hobbies

By: Becki Lauzon, M.A., CRC
Transition Specialist and Consultant

Back in my December blog, I delved into the question, “How do I get my students to transfer the skills they are learning in school to the home environment?”.  As I mentioned then – and which is still true now – this is a question that almost every parent thinks and asks about. It still remains that every student and home environment are different, so the first step is to individualize the process and see what works best for both the student and the family in an attempt to generalize those life skills.

In my last blog, I provided suggested activities and resources that focused on the areas of cooking and domestic skills. In this blog, I will share information regarding the areas of financial literacy and community resources. Please note that these are a wide range of activities, and it is important to determine what is most appropriate for your young adult.

Financial Literacy

• Coin and bill identification with real money. It is important to practice identifying the values of coins and bills with real currency.
• Set up a store in your home and label items with realistic prices. This can be good practice for identifying how much items cost, budgeting, rounding up to the next dollar, checking for correct change, etc.
• When you feel they are ready, assist your young adult in opening up their own bank account. Be sure to take them with you and make sure they understand the process and the responsibility that is associated with this (i.e., financial safety).
• If your young adult has a bank account, you could assign them one household bill to pay per month. This will help them begin to understand of the cost of living, as well as responsibility.
• If safety is a concern, many parents choose to start their young adults off with the use of gift cards versus a debit/credit card. This could be a grocery store gift card so your young adult can independently shop for their list of items and check out independently.
• I have had many families look into safer debit card options, such as these (please note that I am not endorsing/NESCA does not endorse any one in particular.
  • https://www.greenlightcard.com/
  • https://www.finder.com/debit-cards-for-kids
• Have your young adult perform basic chores within the home and provide them with compensation. This will help build an understanding of working to earn money.
• Other helpful resources:
  • https://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/teach/lesson_plans/special_needs
  • https://www.moneyinstructor.com/money.asp
  • http://moneyandstuff.info/budget-worksheets/

Recreation and Leisure

• Many students and families struggle to find opportunities for social and recreational opportunities once high school or special education entitlement has ended. COVID-19 has added another layer of difficulty to this.
• If your young adult is still enrolled in an educational program, it can’t hurt to reach out to the other parents in your young adult’s program. Scheduling a Zoom on the weekends or during vacations can be very helpful for maintaining routines and social interaction. I find that many students enjoy using “Kahoot,!” which can be played on a device from anywhere.
• Reach out to friends and family members. With many people at home due to COVID-19, it can be easier to plan a virtual game night.
• Many towns have parks and recreation programs that can be accessed online during COVID-19.
• Other helpful resources:
  • https://thearcofmass.org/resources/topic/recreation
  • http://www.spedchildmass.com/special-needs-recreation-disability-autism-aspergers-massachusetts/
  • https://adaptivesportsne.org/
  • https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/programs/topsoccer-communiities/
  • https://eastcoastjumbos.teampages.com/

About the Author

Becki Lauzon, M.A., CRC, works with teens, young adults and their families out of the Newton, MA and Plainville, MA offices. Lauzon has unparalleled experience as a Transition Specialist, Transition Consultant and Vocational Program Coordinator. Lauzon will be providing transition assessment (including testing, functional evaluations and observations) consultation, case management, training and professional development for schools; and transition planning, consultation and coaching for transition-aged students and their parents.

To schedule an appointment with one of NESCA’s expert transition specialists or neuropsychologists, please complete our online intake form. 

Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children & Adolescents (NESCA) is a pediatric neuropsychology practice and integrative treatment center with offices in Newton and Plainville, Massachusetts, and Londonderry, New Hampshire, serving clients from preschool through young adulthood and their families. For more information, please email info@nesca-newton.com or call 617-658-9800.