Expressing herself through a hug, kiss and "I Love You" tells me she is able to express her feelings of joy, love, happiness. I role model and repeat these words and actions confirming their importance and acceptance.
Cutting tomatoes for pasta, if I ask she will come and help me in the kitchen. I always make sure the task is set up so she cannot fail, building her self esteem and confidence in the kitchen and most importantly she has fun.
Christmas cards for her school friends has kept Izzy busy for days, she even takes them to bed because they are "very important". Putting the cards into the envelopes and folding them closed requires concentration and the use of both hands working together.