Re: problem at school

[Guest guest]

Is he in a special needs preschool where they're prepared to deal with our kids?

Maureen

>

> I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem that i'm having with my

sons preschool teacher, and would like any suggestions or advice. My son is

autistic 3 1/2 yr old boy. the teachers know this and i've explained some of

issues with them.

[Guest guest]

what they have to understand immediately is that physically holding any child

down is unacceptable. Forcing issues just makes the child understand that circle

time means fear. not okay.

while my son loved the social aspect of circle time, his buddy who is autistic

would just melt down.  (although some days he would sit and be ok)  What

seemed

to help him, and this may sound odd, is if they let him sit in a recycling

box. 

He loved that box and it was just enough to help with the sensory aspect of

circle time.  Some days the box would be toward the corner of the room, other

days it would be included in the circle, and other days yet, he would be ok

just

sitting there without it.  They have to learn to look at your son with a

" sensory eye " and really, it's not that hard to do. 

My son is 11 now and his new teacher is pretty old school and doesn't " get "

sensory need.  I thought i would be in for a battle with her because she wanted

regular chairs in her class, not the ball chair that was prescribed for my

son. 

Well, she called the other night and explained that that day, chris was on the

ball chair but then he stood up.  She was about to ask if he wanted a real

chair

when she said that in her mind she was thinking " wait and see what he does "  

well a few minutes later he sat down on the ball again and continued his work. 

So if this woman can look at why he does things, and interpret what he needs

then anyone can.  My son does things out of need without him realizing it and

this was a perfect example to her of how that works. 

As you say, if you son is not disturbing anything, let him be.  He'll join in

when he's comfortable enough, and because he's off on his own, that doesn't mean

he isn't taking information in.

maybe you can try an inflatable cushion for him to sit on during circle time. 

I

have a round disc that is about 3 " high (picture a flattened ball) and my son is

able to attend to task much better with this.  It's more portable and they use

it at school during assemblies. 

They have to start listening to you more and they MUST stop forcing the issues

with your son. 

Is this an inclusive preschool?  Obviously they need some guidance for students

with special needs and maybe an OT can go in and give them some strategies.

sandy

________________________________

From: wickedwitchy <wicked.witch75@...>

Sent: Thu, September 30, 2010 1:12:58 AM

Subject: [ ] problem at school

 

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem that i'm having with my

sons preschool teacher, and would like any suggestions or advice. My son is

autistic 3 1/2 yr old boy. the teachers know this and i've explained some of

issues with them. like not responding well to being touched or hugged, sensory

issues like textures and sounds, lights innability to sit still for too long,

things like that and they don't seem to get it. they try to physically hold him

down during circle time and force him to participate. He usually just wants to

wander and observe and he's not bothering his classmates or being disruptive so

i dont understand why they won't let him adjust at his own pace in a way that

works with his special needs. I am so frustrated and am unsure of what to do.

Any advice?

[Guest guest]

I agree with Sandy. There are ways to help him without forcing him to sit.

Maybe a bean bag just to the side of the circle and when he is ready he can sit.

If he is not disrupting there is no need for force. My son had similar issues

and the bean bag helped - and on sensory overload days they would go for a short

walk - deliver a note to the office and come back to the bean bag. They also

had a stress ball for him to hold if needed. Some days he would make it the

whole time and others 10 minutes but he could take these quick breaks and it

helped. There are unlimited options but force is going to have negative impact.

They need to INTEGRATE - even if that means doing something different - just

give suggestions - and then make sure they follow through.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

[ ] problem at school

 

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem that i'm having with my

sons preschool teacher, and would like any suggestions or advice. My son is

autistic 3 1/2 yr old boy. the teachers know this and i've explained some of

issues with them. like not responding well to being touched or hugged, sensory

issues like textures and sounds, lights innability to sit still for too long,

things like that and they don't seem to get it. they try to physically hold him

down during circle time and force him to participate. He usually just wants to

wander and observe and he's not bothering his classmates or being disruptive so

i dont understand why they won't let him adjust at his own pace in a way that

works with his special needs. I am so frustrated and am unsure of what to do.

Any advice?

[Guest guest]

Thank you so very much for these suggestions.This gives me some ideas i could

bring up in the meeting. I really want to stick up for him and make sure they

address his needs. They seem to think he's just misbehaving and that im not

disciplining him. I feel hurt and conflicted.

________________________________

From: " csljh2000@... " <csljh2000@...>

Sent: Thu, September 30, 2010 8:50:40 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] problem at school

I agree with Sandy. There are ways to help him without forcing him to sit.

Maybe a bean bag just to the side of the circle and when he is ready he can sit.

If he is not disrupting there is no need for force. My son had similar issues

and the bean bag helped - and on sensory overload days they would go for a short

walk - deliver a note to the office and come back to the bean bag. They also

had a stress ball for him to hold if needed. Some days he would make it the

whole time and others 10 minutes but he could take these quick breaks and it

helped. There are unlimited options but force is going to have negative impact.

They need to INTEGRATE - even if that means doing something different - just

give suggestions - and then make sure they follow through.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

[ ] problem at school

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem that i'm having with my

sons preschool teacher, and would like any suggestions or advice. My son is

autistic 3 1/2 yr old boy. the teachers know this and i've explained some of

issues with them. like not responding well to being touched or hugged, sensory

issues like textures and sounds, lights innability to sit still for too long,

things like that and they don't seem to get it. they try to physically hold him

down during circle time and force him to participate. He usually just wants to

wander and observe and he's not bothering his classmates or being disruptive so

i dont understand why they won't let him adjust at his own pace in a way that

works with his special needs. I am so frustrated and am unsure of what to do.

Any advice?