All About Autism

[sharonkhoo]

Couragemom:

Hi slmkhoo,


Hmm... Based on what I observed, actually his ex-playgroup and his current N1 class teachers all encouraged hugging and many mornings when I dropped him off at class, his girl classmates will come over to hug him and hold his hands to join them. Most of the time he had no reaction when they hugged him and just walked away when the girl released him. So I think he learnt hugging this way as he only watches cartoons (he is 35 months old only, turning 3 only next month-end).

I like the idea of social stories, let me see how i can water it down to his level. Recently I bought a book on the yes/no behavior for young kids and I read to him and questioned him after that to see if he understands. He does seem to understand but impulse control is a whole different ball game altogether!

So it's the little girls who are being inconsistent! Or maybe some are OK with hugging and some are not? Anyway, no harm teaching him ways that are acceptable to most people.

[Gifts from Heaven]

Couragemom:

Hi parents,


Another question. I like to ask about this IQ assessment test done when the child is around 5-6 years old. Is it a compulsory part of the paperwork submission to the AED after the P1 registration is completed? I asked because I don't see the value in this test as some parents here have chosen to ignore the test result and the developmental PD's recommendation on schooling choices and deferment but instead based the final decision based on their own judgement of their child.

So I am puzzled if it is necessary at all. From my perspective, a child may meet or even supersede the cognitive ability expected of him at a certain age but his behavior may not be ready for a school setting and vice versa, so parents' judgement and teachers' feedback are more important inputs for the final decision isn't it? All views are welcome.

Hi,

In my DS's school, this is a required report if you need AED support. Once you declare the condition, you must support the declaration with this report. The report does not just include the IQ assessment results. It will also include parents' and teachers' observations.
Not sure abt other schools, though.

[Gifts from Heaven]

slmkhoo:

Couragemom:

Hi slmkhoo,


Hmm... Based on what I observed, actually his ex-playgroup and his current N1 class teachers all encouraged hugging and many mornings when I dropped him off at class, his girl classmates will come over to hug him and hold his hands to join them. Most of the time he had no reaction when they hugged him and just walked away when the girl released him. So I think he learnt hugging this way as he only watches cartoons (he is 35 months old only, turning 3 only next month-end).

I like the idea of social stories, let me see how i can water it down to his level. Recently I bought a book on the yes/no behavior for young kids and I read to him and questioned him after that to see if he understands. He does seem to understand but impulse control is a whole different ball game altogether!

So it's the little girls who are being inconsistent! Or maybe some are OK with hugging and some are not? Anyway, no harm teaching him ways that are acceptable to most people.

Oh well, some kids guard their personal space fiercely. Think at this age, the concern is not so much if it is ok to hug, but more if the other kid doesn't like the hug, then what should your child do? Bite or slap or just walk away? Happened to my DS before when he was in K1. He doesn't hug, but he likes to lean against his classmates sitting next to him...his way of getting friendly with someone. But some of his classmates don't like it, so complained to the teacher. Then my DS changed his way of getting attention by disturbing the other classmates when they were playing together e.g. knocking over their blocks and stuff. So the other classmates complained somemore and he got called \"naughty boy\". And sadly, this term sticks with him until he graduated from that kindy.

[Couragemom]

Hi Gifts from Heaven,


Thanks for the info. So the IQ assessment is just part of the overall report we need to submit to the AED once we declare the condition. I think the report allows the AED and the form teacher to form a baseline expectation of our special needs child.

Yes, I need to teach my son what to do in situation like this when his classmate don’t want to reciprocate his social advance. Hopefully with consistent reminder from the home front and his social class, he will finally get it but sad to say, if our kids are so sensitive and intuitive towards the social cues presented to him, we won’t be talking in this thread together right?

[Couragemom]

Hi Slmkhoo,


Yes, not all of my son’s girl classmates are ‘friendly’. There was a past incident when my son wanted to play choo-choo train with this same girl (he held on to her shoulders) and she got angry too but the teacher intervened in time. I guess a more socially aware child will know how to avoid invading this friend’s personal space again but not my darling son lor.

