DVD Teaches Autistic Kids Meaning of a Smile

Another interesting article about more ways to help autistic children. I haven't looked into purchasing this dvd yet, but if you've tried it or plan to, let me know how it's going for you.


DVD teaches autistic kids what a smile means
By Maria Cheng, Associated Press

LONDON — It wasn't until Jude met Jenny that the 3-year-old autistic boy understood what happy people look like. Jenny, a green trolley car with a human face, had a furrowed brow when her wheel buckled and she got stuck on a track. But after being rescued by friends, she smiled broadly — and that's when something clicked for little Jude Baines.

"It was revelatory," his mother, Caron Freeborn told AP Television News in Cambridge, England. Before watching the video, Jude didn't understand what emotions were and never noticed the expressions on people's faces, even those of his parents or younger brother.

Jenny's adventures are part of a DVD for autistic children released this week in the United States called The Transporters.

The DVD teaches autistic children how to recognize emotions like happiness, anger and sadness through the exploits of vehicles including a train, a ferry, and a cable car.

(Read more)

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Healing for Autism

Just wanted to share this website called Healing for Autism about a mother who's son was healed of autism. She tells an inspirational account about how persistent faith in Jesus and prayer produced the breakthrough in her son's life.

When Toddlers Point a Lot...

Jaden is mastering many skills: problem solving, twisting lids on and off, appropriate play with his sisters. We're still working with him on clapping and pointing. Here's an interesting article on why toddlers learning how to point is so important.

When Toddlers Point a Lot, More Words Will Follow

Don't just talk to your toddler - gesture, too. Pointing, waving bye-bye and other natural gestures seem to boost a budding vocabulary.

Scientists found those tots who could convey more meaning with gestures at age 14 months went on to have a richer vocabulary as they prepared to start kindergarten. And intriguingly, whether a family is poor or middle class plays a role, the researchers report Friday.

Anyone who's ever watched a tot perform the arms-raised "pick me up now" demand knows that youngsters figure out how to communicate well before they can talk. Gesturing also seems to be an important precursor to forming sentences, as children start combining one word plus a gesture for a second word. (Read More)

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