When toy play is not a preferred activity/getting mands

[Guest guest]

I'm working with a child who would rather stim on his toys than play with

them. Right now, toy play is not a very preferred activity although all the

therapists have been pairing it with food reinforcers, it is not a good activity

to get mands. I am wondering how one balances out playing appropriately with

toys vs doing activities to get mands. I get most of mands from blowing up

balloons and letting air out of them, letting the balloon go under his shirt,

jumping on the bed, airplane rides, piggy backs, back scratching, rolling in a

blanket, making a parachute with the blanket and running around the house.

I'm sure I could get more mands with water play and sand. Most of this play is

not " toy play " . Any ideas would be welcome. This particular child is a

scratcher (likes to scratch things). Thanks a million, Christy J.

[Guest guest]

Christy and group,

We implemented a VB component when Colin was 9YO. His method of

communication was typing words on various kinds of keyboards. When I attended

Vince Carbones workshop #1,I asked him two questions:

Did he think typing was a legitimate use of language and should we make him

complete typing the mand or should we reinforce as soon as we understood him.

He answered that he thought typing was unusual but a good way to communicate

and that as soon as we knew what Colin wanted,we should reinforce immediately.

I have to confess that we still built up his mand count by acting stupid and

making him mand for the cup,bowl,spoon etc. We used the mand count

competitively,which tempted us all to cheat some.

Colin is 13YO and has never in his life play " appropriately " with toys.

,Colin P's mom

,Colin P's mom

[ ] When toy play is not a preferred activity/getting mands

I'm working with a child who would rather stim on his toys than play with

them. Right now, toy play is not a very preferred activity although all the

therapists have been pairing it with food reinforcers, it is not a good

activity

to get mands. I am wondering how one balances out playing appropriately with

toys vs doing activities to get mands. I get most of mands from blowing up

balloons and letting air out of them, letting the balloon go under his shirt,

jumping on the bed, airplane rides, piggy backs, back scratching, rolling in a

blanket, making a parachute with the blanket and running around the house.

I'm sure I could get more mands with water play and sand. Most of this play

is

not " toy play " . Any ideas would be welcome. This particular child is a

scratcher (likes to scratch things). Thanks a million, Christy J.