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You could have knocked me down with a feather...
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(16 Posts)
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Was intending to take DS1 to a local firework display tonight, leaving noise-sensitive DS2 with DH at home. DH late back from govs meeting, DS1 REALLY keen to go, so I thought 'what the hell', bundled them both up, grabbed the ear defenders and went, warning DS1 all the way that we would have to come straight back if DS2 was frightened.
DS2 bloody loved it
. I have honestly never seen such pure, unalloyed joy on his face - we met up with some friends and they couldn't take their eyes off him. He wore the ear defenders for the first five minutes, then ripped them off and gave them to me. His face was tipped right back to the sky - and then he turned round and watched them upside down! Every time there was a short break he pointed to the sky and said 'open!' (his default word for anything he doesn't know how to say).
It has taught me a big lesson - never assume I know him entirely and can second guess what he will like or dislike. And not to be so timid in introducing him to new experiences
Ear defenders are fab. This is just my opinion, but I think it's best to try to expose kids with ASD in a controlled way i.e. ear defenders, visual aids to prepare them beforehand, and short exposure the first time (leave on a high and leave early!) There is a therapy you can do called AIT (Auditory Integrateion Therapy) but I don;t know much about it...
We went to a Fireworks display tonight and my DS 3.5yrs was frightened. He is fascinated by the bright lights and colours but can't cope with the noise. He seems to have real issues with sound / noise. We went to Eco park at MK and they had plastic dinosaurs which "roared' and again he couldn't cope. Should we continue to expose him to loud noises to desensitize him? Any advice appreciated.
...and when I said I was waiting for thunder, I didn't know if any was forecast. I was thinking maybe next summer....ha ha!
PMSL - just had a reality check! We've just had some thunder......and at the moment, we're sharing "headsqueezing with hands over DS2's ears" duties....
That's great, busy, a successful night for both of us :-)
that's great! Pleased he coped so well!!
Our neighbours let some fireworks off a couple of hours ago (loud bangs) and DS2 just said "Is it fireworks?" and then carried on with what he was doing - no meltdown/stress/anxiety/asking me to put my hands over his ears. So I'm hoping that we really have cracked it....and am waiting the next thunderstorm with interest to see if there's a knock-on effect
Well, we went and he loved it. We were well prepared with distractors (light up ones ;-) and ear defenders and watched the quieter kiddie display in thre ground, then watched the louder ones by the car, as he was getting a bit stressed by the crowd. He loved them so we consider the evening a big success!
That's great!
Wanted to take DD to one (there aren't that many in France, just a few organised by expats!!) as I thought she's probably up to it now, but didn't know what to do with DS (NT, but only 2, so likely to be very scared!).
Will have to try and be over in UK next year as I'm sure DD will love it now - was scared of noise when she was younger but is now likely to be fascinated by pretty lights and loves crowds (little sensory-seeker!!)
Ds used to hate fireworks too but we went to a display with him in his Major buggy (in case we needed a quick getaway!). I expected him to howl the place down but he was fascinated.
Last night we had a few fireworks in the garden and he sat on a chair with his hands over his ears and an enormous grin on his face.
That's great! And I'm going to join in - after months of DS2 angsting about thunder/noise and he's been terrified of fireworks and bonfires for years, his school had a hallowe'en party and some fireworks last month. He stayed a long way away from the (pretty gentle) fireworks, but coped.
And this week asked for us to get some fireworks, so I bought a box (expecting to be able to light one only!). Went through the whole box last night, loved it all (bit twitchy at times), helped "plant" each firework in the pot of earth.
I'm not quite brave enough to try a display (need more than just me to supervise him, I think) this weekend, but I now have a new target for next November
Great that others have had success around this, too
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