Using a spoon - how to encourage independence?

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone

My little boy will be 2.5 next month but is still reluctant to spoon

feed himself. He has autism and ADHD.

is intelligent academically. He reads his numbers from 1 to 10

easily and can count the dots on a dice in a second. Also he has

hyperlexia (precocious reading age) and can read many words. He loves

counting and is very mathematical, and also very musical. He can sing

a tune back (with the words " ga ga ga ga ga " ) after hearing the tune

only once, and is starting to use correct words for some nursery

rhymes. Another thing that seems really smart is his sense of

direction. He seems to know where we are going simply by the routes we

take. He says 119 single words and around 10 learnt phrases, but is

unable to make his own sentences. His understanding is improving,

we're keeping our own speech very simple to help him understand us. At

the moment we're attending the EarlyBird course run by the National

Autistic Soceity and beginning to use PECS. Also considering the GFCF

diet after we see the dietician next month. At the moment I'm

gathering information from local supermarkets regarding their GF/CF

products and have also written to the Autism Research Unit regarding

the Sunderland Test for gluten and casein peptides.

Can anyone think of any ideas as to how we can encourage to

feed himself? He will eat some finger foods independently but will not

spoon feed himself anything that requires the use of a spoon such as

breakfast cereal. I have been using physical prompts since December

and if I put the food on the spoon for him, he can get it to his

mouth. But he won't go that extra mile and actually put the food on

the spoon himself. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I used to

think this was a problem with 's fine motor skills, but one

morning when he was extremely hungry he fed himself a few spoons

unaided (and that proved that he can do it). So it is just a choice

thing. He chooses not to spoon feed himself.

Also shows no interest at all in dressing or undressing.

If you want to know more about he has a blog here:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pernod/blog/

Kind Regards,