Improving language skills

A year ago Max was official diagnosed with Autism.  He hardly spoke, but instead would cry and tantrum.  He didn't have more than 10 total words he used on a weekly basis.  He didn't have any words linked together and had a severe language delay.  Max has really had a major improvement with his language this last month.  He is starting to talk on his own without being prompted.  He has his own thoughts and remembers what he has said for future conversations. He isn't caught up to people his own age by any means, but he is making amazing progress.  And progress is progress. 
Max's conversations are 4-5 words and might even have multiple topics but he is trying on his own.  As his ability to communicate has improved his tantrums and frustrations has drastically decreased.  His understanding of the world he lives in has also increased.  He has a schedule, he has ways to cope when he gets overwhelmed and over stimulated, and he has people in his daily life that he trusts and are his safety net.

What our family is loving the most right now is how much he sings!  He sings songs he has memorized while he playing trains, while taking a bath, in the car, even at school while at recess or during a break.  It makes me so happy to know he feels comfortable using his voice.  His memorization skills are astounding.  Singing has really helped his vocabulary and speaking voice. 

The video below is Max helping Will and I sing "I am a Child of God."  It made me tear up and also make me realize how far we have come in just one year.  The next video is Max singing to the Sesame Street with no prompting. Just playing trains and singing. 

Just sing

When you feel down about yourself SING! 
Max is singing all the time.  He doesn't know all the words, but boy does he try hard.  His current favorites are the ABC's, and the opening credits for "Play with me Sesame" on Netflix or on Sprout online. 

We are making some big decisions about Max's education in the next few weeks and I will share with you what we have been learning, and researching soon.

Here are a few awesome videos of Max singing: 
(You can even make out most of the words)

Singing

I love hearing Max sing.
He has always loved music.
Recently he has been singing everywhere and repeating songs he has learned at Pre-School.  He doesn't know all the words, but he has great pitch and can stay right on beat.  It is pretty awesome.
He knows the ABC's including the ending.  He will randomly sing it while in the car, in the shower, and even while watching his truck videos.  He loves the sound of his voice.

I wish I had a cute video of him singing.  But as soon as I pull out the camera he gets really shy and stops.  So instead you are getting a video of him doing a somersault.  This is his other new trick.  He is a monkey!  Since being at Pre-School for the last month Max has progressed in leaps and bounds.  His vocabulary is increasing, he is saying more things rather than just screaming for help, he is putting 3-4 word sentences together, and has mastered the art of saying "hello and goodbye!"  When I come home from work he is very serious about making sure he says "Hi Mom!"

Max is very black and white.  So when he learns something about a social cue he takes it very seriously.  We say hello and goodbye to everyone.  He knows that when someone leave a room or he leaves he says "Bye" and when we enter or someone walks into his area he says "hello or hi!"  It is funny sometimes because he will say hello and goodbye in the funniest places, or in a place where you don't really need to say either.  But again, black and white and very proud!

Will and I have looked back over the last year and thought about where we were a year ago.  We were constantly stressed, we were not happy parents, we were worried about Max, he was always having a tantrum and hurting himself, and no one in our house was sleeping.  Fast forward 365 days and we are still learning a lot, but we are happy, Max is learning and progressing, and we are better parents because we entered Max's world.  I am so happy he let us in!

Monkey Man Max