“Grab The Wheel”, is A Comprehensive Anger Management
Curriculum for Young Children.
Bryan Anderson,
MSW, LCSW, CAMF
As I made Grab The
Wheel, many people asked me something like "So is it for kids with Autism?
Or for kids in general?" Let me first make the point that
children with Autism and children without Autism have more in common than they
have different. Young children are young children. There may be
differences in learning styles, or specific needs that require extra attention,
but the challenges faced, and the social and emotional developmental goals of a
4, 5, and 6 year old are largely the same.
This is not to say that
their experiences are the same, but it is to say that at a basic level, every
young child needs practice learning about their emotions, coping with not
getting their way, coping with frustration, and learning how to be a good
friend. For all children, these skills help them achieve academic
success, have more success making friends, and feel happy in school.
Grab The Wheel was
created with high-functioning children with Autism in mind. Particularly, it
was geared to meet the needs of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who were high functioning
academically, but had severe behavioral problems, poor coping skills, and
social deficits.
Why? Because these
are the children that so frequently fall through the cracks of our educational
and mental health system. Schools and teachers may not recognize the
social and emotional needs of high functioning children with Autism, and may
not be equipped to help them navigate the classroom and interact with their
peers appropriately.
Here are the areas where
children with HFASD, or any child who is struggling, may require the most
support:
1 Emotion Recognition
2 Emotional Expression
3 Coping Skills and Distress Tolerance
4 Social Problem Solving
Grab The Wheel is
specifically designed to help children in these areas. The use of
shadows, speech therapists, ABA therapists, and other support staff has
increased as awareness about Autism has increased. However, there is
still a lack of clear and comprehensive social and emotional skill building
intervention to help teachers, parents, and children navigate the challenges of
day-to-day life.
Though curriculums do
exist that support developing social skills, managing anger, or learning about
emotions, few can address all of these topics. Even fewer are accessible
for children ages 4-6. If
we know early intervention is the most effective--why not start sooner? Grab The Wheel aims to give
children a "head start" on the social and emotional challenges of
Kindergarten and First Grade. Grab The Wheel can also be adapted to
help 2nd and 3rd graders adapt to new and more complex social challenges.
Grab The Wheel is
crafted to target common behavioral challenges that may be especially relatable
for children with Autism. Frustration Tolerance, Rigidity, Anxiety,
Communicating Emotions, Self-Soothing, Social Skills, and Play Skills are
highlighted and specifically targeted.
Since all children and
children with Autism are diverse in their needs and behavioral challenges, lessons
are designed to be specific, yet general. This allows lessons to be
flexible enough for teachers and parents to adapt to a variety of children.
The skills are concrete, structured, and accompanied by highly visual
supports that emphasize emotional expression.
As I prepare to launch
this book and social group to the world, I can sum up my mission with one
quote:
Well, now I can tell
people what my Dad told him--Grab The Wheel!
George Anderson, MSW, LCSW, CAMF
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