[sharonkhoo]

Couragemom:

Hi Slmkhoo,


Yes, not all of my son's girl classmates are 'friendly'. There was a past incident when my son wanted to play choo-choo train with this same girl (he held on to her shoulders) and she got angry too but the teacher intervened in time. I guess a more socially aware child will know how to avoid invading this friend's personal space again but not my darling son lor.

Social stories would probably help. Do one about initiating conversations/play/games with positive response, one with a negative response, and highlight how to tell whether the other person is reacting positively or negatively. Maybe have one where he moderates the activity but they still continue to play (eg. he offers a hug but is repulsed, so he takes her hand, and they play happily). You may also want to have one about keeping a certain distance so as not to invade the other person's personal space for those who need it. Yes, if they could do it intuitively, we wouldn't be discussing it! Don't worry, with time and teaching, they will learn how to handle such situations.

[Double E]

Couragemom:

Hi Slmkhoo,


Yes, not all of my son's girl classmates are 'friendly'. There was a past incident when my son wanted to play choo-choo train with this same girl (he held on to her shoulders) and she got angry too but the teacher intervened in time. I guess a more socially aware child will know how to avoid invading this friend's personal space again but not my darling son lor.

Couragemom, I feel you. My son too doesn't understand the meaning of giving personal spaces. Sometimes he will lean very close to his friends when talking to them or he will go touch a girl's hair or face. I will pull him away whenever he does that before the other party cry or gets angry. I also tried to demonstrate to him what he should do when his friends do not want his advances or when he approaches someone to play and the person say no. This is very hard to teach as different situations can arise and we are not able to anticipate all of them. He will be puzzled too cos when he made these advances to his sister, he is reciprocated but not his friends. I am still trying to teach him but at least for now, he has stopped touching this girl in his class after my numerous scolding and reminders. But like you said, if is easy for our kids to understand, we won't be in this thread.

[acrylical]

Hi parents,




The carnival is an effort to raise funds for Rainbow Centre's extension wing! The new building will be able to school 500 more special needs students, support care-givers, double and support the number of health staff and provide volunteer training.

Visit our Website! : http://rainbowoflove.sg/

Vision
Inspiring the World by Loving and Giving to Special Education!

Mission
Raising awareness on Special Education,
Touching Lives and
Promoting Campus Growth!

Committed Fundraising goal: $200,000
A BIG WIN GOAL: $500,000
Please donate generously!


Carnival Programme
We promise a day of fun with Magician shows, Balloon Sculpting, Face Painters, Bouncy Castles, food stations and immerse in an experiential journey in the \"Autism Challenge\".


How Can You Participate?
1) Volunteer with us! Fill up the volunteer form on : http://tinyurl.com/rolvolunteersignup
2) Spread the awareness! Share this event Or our Campaign Videos to your friends with #Rainbowoflove
3) Donate Generously at @ http://tinyurl.com/rainbowoflove
4) Snag a celebrity memorabilia at the online silent auction
5) Come to the event itself!

This non-profit charity event is organized by LP126 (30 individuals currently in a leadership program) in collaboration with Rainbow Centre http://www.rainbowcentre.org.sg/

[nugget]

http://yourhealth.asiaone.com/content/b ... disability


Came across this article. This is good stuff. For those parents considering no 2 or even for our ASD kids next time when they hv kids.

Hope they hv more breakthrough in science for ASD.

[tyeogh]

Eyesight:


For those who are fussy about maintaining good eyesight for your child. I am.

My P1 NT son went for an eye check up in his school recently. He was given a 6/12P score. The school fixed an appointment for him with HPB Child Care department. Turns out to be 6/9 instead. From there I discovered a few things. For those who are keen.

6/6, 6/9, 6/12: All these scores refer to size of the alphabets being read. When the line is read out partially, the P appears after the score. Perfect eyesight is 6/6.

I asked the attending doctor how to improve eyesight.

1. Do not do near work for more than 30 mins. After 30 mins, go to the window to look at something far. Then it balances the near and far vision.

2. Read with good lighting.

3. More outdoor play. In outdoor play, one seldom strain ones eyes to look at near objects.

I wrote in this thread once how the playground helped my ASD child gain consciousness of his surroundings. Seems that every health care professional points us back to the playground.

So I ordered my 4 kids back to the playground everyday at 6pm…