Is she stubborn or is it me? - Autism Spectrum Message Board

Sheronor · 02-04-2006, 09:46 AM

Today we were doing some table work and everything was going well. After a few minutes of coloring and singing, I put down two cards - the color blue and the color yellow. I asked her to match the blue balloon card she was holding with the blue color. She wouldn't do it. The kid can match - even with a row of 6 she can scan and match. This should have been a no brainer for her. She wouldn't do it. I tried all different ways of telling her, I showed her what to do, I finally told her to put it on top - she just wouldn't do anything. She sat there holding the card. She would tell me what she was holding, but she wouldn't put it down.

It was sooooo frustrating!!

After I gave up and gave her some juice, she pointed out different letters for me. I didn't try the matching again.

KathleenW · 02-04-2006, 10:17 AM

Are you doing an ABA program? In the beginning my son had no compliance. He would not do anything unless he felt like it. Since I knew this behavior would not cut it in our home life or school I always made my son do everything I asked.

If I had been doing that exercise with my son I would have said match the balloon card to the color and if he did not do it I would take his hand and make him do it. Then I would say Good Job!! You did the matching! My son is now 5 and to this day I only have to ask him to do things one time because he knows I do not put up with it. When he was four I had him in a Pre Kindergarten class and the teachers number one rule was. I will follow directions the first time they are given I said I really like how you think!

I Love LJC · 02-04-2006, 11:36 AM

Kathleen i like this also.Wish that was done with my girl in the lower grades ,they would let her rest if she didnt want to do her work ,now in higher grade nope and it was hard to break her out of the rest thing.

KathleenW · 02-04-2006, 12:26 PM

Exactly breaking habits are almost impossible. The only thing you can do is be consistant and follow through. My son's Kindergarten teacher this year has a handful of kids with discipline programs. His teacher said I feel like I have to keep saying the same thing over and over. I felt llke saying that is because the kids know they will get 10 chances before she forces them to do anything. It is funny because it does not matter if your child has autism or not if a kid thinks they do not have to listen then they won't.

MOM23ANGELS · 02-04-2006, 07:35 PM

i agree with the hand over hand approach. it is one of the first things i learned when my son started ABA. It was difficult at first but, it really does teach our children that there are some things (like it or not) that they must complete. now, my son has learned that when he's asked to do something or complete a task (although he does complain while doing it) we expect him to do just that.....complete it.