Re: Help us stop the screaming.

[Guest guest]

,

My son did a lot of screaming when he was 3 yo. He's going on 7 now.

It takes a lot of consistency on your part. He know when he screams he gets

what he wants, so why should he stop??!!

We started with getting him to point at what he wanted. He was non verbal at

the time. We would take his hand and form his fingers into " a point. " Then we

would highly praise the pointing and completely ignore the screaming....you

cant even say " stop screaming " , as any acknowledgment of the screaming is in

itself a reward.

Eventually...and yes, it takes time patience and persistence, he began to

take me by the hand and lead me to what he wanted. Slowly we went from me

forming his fingers into a point to him pointing himself. Later came his

language.....

The key I think, is to totally ignore the screaming. Dont look at him, no eye

contact, leave the room even.

Good luck and stock up on your favorite headache remedy!

B.

NY

[Guest guest]

Hi - my son did major meltdowns in public, would scream out of

frustration in not knowing exactly how to communicate. We did what a

couple of moms have suggested, as below, being consistent, teaching

him appropriate the response and giving what he requested when he

asked appropriately. We also started a fish oil supplement called

Attention Focus. We got it at Sea Coast Vitamins,

www.seacoastvitamins.com, and immediately the behavior changed--

within 48 hours. We switched to Efalex just because of other parents

results. I'm not as crazy about Efalex because I have to give it

more often during the day, but it works well, too. We didn't have

any issues with the Evening Primrose Oil in Attention Focus as some

kids do, either. Our son doesn't swallow gel caps yet--at least not

that size, so I cut the gel caps and squeezed them into a swallow of

orange juice. So far so good. I know how grating that screaming can

be. Good luck to you.

Many regards,

Carol in Florida

> +

> Hi , the mosr important thing is to not give your son what he

wants

> while he is screaming. Then he will associate reward with

screams. Only

> give him the requested item when he properly communicates his wants,

> whether it be a simple point, a quiet utter, whatever, but not a

scream.

> As far as the computer I am sure you'll get mixed answers on that.

Many

> say too much computer and tv are no good, but my son too has taught

> himself so much with it. Just dont let it become an obsession that

he

> does nothing else. Let him earn his computer time by doing good

work,

> picking up toys, good listening while you read a book, etc. and

then give

> him computer time. I set a timer and my son now knows once he is

on the

> computer it is only till the bell rings.

> Hope this helps.

> in New York

> On Mon, 05 Feb 2001 05:21:40 -0000 Leelee3OH@a... writes:

> >

> > Should

> > I let him play on the computer as much as he

wants?

>

> What do I do

> > about this screaming?

> >

> > B

> >

[Guest guest]

> Anyway, I would love any

> suggestions on how to handle this behavior.

>Thanks for listening. -

> B

We went through this when my son was 3. It does get better with maturity

and once speech kicks in. I did several things to try to eliminate it.

First of all, no matter how hard it was he had to gesture or give me a sound

or word for what he wanted. If he didn't, he didn't get what he wanted. I

realized that I was reenforcing his screaming by giving in every time he did

it. He hated time out, so I also used that. I know this isn't great help,

but it will get better. My son finally stopped using his " scream " once his

language developed. Somewhere around 4, the screaming stopped all together.

a

[Guest guest]

Have you tried teaching or encouraging hand signals (or sign language,

type). Mine got pretty good at expressing what he wanted, and helped

alleviate his frustrations. He even used his hand signals to name his

kitten (he named it smoke, raising his hand in a spiral type motion).

Strength and good luck to you.

[Guest guest]

Have you tried teaching or encouraging hand signals (or sign language,

type). Mine got pretty good at expressing what he wanted, and helped

alleviate his frustrations. He even used his hand signals to name his

kitten (he named it smoke, raising his hand in a spiral type motion).

Strength and good luck to you.

[Guest guest]

It depends on the individual child. Obviously, for some it never kicks in

and Pecs or facilatated communication becomes necessary. My son's language

began to blossom before the diet at about the age of 3.2. He is now 4.8

years of age and is considered 8 months language delayed. One of my son's

therapists has an autistic son and he didn't begin speaking until 6.

Are you using any type of communication system right now? Does he point?

a

> When does the speedh kick in? My 4 year old has only been on the diet 3

> months, but I see improved eye contact and emotional abilities. But when

> speech?

>

> Waiting and Hoping in Virginia,

> Sharon