Puzzles
We have this image of progress as constant change, but for our kids, it may mean growing more independent at the things they already love. For Michael, puzzles are where it’s at! He loves them! He’ll do puzzle apps on his ipad and sticker puzzles, but his favorite are old fashioned jigsaw puzzles.
This was true when he was in preschool, when he began his journal at 9 years old and it is true today. Our recent beach vacation was a 6 puzzle adventure!
Most of his favorites are pretty simple (up to 100 pieces) picturing things he loves: airplanes, animals, trains, movie characters, etc… We have done some more complicated ones together, but it takes the fun out of it for Mikey. When it is too challenging, there is less opportunity for independent success and he’d rather do it mostly on his own. That said, he does love someone to be around to tell him what a fantastic job he has done…me too, Mikey…me too.
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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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