Happy Holidays from Birchtree

The Birchtree Center helps students with autism in our center-based day-school program learn the skills they need to celebrate holidays at home with their families. We hold a large practice Thanksgiving for our students every year, and we help our students learn and practice the ritual of Trick-or-Treat every Halloween.

This month, our clinical instructors are helping students learn how to make gingerbread houses. Our local Shaw's supermarket donated a gingerbread-house kit for every classroom, and the students have been busy assembling and decorating the houses. It's a fun way for students to hone their motor skills, review new vocabulary words, and practice making choices.

For tips from one of Birchtree's Behavior Analysts on winter-time activities for families living with autism, click here. For some ideas for what to do with your child with autism during his or her school vacation, click here.

From all our students, staff, families, and board members, happy holidays, and best wishes for 2010!