When I want Dane to do something and I tell him to do it he responds differently. I do not know if he is not listening, doesn't hear me, doesn't understand, not paying attention or completely ignoring me. It gets very frustrating. I am tired of telling him over and over. It has to be his auditory processing disorder part of his autism.
When I tell his sister to do something she stands there and shakes her head "no." Then comes times where she has something she shouldn't have. She had a marker in her hand this morning and was walking around the house with it. I wanted to take it from her and she ran off with it. She got to her room and dropped it and slammed the door. I picked up the marker to put it up so she can't get to them. She came back out and screamed she wanted to color.
Last night at Grandpas the kids got out the garden hose. Dane was soaked to the bone spraying himself. He ran away from me when I wanted to get him back into dry clothes. Eventually he came up to my dad and wanted to be changed. About 10 minutes later he came back full of mud from playing in the wet grass they sprayed with the hose.
Ally came up to me and said that Dane put dirt down her pants. I looked and her underwear was full of dirt. She was filthy! I made her go in the house and take bath. I had to sweep up the mess after she got undressed. It was a lot of dirt. After Ally got out of the tub, Dane wanted a bath. Of course he had to have his sandbox toy he calls, "Spinner." That seems like the only toy that brings him joy. He sleeps with it even.
My basement is a mess. Not only do they drag toys all over the house and make me pick up constantly after them. They got into the guinea pig bedding and threw it down the stairs and all over the basement floor. We have a social story to pick up toys I will have to use with Dane. We have had success with the no hitting social story. Instead of hitting Ally he growls, clenches his fists and yells, "I'm mad at you!"
This is my online diary about my son diagnosed with autism at age 2. His progress and regressions. His behavior and his sensory overloads. Therapy and picture schedules. Drama and humor to figure out how his mind works.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Triggered Emotion
Tonight I had to work a bit late because there was no production at the plant on 2nd shift. I had to get everything put away and finish up as fast as possible. I do not wish to work any overtime. 8 hours is enough working in the factory. Get to work, do the job and get the hell out. Done and done.
It seemed like a long drive home after work. Maybe it felt like that to prepare what was coming when I got home. I pulled into the driveway and my wife was putting the kids into the other vehicle. Dane is a basket case. "The house is trashed." Says my wife. "We're going to your dads."
The kids are loaded into my vehicle and Dane gets more upset that he's not in the black vehicle. We get them out and I get down on my knees and ask Dane if he needs squeezes. He says "Yes." I rub his back and give him tight hugs and press down on his shoulders. I tell him that he will get through it. It seemed to help. I don't know what it is other then it's the sensory input he needs to calm down.
Lately Dane has been having some pretty unbelievable meltdowns. The last one was over the weekend when we went to visit my sister. Grandpa and my sister left to go to the store. Dane didn't notice they left, until they got back. Then it started. He wanted to go to the store. He stormed off and down the road. He has no idea where we are. We start off after him and he is far ahead of us. I run to catch him.
Finally we catch up to him and try to turn him around to walk back to the house. He screams bloody murder and that he's not going back. He wants to go to the store. He runs ahead of us back to the house and then curls up into a ball on the ditchline. I try to pick him up but he screams and kicks at me. He notices his cousin, Alex, back at the house and runs back meet him. What just happened?
I ask my wife later tonight, "What set him off?" She says, "Nothing." I say, "Something had to set him off?" She said he woke up from his nap and wet himself in his sleep. "There ya go." Normally we have to put a pull up on him when he naps and when he sleeps at night to prevent an accident. On that note, either wake him up earlier from his nap or let him sleep longer but don't forget to put training pants on him. He's fully potty trained except for cleaning himself and wetting when in a deep sleep. If I happen to wake up in the night I try to drag him to the bathroom to release and he usually will wake up dry.
The sad part about all of this emotion is that Dane wants to be normal but he just can't control this part of himself. I remember asking him what was wrong during this episode and he said that he didn't know. He's so upset, over nothing, and can't calm himself down. It hurts me to see him like that. One minute he's happy and playful. Next, he's a train wreck with emotions and can't control himself. It's like walking on eggshells with him.
