By Karen Kaplan, MS
Have you ever noticed the signs that pop up on telephone poles, parking signs, or stop signs in your neighborhood? They might say "Garage Sale," "Estate Sale," or "Yard Sale." I suggest taking a stroll through some of these sales and then, maybe, hosting your own. These events provide an amazing opportunity to teach children with learning differences in a meaningful way.
Show your child how some people gather their possessions and, instead of simply throwing them away or giving them away, set up tables outside their homes to sell them.
Explain how these sales can be promoted on a website, in a newspaper, or through apps like Neighbor or Garage Sales in your neighborhood. Some individuals simply put up signs throughout the community.
As you stroll, you might notice the different categories of items available. Some people set up a book section, while others create areas for toys, clothing, tools, or sports equipment. Your child might enjoy searching for a treasure in the toys, books, puzzles, and games.
Then, please encourage them to ask questions. Your child might inquire about the cost and learn the art of negotiation. These are valuable independent skills to develop, and they also foster conversation.
I think it is a great idea to work with your child and host your garage sale. Think of all the learning that might occur. Here is a list of some activities to work on together:
Sort through old toys, games, and clothing, organizing them for sale. Consider washing them first, which adds to the motor planning and problem-solving skills. You can talk about whether an item is in good enough condition to sell, and if it isn't, it might be time to throw it away.
If you hold the sale at the end of summer and just before school starts, it's a great time to try on old clothing to check the fit. Afterward, determine what new items are needed for school. Additionally, this helps develop fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities.
Help arrange tables or large blankets to keep items clean on the grass or driveway. This activity develops organizational and motor skills.
Collaborate to figure out the prices of items, as this aids in learning how to estimate.
Group similar categories together and focus on categorizing them (shirts, pants, books, tools, etc.).
Teach them how to make change as this is a valuable math skill.
Engage with neighbors and people who stop to shop for your sale builds social skills.
When you have leftover items, consider teaching your child about donating to organizations like Goodwill, United Cerebral Palsy, or the Women’s Center. You might demonstrate how to call these places to ask if they offer pickup services or if you need to drop off the items. Then, involve your child in helping you pack the items for pickup or drop-off. These actions foster great motor planning and problem-solving skills.
So, next time you want to create a meaningful teaching experience, think about strolling those garage sales in your community or just SET UP YOUR OWN.
Karen Kaplan, MS, is a native San Franciscan. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, in speech pathology and audiology. She minored in special education and obtained her speech therapist and special education credentials in California. Karen worked as a speech therapist for schools for 20 years before opening her own residential and education program for students with autism. She worked in credential programs at Sacramento State University as well as UC Davis and spent 20 years directing private schools for those with autism and similar learning challenges.
Karen founded a non-profit, Offerings, which helps cultures globally to understand those with developmental challenges. For seven years, she founded and facilitated an autism lecture series and resource fair in Northern California. Karen still facilitates an annual Autism Awesomeness event. She is currently consulting, helping families, schools, and centers for children, teens, and adults. Karen has authored three books: Reach Me Teach Me: A Public School Program for the Autistic Child; A Handbook for Teachers and Administrators, On the Yellow Brick Road: My Search for Home and Hope for the Child with Autism, and Typewriting to Heaven… and Back: Conversations with My Dad on Death, Afterlife and Living (which is not about autism but about having important conversations with those we love).
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