QuirkyMotherOf2
09-19-2004, 06:18 PM
Hello everyone, I am new here. I have a high functioning son with sensory integration who just started kindergarten without much success. This is a new school and he was in a preschool before which he did very well in. Now in his new school, my son has started screaming when in transition, also other times like during story and pushing people who get too close to him. He has a thing about personal space. At home he is waking up screaming for my husband. Even in his nursery at church he has been acting out and kicking people. This is so unlike him. I have never had such aggression problems from him before. Even the teacher is sending home notes saying that he needs an Classroom Aid every day. Which is what I requested. I am at my wit's end. Does anyone have any suggestions? He goes to the doctor soon to discuss getting him on anxiety medications. Thanks for any advice provided.
(Forgot to add, does anyone have any good sensory product sites? I am looking for a disc/wedge that you sit on or put behind you. My son has trouble staying seated. Also, weighted vest might be needed)
(Forgot to add, does anyone have any good sensory product sites? I am looking for a disc/wedge that you sit on or put behind you. My son has trouble staying seated. Also, weighted vest might be needed)
Sponsor
ang64063
09-19-2004, 06:32 PM
If they are saying that he needs an aide, then why isn't he getting one?
I know of several sites that you can buy sensory stuff from, but I don't think we are allowed to post those sites here. I would say go to some of the search engines (Google, Ask Jeeves, My Search, My Web Search, etc) and type in what product you are looking for (weighted blankets, lap pads, vests, putty, etc.) and see what you come up with.
I know of several sites that you can buy sensory stuff from, but I don't think we are allowed to post those sites here. I would say go to some of the search engines (Google, Ask Jeeves, My Search, My Web Search, etc) and type in what product you are looking for (weighted blankets, lap pads, vests, putty, etc.) and see what you come up with.
SHReed
09-20-2004, 11:49 AM
QuirkyMother,
I'm afraid I don't have any answers for you, but I can sympathize. My 5-yr. old high-functioning son is also in kindergarten, and while he hasn't shown any aggression so far at school, he's started to show it at home. He did fine in Preschool - didn't show aggression at home, but sometime during the summer he starting hitting his father and me (mostly me.) He also hits his little brother whenever he cries or "invades his space" or tries to play with his toys. Sometimes he'll go around saying "hit Mommy" or "hit Daddy" and sometimes he hits us for seemingly no reason. Of course, it's difficult to make him understand that hitting is wrong so what do you do? Children like ours don't respond to normal discipline like other children would. I'm going to take my son to a DAN doctor to see if she thinks a special diet might help decrease his aggression and improve his moods. I've also noticed that when my son is constipated (which he is from time to time) he's more irritable.
I know I probably haven't helped any, but I can relate to what you're dealing with. I'll be watching this thread to see if you've had any success.
I'm afraid I don't have any answers for you, but I can sympathize. My 5-yr. old high-functioning son is also in kindergarten, and while he hasn't shown any aggression so far at school, he's started to show it at home. He did fine in Preschool - didn't show aggression at home, but sometime during the summer he starting hitting his father and me (mostly me.) He also hits his little brother whenever he cries or "invades his space" or tries to play with his toys. Sometimes he'll go around saying "hit Mommy" or "hit Daddy" and sometimes he hits us for seemingly no reason. Of course, it's difficult to make him understand that hitting is wrong so what do you do? Children like ours don't respond to normal discipline like other children would. I'm going to take my son to a DAN doctor to see if she thinks a special diet might help decrease his aggression and improve his moods. I've also noticed that when my son is constipated (which he is from time to time) he's more irritable.
