My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

SN children

safety at the roadside

8 replies

devientenigma · 20/08/2011 10:38

How do you stop your child running out in the traffic while waiting at crossings??

OP posts:
Report
ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 20/08/2011 10:43

DS
reins
then a lead
Then holding his wrist
Then fingers on wrist and waiting for my signal.
Even now, he waits for the green man when he's out and about if he's using a crossing, he wasn't able to cross a road without one until he was 10 or so.
But it depends on you child, doesn't it? My DS has no LD other than his AS, so it was awareness training and physical and verbal keys until he saw the need.

Report
devientenigma · 20/08/2011 11:08

ds is 10, he is usually in a wheelchair however yesterday he was walking, we were waiting for the lights to change and the green man to come on and the next thing I knew he shot off across the road shouting can't wait, he is impatient at times although it was dangerous. He does have sld among other issues.

OP posts:
Report
devientenigma · 20/08/2011 11:09

meant to say he also doesn't like to be touched.

OP posts:
Report
ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 20/08/2011 12:01

If he doesn't like being touched, then I'd go for consistent training with hand and eye signals. He can't cross until you have given him the nod, or green man and count to three before moving.
He didn't cross until the signal, so he is aware of what is necessary. It's getting him to understand that road users run lights, my DS didn't understand rule breakers either and didn't factor them in.
That has changed too, with maturity.

Report
coff33pot · 20/08/2011 14:52

Watching this thread with interest. With DS it is his tempermental mood that alters things. We have no green lights just ordinary roads to cross and the summer is really busy here.

If he is "with us" he will stop and wait but will insist on waiting virtually tipping over the kerb into the road. If he gets sudden impulsiveness then he will charge off.

Soooo I give him the dog Grin For some reason walking the dog and me telling DS he is now responsible for him and he has to watch him for traffic as we dont want him squashed seems to work and slow him down. If I tell the dog to keep by the wall DS will stay into the wall and telling the dog stay! DS stays when we get to the kerb seems to do the trick at the moment!

Report
ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 20/08/2011 15:03

Smile Fantastic idea coff33pot. Making him actively think about the situation.
My mother used to say that a gentleman took a lady's arm, so DS used to escort her over roads as she was a little old lady.
He knows it was a line now!

Report
coff33pot · 20/08/2011 15:17

I just might have a go at that line myself! I must admit I do use DS own senses to play a part in his learning. If he is having a bad day he doesnt take demands or requests easily at all. BUT he loves being in control and responsible helping someone to do "jobs" bit of a self esteem issue I think. So if we are out and he wants to leave somewhere I do say please stay as I need your help to stay here myself as I am nervous. Its strange but he seems to push down his own flighty feeling to come and protect me. He has a couple of times said "I dont like this" so I am hoping if he hears me talking feelings he just might do the same all the time one day. But thats another story! Grin

I should get away with your mothers line though as he says he wishes he was "really old" like me so he can go to the cinema and watch the big films Grin

Report
Davros · 20/08/2011 16:38

Probably not of use to you at this stage, but for anyone with a younger child - if you do no other ABA, do the "come here" programme. At the time I just saw it as a way of getting DS's compliance so he was able to do other programmes. A few years ago I realised just how important it was in daily life, especially outside and I have always been able to manage him verbally with a "come here", "wait" and even some more obscure things like "hold your horses"!!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.