It seemed like a long drive home after work. Maybe it felt like that to prepare what was coming when I got home. I pulled into the driveway and my wife was putting the kids into the other vehicle. Dane is a basket case. "The house is trashed." Says my wife. "We're going to your dads."
The kids are loaded into my vehicle and Dane gets more upset that he's not in the black vehicle. We get them out and I get down on my knees and ask Dane if he needs squeezes. He says "Yes." I rub his back and give him tight hugs and press down on his shoulders. I tell him that he will get through it. It seemed to help. I don't know what it is other then it's the sensory input he needs to calm down.
Lately Dane has been having some pretty unbelievable meltdowns. The last one was over the weekend when we went to visit my sister. Grandpa and my sister left to go to the store. Dane didn't notice they left, until they got back. Then it started. He wanted to go to the store. He stormed off and down the road. He has no idea where we are. We start off after him and he is far ahead of us. I run to catch him.
Finally we catch up to him and try to turn him around to walk back to the house. He screams bloody murder and that he's not going back. He wants to go to the store. He runs ahead of us back to the house and then curls up into a ball on the ditchline. I try to pick him up but he screams and kicks at me. He notices his cousin, Alex, back at the house and runs back meet him. What just happened?
I ask my wife later tonight, "What set him off?" She says, "Nothing." I say, "Something had to set him off?" She said he woke up from his nap and wet himself in his sleep. "There ya go." Normally we have to put a pull up on him when he naps and when he sleeps at night to prevent an accident. On that note, either wake him up earlier from his nap or let him sleep longer but don't forget to put training pants on him. He's fully potty trained except for cleaning himself and wetting when in a deep sleep. If I happen to wake up in the night I try to drag him to the bathroom to release and he usually will wake up dry.
The sad part about all of this emotion is that Dane wants to be normal but he just can't control this part of himself. I remember asking him what was wrong during this episode and he said that he didn't know. He's so upset, over nothing, and can't calm himself down. It hurts me to see him like that. One minute he's happy and playful. Next, he's a train wreck with emotions and can't control himself. It's like walking on eggshells with him.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Fine Motor Skills & Gross Motor Skills
A topic brought up at Danes therapy was how his fine and gross motor skills are. We have noticed a decline in his fine motor skills. He is having trouble zipping up his coat and putting on his shoes. When he writes he doesn't hold the crayon correctly and struggles to write his name and draw shapes. He did okay cutting with a scissors in a strait line. Towards the end he just ripped the rest of the way off.
As far as his gross motor skills, he is doing very well. He can run strait and climb. The therapist asked if he was ever clumsy or had trouble with balance. I told her that Dane recently has been able to ride his bike without training wheels. He has very good balance and he is fast. Too fast and he's hard to catch and keep up with.
Dane is a very good problem solver. He loves it outside and always tries to get out of the house. I tell him to wait and he gets upset and storms off outside when told "Not yet." I don't like it that he gets up early in the morning and right away want's outside. I say that we can go out at 11:00 and it's only 7:00.
Dane is capable of telling time by the numbers and understands the little hand on clocks. He pushed a chair up to the battery operated clock on the wall, took it down and turned the small hand to 11. Funny and smart thinking but that's not how it works I told him. Turing the clock ahead 4 hours doesn't make it 4 hours later. Whether he understands that or not that was very interesting (and funny) that he did that.
The therapist recommended getting Dane some small legos to build with to work on his fine motor skills. Usually in school they let the kids put beads on strings to make bracelets and necklaces for that type of skill. Stacking blocks is also a good tool for learning hand-eye coordination.
At the end of the day the therapist suggested that we set the timer for about 5-7 minutes and make it a game to pick up the house. During that time the kids and the parents do as much as they can in that time until the timer goes off. Afterwords is supposed to be a celebration that they were good helpers and to treat them with some type of reward. We're supposed to give them high 5's and really soak it up on how helpful they are. That's actually a good point because the kids are old enough now where they need to help out more. It's always "You do it." I'm tired of the kids making me pick up their mess. It's time for the foot to come down and make them clean up after themselves.
