He taught himself
April 24, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Last night Charlie packed his own lunch for school. He was standing at the counter eating some watermelon and turned, then said “Watermelon, lunch!” The next thing I knew he was taking a plastic container from the dishrack, filling it to the top, and tamping down the lid. “Juice! Capri sun!” Charlie got a silvery pack from the box in the dining room and put it in on the left side, then pulled the two zippers shut and put the lunchbox into its spot on the middle shelf of the refrigerator. He paused, grabbed the handles, and set it back on the counter—-and returned to the refrigerator to pull out a plate of leftover roast chicken. “Chicken!” He pulled off thin strips of meat, which were carefully placed into another container and that lid snapped on. He put the chicken back in the refrigerator (after pulling the plastic back over it) and, sighting a pan of brownies on the counter, brought them to me. “I want!” “I’ll cut you a brownie?” “Cut you a brownie.” As I took out a knife, Charlie opened a drawer and handed me a Ziploc bag, in which he placed the brownies. Then he zipped up the lunchbox sides again and put it on its shelf, and walked off.
Later, I went to set the lunchbox on its bottom (and make sure no watermelon juice was leaking). I saw that Charlie had also put in a roll from the freezer, as he has been having for breakfast.
I can’t tell you what therapy or teaching method I used to teach Charlie to make his own lunch because I did not teach him. Charlie taught himself.
How wonderful Kristina!
That boy of yours is growing up fast eh?
Wow, could Charlie come over here and teach Sweet M to pack hers? I think FathersVox would be grateful! Go Charlie!
Way to go Charlie!!!
What’s there to say?! That is just so cool!!!!
Ditto that!!
Bravo! High five Charlie!
Jeremy started making his own lunches too at a certain point.
Growth happens
Are you sure you haven’t been secretly chelating Charlie???
You never know what Charlie might be finding in the refrigerator……
Heck, I’m in my fifties, and I often still forget to plan ahead that well.
Well done, Charlie!
That’s awesome. Intrinsic learning in action.
No, you DID teach Charlie. Charlie watched, and Charlie learned, and then Charlie did it for himself. (Don’t we all know those silvery packs? And why do we all seem to keep the box in the dining room?!?)
But Charlie observed….he put in protein, fruit, grain, drink and (most importantly) dessert. You DID teach him. And he learned.
Don’t ever feel that you DIDN’T. You did teach him, you and Jim….just as you are all teaching the rest of us.
And the teaching—the favor is returned—from what I keep learning from everyone……….. Charlie also likes an apple cut into eighths but handling a paring knife is not something he is ready for…yet. (So I cut up the apple while he’s waking up in the morning.) The silvery packs are in our dining room as we don’t exactly have formal dinners with company, may as well use the room for something!
Outstanding! That is the fruit of self confidence. He knew that he could take charge and he knew that he would be supported in doing so. That’s so great to see.
Yay!
Wow! That is so awesome!!! Great job Charlie!!!
What???!!! Charlie- you are awesome!! You must be getting ready to have a birthday!
Yay Charlie! Bet you’re proud of yourself. I know your mom’s proud, she’s bragging all over the internet. *grin*
Yay!
Nice job. I was just listening to this kids radio show, Kids with autism speak
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Hoverboard