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Meet others living with autism: Come say hi
Autism (ASD) | Last Active: Dec 27, 2021 | Replies (149)Comment receiving replies
@lisalucier and @gingerw, Autism is called a Spectrum because there is a wide range of abilities and behavioral characteristics going from left to right. It encompasses children who are verbal, as well as those who rarely make a sound.
Some will rock back and forth, or side to side, oblivious of anyone else in the room. Some will extend their arms, or flap their hands. There are those who jump up and down or who spin around in circles. Sometimes they appear to be counting on their fingers. These activities are called "stimming."
Stimming releases a type of energy or stress within the child. Preventing the child from this type of activity can be a serious waste of time. It is calming to the child's nervous system, just like when we tap our fingers on the table, or chew on the end of a pencil. Unless the child's choice in stimming is harmful, such as head banging, nothing need be done. Some parents have found appropriate, more socially acceptable substitutes, such as sensory swings, weighted blankets, and fidgit spinners.
To be continued. Suffice it to say, there is a little bit of sensory seeking in all of us.
Love and light,
Mamacita Jane
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@mamacita - a couple years ago while I was volunteering with preschoolers in a church program, I ended up being put in charge of one boy in our group who was autistic. He regularly led any of the other boys and girls in our group who had the least inclination to be naughty to do so, and it was disruptive. He'd often get up, say, in the middle of story time, and start doing things (wandering, playing noisily with kitchen toys) while the other children were in the middle of sitting on the floor listening.
I think the idea was great to have a dedicated companion for him, but I didn't have any training. At first I was excited, but must say ultimately I found it quite challenging. I had to take him out of the room completely at least once in every station (crafts, story, singing, etc.) cause he'd start running the perimeter of the room and not be able to sit and listen or participate. I think the games worked pretty well for him, though (silly running races, parachute games, etc.).
I was finally given some toys - I think 3 of them - created for autistic children and was so happy to have them, mostly to give him something to do while listening. The only thing was that after about 2 evenings of using these toys, he was bored with them and no longer interested.
By the end of the year with the club, I felt like this boy and I got through it, but that it would have been so much better to have helped him thrive there. Any comments - from you or others - on how to help a verbal child with autism thrive in a situation like a children's club?