Happy Memory Book

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Hi all,

I thought I would post an idea I had the other day. My 10 year old son J has a bad short term memory and is most of the time very negative and sad . I had an idea the other day about having him help me make a scrape book with happy photos and reminders of experiences he has had. This will be his book that he can put together his self (with just a little help from mum).

His first reaction was "NO WAY" however he is now starting to show an interest. I took photos of him and his cousin whom he declares he hates, but they have a great time together. He collected leaves, leaflets etc from an outing we did on the weekend. Tonight he can put together his first page.

The idea is because his memory is so bad and he is usually doom and gloom if he has something visual to show him and remind him, something that has meaning to him, perhaps this will help start instilling some happy memories for him.

Just thought I would share.

Hi Aurea. We did something very similar for our sons. We called it their "Books of Joy". They were meant to be tangible reminders of the things that bring them happiness, that they could look through in times of distress to remind them that there are good things in their lives. I helped them to alter board books with gesso and acrylics to make them, and then they collaged and drew a different theme for each page.

The cute and funny thing was that they didn't put in any people, more like dogs, crocodiles, Bionicles etc. I asked my son why and he said that if he was upset, and saw a picture of the person who had made him upset it wouldn't bring him joy. Made sense to me.

That is such a cute idea. I am going to start one of those books with my son.

You know, its nice for us to look back on those memories too. And maybe its us who need the visual reminder of the good times!!

So....great for all the family. Love the idea xx

What memory problem does he have? My memory is in the extremely low range (from testing). It fits the description of anetrograde amnesia. I can't remember my childhood, and it is an ongoing problem.

I haven't found anyone else on the spectrum with this problem. It sound like his short term memory is bad, what about autobiographical and chronological memory?

Also you haven't really explain what the connection is between his doom and gloom and short term memory.

You could say it works both ways, but such and assertion is highly speculative.

What about how his short term memory affect his capabilities in day to day life?

I recently went to the Carol Gray seminar when she visited Melbourne.

She mentioned something very similiar and we've started doing that with our daughters.

I got little photo albums from Coles that I can slip notes (eg you did great job doing X) or a picture of a happy moment (us hugging or a her doing something special) or pretty much anything else.

The other thing I got from the Carol Gray seminar was when we do a social story to address a problem we should also do a social story congratulating the child for succeeding at said problem.

Example if you do a social story preparing your child for going to the dentist, then prepare a social story congratulating your child on successful dentist visit - or if only a part of it was successful then focus on that part.

Something in writing, especially if you can add a picture seems to stay in the memory for much longer than verbal comment.

Plus I recently realised that when I say 'good job' it is not very specific and my AS child may not know what I'm referring to or even if I'm talking to her.