Son has SCD and is regressing due to lockdown

[Pinkchocolate]

DS6, year 1 has SCD. We’ve been in lockdown for 7 weeks and he’s not interested in any sort of socialisation online or on the phone and hasn’t missed his friends or anyone. I feel like the last few months of getting him to enjoy socialising has gone out of the window and he’s now just more attached to me and my DD (teenager). I’m so worried that he’s moving backwards and will struggle once he’s back in school and long term. How are other SCD parents coping?

Bump

It must be really strange for them. How is he usually with chatting on video calls? I know my own ds (autistic, 6) can be a bit hit or miss and he finds it strange when people are out of context.

By their nature, video calls must be tricky for children with SCD because they mostly use verbal communication which they find particularly difficult. Are you able to call family members who he might be more willing to chat to? Or maybe he would text a friend or write and send an email or letter to them instead (with your help). I think any form of communication is to be encouraged.

Otherwise then try and continue to practice any skills you have been working on as best you can. You can play turn-taking games, role play scenarios with toys etc.

I do think that probably they will regain these skills faster than they initially learned them once things begin to settle down again.

Thank you so much for replying. I have tried to FaceTime family friends but he’s not interested, maybe I need to persist more. And I’ll try the role play, I hadn’t even thought of that. I think there’s undiagnosed ADD too so I’m just finding it really full on. I feel like I’m not meeting his needs because I’m trying to balance parenting a teen,WFH part time and running a home while my husband works. I know many are in the same position but it’s so so hard.

I would FaceTime them regularly yourself, while he’s around, and let him join in if and when he wants but with no pressure. You may find some days he engages and other days he doesn’t.

Don’t beat yourself up, this is a far from perfect situation for all of us. Were you getting any external support before lock down? Have you been given any strategies to work on?

I will, thank you.
He was diagnosed in January but we’ve only just received the paperwork so no support in place and now I don’t know when the school will be able to put support in place.