What's In My Church Bag for My Kids with Autism

Рет қаралды 41,661

7 жыл бұрын

Forget grocery bags! Check out this Church Bag haul.
I share the contents of our family's Church Bag. We take it to Divine Liturgy to help our 5 children, 4 of whom are on the autism spectrum, through the service each week.
Read more about practical faith and autism at my blog: writinglikeamother.com/

Пікірлер: 62

@dad4484 6 жыл бұрын

I’m an atheist.... I don’t know how I got here.... nice vid tho. I bet this helps a lot of people. It’s incredible how you, one, are able to contribute this stuff to your children, and two, that you have decided to share your "tactics" with other parents and people.

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I want children with autism to be able to share fully in their families' rituals and customs. I'm glad that's communicating beyond the boundaries of my family's customs! All the best to you.

@marleelancaster255 6 жыл бұрын

NotThePersonYou'reLookingfor •.- same

@tammyking5455 5 жыл бұрын

I believe Jesus I've got to have in my life everyday I'm nothing without him

@geminimae2012 6 жыл бұрын

You’re sons learning to read at 3 and a half !!!! That’s amazing

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

That's one of the characteristics of hyperlexia, a symptom of autism in some children, but not all. Two of my children are hyperlexic, and one we know for sure is dyslexic.

@parkerjay7746 6 жыл бұрын

You should get them some chewing necklaces. Chewigem is a great website. It could really help them!

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I have been thinking about chewing necklaces. So far, they don't like putting the larger items in their mouths with the exception of the silicone slap bracelets. I will check out the website you mention and see if there are textures they like.

@parkerjay7746 6 жыл бұрын

Summer Kinard Okay, stimtastic also sells chewing pendants but they are all pretty big. Chewigem offers different textures and thicknesses. A lot better than stimtastic, personally. I hope I could help!

@kadenburton9860 4 жыл бұрын

I have really bad anxiety and fidgety type things and sensory toys help alot. I typically keep like a stress ball and small little things in my bag to keep my hands busy if im not taking notes. Im almost 18 but fidget toys help people alot oddly enough, and i agree with you about the do what works for you. I attend a baptist church so its much much different than catholic churches or whatever.

@laibahhussain1694 3 жыл бұрын

Cool stuff

@SuperGingerBickies 6 жыл бұрын

Hello, Summer K! Thank you so, so, so very much for posting this. I'm impressed with the Church Bag. I bet there are many families in a similar situation who will take up the idea. You know, it makes you wonder how many practising Christians (Catholic, Orthodox etc.) on the autism spectrum, at whatever age, are either suffering in silence or feel neglected or judged unreasonably by their faith communities or avoid going to Church altogether? It must run into the hundreds of thousands. I am a Catholic who loves my faith but dislikes the noise of the Vernacular/Ordinary Mass - where I use my ear defenders the most. I much prefer (and really love) the Traditional Latin Mass because it is less noisy, more tranquil and not as emphatic on the 'social' aspect. I haven't been back to a TLM since my fiancé died because I am not able to travel on my own. A travel buddy who likes Latin Mass as much as I do would be brilliant! I hope you have a Happy and Holy Easter (I believe the Greek Orthodox Church celebrate Easter later than the Catholic Church). I have those icons, too, especially Our Lady of the Passion/Perpetual Help. God bless you and your family!

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! So many people feel pushed away from the church these days. That's a big reason why I'm writing a book to help people see that welcome for all is necessary for approaching the heart of God. It's called Of Such is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability, and it will be out early next year. I hope that you find a way to the Mass that you love!

@SuperGingerBickies 6 жыл бұрын

+Summer Kinard ... Wow! Thank you very much for your kind reply to my post. I wish you all the best - and the assurance of my prayers - for your forthcoming book. I have made a note of the book title and will look out for it. God bless you and yours. PS: Please pray (I have been praying for this for a while) that there will be a travel buddy who loves and understands the Latin Mass as much as I do!

@jesusChrist-ft3ll 6 жыл бұрын

That's cool that your Orthodox. I come from a Orthodox country, buy I'm Anglican

@kingdollop-head743 6 жыл бұрын

Cool. I have something similar tot the spiky slap bracelet and I love it so much. Where did you get yours?