As far as his gross motor skills, he is doing very well. He can run strait and climb. The therapist asked if he was ever clumsy or had trouble with balance. I told her that Dane recently has been able to ride his bike without training wheels. He has very good balance and he is fast. Too fast and he's hard to catch and keep up with.
Dane is a very good problem solver. He loves it outside and always tries to get out of the house. I tell him to wait and he gets upset and storms off outside when told "Not yet." I don't like it that he gets up early in the morning and right away want's outside. I say that we can go out at 11:00 and it's only 7:00.
Dane is capable of telling time by the numbers and understands the little hand on clocks. He pushed a chair up to the battery operated clock on the wall, took it down and turned the small hand to 11. Funny and smart thinking but that's not how it works I told him. Turing the clock ahead 4 hours doesn't make it 4 hours later. Whether he understands that or not that was very interesting (and funny) that he did that.
The therapist recommended getting Dane some small legos to build with to work on his fine motor skills. Usually in school they let the kids put beads on strings to make bracelets and necklaces for that type of skill. Stacking blocks is also a good tool for learning hand-eye coordination.
At the end of the day the therapist suggested that we set the timer for about 5-7 minutes and make it a game to pick up the house. During that time the kids and the parents do as much as they can in that time until the timer goes off. Afterwords is supposed to be a celebration that they were good helpers and to treat them with some type of reward. We're supposed to give them high 5's and really soak it up on how helpful they are. That's actually a good point because the kids are old enough now where they need to help out more. It's always "You do it." I'm tired of the kids making me pick up their mess. It's time for the foot to come down and make them clean up after themselves.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Parent/Teacher Conference
I was pretty leery about what was going to be said with Danes teacher. Are they having troubles with him in class? Is he keeping up to his peers? Has he had any meltdowns? I was worried going at this alone because my wife works the night shift and she sleeps at this time of the day.
Grandpa came and took the kids while I went to the conference. To my surprise I got right in and didn't have to wait. Sweet. This shouldn't take too long I hope. I was there for 25 minutes. I asked a guy I work with who's daughter is in the other class how long his was. He said 10. I must have rambled on. We had a few laughs as well. I cannot believe what they want kids this young to be learning. How well they should be reading and tying their shoes by the end of the school year. All about this "no child left behind" deal. Even the teacher said that kids learn at different paces. True, and what of his autism? Is that affecting him from learning?
It sounds that Dane is doing well in school. She had concerns that he isn't paying attention but when he's looking away and she calls on him, he answers her. This was like when he was in pre-K. During that time Dane had to have a matchbox car with him all the time. He would spin the wheels while the teacher was talking. It would appear that he is not paying attention to the teacher. Also, when asked a question he would answer correctly. I am thinking because of his auditory processing disorder that he cannot visually watch and listen at the same time. He needs to be looking away to listen to process what he is being taught. I think. How else would he know the answers if he's not paying attention. This is his way of paying attention. By looking away.
I told the teacher about forewarning Dane when certain things will happen. Like the fire drill they had. He wasn't prepared and the bell scared him. She said he sat at the table and cupped his ears. I asked if the fluorescent lights bother him also. She told me that she usually only has the front row of lights on because of the sunlight that comes in. As far as him learning she is not concerned that he is lagging. That was very good news that he is catching up to his peers.
The teacher mentioned that the therapists from the center where Dane receives his services faxed over his records what they are working on with him. She couldn't believe this was the same child from what she read. I am thinking because school is so structured that he has learned to go with the flow. At home, our structure is bad. As I said, my wife and I both work full time opposite shifts. The structure is her way, then my way, then the weekend we are both home with the kids and they don't know who to listen to. It's hell.
Structure is very important. Routine wise. Break the routine and pay the price. Dane relies on a set system of his daily activities. If something is out of sync it drive him over the edge. Thus, the meltdown. Tipping over chairs, hitting his sister, banging his head, slamming doors, knocking over books, and so on. Destroying the house.
