How I Got My Student to COLOR

Alright Autism teachers, you know the child… the one who REFUSES to take part in any type of art project really. Where hand-over-hand coloring ends in a battle of ripped papers and thrown crayons.

I had been dealing with this a lot this year. I’ve thought to myself, “repetition, consistency, rewards….” I mean kids have come around before…

But this one just wasn’t budging. Here it is almost MARCH, and I’m feeling like a failure…

Then it came to me, in the shower where all genius moments happen, I need to motivate THROUGHOUT THE TASK. But deciding what that would be would take some brainstorming.

THEN, it happened. During an indoor recess of Pete the Cat songs on YouTube… I brought out a piece of blank paper (no lines, no pressure) and crayons. I didn’t ask her color. I just colored myself.

I started drawing Pete, different color sneakers, a rainbow, a sun, just doodling really.

When she picked up a crayon and started coloring with me. 

When Pete would sing about his red shoes, she would color over the red sneaker. and it kept going… through the whole song.

It didn’t stop there. She actually REQUESTED crayons later in the day, and didn’t cry during group art.

I think this is the beginning of something magical! Find what motivates your kid, even if it seems simple, it could make all the difference.