Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

Reception auties 2018/19 - thread 2

998 replies

openupmyeagereyes · 14/12/2018 08:05

Thanks to LightTripper for the thread title. This is the continuation of the thread for parents and carers of dc with autism in their reception year at school. Please join us if you can or, if you have dc due to start reception in 2019, feel free to drop by and ask us questions.

Thread 1

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
livpotter · 27/03/2019 19:00

Glad you're enjoying it open!

Hope your ds is better tomorrow.

We've decided to suck out of the school trip tomorrow as I'm not sure I can cope with it. Also we didn't get the chance to do a practice trip because we were all ill. Feels like a massive relief to be honest and it means we don't have to skip a week of OT.

livpotter · 27/03/2019 19:01

Duck not suck!

LightTripper · 28/03/2019 14:07

Sounds very sensible liv! They are all so tired as well, it's a big ask. DD is very very ready for the holidays!

Original poster
openupmyeagereyes · 28/03/2019 14:33

I don’t blame you liv, definitely not the right time.

OP posts:
Original poster
openupmyeagereyes · 28/03/2019 14:47

Someone on another thread recommended the YouTube channel Fathering Autism. I’ve watched a few videos and it’s pretty good. They have a non-verbal 14 (I think) yo daughter. Good to see the father’s perspective though the whole family is involved. They also have a NT older teenage son.

OP posts:
Original poster
openupmyeagereyes · 28/03/2019 14:49

Interesting to see snapshots of other people’s lives. She is different to my ds but there are familiar elements. One of the videos I watched they had been up with her since 3:30 am. I can definitely relate to that!

OP posts:
LightTripper · 28/03/2019 15:13

You might like Vincentville too. They have two boys (I think both autistic - or maybe just the older one has a Dx and the younger one not yet). They are such sweet boys and a nice family and the videos are very well produced. Finding Cooper's Voice can be good too and Cooper is non verbal. It's a tough watch sometimes but Cooper has been learning to communicate with a proloquo2go recently and seems really pleased with it so that's been lovely to see! I always feel a bit uncomfortable with Fathering Autism because they do seem to share a lot and sometimes I feel it breaches Abbie's privacy too much (I mean, I guess all these family vlogs do that, including the ones that have nothing to do with autism, but I guess some just feel more exposing than others).

Original poster
openupmyeagereyes · 28/03/2019 15:58

Thanks Light. Totally agree, ds isn’t on social media at all. It’s interesting viewing though.

OP posts:
LightTripper · 28/03/2019 16:16

My kids are on (but only on Facebook, which is private to my friends/family: my Instagram is open and so I never put anything there where they would be identifiable - sometimes the back of their head will be in or an ultra-closeup where they aren't identifiable like an eyelash or a hand). I try to always make sure it is a picture I would be happy to have up of myself (so nothing where they are upset or ill)...

But I'm sure there's still scope for them to think it's too much in the future. It's a minefield really as everyone will have different standards for what they think is OK and our kids' standards may well be different. I'm sure your approach is the most sensible, but I do like keeping the connection with old friends and family I don't see so often, and love seeing their family pictures too!

dimples76 · 28/03/2019 16:31

Did any of you see the feature in the Guardian weekend magazine about children on Instagram with 100,000s of followers whose parents have given up their day jobs to manage them. Obviously that is the extreme end of social media usage.

I think I'm going to come off Facebook other than the support groups I'm in as I don't think that it brings out the best in me! I have unfollowed so many 'friends' now it is a bit ridiculous.

I have ordered a copy of the book you recommended Liv. Don't think that my parenting would win any awards right now - I just grabbed DS and put him over my shoulder in a fireman's lift as he kept running away from me by a main road on the way home from school.

Original poster
openupmyeagereyes · 28/03/2019 16:46

Sorry Light, I wasn’t judging. I’m not on FB, haven’t been for years so it’s a decision that’s pre-made, if you like, rather than actively avoiding putting up pictures of him.

dimples the book is good but so far (I’m half way through) there’s no tips for your situation this afternoon. I’m sure you did the right thing Cake

OP posts:
livpotter · 28/03/2019 16:51

Yeah I'm a bit dubious about blogging/videoing your kids too.

