Building A See-Saw: the engineering way! #autismhomeschooling

Since our homeschool theme is on the book Let’s Go To the Park Playground! We thought it would be fun to build a see saw. 

The Final Product

But being that mom who intellectualises everything (sometimes it is a fatal flaw, but am happy it works to our advantage this time 🙂), a brainwave zapped in. Why not use the engineering design process, which we have been learning about in Little Star’s online class? It has been theoretical so far. So why not do an interesting activity to give practical meaning to theory? 

Making Accommodations

As Little Star has autism, we made numerous accommodations. First thing was to lay out everything clearly. literally and visually. Before starting the activity, I explained what we were going to do in detail to Star. Surprisingly, the design process made it so much easier to talk out and draw out our see-saw activity, step by step. This is critical so that Star knows exactly what we are doing and why. 

Second, I involved her as much as possible with our choice board. She picked out the best materials for the job, and used the choice board to tell me what was next. 

Third and most important,we did the entire activity on her time. No rush through the steps, and I did not force her to get involved in the activity. For some parts, Star only wanted to watch, and that was perfectly fine! In the play therapy we follow, we believe in modeling. We believe the child is absorbing what we do even if they are not directly participating. Indeed, sometimes being allowed to just watch the activity and not being pushed to do it helps them feel secure and safe. Which ironically opens them up to engaging and participating later or in the future.

Because I love making notes, here is a bullet journal collection about it!

Taking The Not-So-Easy Path

This is certainly the case with Star. When she was little, she used to be extremely demand avoidant. The world was an incredibly unpredictable and stressful place for her. However, after years of giving her control, she has become so much more open to learning. We are actually able to adopt and follow an online curriculum – a fairly recent development. Or make a scientific / engineering experiment like this one! Because trust me, if she doesn’t want to do something, nothing in heaven or earth will move her to do it. Am still trying to encourage her to paint again to no avail.

It is not easy being a parent of a special child, or being a Son-Rise parent, because very often what we do with our children goes against the grain of typical parenting in Asia. We face a lot of criticism over our decision and methods, from outside and within family circles. Giving her control, a safe, sensory secure environment, working on her time, respecting her isms (stims) and joining in with them, adapting to her interests and motivations, choosing to homeschool her. These generate a lot of judgements from others. But seeing my girl so happy, growing, learning and expressing what she knows, connecting and being a part of our activities, brings me joy. When she participates, it is because she trusts us, wants to engage, and finds the activity interesting. I am secure in the knowledge that her autonomy is respected, and that we are supporting Little Star in a way that honours her.

The Engineering Design Process Simplified

So she identified the need and directed me with the choice board. Decided on parts and materials after research. Helped construct the see-saw as she just loves glue. Determined the problem during the testing phase. And watched while I made the modifications. She also played a little with the see saw itself, although she was far more interested in the Lego dolls deployed for testing lol. However, when we reviewed the process and sequenced the correlating steps the next day, she answered everything perfectly. So she knew exactly what was going on.

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Building a see-saw with the engineering design process – in pictures!

And there it is, using the Engineering Design Process to build a very simple See-Saw. Teaching our autistic kiddos does not need perfection. What it needs is the willingness to be creative and adapt, to let go of expectation, to match the child at her level of engagement, to presume competence (I know, I love this phrase), go at her pace, and offer support, love and security. And the most important principle of all, to prioritise connection with the child over the need to complete the activity perfectly.

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Final recap the next day to build those memory neural pathways.