ASD child stressed and completely obsessed with water again

[chuckeyegg]

DS is 4 he is at nursery and was really enjoying it. In January they had another intake and he is now totally stressed by school because there are a few children that have been crying a lot and this is really difficult for him also the room is just more busy.

He has reverted back to constant water play while I type this he is out in the back garden watering in the rain.

What should I do attempts to interest him in other things have failed. His hours at the nursery have reduced to try and help him cope better.

In the house he is constantly at the kitchen sink or basin upstairs.

Any advise would be very gratefully recieved.

x

If water play is helping him I would try to build other elements into water play to vary his experience but basically support him in continuing.

I would ask for a meeting with school to discuss his provision and how they could manage his time in the classroom better. They should be recording their support on IEPs.

He may need a quiet refuge like a tent or den or perhaps another room to retreat to when the sensory overload becomes too much.

Does he have a method of communicating when he is finding things stressful? Using speech to do this may be asking too much so perhaps a red card to show the teacher/leader?

Make notes of the interventions which have been tried and whether they were successful. This may help if you have to apply for a statement.

I would second what Al1son has said. My DS1 is also fascinated by water and his nursery have tried to nuture this by including a target this term which involves him transferring water from one receptacle to another using pipettes. This helps his fine motor skils and concentration. He loves it.

Restarting term after Christmas would probably have unsettled him anyway, even without the new intake. It has taken my DS 2 weeks to settle in. He was utterly dreadful the first week and an awful lot of it was due to tiredness and change in routine.

Assuming (?) you don't want him to play like this, would he respond to a timer to limit the play?

What are his other most favourite activities? Could he be distracted by these? eg tell him he can only play with water for 5 minutes but then he can play with xx (his next favourite thing), or another positive experience for him (eg lunch?).

Does he get adequate support at nursery? Tbh I wouldn't be happy having to reduce his hours because of new children starting - far better would be for the nursery to put in place proper support for him to help him cope with changes like this.

Thanks everyone vey much for your replies, I have got him some earmuffs but at the moment they are not proving popular. Perhaps he will be able to see there benefits at school.

I don't want to stop this play for him if it's helping him, eleviating the stress he feels is more important.

I think the tent idea is superb and will defently talk to the school. He has been spending most of his time outside. A little bolt hole might really help him.

Thanks again.

ear deafenders are loads better and my dd2 loves hers and brings them out when she wants to come and see me when im drying my hair and when i have hoover out
I agree with what others have said :)

I can't think of any useful suggestions, but they need to do more for him to make school less stressful for him.

My DD2 also uses ear defenders, she finds them very helpful for blocking out DD3's shrieky tantrums

She also loves washing her hands, we've been doing a lot of work on just washing them quickly becuase she was spending so much time with wet hands that she was getting eczema. I kind of understand becuase I get completely lost in the shower

because

• a sign I should be in bed!