I know I probably haven't helped any, but I can relate to what you're dealing with. I'll be watching this thread to see if you've had any success.
momofchris
09-20-2004, 01:00 PM
Hi, my son has the same problem and what works for me is belive it or not is baby powder . His teacher told me about it last year and when he has his "outburst", I rub baby powder on him and it seems to calm him down a great deal. Never hurts to try it . Good luck!!
lillypad
09-20-2004, 06:11 PM
Hi there! I just had to reply, as my son - 25 - also autistic although not HF has had terrible difficulties with change, and still does. Mine also did well in preschool, but 1st grade, oh my gosh! First - his IEP - it will be the most important school directive from now on. Is the classroom aide noted on the IEP? Unfortunately, not enough to just ask for it - it must be stated in the IEP. If it isn't, then by gosh, call another IEP. Get someone or several someones to go with you. Be prepared and stand your ground. I am sure that you could find local support. Ask some of the other parents, check with your special ed director, physical therapists, what ever....ask for support!
What's going on in the classroom? My asumption is that he is integrated into the regular classroom. How were the other classmates, and for that matter, the teacher prepared for your son? I would encourage you to drop in unannounced and check out the situation. If anything feels. looks or suggests that the teacher or students are uncomfortable, I expect to your son it is magnified 1000 times. I always see behavior as communication. He is trying to tell you something - something important.
new school, new teachers, new classmates, lots of new expectations for him to perform! - that would be enough for anyone to act out. I don't know about anxiety meds, but I do know that environment and interaction are so important to our kid's well being. Our kids have pretty well defined parameters when it comes to their ability to adjust. The rest of the world can be much more flexible, but we need to ask them to be and in most cases teach them to be. Hope this helps.
What's going on in the classroom? My asumption is that he is integrated into the regular classroom. How were the other classmates, and for that matter, the teacher prepared for your son? I would encourage you to drop in unannounced and check out the situation. If anything feels. looks or suggests that the teacher or students are uncomfortable, I expect to your son it is magnified 1000 times. I always see behavior as communication. He is trying to tell you something - something important.
new school, new teachers, new classmates, lots of new expectations for him to perform! - that would be enough for anyone to act out. I don't know about anxiety meds, but I do know that environment and interaction are so important to our kid's well being. Our kids have pretty well defined parameters when it comes to their ability to adjust. The rest of the world can be much more flexible, but we need to ask them to be and in most cases teach them to be. Hope this helps.
teacheraide
10-01-2004, 07:34 PM
HI QuirkyMotherOf2,
This too could be lengthly
I by no means am an expert in this area, but I am a one-on- one teacher aide of an autistic boy in 1st grade. I will call him JD. JD came to us last year in our Inclusion Kindergarten.He had to come to our school because his "home school" didn't have an Inclusion Kindergarten(Inclusion simply means that children with special needs are integrated in the regular class) JD is a very high functioning student, but with poor social skills.
Before I go into what has helped or worked with JD, I need to share something with you. You will need to be his strongest advocate and demand that his IEP clearly states that he has a full time aide. I don't know what state your in, but in New York, his teacher, Occupational/Physical Theropist, school counselor, his doctor and anyone else involved should be setting up his IEP. The teacher shouldn't be sending you notes saying he needs an aide, she/he should be consulting the professionals and letting you know what strides she/he are making and confirming with you. You naturally would be involved as the parent and an advocate, but this teacher needs to be making the right connections within the school! I would make sure that his teacher is going thru all the channells to set up his IEP.
In case your unsure of what an IEP means, it stands for Individual Educational Plan, this would be put together by the Special Eduacation Teacher, Regular Education Teacher, OT/PT, you, the counselors and maybe your childs physician,the pricipal and anyone involved.
I have chose to follow JD to his new school for 1st grade
Now, onto JD and the similarities to your son.
JD has sensory integration also, but his is(auditory) to noise mainly so he is allowed to plug his ears when ever something bothers him or if he thinks it will bother him. When it comes to story time, if he wants his space, he is allowed to stay in his chair while others are on the rug.
When he has an outburst, (screaming) I can pretty much tell if it's because he is frusterated or being "silly" as I say to him.
For your sons transitional outburst, maybe they could give him an egg timer and say, when the sand runs out, we need to go to the rug for story time or what ever they need him to do. But by giving him a visual of time and what is going to happen, it will give him time to be prepared for the transition.
JD is a very visual thinker(processor)and I have made great progress with him when I put myself into his world, meaning how and what makes him work efficiently.
