Re: Lessons/wisdoms on what to address for young child (4yo)?

[Guest guest]

I would start working on how to deal with anger issues, extreme frustration, etc. as you go along so you are ready when he hits puberty. When our son hit puberty he started having problems with this to the point I was afraid he'd do something to get arrested. We were completely blindsided because he didn't have anger issues until puberty. It's the thing I wish we had really done.

Have him evaluated by a specialist and see if Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) would help.

Contact the school and see about testing and if he needs any speech therapy, physical therapy (for hand coordination) or other services. It can take a while to get tested so I'd check on it well before kindergarten. Many school districts have pre-K programs.

We had our son in a private pre K at a local church. It was only a couple of days a week for half a day. I think that helped him with social skills and learning what was expected of him. Also, the teacher was very experienced, and the class was small. He had not been diagnosed at that time but we did it because he needed the socialization.

We liked the Kindermusik program, if you can find it in your area. Parents attend with the kids in small groups and the kids learn songs and interact in a structured group. In our group there was another boy with non-verbal autism, and a girl with Rhett's syndrome, along with children who did not have autism spectrum disorder.

I would seek help in particular with the language delays.

From: melody_autumn06

Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 11:45 PM

autism

Subject: Lessons/wisdoms on what to address for young child (4yo)?

Can anyone share lessons/wisdoms that they have learned in regards to what should be looked at/addressed while a child is still young (4yo w/ mild autism)?My son currently has challenges when it comes to social skills/interactions, attention/focus, not being able to sit still, language delays. Thanks for any advice you can give.

[Guest guest]

My only advice is to get him in to therapy now, rather than wait like I did (which you may already be doing). I would recommend occupational therapy #1, to help with sensory issues. I would also recommend a behavior therapist who will see him at least once a week (my son's therapist only sees him once a month and I plan on trying to get more done at his next appointment). I also wish I would have found speech outside of school. I think a good speech therapist can help with a lot of the social skills. I continually tried putting my son in sports at that age, thinking it would help "socialize" him. I know believe that was wrong, and only stressed everybody out. The older they get, the harder it is to change these behaviors, so do as much as you can while he is still young. I spent too many years in denial, and didn't hit things hard until my son was 6!!!HTH!!Aug 10, 2010 08:52:19 AM, wrote:>

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Can anyone share lessons/wisdoms that they have learned in regards to what should >be looked at/addressed while a child is still young (4yo)?>

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My son currently has challenges when it comes to social skills/interactions, >attention/focus, not being able to sit still. >

>

Thanks for any advice you can give.>

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>

>

[Guest guest]

In my LeapSmart movement classes, we address eye contact when speaking, body regulation through movement games, which could allow him to learn how to stop and start his movements, and simple question/answer activities that increase successful communication.

The classes feel like playtime but are vehicles for teaching the skills he needs. LevyLeapSmart Founder On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 12:45 AM, melody_autumn06 <melodyh2006@...> wrote:

 

Can anyone share lessons/wisdoms that they have learned in regards to what should be looked at/addressed while a child is still young (4yo w/ mild autism)?

My son currently has challenges when it comes to social skills/interactions, attention/focus, not being able to sit still, language delays.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

-- LevyLeapSmartThese Kids Are Going Places!Tel: 877. 669.5867Fax: 914.509.2665www.leapsmart.org

[Guest guest]

The main things to work on at that age is establishing emotional engagement and

experience sharing (social referencing, reciprocal interacion, and coordinating

interaction with you)during social play.

Communication is a biggie, however it is best learned in conjunction with

establishing social engagement. Once social referencing and ability to attent

to, follow the lead of, and share experiences with you are established, then all

other learning flows more naturally.

We usually focus on this through social play. I often use simple sensory motor

play to motivate the child to social engage with me (to reference my face to

share pleasure and obtain information, follow my lead in coordinating actions,

and learn to read my facial expressions and other nonverbal communication.)

With the sensory motor play, we design simple join play around sensory

preferences (moment, deep pressure, chanting, etc.) Once the child learns to

reciprocally engage with me, then I build in language development.

I do a three hour presentation on developing emotional attachment, experience

sharing, social referencing and reciprocal play using sensory motor play. If

you are interested in receiving the power point and list of activities, please

email me directly and I will attach the materials and send it back.

My email is nasonbill@...

Bill

>

> Can anyone share lessons/wisdoms that they have learned in regards to what

should be looked at/addressed while a child is still young (4yo w/ mild autism)?

>

> My son currently has challenges when it comes to social skills/interactions,

attention/focus, not being able to sit still, language delays.

>

> Thanks for any advice you can give.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Everything you listed as a problem should be addressed. I used a lot of milestone lists to pick out areas of delay/weakness and have those addressed. We also did an ABA program and they have lists of skills to teach kids with autism and we hit everything on the list that my ds could not yet do.

Roxanna

Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

( ) Lessons/wisdoms on what to address for young child (4yo)?

Can anyone share lessons/wisdoms that they have learned in regards to what should be looked at/addressed while a child is still young (4yo)?

My son currently has challenges when it comes to social skills/interactions, attention/focus, not being able to sit still.

Thanks for any advice you can give.