Help, my ds is out of control today. How do I reason with him?

[twoisplenty]

Help! My ds (aged 8) who has cp and epilepsy, has severe learning problems. It's half terms and...


...he's a monster today. He won't do a thing for me (get dressed, eat, toilet) and I have done all of these things with him screaming, yelling, hitting, biting, grabbing my hair, clothes etc. You get the picture!

What can I do? I've put him in his bedroom for now, and told him that the trip to the library is cancelled (he's been looking forward to that since yesterday). I'm taking his sister, aged 4, to the library later when dh gets home, and my ds will stay at home.

But I'm sick of this awful temper. It's always over the same few things, getting dressed, getting to the dinner table, toileting.

I think he just wants to play all day and do nothing else.

This week has been difficult to find time to play (2 hospital visits, GP this morning) so I can understand his anger at being out of the house doing horrid things all week. But I can't stand the temper.

Any ideas on management would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[needmorecoffee]

This is a bit temporary but whats wrong with playing all day? Especially as he's been to hospital this week and its half term.
But its not a long term thing. I know a friend of mine has had her son (CP, severe learning disabilities and epilepsy) reffered to a behavioural psychologist cos he hits,bites etc and sadly understands nothing, not even his name.
Its hard to say what else might work without knowing his level of understanding.

[magso]

Sending sympathy! I've had a difficult day but I'm sure it would seem blissfully easy in comparison!! I didnt feel up to the planned trip today after a difficult day (mixing with nt kids) yesturday! I cant help with the management since I think we went through this totally uncooperative stage at a slighly younger/ smaller stage! My Ds still hates anything but full parental attention and play and still wets rather than stop for the loo! He likes playing in the bath so we dress after the bath its the easiest way to change his clothes!. Ds did eventually understand consiquences so perhaps you will get through with missing treats like the library. Roll on school!

[twoisplenty]

NMC - apologies, there may be a slight misunderstanding: when I said he wants to play all day and do nothing else, I mean he doesn't want to dress, or go to the loo when he needs it. He doesn't even want to go to the table, even when hungry (or drink for that matter). He wants completely uninterrupted play.

His level of understanding is good: he is similar to his sister, so generally a level around that of a 3-4 year old. He understands conversation perfectly, just can't talk, but signs quite well. He signed "sorry" a lot when I told him off, but then lashed out again!

[needmorecoffee]

Is today going better?