ENGAGE ME WHEN YOU ARE BUSY

Hi, it’s my pleasure again

Today I happened to listen to sadhguru  Jaggi vasudev, he is a spiritual guru and an amazing speaker. I am enlightened to mention this quote by sadhguru

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass

It is about learning to dance in the rain” 

thanx to http://www.heartofthematteronline.com/ for the above picture
 Yesterday I had an appointment with the doctor; to avoid traffic I started early and I ended up reaching there prior to my appointment time. I engaged myself by flipping the magazine, suddenly my attention caught with an incident happen there.  A young boy walked in to the doctor’s office along with his mother as she was busy talking to doctor’s PA, this young cute little boy was wondering the room purposelessly and grabbing stuff from the office desk. I think the PA got little irritated and told him hey you are big boy don’t you think you have to ask permission before touching others stuff, all this happening that boy did not give notice to that PA not even eye contact. His mother seemed to be little annoyed by the situation and told her that he is a child with special needs. I am sure most of you (parents of special children) would have come a crossed these kind of hard ships, May not be in doctor’s office elsewhere.  What do we need to do to make our children: sit in one place, meaningfully explore the new place and asks people permission before they touch others stuff. HmmJJJ you would have given enough thought and I am sure you guys are successfully implementing the strategies you found for your children.  Engage his waiting time by structuring it interestingly of his choice not really making him do home work or accademic work. if you manage to  do so he will surprise you with expected behaviour!!!!!  

Simple tips to go with the situation where your child has to wait:

v  Carry a small mat with his name on and place it on the chair or on a floor (wherever you assigned him to sit) this reminds him of his territory. Initially start this practice at home so he could generalizes wherever he go

v  If he is fond of music carry an I pod or music player with ear phones(some children are sensitive to ear phones be aware), play songs which are of his great interest or you  play selective songs  whenever he has to wait for longer period

v  Take his favorite toy or object to manipulate this will keep him engaged when you are busy doing your work. Remember sometimes obsessions also can work as a reinforcement

v  Provide a wrist band with his favorite characters, I am sure this make him engaged  

v  If your child is fond of reading carry a  new book to read this gives him enormous joy, some children with autism want to read the same book again and again  in that case carry his favorite one

v  Create interest in cross word puzzles and word hunt games, this is the best way to keep your child occupied when you are finishing your work

v  Some children are very fond of play dough let him enjoy by rolling the clay and encourage him to make models with it

v  Prepare your child before taking him to any place. Social stories will be of magical help in understanding the what’s where’s and who’s he has to deal with the situation

v  If your child knows time concept explain him how much wait time by making him read the clock, allows him for preparation and meaningful engagement or sometimes stop clock also serve the purpose 

v  Tell him it’s ok to rock himself sitting in the same place, this gives him vestibular movement/movement gratification

v  Contingency contracting works best most of the times,  by explaining terms and conditions like; mama will buy you stickers when you sit and read your book until mummy finishes her work

v  Coloring books are sometimes a great savior provided your child should have interest

v  Reinforce immediately and consistently

As we know every child is unique and strategies should be tailor made and your child will show you which works best for him. All it needs is trial and error and consistency in using the approach.  All the best, I bet your kitty has much more ideas which are  already serving the purpose

Take care, see you soon