Tips on "bringing baby into our world" please - Autism Spectrum Message Board

RachelDevin · 01-27-2006, 08:34 AM

I happened to read a tip on one of the boards that sounded interesting and simple enough. Someone mentioned tickling my 8 month old grandson before we dress him or when we change his diaper. The idea is that there be direct contact with his skin, so he can feel the touch directly. The hope is that he might look at us in response and therefore be brought "into our world." It has worked a few times, not always, but a few times. Now I am trying to find other "techniques" that will help bring him TO us. It's just too easy for him to look at our lips or at my necklace or at anything else. Somehow the tickling makes him look into my eyes.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for "bringing my grandson" into our world, for encouraging him to "connect." Thank you for your help.

I Love LJC · 01-27-2006, 10:44 AM

Hi ,Theres lots to read Stages of Intellectual Development In Children and Teenagers.

geezermom · 01-29-2006, 10:24 PM

My son has always responded well to a light tickle. Another thing I did is whenever I was about to "transition" him from one position to another, I'd always count to three. This prepared him for something as simple as being laid down to change his diaper or when I was about to pick him up from his high chair.

I'd ask "are you ready to get up? Okay, 123, and UP we go". Believe it or not, we got him to say "three" this way... I'd be about to get him out of his high chair and would say, 1, 2,....." then hesitate, and he'd look into my eyes and say three. I'd laugh, and say UP!! while hoisting him high.

We also taught him sign language this way (somebody was just asking in another post about signing). Although he couldn't speak yet, he could tell me by signing when he wanted to go outside, to turn on the ceiling fan, if he was all done eating, etc. By the age of 2, he had 500 spoken words in his vocabulary - we thing the signing really helped. You really can bring him into your world...even if its just eye contact...by trying consistently. Good luck!