How do you teach "obvious" things?

[Jimjams]

That other kids (like ds2) just "get". It struck me the other day when we were walking along - ds1 in wellies and he was avoiding all puddles - that he didn't know his boots were waterproof. Now that was fairly easy to teach as I shoved him in a few puddles and he got the idea and got a bit bolder about walking in muddy places.

However it got me thinking- there are so many situations like this. Something that ds2 just seems to understand (probably from copying) that completely passes ds1 by. Or if ds2 doesn't understand then I explain it to him - and even if he doesn't understand every word he seems to get the gist. Of course this isn't an option with ds1.

Sometimes I find myself giving up and just accepting that he doesn't get something, but really that's not very helpful for him. I use backward chaining all the time, and I teach things involving movement by physically moving his limbs until he gets it. Is there a way of teaching more abstract things though (and stuff like days of the week- how on earth do you teach that?) Another example is that when we go swimming he wears a flotation vest thing. Sometimes he gets funny about the texture and won't wear it. But then he doesn't want me to hold him so he sinks. How on earth do I explain to him that he's sinking as he's not wearing the vest? (Usually if I can't persuade him to put the vest back on we just get out- him having swallowed half the pool).

If your child is a visual learner, make or give him a big calendar, explain what day today is, and what is done on that day, maybe draw a line through the day or colour the square in or make simple symbol in square to signify the day's weather. It'll take a while, but he'll get it in the end.

My son hated his flotation vest too, but he doesn't mind armbands, so he wears those now instead, or uses one of those long foam rolls or a swimming float.

I still can't get used to the way ds2 just seems to 'know' things. I remember rolling a ball to him when he was about 10 months old and being shocked when he just rolled it straight back to me. Even during the assessment in Feb ds1 had to be taught to roll the ball back and he's nearly 3 yrs older.

For some things I use ds2 as an example, eg turn-taking. We play a turn-taking game with a ball or balloon. Ds1 becomes interested and just copies his brother.

I'm not sure about how to teach the days of the week. Ds1 can say them all because he learned them at playgroup but he doesn't quite understand the concept of them just yet. I'm hoping that this will get easier when we start using visual timetables.

jimjams. I wonder about this too as it seems that there are hundred of incidents every single day where ds doesn't get things or seem to learn from incidents in the past. he seems to just be an isolated bubble and not realise the effect that he has on his surroundings.

Sorry not much help, just sympathising.

I also don't know what to do about the pool as my two have become spoiled by using a baby pool and being able to touch the bottom. I go there because they allow me to take both children. the last trip to the deep pool was a bit of a washout for ds anyway so am a bit stuck about what to do. Do you think swimming classes would work or would ds follow the instructions?

Jimjams, I have no help to offer, sadly, but can I just offer up some shock and awe that you take TWO children to a swimming pool. The fact that ds1 is autistic just makes it more awesome. I can't face it with just one child. As Allison Pearson would say, I don't know how she does it

heck no I DON"T take 2 children to the swimming pool- one would end up dead! I take ds2 and dh takes ds1!

aloha - its me who takes both children. It is only just manageable. The pool has a baby pool so they tend to just potter about with toys. However ds can be quite difficult with splashing and throwing watering cans for example and last visit he ran out of the pool area. Also dd tends to run off and climb onto things (like the hoist for disabled swimmers) so I am often running between both of them. I think I will have to ask my volunteer (who comes weekly for 2 hrs) to help out.

dh unfortunately doesn't have time to come along. I think the last time he came swimming was a year ago

Well, I don't take either, so am extra crap. Hat (swimming hat, obviously) off to both of you