Children with PDA

[Sometimeswinning]

Working with a child with PDA. What are the most useful and engaging 1:1 activities?

Whatever the child is interested in

It's hard/impossible to get a PDA child to engage if it's not something they actively want to do but if you find the thing that sparks their interest they will totally run with it.

My PDA child self taught some Japanese...

How old?

Follow their interests.

I should have said. I’m a TA. Child is not my only focus so I’m looking for activities which others can be involved in. It might be too broad a question judging by comments.

This is way too broad; just to ask initially you said 1:1 but then said others will be involved so wondering if you had a specific set up or aim in mind?

Look up the PANDA guidance from the PDA society.

Yeah you’re right.

Im looking to intergrate with others. Should have been more clear.

Don't worry you're not to know.

It's just the challenge is engaging the child in an activity!

For my PDA child my suggestions for teaching staff were
Build trust and rapport with my child first before asking them to do tasks - those with the best relationships more likely to have success with 'demands'
Attempt more challenging 'demands' in the morning- not when hungry or losing focus at end of day
Can she have a choice of two activities? Offer as many choices as possible like location, seating, choice of writing implement, - offer doing task in library, outside etc to create novelty
Relate to her special interest- especially with twinkl they have lots of worksheets with characters which could relate to child

Thankyou. I’ve got an ehcp pushing me into class. Not much support beyond being told
to recognise PDA but also said child needs to be in class. Obviously this isn’t going to work. I don’t mind pushing my point but I need to make sure what I’m doing is beneficial.

Im not an expert and was hoping for some people not in education could give me advice.