My DS2 (resolved receptive language, possibly resolved sensory, anxiety) is now 6 and starting Year 1, doing very well. Social issues: likes to stick to one best friend and tends to go hang out with (mutually devoted) big brother on playground at breaktime. General social anxiety still there. So I've written to head asking for a plan for the year and I've said this:
"He also still seems to blank children other than his closest friends when they ask him questions or make remarks unexpectedly. I'm wondering if teaching him a set of "neutral" responses that will buy him time might help: even just learning to say things like "oh" in response to a remark, "umm....I don't know" in response to a question and "hello" in response to a greeting (rather than the current silence or "No") would buy a bit of time for him to process/relax, and count as a reasonably appropriate response- which might in turn reduce the anxiety of these encounters. We have been talking about saying "kind" things so I think he is ready for this."
My thinking is this. There's bound to be a big anxiety element to this "blanking" because DS2 doesn't blank DS1 or his best friend but he will blank people he likes like neighbours seen out of context in the school canteen. He obviously doesn't know what to say/do. So I reckoned if we simplied the responses right down, he might discover that the social demands of 6 year olds are not as great as he thought.
It's a kind of "learn by rote to get rid of the panic" idea, hence wondering what moondog thinks.
I'll appreciate any comments/context/more grownup names for similar things or even just more examples of "one size fits all" responses to questions from children. Or anyone who has tried out strategies for the same problem.
best wishes to all.
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can anyone comment on these social skills ideas of mine please? (moondog are you about?)
63 replies
lingle · 22/09/2011 21:48
OP posts:
LeninGrad ·
23/09/2011 13:12
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