DS being rough in play

[Ahhhcantthinkofag00dname]

Can anyone advise on strategies to get DS (aged 7 has HFA) to play less roughly. The combination of lack of social and sensory awareness plus poor motor skills is meaning he is now able to really hurt other children. Last week on a play date we were hosting, he pushed another child into a wall while playing hide and seek which resulted in the other little boy having a bump on his head and concussion symptoms.

DS apologised immediately and again the next day, and seems to feel bad - we've been talking a lot about it! I can only think he got over excited and totally misjudged the strength of his push.

Ds being rough is something school are very aware of, it has been on his' SEN targets since reception (now year 2). I think the fact that nothing anything like this serious has happened at school shows he is being well looked after at playtime, but is there anything more that can be done to address this?

The trouble is if you talk to DS in the cold light of day he completely understands what is and isn't acceptable, but in a play situation this understanding seems to go out the window.

[ObscuredbyFog]

Can you work out any no touching strategies for him in games?

If anyone's playing hide and seek, there's no need to touch the other person when you've found them.

If playing tag, make the rules that it's just a light touch on the hand.

Go through all the games he likes, schools have introduced non-contact sports, perhaps they'll also have more ideas for you.

[Ahhhcantthinkofag00dname]

Thanks that’s a great idea. I think he needs to understand no touching unless it’s in one of these situations:
Tag: gentle touch is ok when you catch someone
Etc etc...

I will try to get schools help in making a summary sheet which can be laminated.

Upon reflection he seems to know that when someone is hurt it’s because he’s been too rough but I don’t think he understands what “too rough” means. It’s hard to define, and what’s ok in one situation eg tag is not ok in another....

Thanks again, any other ideas welcome....

[Allthewaves]

We use 'no touch' as suggest with hfa ds. School have banned tag at the moment as he wasn't the only one basically hitting and not tagging. We have no rough play or wrestling as non of mine know their limits