Our kitchen safety story | Autism PDD

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We read it together for the first time at bedtime last night.  As usual, I was surprised by the gaps in his vocabulary.  He couldn't point to the handle of the knife, and couldn't point to the cutting board. 

LeAnne, I've been combining favorite characters with social stories or learning stories for awhile now.  My first one was with Mythbusters, to teach some math concepts but mostly to promote a good attitude about math (he couldn't even count to 10 when he started first grade).

It takes awhile to google up enough images and find a way to make them work together, but it pays off, especially for us.  There is very little children's literature in Norwegian that has the reading level and visuals that he needs for reading success.  

I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

That's great!  I just love it.  My son is quite a little cook, his favorite thing to do is mix.   I actually use the Food Network to teach him language - he loves Rachel Ray.  Hopefully he'll enjoy cartoon movies someday soon!

Cool!

I made Sarah a social story book out of your pics and words and she loves it:)

 Thanks again!! We havent seen the movie yet but now she wants too:)

I have not tried to cook with my son since he burned his little finger when he
was 4 yrs old. Reading your posts makes me want to try again. (with some
more safety measures) Thanks for all your great ideas.

That is so adorable..what a genius you are:) THANKS for sharing..so cute!!

Oh. My. Gosh.  Really, really excellent use of the movie pics to tell an age appropriate story.

On Cole's weekly "planner" sheet, I have photos of school buses, a photo of Walmart for shopping day, pool icons, and images from whatever movie we are about to see.  But this gives me a brand new set of ideas!

Nice going, NorwayMom!

My son is 9 and has suddenly taken the initiative to be more independent in the kitchen.  To keep him safe, I read up on kitchen safety for kids and wrote a social story with illustrations from the new movie "Ratatouille". 

The place with the most extensive safety tips was the CDC.  They give tips for various appliances, but at this point I was mainly interested in the microwave.  

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000001-d000100/d000021/d000021 .html

And here's a kitchen safety quiz for kids:

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0110321/quiz1.htm

Our social story book was in Norwegian, so he can read it himself instead of me just reading it aloud.  But I made a quick translation.  Here it is, with links to the pictures I used.  Feel free to borrow it if you want.

Title:  Watch out for the safety traps!

 

The kitchen is a cozy place, isn’t it?

 

http://www.cinempire.com/multimedia/ratatouille/photos/16.ht ml

 

But it’s also a dangerous place.

Just ask Remy.

 

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/06/will_ratatouill e_be_pixars_fir.html

 

Linguini needs Remy’s help to cook in a safe way.

I need help from a grown-up like Mom or Dad.

 

http://www.worstpreviews.com/ media.php?id=287&image=1&place=posters&place2=po ster

 

There are many sharp things in the kitchen, like knives.

Mom and Dad need to be with me when I use a knife.

I never touch the blade, only the handle.

 

http://www.disneyfrontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/_bl ogimages_luxo_RatatouillePoster.jpg

 

I never fall into the trap of cutting things right on the table or counter-top.  I use a cutting board like Remy and Linguini.

 

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/photos/ratatouille.jpg

 

There are also hot things in the kitchen, like the stove.

That’s a big safety trap because it can cause fires.

I must never, ever turn the knobs or touch the stove.

 

http://www.moviereporter.net/slideshow/783/16858/

 

Sometimes I can see heat, like flames and steam.

But sometimes heat is invisible, like a hot cup.

I use a dry oven-mitt to pick up things that might be hot.

 

http://www.moviereporter.net/slideshow/783/16887/

 

If I get burned, I rinse the burn with cold water.

Oops, Remy, use lots of water -- not just a drop!

 

http://www.catsuka.com/interf/icons2/ratatouille_preview.jpg

 

Water on a burn is good, but water on the floor is dangerous.

It makes the floor slippery and people can fall and get hurt.

That’s why I always wipe up my spills.

 

http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/rat11.jpg

 

Rats take food without asking, but I talk to a grown-up when I want food.