I chose to follow JD to his "home school" this year for 1st grade, I felt that some consistancy(me) would help him with his transition to a new school.
It's some what like starting all over for him. He has been screaming a lot, but I think he is testing the new teachers.
There is a strong difference in JD's screams, when he is frusterated, he can't controll what he is doing or trying to say. But in a "nonsense" outburst, he is very verbal and dramatic.
I can go on forever here so maybe it would be best if you emailed me:
wendy@twcny.rr.com
I hope to hear from you as I would love to share with you what has worked and not worked. But the big difference is to have someone available to know how to handle it!
Teacheraide
This too could be lengthly
I by no means am an expert in this area, but I am a one-on- one teacher aide of an autistic boy in 1st grade. I will call him JD. JD came to us last year in our Inclusion Kindergarten.He had to come to our school because his "home school" didn't have an Inclusion Kindergarten(Inclusion simply means that children with special needs are integrated in the regular class) JD is a very high functioning student, but with poor social skills.
Before I go into what has helped or worked with JD, I need to share something with you. You will need to be his strongest advocate and demand that his IEP clearly states that he has a full time aide. I don't know what state your in, but in New York, his teacher, Occupational/Physical Theropist, school counselor, his doctor and anyone else involved should be setting up his IEP. The teacher shouldn't be sending you notes saying he needs an aide, she/he should be consulting the professionals and letting you know what strides she/he are making and confirming with you. You naturally would be involved as the parent and an advocate, but this teacher needs to be making the right connections within the school! I would make sure that his teacher is going thru all the channells to set up his IEP.
In case your unsure of what an IEP means, it stands for Individual Educational Plan, this would be put together by the Special Eduacation Teacher, Regular Education Teacher, OT/PT, you, the counselors and maybe your childs physician,the pricipal and anyone involved.
I have chose to follow JD to his new school for 1st grade
Now, onto JD and the similarities to your son.
JD has sensory integration also, but his is(auditory) to noise mainly so he is allowed to plug his ears when ever something bothers him or if he thinks it will bother him. When it comes to story time, if he wants his space, he is allowed to stay in his chair while others are on the rug.
When he has an outburst, (screaming) I can pretty much tell if it's because he is frusterated or being "silly" as I say to him.
For your sons transitional outburst, maybe they could give him an egg timer and say, when the sand runs out, we need to go to the rug for story time or what ever they need him to do. But by giving him a visual of time and what is going to happen, it will give him time to be prepared for the transition.
JD is a very visual thinker(processor)and I have made great progress with him when I put myself into his world, meaning how and what makes him work efficiently.
I chose to follow JD to his "home school" this year for 1st grade, I felt that some consistancy(me) would help him with his transition to a new school.
It's some what like starting all over for him. He has been screaming a lot, but I think he is testing the new teachers.
There is a strong difference in JD's screams, when he is frusterated, he can't controll what he is doing or trying to say. But in a "nonsense" outburst, he is very verbal and dramatic.
I can go on forever here so maybe it would be best if you emailed me:
wendy@twcny.rr.com
I hope to hear from you as I would love to share with you what has worked and not worked. But the big difference is to have someone available to know how to handle it!
Teacheraide
Chases Mom
10-12-2004, 02:18 AM
Hi there! My nephew is turning 6 this month and he has sensory int. dys. Well hi mom I feel coddles him a little too much. I just wanted to say I think it's great that you bring him places and have him try thing vs. sheltering him! My nephew didn't like the looks of the preschoool building so his mom is home schooling him now. I think she tries to stop things before they happen to let him experience new things! We have a trampoline here and recently had them over for a party. We were all outside and she told me that he wouldn't get on it. Well she went inside for a moment and I asked him if he wanted to get on and he said yes and LOVED it!! So I know problems with children are all different..my son is having an autism eval. soon, but sheltering a child is one of the worst things!! If he's not ready for something doesn't mean he NEVER will be at some point. Good for you that you get him out there!! Good luck with it all!!