Dimples if it makes you feel any better I had to man handle ds back into the buggy earlier as he was trying to run around the skate park, in between the skaters!

We can but try our best! Ha

LightTripper · 28/03/2019 21:51

No no sorry open, I didn't think you were! I do always doubt myself though. I suspect I would have hated any pictures of me being up as a child.... but then now I love the photos my parents have from my childhood, and I do love social media for keeping me close to my (often geographically quite distant!) friends and family.

LightTripper · 28/03/2019 21:52

Oh, and I've managed to find an audiobook of the Philipa Perry book on Google Play and have a voucher for money off, so I'm looking forward to listening to that! She and her husband are both very cool.

LightTripper · 28/03/2019 22:34

This lovely video just popped up on my YouTube. I wish I had caught the whole documentary!

dimples76 · 29/03/2019 07:13

I saw that when it was on - it was v striking to me as Jaco and DS share two of the same obsessions: white birds and bells!
DS still isn't diagnosed as paediatrician thinks it could be development trauma/attachment issues or ASD or ADHD. I think it could be all 3. Our six-monthly appointment with the paediatrician has been postponed 3 times but the latest appointment date I have received is only a fortnight away so fingers crossed we get seen .......

livpotter · 29/03/2019 07:44

Yes I also watched that when it was on, it was really lovely.

Fingers crossed for you dimples. It must be so annoying to have it postponed the whole time!

Original poster
openupmyeagereyes · 29/03/2019 07:59

It was lovely, I wish I’d seen it all. I’ll task dh to find it online somewhere. Last night we watched my autistic big brother. It was very good, I wish ds had so much caring family around him.

dimples it must be tricky when there are also possible attachment issues, though he seems very attached to you. Hopefully you’re appointment won’t be cancelled.

OP posts:
Original poster
openupmyeagereyes · 29/03/2019 08:00

Our families care but they are not hands on at all.

OP posts:
DuploRelatedInjury · 30/03/2019 16:58

Hello, is it ok if I join? I've just happened across the thread. DD1 is currently in Reception with a working diagnosis of autism.

Original poster
openupmyeagereyes · 30/03/2019 17:42

Of course duplo, welcome. How is she getting on?

OP posts:
DuploRelatedInjury · 30/03/2019 18:10

She's had a bad week this week. Lots of violent meltdowns at home too. She has a 1:1 TA - she had a 1:1 in nursery but it didn't follow her to Reception, so she was without for half a term and she really struggled. We've had to EHCP form sent off a few weeks ago to try and get one in place so it will continue into year 1. her school SENCO (and her class teacher!) has just gone on maternity leave which has likely contributed to her bad week to be fair.

We're at a bit of a loss as to what to do sometimes with her behaviour. I've been finding it quite hard of late (not helped by DD2 who is 20 months waking at all hours!)

SueVide · 30/03/2019 18:55

Welcome Diplo. Sounds like a tough week. Good job on progressing the EHCP. Have the LA agreed to assess? Changes to support and the demands of school can be tough for our DC.

DS really struggles with changes to his routines and it's taken him a while to settle with his new 1:1 (his prev TA is on long term sick leave). This term the class staffing timetable has changed and his anxious behaviour is coming back. He's refusing to read to one teacher and wouldn't go to phonics group. First sign of poor behaviour at school. We've been managing his anxiety about school as he usually stores it up for home Sad

It feels like he's just started and we're about to start planning an EHCP review for year 1.

SueVide · 30/03/2019 18:55

Sorry Duplo!

LightTripper · 31/03/2019 23:58

Hi Duplo, welcome!! It's tough with a baby too isn't it? My DS has just turned 2 and was not a great sleeper until pretty recently. Its made such a difference now he's sleeping better. It was a complete shock to me as DD was a pretty good sleeper past 7 or 8 months so I'd been spoiled really...

I do think they are all knackered at end of term. DD just started Easter holidays and I'm hoping it will give her a proper chance to recharge!