ok screaming manic child at home time

[knat]

DD (4.7) has autism (prob Aspergers and adhd). She has terrible trouble in leaving places. At preschool it goes through phases where most times i can distract her home (at the moment we have clues for a treasure hunt on the way back fortunately home is only a 2 min walk away). However she has been going to infants school for an afternoon a week (an hour and half) for the last four weeks. Leaving there has been awful. She had a good afternoon there today really well behaved but at home time she had to be carried out by two TA's screaming, fighting and completely distressed. The good side was it only took a few minutes of carrying her part way home before she settled and did her treaure hunt clues. I really would like anyone's advice as to how to deal with this. I know you shouldn't worry about other parents but it is horrible when she's screaming she doesn't want to go home and is so distressed a she was today. I feel awful but i also feel so awful for her as she gets so worked up. Any help please!!!!!!!!

[Seuss]

Do they give her enough warning that it's nearly home time - like a countdown? The treasure hunt sounds like a great idea - very innovative!

[magso]

You have my sympathy! (ds - now dx with asd/adhd- used to scream at collection time - even attempt to run off with another family - as if I was a horrible mummy!! It felt so awful!!)
Different techniques have helped. Mostly he needed to know that a change/ transition was coming up. Would a simple warning (home time soon) help, followed by a wind down routine (or as Seuss says a count down perhaps with fingers 3-2-1 or a timer if language is an issue). I used to sing a silly transition song - the tune warned him even if he did not understand the words. For ds I collected last, after helping with the clean up - once the others were gone he was happy to go too, but I know most do the opposite of collecting first to avoid the hussle and bussle. Maybe dd needs to get used to the new routine.
It takes so much energy and forethought to keep some children on an even keel!

[knat]

thanks. I'm going to find out if they give any warning. I find that at home i say 10 mins to so and so then 5 etc and find it works ok most times. However sometimes it doesnt matter whether theres a countdown she will still erupt.

At preschool she has to change into her shoes again before hometimes and with the suggestion by the ed psych we brought shoe time earlier so she gets to play with something after having done that (as we used to have terrible trouble getting her shoes on right before i collected her) an then she knows its coming up to home time - although still have to be innovative with getting her back. They dont do this at school so maybe will have to do another kind of wind down? Magso - it does make me feel awful when she's screaming i dont want to go home and so distressed i'm sure the parents and teachers wonder what i do to her at home!!! HAve another meeting at school in a couple of weeks will see what they say then.

[knat]

Seuss - treasure hunt is on the way home and I do her a map to get to school (so bit like Dora!)varying the signs on it each day! Its hard work but if it works i don't care!