Getting daughter to go to the bus

[peglem]

All school year we've been having problems getting my daughter to go to the bus when it arrives in the morning (she gets picked up right in front of the house).

She would usually walk around the house like she was looking for something (checking compulsion?), or insisting we draw things or...oh, just so many things. We've tried forcing her out (she throws herself on the ground), waiting till she's ready (can be as much as 1/2 hour-bus won't wait), luring her out...nothing has helped.

So Monday, we met with the RDI consultant. She suggested just writing "bus time" on a piece of paper and silently handing it to her. I thought that was a dumb idea...but since I had nothing better, tried it on Tuesday morning...she read the note, got up, and walked right out to the bus!! Well, that had to be a fluke, right? Same thing happened on Wednesday morning, and once again this morning. I see no reason why this works! Its wonderful!

[Suzan]

This sounds like something that would work for my dd8! I am so glad it's working! That is so cool.

[ajcire]

For some reason my kids LOVE when I write things down for them. I have a pocket chart (ok, can you tell I used to teach special ed) up in the playroom and sometimes when I need them to get things done I give them each a column with a to do list.. I used to have to run my classroom based on TEACCH so I find myself sometimes still using some of the techniques from it as far as schedules. Sometimes I just write something on the chalkboard we have and tell them to check it... they love that too.

 

It makes sense I think... it's not threatening to see it on paper, not so demanding and if the problem is processing the verbal command it would help too.

[dcmom]

Peg- that is great! When my dd was in counseling, a few times the therapist suggested something, and I thought- wow that is NOT going to work with her- but tried it since, well, we were desperate. And you know what- the ideas worked!

 

Kids never cease to surprise and amaze us

[peglem]

I just can't get past WHY this works. Why doesn't it work to just tell her, instead of writing it? Does the verbal message get lost in processing, where the visual does not? There must be some broader implication, that we can use to help her. We've tried putting tasks on a board and go through the get-ready-for-school checklist. Those have not worked well. If its just a matter of having it in writing, that should have worked...maybe its the not talking? Giving only visual to be processed?

[thereishope]

You know what, I don't think it's a fluke. My son was the same with eating. If I said something about it, he wouldn't eat, but if you left food where he could reach it, he would eat. They don't want attention to be drawn to it. They don't want to be told to do it. They want to be in charge and make it look like it is their decision.

 

I tried lists with pics on it (since he couldn't read) for my son and all he did was take crayon and draw things like tv and him playing in between what I did. Frustrating!

[ajcire]

peg, you said your dd is nonverbal right? Have you used any augmentative communication devices with her?

[peglem]

peg, you said your dd is nonverbal right? Have you used any augmentative communication devices with her?

 

yes, but when she is in PANDAS mode (has been mostly in that mode for several years) she still cannot communicate very well. We can work on that more now that she's getting better.

[ajcire]

Yeah, unfortunately even my verbal kid can't communicate well in pandas tantrum mode.

 

I just was curious as I know when I was teaching I had 2 children in my class who used ACK, can't remember the names but the electronic talking computer that I put pecs overlays on. It served a purpose but of course was still so limiting

 

 

peg, you said your dd is nonverbal right? Have you used any augmentative communication devices with her?

 

yes, but when she is in PANDAS mode (has been mostly in that mode for several years) she still cannot communicate very well. We can work on that more now that she's getting better.

[peglem]

Yeah, unfortunately even my verbal kid can't communicate well in pandas tantrum mode.

 

I just was curious as I know when I was teaching I had 2 children in my class who used ACK, can't remember the names but the electronic talking computer that I put pecs overlays on. It served a purpose but of course was still so limiting

 

 

peg, you said your dd is nonverbal right? Have you used any augmentative communication devices with her?

 

yes, but when she is in PANDAS mode (has been mostly in that mode for several years) she still cannot communicate very well. We can work on that more now that she's getting better.

 

She has a Vantage, no overlays, easily programmed...but she will break it when she's in exacerbation (smashes it with her head)- then we are w/o for @ 2 months til it gets fixed. We used to get loaners while it was being repaired- but she broke that, too, the last time. So now we use simple comm boards (yes limiting, but durable and cheap) when its being repaired.