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

I get mine in sets of 12 on Amazon. There are some great mermaid sequined slap bracelets in stores sometimes that you might also like. I saw some recently on clearance at Walmart.

@kingdollop-head743 6 жыл бұрын

Summer Kinard Cool. Are they sold in packs of less than 12, or separate? And what are they called? (The ones in the video)

@DogLover1718 4 жыл бұрын

Tangles are good for most kids but they come apart Or therapy putty is good their both quite

@somemyrrh 4 жыл бұрын

We've had poor results with mixing therapy putty and church clothes in the past, so I try to leave it out of church bags. We've gotten into a pattern of tying several of the sensory strings together so that the children can work the knots out. That seems to work well as a focus.

@DogLover1718 3 жыл бұрын

@@somemyrrh look on Amazon search up sensory toys pacifically packs then u get more than one fidget or more of the same thing if u don’t have to be quite pop it’s are amazing but you can do what u want I’m just suggesting stuff as I have autism myself

@sydnie6205 6 жыл бұрын

What religion are you just wondering? This is very cool

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

I'm Greek Orthodox. Our services are a bit longer than most, and we carry a lot of support items in with us. We also carry a PODD and some stand-alone help hands.

@giavonnacampana9939 5 жыл бұрын

Christian

@stacijovanovic577 4 жыл бұрын

@@somemyrrh I'm Serbian orthodox so I know how you feel I know that some churches make you stand the whole time but im glad that we get to sit every one in a while

@user-no9tf3yp3k 6 жыл бұрын

I have the pink ear defenders by snug too 😂😂😂😂

@honeyandbarry2057 3 жыл бұрын

I do

@tebazile87 5 жыл бұрын

Do you have a link for the second small book and the laminated pages?

@somemyrrh 5 жыл бұрын

Both of the small board books are from this Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/Philotheia

@somemyrrh 5 жыл бұрын

If you mean the laminated vocabulary board set, I don't have my shop open right now, but you can print the pieces from my website: summerkinard.com/special-needs-resources/

@courtneyshearer3382 2 жыл бұрын

Can you give me the link for the wrist band rubber fidget thing you spoke about this item 2nd Thanks

@somemyrrh 2 жыл бұрын

amzn.to/3q42pwW

@courtneyshearer3382 2 жыл бұрын

@@somemyrrh how many do you get for that price 9:99

@paigeeiamwat2198 5 жыл бұрын

Hi my name is Laura my daughter is the account I'm texting of and she has autism and Im from London and I don't know where to get her sensory stuff from

@laibahhussain1694 3 жыл бұрын

Which shop

@liaaaa1311 6 жыл бұрын

Wait is your kids twins or different ages

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

I have a set of twins as well as 3 singletons. They're ages almost 3 to 9.

@layneaddison5429 6 жыл бұрын

I don't get why you have noise canceling headphones at church aren't you supposed to listen??? please answer me!!!!!

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

The noise cancelling headphones do not block all sounds. They won't block out the sound of the service or hymns. They will lower the sound level for people with sound sensitivities due to sensory processing disorder, autism, or other special needs.

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

They also muffle the little noises that other people around you make, which can be extremely distracting to people on the spectrum. For instance, the sound of someone's clothes or breathing might be really frustrating to a person trying to open themselves to the stimuli for prayer. There's not necessarily the same way of sorting sensory input for autistic people as there might be for you or neurotypical people in general. You might have some sounds you can't tune out, like maybe if someone is chewing loudly at the table. Those sorts of sounds stick out more to people who take everything in with fewer filters. Headphones and sunglasses can help people who see everything and hear everything, to be able to filter the things they see and hear better based on importance.

@SuperGingerBickies 6 жыл бұрын

+Summer Kinard ... I wear ear defenders before Mass begins because it is very difficult to focus on my own prayers with other noises going on. I wish these things were out when I was young because it would have helped me greatly and saved a lot of grief. Then again, I wasn't diagnosed with AS until my very late 40's. God Bless.

