Restricted Interests In Children With Autism Having restricted interest is a common characteristic of autism. Children with autism tend to focus in depth on an issue or activity and have...
All post by Silvia Angel
How to organise preschool work for children with autism
How to organise preschool work for children with autism Children with autism benefit greatly from learning in a structured environment. Order and routine will be your best allies when teaching...
You Won’t Be Cold Anymore With Lámh Signs
Last year, I recorded one of Mr Tumble´s songs with Lámh sings. Many parents and teachers commented on how helpful that was, so I recorded an updated version of it so more teachers and parents can...
Christmas Signs
Many teachers and parents commented on how useful my Halloween signs compilation was. So, I decided to do something similar to help you learn Christmas signs. In this Christmas video, I have...
Lámh Sign For Sorry
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. Today, I am teaching you a sign that can help you when working on promoting social skills with your students, the sign for SORRY. Young children often show concern...
Lámh Sign For Coat
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. As we move into the end of November and the weather is getting colder, I am going to teach you a sign that you will undoubtedly need from now on: COAT.Remember that...
Lámh Sign For PE
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. Today I am going to teach you a sign related to one of the school subjects: P.E. (Physical Education).Based on a natural gesture, The sign for P.E. is quite fun and...
How to use the First & Next board
Learn how to use First and Then boards, and avoid making the mistake that most people make when introducing this concept for the first time. First and next boards are elementary schedules that we...
Lámh Sign For Want
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. I would like to teach you a sign that I introduce to young children so they can start making their first sentences with Lámh. I introduce this sign once children can...
Signs For Halloween
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. I know I am in your inbox early this week, but it's because I want to share with you 10 Halloween signs that you might need this week. Many of you got back to me...
Lámh Sign For Halloween
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. There is no doubt that this year we will need to think of creative ways to celebrate Halloween, so our little ones can dress up and have fun on the day without the...
Lámh Sign For T-Shirt
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. We are blessed with the lovely sunshine today, allowing the kids to be out in the back garden in their shirts and T-Shirts. Having this good weather lasting so late...
Lámh Sign For Park
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. As we are enjoying the last bit of warm weather before autumn settles in, I suggest introducing a sign for outdoors playing: PARK. Since we are all spending more...
Lámh Sign For Toast
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. When we introduce signs to a child with special needs for the first time, we generally pick signs that only involve one hand and a simple gesture so that children...
Lámh Sign For To Wait
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. Did you know that children with autism are 4 times more likely to follow instructions when you use signs with words? Yes, 4 times more likely! That shows how helpful...
How to support children with autism learning their peers’ names
Do you know that some children with autism struggle recognising people's faces? I was stunned years ago, at the start of my career, when I realised that one of my students didn't know the names of...
Lámh Sign For Toilet
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. Today is day 4, can you believe it? Dropping the kids to school feels between really familiar and strange at the same time. I am cherishing the routine of getting...
School Signs Review
A review of seven Lámh signs for school for the new term 2020. I wanted to write to you to wish you the best of luck going back to school today.You, all teachers, SNAs, preschool teachers and...
Help your child say more words
3 strategies to get your child communicating. One of the questions parents and teachers often ask is “what can I do to help my child say more words?”. This week, in my video blog, I answer a...
Sign Along To Summer Holiday By Cliff Richard
Last summer, one evening while I was driving home from work, a song came on the radio. It was "Summer Holiday" by Cliff Richard. It's a catchy little song, and it caught my attention (I must confess...
Lámh Sign For Birthday
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. The first few weeks in July are an exciting time in my house, why? My two kids celebrate their birthdays in July - two weeks apart! I usually get all our birthday...
Lámh Sign For Sea
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. I am so happy to see the sunshine back! Just two days ago I was meeting some friends at the park. We had to shelter under a tree wrapped up in our jackets. I thought...
Communication Passport
One of the main questions for parents of children with disabilities over the last two months has been "What would happen if I became sick? Who would look after my child/children?" This is a concern...
Lámh Signs For Summer
If summer is your favourite time of the year, then you and I have something in common!I know that this year most of us won't be doing the usual holidays and there will be little travel abroad, so I...
How We Managed Lockdown With A Child With Autism
It's been ten long weeks since Ireland went into lockdown. Although the situation is far from over, seeing the number of cases of COVID-19 dropping and restrictions easing as our country gradually...
