Can I ask for a handhold, this is going to be so hard....

[BatleyTownswomensGuild]

Autistic DS (6) has only been awake an hour and is already sobbing and pleading to go to the park. (He is sensory-seeking so can spend hours on the swings, roundabout etc.) When he gets anxious he just says the same phrases constantly on repeat so is currently following me round the house saying "I need to go to the park, I need to go to the park, I need to go to the park, I need to go to the park." He's probably going to do this all day....

Can already feel my nerves twitching.....

That sounds really tough

Do you have a garden. Do you have or could you get anything to play with that might help?

Why not go to the park then? Unless he's vulnerable specifically he is at low risk, especially early before others get there. Maybe wear gloves?

He can go to the park as long as you stay a good distance from other people. Will he wear gloves?

Go to the park.

Are you self-isolating? Or social distancing? If the latter you can go although all the playgrounds near us have been cordoned off so you can't go on swings etc.

Park, wear gloves. Is there any other outdoors things he could play with? Kids in my street are playing with a "swing ball" thing and they don't have to stand close together and then have chalk that they're drawing with in separate parts of the street

Take him to the park. You're both low risk. Hand gel if possible or wash your hands. Maybe he would wear disposable rubber gloves if you have them. Or even wooden gloves can be removed as soon as you get in the car or home and washed. Hands are doing the most spread.

Wearing gloves, you would still need to avoid touching your face , as the virus could get on the gloves and the. Onto your face.

I have children with ASD. In this situation I'd get up very early and take them to the park. Gloves, hand gel etc. Bath or shower as soon as you get home.

I have two boys with autism and totally understand what you are saying. I'd be cautious but still take him to the park. Also think about rural places you could go to together and build a den, read a book and have a picnic. Steer clear of other people and you should be OK! Hugs x

Thanks all. Unfortunately he refuses to wear gloves 🙁

He's emotionally all over the place this week. He doesn't cope well with transitions or disruption to routine and he is clearly aware that something big is going on. Haven't even told him about school yet. Working on doing a social story to explain it.

We are lucky that we have a lot of green spaces near us but he very much has tunnel vision and got himself in a loop where all he could fixate on was the park.

Managed to temporarily distract him with my phone and food. Am knackered already.

No idea how the hell I'm meant to do this AND work from home.

I know this isn’t an immediate solution but I am looking to set up a routine for my NT DC otherwise they are going to be flopping around expecting me to solve their boredom.

Do you have any alternative physical activities he can do that give him some sensory input?

Otherwise take him for 30 mins and anti bac his hands.

[Lighthearted]
Borrow his ear defenders if he has them.

Do you have a garden? Could you buy a cheap swing set?

Just take him to the park!
If anyone is the household has symptoms you should all self isolate and not go to the park.
If anyone in the household has a health condition that puts them at higher risk, you may also
want to self isolate and go to the park.
If neither of the above apply, you are just social distancing and you can go to the park as long as you keep your distance from others and wash hands.

Ear filters for you. Twenty quid from amazon - fit the highest attenuation ones in the pack.

It won't solve everything, obviously, but it could give you enough 'distance' from the constant whine that you don't lose your cool (which would be perfectly understandable) and can think of different sensory things - or just to function whilst being followed around by the human version of tinnitus.

I think they are going to become vital equipment for many, many people.

(Suggestion gained from experience of being non NT, DP being non NT, sibling being non NT and some of the kids being non NT)

The issue isn’t the park, it’s the playground equipment.

I'd take him to to the park too.

So me things are humanly beyond our control. If everyone like me with dc who do understand stay away, then people like your son whose don't understand should be OK.

Do it op

We're a week ahead of you here in Ireland - the parks are open but the playgrounds are closed. Tell need a plan B for if/when that happens. Do you have space for a mini trampoline?

You'll need a plan b. Typo. Sorry.

Can you get a wobble board, gym ball, swing that could be put up indoors if you do not have outdoor space, a mini trampoline? Possibly ring school on Monday and see if they have any equipment you can borrow for him if you can't afford it?.

Possibly ring school on Monday and see if they have any equipment you can borrow for him if you can't afford it

Along these lines maybe it’s worth asking on FB for the loan of an office chair so he can spin? I don’t know if that would be a viable option for him but liberally sprayed with disinfectant it might work for him.

How challenging for both of you, it must be awful. Don’t know if indoor equipment would be helpful - you can get bars and swings that hang in internal doorways, lots of the sensory companies do them. It isn’t the same as being outside, but they might help him if he is seeking vestibular stimulation

Thanks for your suggestions. Wearing his ear defenders may actually be the best piece of advice I've had in ages!

We do have a trampoline and DH has been on it with him lots today. Borrowing sensory equipment from school is a good idea - won't help today but will probably help in the future. His school are really supportive.

Was really needing this to be a day he occupied himself a bit so I can start to think about how to organise work around homeschooling - no chance! Can feel my energy levels waning already...

He's still kicking off. Have tried bribing with trampoline, drive-thru Macdonalds, YouTube videos of trains (his special interest), snacks but he's been on a roll for almost 8 hours now and I can't take it anymore. Getting up early tomorrow and taking him to the park before any families are out . Will wash his hands before we go and anti-bac between each bit of equipment....