Physical Tools to help with changing schedules, etc.

Why Create Tools?

Our schedules changes, especially during summer and other vacations from school.  We can help autistic children cope with the changes by giving them cues & other tools that help make schedules visual. Depending on the AGE and NEED of the child, many tools can be made for just a few dollars compared to purchasing expensive kits and tools.

Magnetic Picture Frames:   Umbra Lynka (the name of the product)

Umbra's Lynka the $10.00 Solution that is pretty, hard to break and reusable. 

Be it running errands, picking up groceries, or a daily schedule, I have found a tool that my son LOVES!  It is a set of stackable magnets that fits my needs & can hold pictures or paper with words on it!  He is now almost 6 years old and does not want 'pictures' because he can read and wants to read words just like the big kids! 

My needs for a lasting tool: 

1. Are FUN and colorful for my son!
2. Are strong and hard to break 
3. Stackable and easy to change the order of the stack. 
4. Cleanable- can be wiped, spilled on, etc. 
5. Easy to change-out the words/pictures within the frame.  

I found with with Umbra's "Lynka" 6-pack of bright colored magnetic frames. I found them at Bed, Bath & Beyond's frame department. They were on a rack in the back corner of the department. I can't locate them on the BB&B website, but I have located some other resources.

• Umbra's web site: LINK to Umbra 
• The Fridge Door web site: Link to Fridge Door 
• The Art Store Online: Link to The Art Store (search for "Lynka"), Lynka Magnets at Art Store

 

I start with placing the magnets on the Fridge and going over the list of events BEFORE we leave. Depending on my timeline, I have my son pick the order of events and make the stack with the first event on the TOP and the last event on the BOTTOM of the stack. 

 As we go from place to place we move the top magnet to the BOTTOM of the stack.

I now have created ONE magnet that says "DONE" on it. It is the last one in the stack. My son LOVES being able to move that magnet to the top once we are finished with our tasks.

We are now using these tools in new ways.  Read my next posting to see how we use them in the grocery store!  (I own 2 sets of the magnets! One is used for the SEQUENCE of our errands or tasks, the other is for grocery shopping, etc!).    

RESOURCES FOR USING MAGNETS:

• Download THINGs-TO-DO.doc  for making 'cards' to place in the frames (pictures work GREAT using the MS Word Template)!  You will need to trim the paper a bit, but it should fit! 

• Download THINGs-TO-DO.pdf

If you email me PDFs of anything you have created, I will attach them as well!  

Below is a picture of the magnetic frames in the original packaging!