The best way to handle a meltdown or tantrum in other words is to avoid it. Get to know the child in what sets them off. That's a bit of the problem. You may think you have something figured out and then something else arrives that triggers off the emotions. Keep a log of when and where things out of the ordinary happen. Piece together and pinpoint the problems. Work with them and talk to the therapists about what needs to be addressed to. Work with the child and don't yell. It never helped with Dane. He never understood why I would raise my voice. Before he was diagnosed it seemed like that would make him learn right from wrong. It didn't.
Grandpa came and took the kids while I went to the conference. To my surprise I got right in and didn't have to wait. Sweet. This shouldn't take too long I hope. I was there for 25 minutes. I asked a guy I work with who's daughter is in the other class how long his was. He said 10. I must have rambled on. We had a few laughs as well. I cannot believe what they want kids this young to be learning. How well they should be reading and tying their shoes by the end of the school year. All about this "no child left behind" deal. Even the teacher said that kids learn at different paces. True, and what of his autism? Is that affecting him from learning?
It sounds that Dane is doing well in school. She had concerns that he isn't paying attention but when he's looking away and she calls on him, he answers her. This was like when he was in pre-K. During that time Dane had to have a matchbox car with him all the time. He would spin the wheels while the teacher was talking. It would appear that he is not paying attention to the teacher. Also, when asked a question he would answer correctly. I am thinking because of his auditory processing disorder that he cannot visually watch and listen at the same time. He needs to be looking away to listen to process what he is being taught. I think. How else would he know the answers if he's not paying attention. This is his way of paying attention. By looking away.
I told the teacher about forewarning Dane when certain things will happen. Like the fire drill they had. He wasn't prepared and the bell scared him. She said he sat at the table and cupped his ears. I asked if the fluorescent lights bother him also. She told me that she usually only has the front row of lights on because of the sunlight that comes in. As far as him learning she is not concerned that he is lagging. That was very good news that he is catching up to his peers.
The teacher mentioned that the therapists from the center where Dane receives his services faxed over his records what they are working on with him. She couldn't believe this was the same child from what she read. I am thinking because school is so structured that he has learned to go with the flow. At home, our structure is bad. As I said, my wife and I both work full time opposite shifts. The structure is her way, then my way, then the weekend we are both home with the kids and they don't know who to listen to. It's hell.
Structure is very important. Routine wise. Break the routine and pay the price. Dane relies on a set system of his daily activities. If something is out of sync it drive him over the edge. Thus, the meltdown. Tipping over chairs, hitting his sister, banging his head, slamming doors, knocking over books, and so on. Destroying the house.
The best way to handle a meltdown or tantrum in other words is to avoid it. Get to know the child in what sets them off. That's a bit of the problem. You may think you have something figured out and then something else arrives that triggers off the emotions. Keep a log of when and where things out of the ordinary happen. Piece together and pinpoint the problems. Work with them and talk to the therapists about what needs to be addressed to. Work with the child and don't yell. It never helped with Dane. He never understood why I would raise my voice. Before he was diagnosed it seemed like that would make him learn right from wrong. It didn't.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Moaning Noises
It was a fairly decent day and I went to pick up Dane from school. He was happy and ready to go home. One of the teachers was standing off in the distance with a radio controlled miniature school bus. He was talking into a headset microphone and the words would come through the bus and talk to the kids. The bus also sprayed water at the children. They loved it. The bus reminded me of Thomas the Tank Engine.
Things are getting slow around work because of high gas prices and the economy. Every 3rd Thursday I am expected to go to Danes intensive therapy to observe and talk with the counselors. I am approved for Family Medical Leave for those days. I am not sure if many employers approve FML for autism services. These days are unpaid. Work also has been having plant shutdown for lack of work for the past several Fridays.
The main topic today at therapy was Danes noises and moaning he makes. He curls his tongue and makes weird loud noises constantly. We have to pay close attention to one of the noises in which he is unresponsive and is staring off. That is a sign of a seizure and we need to document that with video footage. She wants to know what he looks like before, during and after the episode. The counselor is concerned that she is referring us to a Neurologist for an brain scan to see what triggers the seizure.
