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Post by gypsymama on Aug 15, 2017 18:32:47 GMT
either as the one giving or receiving services? i just started a job with a local agency providing respite services for a 7 year old little guy with some developmental disabilities... smith-mengis syndrome, plus adhd and autism. my agency doesn't give me any funds for outings, his parents are responsible for paying his part and his dad is very very poor... i can get reimbursed for my admission or meals, etc... anyway, his behavior has been pretty erratic and his attention span is ZERO... just wondering if anyone had some suggestions on things i could do with him, when he's at my house he watches a video for a couple of minutes, then wants a dump truck game then wants to go outside then needs a snack then then then and it makes my head spin! lol! mcdonald's and the park have gone pretty well... farmer's market he does ok but wants to grab everything. took him to do mini golf yesterday and about 3 holes in he was done... and has really terrible fine AND gross motor skills so i couldn't really get him to hold or swing the club well. we are going to the lake friday, he likes to play in the sand but said he doesn't want to go to the lake. most of my coworkers hang at the house while the parents go out and about but my guy's dad doesn't drive or go anywhere and i feel awkward just sitting there at his house!
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River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,627
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Aug 15, 2017 18:46:37 GMT
No advise, but wanted to say THANK YOU for what you do!
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Post by gypsymama on Aug 15, 2017 19:15:29 GMT
 thank you! my head is swimming, i'm a special ed aide at a school plus this and now my boss just called and asked if i could take on another kid, yikes! |
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Post by rst on Aug 15, 2017 19:23:24 GMT
Are the parents able to share with you what types of things he does in school or therapy? If so, that could give you some clues as to what types of activity would be fun and possible. If he goes to therapies, I would think that it would be really helpful for you to tag along one time and bounce some ideas around with the PT or OT. Sensory seeking or avoiding? Music? Sound games? Visual matching games with cards? Walks with very simple hunt plan -- find 3 red cars, find a flag, find a circle. I adapted a lot of ideas from some standard preschooler/toddler outdoor activity books to keep my son busy. His issues were very different, but the same idea of finding ways to enrich their world can apply. One of my son's favorite things in the world was what we called "junk drawer". There was one drawer in our kitchen that he could reach in his wheelchair. I would stock it with all kinds of random stuff, sensory toys, things that would make a noise when handled, different textures, just odds and ends. He had very little manual dexterity but he would work for hours to rummage through the drawer and explore the contents. He did best with me nearby but not interacting too heavily-- so perfect activity when I was cooking.
Thank you for doing respite care -- it's literally life-saving for many families. Does the dad seem depressed? His staying home all the time, no money, etc suggest that he might benefit from finding a support group. In our area, there is The Fathers' Network -- dads of special needs kids who meet up, share food, support each other, do guy stuff, and once a year take all their kids camping. If there is something like that in your area, he might really benefit (and yes, I do know this is outside your job description and awkward and all).
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Post by crittsmom on Aug 16, 2017 0:35:52 GMT
I would say story time at the library but don't know if he could be still long enough. Could you check out local recs and parks programs to see if they would have anything available that you could do with him?
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Post by refugeepea on Aug 16, 2017 1:01:55 GMT
It's hard to say because the kids are all so different. What my son likes is to be very active. Swinging, running, climbing, and bouncing. He LOVES balls. He'll throw one in the air forever. Does he like to touch things? Sensory bins sometimes keep him occupied. He also likes to stack cups. He does okay going out, but I make sure we can easily leave if he gets overwhelmed. Is the dad opposed to treats for him behaving well? When we are in a store and he is behaving well I'll give him a smartie or tic tac and say thank you for standing by me, thank you for not throwing things...Could you do the if and then thing? If you wait for us to pay then we will go to the park, then you will get this treat. My son does like lots of touching. A vigorous back scratch, a $5.00 hand massager from Walmart ran up and down his arms, lightly tickle his hands, a giant hug when he's feeling overwhelmed by people. My daughter? DO NOT touch her.  Try a rewards chart? Check for sensory friendly movies in your area. I realize this would be a bigger expense, but if he works his way up to it, that would be awesome. I just wouldn't make it really long before he was rewarded because of the ADHD. My kids with Autism are opposite in almost every way. Your guy sounds a bit more like my son. ETA: My kids have 5 hours of in home therapy. Believe me, as an introvert it was kind of awkward for me at first. I finally got over the guilt of feeling like I had to do something while they were there. My son is a terrible sleeper. I just want to stare and do mindless things if I'm not in charge of my son. The dad may not be depressed, but needs to decompress. Another thought. Do a wait program. Have him wait 5 seconds for a treat if he'll sit and watch the TV while he has no distractions with him. Start in tiny increments. We did this with my son. I was desperate for him to watch television so I could do things like fix dinner or go to the bathroom by myself.  |
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thank you! my head is swimming, i'm a special ed aide at a school plus this and now my boss just called and asked if i could take on another kid, yikes!
