7-Day Challenges and Techniques
Summary of Articles — July 2022
7-Day Challenges — July 2022–1
These challenge introduce three techniques:
- Using nonverbal communication
- Add variations
- Use declarative communication
7-Day Challenges — July 2022 -2
Techniques
- RCR (Regulation-Challenge-Reorganization)
- Patterns of interaction
RCR and the patterns discussed in the article facilitate regulation. I have built these patterns into each of the other activities too. For example, a parent and child taking turns scribbling is one pattern of interaction. It is the reciprocal pattern where parent and child do the same role but they take turns. Doing this pattern once in one activity does not accomplish much. But once a parent is aware of the pattern and builds it into many activities, the child starts anticipating the pattern. That is when it really begins to help. See how I have specified table setting activity. The child can independently set the table. But that is not the goal. The goal is to practice being together, doing together. The reciprocal pattern is one way of doing together.
Practice experience sharing daily
We learned about the importance of experience sharing communication when we started RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) in 2004. In my view, it is one of the most important lessons from RDI for parents/ teachers of neurodivergent learners. Experience sharing changes the nature of interactions between the parent (teacher) and child (learner). Parents often emphasize needs-based communication. It is important for parents to distinguish between experience sharing and need-based communication. It is also important for parents to distinguish between experience sharing and imperative communication (e.g., commands).
We have shared some recent experiences to help the readers see why the seeds planted with 7-Day challenges and the associated techniques can have large impacts over time. The activities may be small and simple but they set you on a different path with your child. A path with less prompting, more emphasis on doing together, and sharing experiences, and less parental and child stress.
