Walmart for Water Guns
One way we help Michael to be ready for upcoming events, seasons or happenings is to include him in the preparations. Before the pool opening, we took a trip to Walmart to let our buddy pick out some pool toys to use in the coming months.
Back then, we were still trying to get Michael to round up to the next dollar and use cash, but this was (and is) very hard for him. It is especially challenging to move beyond counting ones and start using fives, tens and twenties. This proved to be too difficult for Mikey to do independently.
Instead, we now focus on using his debit card so that the process to pay for his items is the same each time. This has turned out to be much easier for him.
They even have debit cards specifically designed for kids that might come in handy in teaching this skill as soon as your child is ready to start making purchases with the help of an adult.
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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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