Jellybeans
Michael is obsessed with Jelly Belly sour jellybeans. He would eat them every day if he could. I was at the library while the boys were at school returning some books. A giant jellybean book was on display, and I couldn’t help myself. I checked it out and then when Mikey got home from school, we hit the candy store!
This is like a mini-theme day. Just a book and a snack created a fun memory. Doing a little something extra for your special kiddo can help them internalize the idea that they are valued.
Will often got invited to other kids’ houses for playdates. That’s normal and wonderful! We wanted that for both of our kids, but Mikey needs so much extra supervision that it was not possible for him.
If Mikey was home alone with me, we often did something fun before Dave got home from work so that Mikey felt like he had some special things going on.
It may seem like a small thing to do, but it will probably feel like a big deal to your little one.
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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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