All About Autism
-
Gifts from Heaven:
Thanks for the suggestions Gifts from Heaven, looks like museums are out for sure. Crowded places are a big no no but everywhere in S’pore is packed regardless of PH or weekends (all thanks to the 6.9mil pop policy ah). Beach is out coz am scared they’ll jump into the sea. My younger son ran into the botanical gardens pond once, had to waddle in to retrieve him. URGH. Agree the aquarium is nice but the entrance fees don’t justify going often.
Don't go museum if your kid likes to run around when playing. We got scolded by some elderly people when our kids were running around. They were not loud, but 'cos the place was v quiet and the flooring was wooden, the thumping sound was quite loud as the kids ran around the place.
You can try the beach like East Coast Park/West Coast Park. Else can go to those indoor playgrounds like Go Go Bambini, Polliwogs, etc. My kids like to go to the aquarium at Underwater World in Sentosa, and you can catch a dolphin show too. We are members of the Singapore Science Centre, so we also there quite frequently. We used to go to the Bird Park too, but stopped going since our birdpark membership lapsed.
If your kid is prone to public meltdowns, just keep your trips/outings short and try not to go on days where there is likely to be a lot of people, like public holidays.
The point that you brought up regarding your kids being scolded…. that’s WHY we seldom go out. It’s not like we can hang signs around their necks declaring ASD and ask for leniency for their behaviour. Am sure we all know how tiring and trying it is to explain. Worse if someone gets hurt or property gets damaged unintentionally. It gets tougher as they grow older and become less cute.
What about music or art/drama classes? Any such programs to recommend? Was told of drum therapy at Balmoral but their timings aren’t suitable and are closed on Sundays. Not looking for enrichment/tuition classes as they are already attending… along with 97% of all kids in S’pore apparently.
-
belachanbabe:
Don't let your child's condition prevent him from exploring the world or lead a near normal childhood like other NT kids.
Thanks for the suggestions Gifts from Heaven, looks like museums are out for sure. Crowded places are a big no no but everywhere in S’pore is packed regardless of PH or weekends (all thanks to the 6.9mil pop policy ah). Beach is out coz am scared they’ll jump into the sea. My younger son ran into the botanical gardens pond once, had to waddle in to retrieve him. URGH. Agree the aquarium is nice but the entrance fees don’t justify going often.
The point that you brought up regarding your kids being scolded…. that’s WHY we seldom go out. It’s not like we can hang signs around their necks declaring ASD and ask for leniency for their behaviour. Am sure we all know how tiring and trying it is to explain. Worse if someone gets hurt or property gets damaged unintentionally. It gets tougher as they grow older and become less cute.
What about music or art/drama classes? Any such programs to recommend? Was told of drum therapy at Balmoral but their timings aren’t suitable and are closed on Sundays. Not looking for enrichment/tuition classes as they are already attending… along with 97% of all kids in S’pore apparently.
Whilst ASD kids have their sensory issues, some activities may or may not suit some ASD kid. For example, I'm not sure about drum therapy - the loud noise can actually \"hurt\" the auditory sensitive child.
Still the best way to find out is to go for a trial class.
it's good that you want to expose your child to different activities. These are some you can try:
West Coast Park/ Pasir Ris Park/ Jacob Ballas => the huge playground is like an OT play area; good to get the child to run around and exercise
Or any playground or park at your housing estate is also good. Good for the child to run around and enjoy; release pent-up energy.
Gym classes => like a playground but in a more controlled setting and supervised
Dance classes => useful for girls, but if a boy is interested, why not. Helps with coordination and body awareness. It improves the child's sense of rhythm - must listen and dance to the music
Art classes => can try Clay Cove at Centrepoint. The people in charge are very patient and nice. It's a pottery class and kids learn to mould and manipulate clay to craft into an object. Clay Cove will arrange to fire it in the kiln and you get to take your clay sculpture home another day.
This will help your son with his fine motor skills. The other gratifying reward is that your child will make something on his own - boost his self-esteem and gives him a sense of achievement.
As for art lessons - guess u can ask around for an art class near your home.
Music class => depends on each kid. But generally, music is good. Can consider piano or violin (I hesitate at learning drums). Helps with left/right brain integration, which in turns help with eye-hand coordination. Helps to fine-tune the auditory processing part of the brain too.
Swimming => useful lifeskill to learn. Also helps with left/right brain integration, thereby improving overall body coordination.
Martial Arts / Yoga classes => instills discipline and mind-body awareness. Helps one to focus and concentrate better. Yoga helps to calm an active mind and body; good for self-regulation.
Don't restrict your child and the rest of the family at home. I know it's very tiring to bring out a special needs child. Can be emotionally and physically draining. But, you don't want to be a prisoner of ASD.
The more you expose your child to different environments and situations, the better he will learn to cope and self-regulate over time. -
Thanks tabgha
Appreciate the long email on the various types of activities, the pottery one looks interesting! It will definitely hone their motor skills if they take to it.
There many schools of music/art or activity centres out there but prefer if there are specific recommendations from parents here rather than do a cold calling trial and error. All will say yes initially (it is business after all) and then give up after finding them too much to handle. After paying up admin/course fees and then forfeiting $$ a few times, I also have the “why bother” attitude too. Sure there will still be instances where the boys can’t adapt after trial but chances would be better if the centre is honestly receptive to having ASD kids in the first place.