 

http://drasticgraphics.com/images/ratatouille_3.jpg

 

When I want something hot to eat,

I can ask a grown-up if I can use the microwave.

Only kids who can read get to do that.

Emil the Rat can’t use the microwave, because he can’t read.

But I can!

 

http://www.cinempire.com/multimedia/ratatouille/photos/14.ht ml

 

Only food and our regular plates go in the microwave,

never forks or other things made of metal.

 

http://www.cinempire.com/multimedia/ratatouille/photos/22.ht ml

 

The start button can be a safety trap, too.  I never push it without food in the microwave because then the whole thing might get wrecked.  If Linguini made that mistake, Skinner would be very, very mad!

 

http://www.moviereporter.net/slideshow/783/16890/

 

I never leave the kitchen while I’m cooking – talk about a safety mistake!  I watch and listen to the food while I wait.

 

http://www.cinempire.com/multimedia/ratatouille/photos/26.ht ml

 

If I hear a pop-sound and I’m not making popcorn,

then I know that the food exploded with heat.

 

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/06/popcorn-a- symposium/

http://www.moviereporter.net/slideshow/783/16892/

 

If that happens, I push the stop button and ask a grown-up for help.

 

picture of our microwave control panel plus

 http://www.moviereporter.net/fotos/783/Ratatouille_54.jpg

 

I can sprinkle on spices all by myself.

Instead of dumping, I shake the spice jar carefully. 

 

http://www.simonsays.com/assets/isbn/079441284X/C_079441284X .jpg

 

And here’s one last safety trap – cooking with dirty hands.

Nobody wants to eat food with dirt and germs in it.

I always wash my hands before I make something to eat.

 

 http://www.moviereporter.net/slideshow/783/16898/

 

Bon appetit!

 http://www.moviereporter.net/slideshow/783/16903/


 

I can't believe it's nearly two years since I wrote this social story!  If you need a little inspiration on cooking with your child, watch this video from our member MitraCCC-SLP:

http://www.mywire.com/a/Lets-Cook/waffles/8507705?&pbl=4 9

I somehow missed this one when you wrote it NorwayMom - probably because my ds was 2 years younger at the time and I wasn't even THINKING of having him help in the kitchen at that time. But he is definitely getting to the age where he is wanting to help and I am wanting him to help as well. Kind of like potty training - I have to be ready in addition to HIM being ready!

Thanks for re-posting this - it gives me inspiration!
My son has also started showing a huge interest in the kitchen. Great! Except he's very happy to "help himself" to making things especially "birthday cake for mommy--(my b-day was January!). Anyway, a social story on teaching him to ask a grown up before cracking eggs into the vented splatter cover used for the microwave would be helpful !

On a more serious note. Thank you for reminding me that social stories can do great things for our children. I have yet to create one myself. We have two that therapists through the years made. I forget that they can be a very useful tool to explain concepts or situations.
I don’t often share success stuff, but this made me think of something and I think it will give those of you will younger kids a bit of hope, so here goes. My younger son really enjoys food, so this summer I spent some time teaching him to cook a few of his favorite things. He became really good at them, and I let him cook independently by the end of the summer. On day I was in the living room and I saw him walk calmly by the door carrying the fire extinguisher. We had discussed fire safety often, and I had shown him the fire extinguisher and explained when he could use it and when he just needs to get out of the house and call the fire department for help. Plus, my ds has been in scouts for many years and is comfortable around fire. Curious as to why he had gotten the fire extinguisher, I went into the kitchen to see what was going on. He was holding the fire extinguisher and aiming it into the oven. It was in fact on fire (the back part of the heating element). He had already turned the oven off, had gone to get the fire extinguisher, and was totally and completely in control of the situation. He had not even bothered to call me! I was amazed. Great to hear how independent your son is becoming, SaKa. 

On a related note, here are some fire safety resources, if anyone needs them:

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27735&am p;KW=safety
Today I found an interactive site on kitchen safety/hygiene:

http://www.sensoryworld.org/kitchen_entry.html

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