@laibahhussain1694 3 жыл бұрын

Are they cheap

@maisyxoxo4059 7 жыл бұрын

What can i do when ppl keep saying that im not autistic pls help

@thevintagesystem 6 жыл бұрын

ignore it there stereotyping and that's wrong.

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

Most people don't know how autism shows up in people who are verbal. You have to focus on what you know is true and do what makes you feel safe and healthy.

@caroline-ko3xp 6 жыл бұрын

what are your thoughts on being gay or trans the creator of this just thoughts?

@caroline-ko3xp 6 жыл бұрын

im aware i just like to know opinons also in my classroom we have 2 autistic kids and a thing they love to sit through our hour and a half class they love the boogie board its non electronic and you can just draw endless amounts and erase but im just wondering sorry :)

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

It sounds like boogie boards are great for helping children self-soothe. My goal with all interventions is to help children self-regulate. I wonder if you have some stencils or allow the children to trace a relevant symbol or scene from the lesson if that will help them engage the lesson more using that tool that they find so helpful. A similar option for your class might be to draw words or symbols or stick figure scenes in chalk and have the children trace over them with wet paintbrushes. This could work for the entire group in turns and help with including the autistic children in the group. I'm not comfortable using my platform to promote my opinions on other people's sexuality. I believe that God loves everyone, and that is sufficient to show me that I must love everyone, too. Beyond that, my opinion is not important. I'm sure that you will find it more fruitful to discuss your particular interest in human sexuality and identity politics with the religious leaders in your own church or faith community.

@caroline-ko3xp 6 жыл бұрын

ok thank you also sorry for invading your privacy by asking you that question and I dont think you relize this but when I said my class I meant kids like me im only 13 im just nosy sorry but great idea i will ask my teacher :)

@marieke.g 5 жыл бұрын

caroline burrito that means she's against it but not able to say it. weak.

@bonniejohnstone 4 жыл бұрын

The Church has 2000 year old standards that are meant to prepare us for the Kingdom of God and Union with Him. The command to Love God, love your neighbor as much as we love ourselves still applies. However, love doesn’t mean that any and everything is acceptable. Gay people come to my Parish and those who do are welcomed. They may not participate in the sacraments (neither can unmarried persons living together). Other Religions that don’t accept gay marriage and liaisons: Orthodox Judaism, Mormons, Islam, Southern Baptist, Catholic, the Dali Lama , Sikhism and some on...forbid or are against same sex liaisons. religiousinstitute.org/denom_statements/understanding-homosexuality-an-orthodox-christian-perspective/ Your question was outside the context of this KZfaq video. You should call in to ‘Orthodoxy Live’ with Fr. Evan Armatas any Sunday evening and ask anything (really)! He has no animosity towards LGBTQ people. Google the show for the number.

@laibahhussain1694 3 жыл бұрын

Do they help

@somemyrrh 3 жыл бұрын

Yes. These tools help a lot. I don't have an Etsy shop currently, but the free printables are on my website linked from my Disability Resources tab: summerkinard.com

@laibahhussain1694 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so was to free stuff or did you pay for it

@laibahhussain1694 3 жыл бұрын

What the link

@somemyrrh 3 жыл бұрын

@@laibahhussain1694 I pay for all of the things in the video. I supply free printables that I developed on my website.

@jamieeshayy 6 жыл бұрын

Why are you forcing so much religion on your children?

@HayleyEditsLOLroblox 6 жыл бұрын

Ignitecosplay it’s called church what do u expect them to leave them at home while they go to church they’re not even old enough to know how to follow a religion

@somemyrrh 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your concern. Our faith is a whole-life practice and is very positive and joyful. Our children aren't forced into it at all. Perhaps you had a different experience of religious practice that gives you feelings of sadness or feeling trapped when you consider any religion. I hope that you find affirming and healing practices whatever your preferences. For us, we love the long tradition of the Church, the peace and beauty and connectedness, and the rich feelings of healing and unconditional love for all people that we find there. We are part of a faith that prays for everyone in love, and I am grateful to be able to share that with our children.