Don't want to go out with ds...any practical suggestions.

[Hedgyhoggy]

Beginning to dread going out with ds. He is 4.6 global delay and is very very defiant and hyperactive. He has little understanding of rewards, bribes, consequences, no sense of danger. Nipped into book shop as eldest ds was desperate to get a book as a reward for a brill start at a new school. It just ended up like some benny hill show with me trying not to look like I was chasing him round the book shelves. Then when I do catch up with him (his baby sister under my arm throughout this) he lies on the floor kicking and thrashing around, laughing, screaming etc try to distract with peppa pig book but it just seems like he's enjoying his one boy show far too much. Fed up of people tutting, looking and I know it might seem a bit silly but also the sympathetic 'you've got your hands full'. If its something he doesn't want to do it is just a nightmare. No matter how prepared I am it just ends up with me getting fraught, hot and bothered and snappy. How do I prevent his behaviour impacting to much on his brother and sister

He is very sociable so it's not the pressure of the social situation

My DD1 went in a Maclaren Major at that age. At 4.6, she had a sister of 2.10 and a sister of 1.2, so there was no option. The other useful thing was a wrist strap.

To be honest it depends on whether your DS is developmentally able to understand that he's behaving in this way, or is just reacting to the world. DD1 was only just starting to 'get' that she could behave or otherwise.

Just to say sympathy hedgey and I love the Benny hill analogy .dd2 is 4.3 and autistic and I still use a buggy for her as she will grab things and run around like an 18 month old not much help but I feel for you

We used riegns until 4.5 and then moved onto a backpack with a strap on it, ours was home made but the little life ones are fab.

Tbh we rarely went shopping because the whole experience was just to much for Dd3.

We shop online even now or go out seperately.

Sorry not much help but I feel your pain, it is very hard when you have an audience.

The things you find difficult practise, and practise and practise. Start at home if you want.

Basic games of 'GO' then 'STOP'. If you have a buggy and he likes walking you can go to a local gated park and play the game. Every time he stops when asked you pick him up and whirl him round or give him a jelly baby or whatever. You're other kids can join in as models.

Every time he deliberately doesn't stop he gets strapped into his buggy immediately and you all stop giggling and having fun.

Then you try it again a couple of minutes later.

Yay to the go, stop game.

We used it when we were teaching Dd3 not to run off on the school run mainly.

We used to do a statue type stop to help her understand that we wanted it to be instant.

It did take a long time until I trusted her and she hates holding hands so that was really tricky.

Good luck

I know how you feel my dd with global delay is like this and its a nightmare! dd is now 7 and I find if I can take her alone she is not too bad but with my other dcs there she will run off, make silly noises, have meltdowns etc so its just not worth it. I tend to do a lot of my shopping whilst she is at school or online.

the weight/ sensory backpack sounds like a good idea actually as dd is very hyper sensitive to textures etc so this might help her to feel more secure. thanks