good in the world and inspire others get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Learn more at to join us on this mission of kindness. www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films.

To learn more visit www.thepeytonheartproject.org