How has your SN child changed during lockdown

[BatleyTownswomensGuild]

My DS's speech has come on a fair bit because I've been around the house a lot to talk to him. His reading has also come on too. But his anxiety levels have increased massively as a result of all the talk of 'germs' and seeing people walking past our house wearing masks. He's very clingy and won't let me out of his sight....

How have your kids changed?

More relaxed. DS (10)Loves being at home. Reading has progressed - 1:1 time with us and Nessy programme/Teach My Monster to Read.

He misses friends a bit but apart from that its actually been to his benefit. We carry on doing stuff like his OT exercises and SLT etc.

I have a very very sporty 13 year old child with SN and so was really stressed wondering how he would cope with having to stay in so no swimming, no cricket, no trampolining, no karate, no football etc. He normally does one or two sports every evening and more at weekends. It has gone so much better than we could have even hoped for. He has taught himself how to play chess and gone from level 0 to level 7 through lock down. Now he is using the chess as his skill for his Duke of Edinburgh Award.

@caringcarer that's brilliant! Our loves chess too. Usually goes to chess club (not an option currently of course).

Lovely how our children are full of surprises and sometimes adapt easily to thing we think can be insurmountable challenges.

Interesting, a lot of friends I have spoken to have also said their children are far more relaxed. My 10 year old certainly is, she feigns concern about missing school but quickly retracts when I say she can go in if she really wants to .

My 13 year old however has struggled to do any work and has been a hell of a challenge a lot of the time. He would benefit from going back to school, but its not even open for Key workers or EHCP children.

Lovely to read how your children have benefited.

During lockdown, everything was great. Ds has classic ASD, 8yo. We were around lots (DH and I both WFH, taking it in turns so that one of us was on hand at all times for the DC), low demand, plenty of play, no school.

Since lockdown, and there is more demand and he is exposed to more people, he is enormously anxious and controlling and I would estimate that we have gone backwards in this respect by maybe four years. It is really hard for him and for us.

We have been more laid back. DS has been working on staying healthy and independence this summer too. We have had academic lessons as well. His mobility and self care skills have improved which I have also observed and I am very pleased and happy about. As a family we have done a fair amount of light exercise each day. This is a far cry from the early months after birth when all I could think about was the fact that his obvious gross motor impairment would hold him back in life.

Other than that not much really. Right now they are both working on spelling, reading, writing and basic number skills. He has another upcoming first appointment with a new physical therapist next week. I will have to see how that goes. Looking forward to lockdown easing however.

I wish I could say that about ours! She’s so anxious, terrible sensory issues with noise.

Won’t really do home learning. Been through a lot though - a few big life changes and lockdown, bless her. Also very very hormonal!

My 5yo (ASD) has been living his best life with no social demands. Starting school in Sept is going to be so tough on him.