Seasonal Regulation (RDR) Ideas

• Make your own garlands: Use dental floss (double the thickness), thread it through a plastic canvas needle and knot at one end.  Then, thread through a variety of things (e.g. packing peanuts, pony beads, popcorn, cranberries).  A regulating chat may be: "Pick it up, put it on and ssssssslide it down the line.".

• Make a holiday card assembly line: Create a regulatory pattern through stuffing envelopes, sealing them and affixing stamps or stickers.  Use other "assembly lines" for making gift tags, ornaments, wrapping paper and for wrapping the gifts themselves.

• Shovel snow together with a large shovel.

• Hang tree ornaments: put on hooks, hang on tree, redistribute as needed.

• Set up an artificial tree: sort pieces, put pieces into base, fluff pieces.

• Have younger apprenticies help make cookies by greasing the cookie pans together or make cookies that need to be shaped into balls and have them roll the balls.  Show them how to put sprinkles or small candies on cookies or cakes.  (Chant "dot, dot, dot...sprinkle!") Or have them help you mix ingredients together with their hands.  If you're making pies or baking potatoes, have them do the pricking with a fork.

• For easy cookies, use pre-made refridgerated cookie dough.  (Some do not even require slicing.)  Alternatively, get a pre-made gingerbread house, gingerbread tree or gingerbread man kit and decorate with icing and candles.

• Make paper chains to put on your tree:  Another great chant and regulatory pattern: Rip the paper, wrap it around and staple it on the chain.  Chant: "Rip it, wrap it, staple it on the chain."

• Sing cards together and have different family members accompany with simple hand drums or other instruments.

Version 1, November 2005

Thanks to Certified Consultants: Katherine Lee, Nicole Beurkens, Michelle Broeckelmann, Amy Cameron, Kim Downey, Barbara A. Duckett, E. Cheryl Fletcher, Nicole Labonte, Trudi Pacheco, Lisa Palasti and the Trainees who contributed to this handout.  ©2005, Connections Center, All rights reserved.  www.rdiconnect.com