Other noises he makes I think are normal. When he drives his little cars around, he makes motor boat noises with his tongue. Another noise he makes is when he is active. He curls his tongue and makes loud Luuu noise. Those can be redirected. We tell him to stop and he answers and then continues to do it. On the other hand, his moaning and lip biting and staring off and doesn't answer when spoken to is the one we need to really watch. That is the concerning noise we need to document. I haven't been documenting anything video wise with his unusual behaviors. I really think that it is time to start a separate taping of these instances that we are trying to figure him out with and learn more about his stims.
Things are getting slow around work because of high gas prices and the economy. Every 3rd Thursday I am expected to go to Danes intensive therapy to observe and talk with the counselors. I am approved for Family Medical Leave for those days. I am not sure if many employers approve FML for autism services. These days are unpaid. Work also has been having plant shutdown for lack of work for the past several Fridays.
The main topic today at therapy was Danes noises and moaning he makes. He curls his tongue and makes weird loud noises constantly. We have to pay close attention to one of the noises in which he is unresponsive and is staring off. That is a sign of a seizure and we need to document that with video footage. She wants to know what he looks like before, during and after the episode. The counselor is concerned that she is referring us to a Neurologist for an brain scan to see what triggers the seizure.
Other noises he makes I think are normal. When he drives his little cars around, he makes motor boat noises with his tongue. Another noise he makes is when he is active. He curls his tongue and makes loud Luuu noise. Those can be redirected. We tell him to stop and he answers and then continues to do it. On the other hand, his moaning and lip biting and staring off and doesn't answer when spoken to is the one we need to really watch. That is the concerning noise we need to document. I haven't been documenting anything video wise with his unusual behaviors. I really think that it is time to start a separate taping of these instances that we are trying to figure him out with and learn more about his stims.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sleepy
With Dane going to his therapy treatment after school he falls asleep on the 40 minute drive to his session. It's not hard to see why. He wakes up at 5:30 in the morning and goes to work with me for a 20 minute drive. There, I meet up with his mother and exchange a few words. She hands me the keys to her vehicle which I bring home and she leaves for home. Unless Dane and his sister fall back asleep, he is awake from that time all the way past 4 p.m. His therapy starts at 4 and he is very groggy waking back up from the quick cat nap. By that time he is not interested in his therapy because he is too tired.
The counselors have a hard time understanding why he is so tired out at 4 o'clock. I keep telling them, "My wife works nights and I get the kids up and exchange them in the parking lot with her." They work well with him but they have no idea how hard our life style is making ends meet to raise our kids. They think that it will be so much easier for one of us to work part time. I agree to that aspect, but lets face reality here. Easier said then done. There are bills to pay and making any less income will add to our stress levels.
Before school started, Dane had therapy in the morning from 8-11. There he was more alert and cooperative. Now, he's in school all day and then therapy for a couple hours afterwords during the week. That makes for a long day for the little guy. Cut him and me some slack here. I work all day and then drive him there and he goes to school and has to try and concentrate what they are working on with him.
The counselors have a hard time understanding why he is so tired out at 4 o'clock. I keep telling them, "My wife works nights and I get the kids up and exchange them in the parking lot with her." They work well with him but they have no idea how hard our life style is making ends meet to raise our kids. They think that it will be so much easier for one of us to work part time. I agree to that aspect, but lets face reality here. Easier said then done. There are bills to pay and making any less income will add to our stress levels.
Before school started, Dane had therapy in the morning from 8-11. There he was more alert and cooperative. Now, he's in school all day and then therapy for a couple hours afterwords during the week. That makes for a long day for the little guy. Cut him and me some slack here. I work all day and then drive him there and he goes to school and has to try and concentrate what they are working on with him.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Disrespect / Defiance
Is it too much to ask for a little respect from my kids? I tell them to do something and I get "Shut Up" in a under tone voice. I also get told to "Go Away", "Be Quiet", "Your Naughty" and "Your not my best friend anymore!"
