re help with tricycle

[Guest guest]

Our son Charlie is now 3 1/2 years; we got him his trike one year ago, for

xmas. For 7 months he moaned and fussed and whined just to sit on it; we'd

push him up and down the street. I do attribute some of this to his

yet-undeveloped physical abilities.

One day in early October (we are in St. Louis and it was summery still) I

added " riding tricycle " to our list of ABA programs and on of our therapists

took him out with one of his favorite reinforcers--a set of colored squares

that he had first used (and initially hated) to learn his receptive colors.

After 10 minutes she had him riding up and down the path in front of our

house. Charlie eye-gazes---looks out the corners of his eyes--so steering

had been a huge problem, not to mention lack of leg strength. But he is

crazy for those squares and he stared right at them as the therapist crooned

encouragement. We also used other things he liked to look at, including some

big shiny flashcards. When colder weather hit, we retreated to the basement

where he zoomed up and down over the smooth concrete floor.

The OT from school had suggested putting Charlie at the top of a slope (with

ample supervision) and letting him ride down, just to get the feel of it. We

did this on the small hill of our street, at the end of which my husband

pushed him around. One day we went the other way down the sidewal, which is

the way to a school where there's a playground--and Charlie insisting on

going the whole way, a good 10 minute ride for him! He rode back too, very

pleasedly. Then the snow came........

So: reinforcement he could look at to guide him straight ahead; practice

indoors, where the surface is smoother and easier for yet-developing leg

muscles to ride over. Also, we have had Charlie wear a helmet form day 1 on

the trike as a good habit.

Good luck, he can do it.

care and cheers, a