Cognitive disorders; Kennywood

Children with cognitive disorders may demonstrate difficulty with visual-spatial reasoning as well as planning and problem solving.  One way to target this area when you are out and about at a new place is by reading maps.  Take this map of Kennywood which is child-friendly as an example:

Image retrieved from https://www.kennywood.com/things-to-do/park-map.

There are many things that you can do with your child: ask her how to get from point A or point B; ask her where a rest room is; ask her what you will pass when walking to Noah's Ark; ask her what the most efficient way to the Log Jammer is; ask her how many first aid locations there are; ask her to locate where you are on the map; ask her what the symbols mean.

What ways can you think of to use a map?  Please post below!

Negative Contractions; Kennywood

Children love to say "no!"  But the use of negative contractions can be a challenge.  Negative contractions include:
don't
doesn't
didn't
isn't
aren't
weren't
hasn't
haven't
hadn't
won't
wouldn't
can't
couldn't
shouldn't.

Children often get a lot of practice talking about things they are familiar with: routines, stories, memorable events, etc.  Novel events or imaginative activities that children have not engaged in are more difficult for them to talk about.  A good place to practice negative contractions is at Kennywood.  Generally there is a lot of down time while waiting on lines, so it is a great place for language stimulation.

Image retrieved from http://powerofamoment.com/2012/08/01/going-home/.

Elicit use of negative contractions by asking your child questions that contain the target.  Before rides you can ask:
"What ride doesn't look slow?"
"What shouldn't we do while on a roller coaster?"
"Who won't go in the haunted house?"

After rides you can ask:
"Who didn't like the water ride?"
"What couldn't we do today?"
"Who wouldn't take the Pittsburgh Plunge?"

If your child has difficulty using contractions, then model the structure for her.  For example, if you ask "What ride doesn't look slow?" can can answer your own question by saying, "The Lil' Phantom doesn't look slow...The Elephant Parade doesn't look slow...The Black Widow doesn't look slow..."  With you modeling potential answers, your child should have a framework with which to start.