Aquarium
The day before had been a big, exciting, new adventure so we took this day to do a comfortable, safe, easy outing. The aquarium was right near our house, and it was a place we went OFTEN. We totally got our money’s worth on that membership. I knew it would be fine (as much as we can ever KNOW that it will be fine).
Let the Kids Help
If you are lucky enough to have buddies to go on adventures with (pals from school, neighbors, cousins), let the kids show your child what to do. This might have been one of the first times Mikey got to pet the jellies. His friend showed him how to get his two fingers ready and she took his hand to touch the jelly’s crown together.
It’s highly beneficial for our kids to have more than one model of how to do things. Within reason, more adults and more kids equal more options for how to do things. It promotes flexibility and increases the chances that our kiddos will find a way that works for them.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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