Lámh Sign For Water
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. We've had glorious weather for the last few days (emoji SUN), which it made confinement with kids a lot easier. We've had some water games in the garden this week,...
Super Simple Playdough Recipe
This week I want to share a quick recipe to make homemade playdough. I use a super simple recipe, so you probably already have all the ingredients you need for it in the house. You can just make...
Lámh Sign For Playdough
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. Most summers, I run a small summer camp with some of my students. At the camp, we practice all the new things they have been learning during the year through play...
Lámh Sign For Music
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. This week Sebastian picked another of his favourite things to do: MUSIC. He has had a love for music since the day he was born. I know all children like music, but I...
Lámh Signs For The Easter Egg Hunt By Silvia Angel
This week, I recorded a video for you to learn all the Lámh signs you need for the Easter egg hunt. We want to support children who use Lámh to be able to sign in everyday activities,...
Lámh Story: Brown Bear Brown Bear, by Eric Carle, read with Lámh signs.
Today I am sharing another video of a children's storybook signed with Lámh. The book is called Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Written and illustrated by Bill Martyn and Eric Carle. You...
Lámh Sign For Trampoline
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. I hope you are keeping well and staying safe at home as much as possible. As you can see by the picture above, I have a guest presenter for The Sign of The Week...
Where’s Spot
I'm going to read a book for you! I read books for my own children all the time and I am sure you do too. Books are great for engaging all kids especially at this time when we find ourselves indoors...
Lámh Sign For Flower
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. The sign of the week for next week is FLOWER. At this difficult time, when we are spending much time at home or walking in nature in order to keep social distance...
First And Next Boards
First and next boards are very simple schedules that we use to help children with autism. They can also be of benefit to any child or student who finds it difficult to transition from one activity...
The Colour Song
On my blog this week, I'll be sharing a song with you! I am certainly not a good singer, but I do sing all the time for my students and I am sure you do too - particularly to the younger ones. The...
Cooking With Your Child
Have you heard of Temple Grandin? She is an American autistic professor and an advocate for the rights of autistic people. I attended one of her talks in Dublin a few years back. At the talk, many...
Lámh Sign For Banana
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. The sign for next week is BANANA. Hope you all had a great mid-term break last week. All the children are now back into the school routine and the sun is finally...
Sign Along To Perfect By Ed Sheeran
Signing along to songs is a great way of learning new signs. Since Valentine's Day is tomorrow I decided to record a video for a song called Perfect, by Ed Sheeran. You may have seen it already on...
Lets Talk About Love & Relationships
With Valentine's Day coming up, I would like to talk about love and relationships! There is no question that having children has a big impact on any marriage. Having a child with special needs has...
The Myth Of Educational Toys
During the early days of my career as a visiting teacher, I began to build my collection of toys from specialised catalogues. I was sure that I needed lots of these toys for my students with special...
Lámh Sign For Finish
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. Last week I explained how important it is to pause between activities to indicate that one activity has finished, and then to label the next piece of WORK that the...
Structuring tabletop work: How to use START and FINISHED boxes
I would also like to introduce you to a really useful resource that I use with my young students, and that I used with my own son Sebastian during his preschool years. Children with autism and other...
Lámh Sign For Share
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. For next week I have picked a sign that teachers often request - the sign for SHARE. Learning how to share and take turns is such an important life skill for...
Lámh Sign For Sing
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. With Christmas just around the corner, have the children in your class started to practice for their school concert or play? The school Christmas concert is such a...
Lámh Sign For Please
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. The sign of the week, for the week starting on the 4th of November, is PLEASE. I hope you are all having a great Halloween holiday and that you are...
Lámh Sign For Book
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. I have been posting the Sign of the Week every Monday morning. Some schools have suggested I post the sign a few days in advance so they can have more time to...
Lámh Sign For Play
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. Have you begun to teach Lámh to the friends of the Lámh users in your class? Children who have communication difficulties can find it challenging to build...
Lámh Sign For Lunch Box
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. I am so excited about how well The Sign of the Week has been received and how many schools and pre-schools have started spreading the Lámh, one sign at a time. Over...
Lámh Sign For School
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week. I hope the start of the new school year wasn't too bumpy? This time of the year is a great time to get a fresh start and formulate new plans for the term ahead.Doing...
Subscribe to my newsletter and learn a new sign every week, read one of my articles or watch my video blogs where I answer questions I receive from primary school teachers, special needs assistants, and early years educators of children with autism.