I have also heard some swear words lately. Dane kept saying the F word over and over before bed. I told him that is a naughty word and that's not nice to say. I also told him that it makes daddy sad and that he will get in trouble in school for saying that. Not to mention I heard him say G*d Da**it when angry.
Yesterday Dane was just waking up from a short nap. Allyson was playing with one of his tractors. He ran up behind her and slapped her bare back leaving a hand print. That was the hardest he has ever hit her. She did nothing to deserve that. He got a 5 minute time out for that.
Usually when he got a time out he would go to his room and slam the door. Then he would lay on the floor and do a bicycle kick shaking the entire house. He broke the trim off he kicks so hard. This time out was different. He stayed in there the entire time and was quiet. He didn't put up a fight. I think it clicked that he really did something wrong and knew he deserved this discipline.
When Dane gets tired he is at his worst. He keeps bugging Ally. She cries and screams at him. He is wired up and doesn't listen. Does he not understand what I am saying? Is he ignoring me? He bangs his head on me, on Ally's back, on his knee and on the arm of the couch. He makes moaning noises and laughs.
My wife has been taking him for a short drive to get him away when he is like that. I stay home with Ally and she drives him around the park. It is a big difference when he gets back in the house. He is calmed down. I don't know what it is but that short drive settles him down. Maybe he is so over stimulated that he needs time alone on a quiet drive around town. I will have to ask the therapist what we can do for stimulating games for him to settle himself down when he is like this.
It's funny though. Dane has been coming up to me asking for squeezes. I give him a tight hug and hold him for a minute or two. I ask how he is and he says he's better. It has to be sensory related. He acts naughty but can't help it possibly. He doesn't answer when we tell him not to be doing something wrong. He is off in his own world.
I have also heard some swear words lately. Dane kept saying the F word over and over before bed. I told him that is a naughty word and that's not nice to say. I also told him that it makes daddy sad and that he will get in trouble in school for saying that. Not to mention I heard him say G*d Da**it when angry.
Yesterday Dane was just waking up from a short nap. Allyson was playing with one of his tractors. He ran up behind her and slapped her bare back leaving a hand print. That was the hardest he has ever hit her. She did nothing to deserve that. He got a 5 minute time out for that.
Usually when he got a time out he would go to his room and slam the door. Then he would lay on the floor and do a bicycle kick shaking the entire house. He broke the trim off he kicks so hard. This time out was different. He stayed in there the entire time and was quiet. He didn't put up a fight. I think it clicked that he really did something wrong and knew he deserved this discipline.
When Dane gets tired he is at his worst. He keeps bugging Ally. She cries and screams at him. He is wired up and doesn't listen. Does he not understand what I am saying? Is he ignoring me? He bangs his head on me, on Ally's back, on his knee and on the arm of the couch. He makes moaning noises and laughs.
My wife has been taking him for a short drive to get him away when he is like that. I stay home with Ally and she drives him around the park. It is a big difference when he gets back in the house. He is calmed down. I don't know what it is but that short drive settles him down. Maybe he is so over stimulated that he needs time alone on a quiet drive around town. I will have to ask the therapist what we can do for stimulating games for him to settle himself down when he is like this.
It's funny though. Dane has been coming up to me asking for squeezes. I give him a tight hug and hold him for a minute or two. I ask how he is and he says he's better. It has to be sensory related. He acts naughty but can't help it possibly. He doesn't answer when we tell him not to be doing something wrong. He is off in his own world.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Sharing
My 2 nephews came home with my mother from a rock and fossil exhibit. Dane was excited and wanted to see their rocks. One of my nephews is stubborn and didn't even want Dane to see the rocks. Dane got upset because he felt left out. He was left out and that is wrong what those boys did. My older nephew said that they were his rocks. I'm thinking, your 10 and he's 5. Show him the damn rocks already.
My other nephew gave my wife a polished red rock, in turn, gave to my son. He felt happy and included and had something to talk to my dad about. Why couldn't my one nephew, who is old enough, just let him look and the rocks. Is that so much to ask?
