By Karen Kaplan
Punctual means arriving on time. It means being prompt, not late or tardy. Many of us understand the social implications of not arriving on time, and we understand the feelings of how others might react if we are not prompt. We may also see the consequences of not being punctual. But I wonder if people with special needs understand those who do not know how arriving late may affect the feelings of others involved in the experience and realize the importance of punctuality. It's crucial for everyone, including those on the spectrum or with similar social understanding differences, to grasp these social implications.
This understanding can significantly improve their social engagement, work engagement, and community access experiences.
So, parents and teachers, take time to help your loved ones and students understand how being on time can affect others and their daily lives. Here are some helpful tips for teaching the value of punctuality:
Read books to teach punctuality to children.
Amazon.com: The Berenstain Bears Bears On Time: Solving the Lateness Problem! (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story): 9780310764564: Berenstain, Mike: Books Bill's 5 Rules For Success: What Every Teenager Should Know Before Starting Their First Job: Leinweber, Bill: 9781977273277: Amazon.com: Books
Read books with teens and adult.
Late!: A Timebender’s Guide to Why We Are Late and How We Can Change: Pacie, Grace G., Tweed, Karen: 9781838070519: Amazon.com: Books https://www.amazon.com/Never-Late-Again-Punctually-Challenged/dp/0971649995/ref=pd_bxgy_thbs_d_sccl_1/143-6154540-223854 Amazon.com: Time Management: How To Break The Late Habit, Embrace Punctuality, And Always Be On Time: 9781515065968: Hardy, Mike: Books
Model being on time in your own family.
Show them when invited to parties, events, and activities with a starting and ending time. Mark the date and time on a visual calendar. Give warnings that the day and time are coming up. Help them problem-solve what they will be wearing.
Sit down and explain WHY it is important to arrive on time.
If they are late for school, they may miss a teacher's direction or not know if something will happen differently that day.
If they are late for a party, others will have arrived and begun engaging in the activities already.
If they are late for the movies, the film may have started, and they will have missed important information.
If they are late for a job interview, they may lose the opportunity, and the employer may move on to the next person or shorten their interview.
They may lose their table if they are late for a dinner reservation.
If they are late to arrive at a shop, it may be closed, or their time looking around may be shortened.
Find videos for them to review on punctuality. Bing Videos Bing Videos Bing Video.
Develop Social Stories so they can see visually and hear why it is beneficial to arrive on time. Home - Carol Gray - Social Stories (carolgraysocialstories.com) The New Social Story Book, Revised and Expanded 15th Anniversary Edition: Over 150 Social Stories that Teach Everyday Social Skills to Children and Adults with Autism and their Peers: Gray, Carol: 9781941765166: Amazon.com: Books Design the story to align with theirs. Use pictures to increase understanding.
So, just take a little time as they grow up and teach them the importance of PUNCTUALITY. Teaching social skills is just as important as learning to read and write. Those teachers who support Individual Education Plans and Individual Transition Plans make sure there is a goal for understanding all job interviewing and daily job expectations, especially arriving on time.
Karen Kaplan, MS, is a native San Franciscan. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech pathology and audiology at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. 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 and 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 meaningful conversations with those we love).
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