Hope there are such places out there in Singapore which don’t cost too much. -
belachanbabe
I agree with tabgha. Don’t shut out the chances for your kids to be exposed to the world outside because of their condition. The more u protect them from the world outside, they more difficult it will be for them to adapt when they grow up. Just have to be very very thick skin, there’s no alternative except to just suck it up and go through it. I make it a point to bring my son out every weekend, to indoor playground, swimming, zoo etc. I am not too sure how both your boys behave in public but my son too went through a hard period when he had frequent meltdowns and refuses to go to dark places. And when I forced it on him, he will scream murder but I just become very think skin about it and carry him in ( he is close to 20kg, no mean feat). Sure he would cry and scream but usually after about 15 mins or so, he will calm down. I will also prepare snacks to console him.
My point is, if you don’t bring your boys out while they are still young and u can have control over them, it will be more difficult when they reach teenage years and adulthood when they are all strong and mighty.
If u are worried that they will to the sea at the beach, can try to find an area that is not so near the sea? like Sentosa’s beach is wider and bigger unlike East Coast. But if they really like the water, just let them and follow them.
U can also try places like Marina Barrage, is a nice place to rest and relax and see all the beautiful kites flying in the sky and they get to see Singapore’s beautiful city skyline, best of all, is free.
Do your boys like to scoot? Can let them try to take up this sport, it think is a very good sport to train concentration and balancing. My boy loves it and can scoot very well now ( he scoots every day at the void deck). -
Try Clay Cove. It's fun. They have blocks of 4 sessions. I think about 1.5 - 2 hrs each time. My friend's ASD son attended and enjoyed himself. So, can just try a once off workshop for 4 sessions and see if your child enjoys the activity.
http://www.claycove.com/pottery_courses.html#schedules -
For art classes, can look out for NAFA holiday programmes for pre-schooler and primary/secondary school students. Again, these are once off activities which u can expose your child to. Usually abt 3hrs (each day) for 3-5 days.
For pre-schoolers, the activities are either art or craft work. Sometimes there's a Christmas theme. Makes me want to me a kid to join in some of their sessions.
Check out NAFA's website (http://www.nafa.edu.sg). They usually announce end Oct for the students' holiday programmes. -
Thanks once again tabgha, I am signing up for the parent/child session *cross fingers and hopes for the best*. Will share the experience after. Probably art classes for the Dec hols
Double E, I wholly agree that we shouldn’t let ASD stop us. The position I am coming from is to seek more friendly/safe activities for them to do on a regular basis, preferably not to have to justify their condition to others repeatedly and not having to worry about them accidently hurting others and destroying property.
Like the parents here; skin has become fairly thick after apologising and explaining countless times to people. Disapproving looks and thoughtless comments all experienced before. Storeroom full of trial and errors i.e abandoned scooters, keyboards, kites and even ukuleles, lost count of $$ down the drain (and for me its X 2 btw)
Even if you are a strong person, it does wear you down after a while. Fighters don’t want to have to fight all the time even if they have the skills. -
belachanbabe
I can understand your anguish, since you are working with not one but two children with ASD … It must have been real tough.
I got my doter to try out Clay Cove sometime last year. The two lady owners are really kind and understanding. By age my doter was due for the one-and-half hour program, but they were willing to place her on the 45 min program after I explained our situation. Granted, they placed her in a non-peak slot and we agreed that we would not attend holiday programs as those are their peak periods. My doter enjoyed herself very much and I even told the lady owners that I would be happy to write a testimonial for them where required.
Recently we tried placing all three gals into a mainstream weekend art class. We also explained our situation to the art teacher, and he was kind enough to accommodate my ASD doter. We are currently still trying this out and hopefully if my ASD doter takes to the class under the care of her two sisters, it may be another step forward for her to blend into mainstream.
So you see, don’t lose heart, there are kind people out there. We just need to keep looking.
BTW, what happened to your PL application? You need another psy report? I was told that the psy report is valid for two years? -
Thanks for the encouragement ImMeeMee
The PL application is on \"waitlist\", at this late stage of the year it can only mean = reapply next year. The reason I am willing to redo the psy report is that the one my boy has was below the 70 IQ cut off. I wasn’t very happy with the psychologist; felt she was too clinical and rote with her assessment methods. With the progress he has made this year, the new report should show a marked improvement. Thanks also for the earlier suggestion regarding visiting his school instead of doing it at PL, I spoke to the student admissions officer to arrange for that but he said that they will only do that for very special cases. He sounded very harassed though, didn’t want to push too much. Pray and hope for the best next year. Maybe this round just wasn’t his time yet.
-
belachanbabe:
I see. We got our psy assessment done at KKH CDU and we were lucky to meet a senior psychologist who was reasonable and relatively fair. We went in through the subsidized route and I think we paid about $200 plus for the psy assessment. You may want to think about it.Thanks for the encouragement ImMeeMee
The PL application is on \"waitlist\", at this late stage of the year it can only mean = reapply next year. The reason I am willing to redo the psy report is that the one my boy has was below the 70 IQ cut off. I wasn’t very happy with the psychologist; felt she was too clinical and rote with her assessment methods. With the progress he has made this year, the new report should show a marked improvement. Thanks also for the earlier suggestion regarding visiting his school instead of doing it at PL, I spoke to the student admissions officer to arrange for that but he said that they will only do that for very special cases. He sounded very harassed though, didn’t want to push too much. Pray and hope for the best next year. Maybe this round just wasn’t his time yet.
Yes, my ASD doter has taught me that its never too late for anything. If its not now, it will be later. And there is only one way - that is forward.
:hugs:
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login