I'm actually proud of my younger nephew for standing up to his brother. He told him that he didn't even buy the rocks, Grandma did! Later on, he gave Dane a few more of his rocks. Sure, their polished and look really nice. These rocks are going to be put somewhere around the house and forgotten about more likely. I'll probably put them in the fountain my wife bought so that will put them to some use.
I was thinking, okay my nephew is 10 and doesn't want to include on his young cousin, my son, his precious rocks. Dane knows how to share at least. What's his excuse? Makes me feel like a proud father that I'm teaching my son not to be greedy and share with others. Sure, at times he yells and tries to hit his sister. That's mostly because she takes things away from him. That's mostly normal childhood behavior I think.
If Dane gets something he will will usually bring more then 1 and give something to his little sister, or me. That's pretty impressive how he has manners. I am teaching him to say please and thank you. Some times Dane and his little sister, Ally, will say "Now, daddy!" I don't like that. I make them say please in a respectful tone before I do anything for them. I know their a bit spoiled but I demand their respect as well.
My other nephew gave my wife a polished red rock, in turn, gave to my son. He felt happy and included and had something to talk to my dad about. Why couldn't my one nephew, who is old enough, just let him look and the rocks. Is that so much to ask?
I'm actually proud of my younger nephew for standing up to his brother. He told him that he didn't even buy the rocks, Grandma did! Later on, he gave Dane a few more of his rocks. Sure, their polished and look really nice. These rocks are going to be put somewhere around the house and forgotten about more likely. I'll probably put them in the fountain my wife bought so that will put them to some use.
I was thinking, okay my nephew is 10 and doesn't want to include on his young cousin, my son, his precious rocks. Dane knows how to share at least. What's his excuse? Makes me feel like a proud father that I'm teaching my son not to be greedy and share with others. Sure, at times he yells and tries to hit his sister. That's mostly because she takes things away from him. That's mostly normal childhood behavior I think.
If Dane gets something he will will usually bring more then 1 and give something to his little sister, or me. That's pretty impressive how he has manners. I am teaching him to say please and thank you. Some times Dane and his little sister, Ally, will say "Now, daddy!" I don't like that. I make them say please in a respectful tone before I do anything for them. I know their a bit spoiled but I demand their respect as well.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
writing name & understanding emotions
Danes therapist that he sees 3 hours twice a week has noticed that Dane can recognize emotions and facial expressions. That is only when someone is really sad and crying. Happy and laughing. Angry and yelling. Only when it is to the extreme emotion that Dane understands what the other is feeling. She will be working with him more on this to make him understand emotions more clearly. There is no in-between with emotions that Dane can relate to. If I say to him with a stern voice, he cannot understand that I am getting upset. If I turn that into yelling, he will understand that I am getting mad. That goes for happy and not laughing and sad without crying. He cannot read between the lines on how people feel.
Dane needs to work hard on his fine motor skills. When the therapist worked with him on writing his name, the longer they worked at it the better he got. After they switched around to play therapy and then back to writing his name it was back to where he started. He has troubles doing a tripod grasp around a crayon. His teachers would break his crayons in half to help teach him the proper way to write. He also lacks control when coloring. By now, he should be able to stay in the lines when coloring a picture. He scribbles all over with no control. Also, his darker and harder pressed scribbles are turning into light strokes that are barely visible.
Dane knows and can recognize the letters of the alphabet. When he writes his name, it is not horizontal. The therapist hopes to have this corrected because he is now in Kindergarten. The letters seem to be all over with no control.
Dane needs to work hard on his fine motor skills. When the therapist worked with him on writing his name, the longer they worked at it the better he got. After they switched around to play therapy and then back to writing his name it was back to where he started. He has troubles doing a tripod grasp around a crayon. His teachers would break his crayons in half to help teach him the proper way to write. He also lacks control when coloring. By now, he should be able to stay in the lines when coloring a picture. He scribbles all over with no control. Also, his darker and harder pressed scribbles are turning into light strokes that are barely visible.
Dane knows and can recognize the letters of the alphabet. When he writes his name, it is not horizontal. The therapist hopes to have this corrected because he is now in Kindergarten. The letters seem to be all over with no control.
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