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Original poster

How do I stop ds1 turning the lights off

21 replies

Jimjams · 07/11/2004 18:16

We are all sitting in the dark- this has been going on for a week or so. As soon as I put them back on he turns them off again. It is driving me up the wall.

I have a real problem knowing what to do with this type of behaviour- turning them on immediately he he turns them off will make it a game, as does telling him off. But ignoring it doesn't work either. He goes to bed early because by 6.30/7pm I've had enough of stumbling around in the dark.

Any ideas?

OP posts:

blossomhill · 07/11/2004 18:18

Do you have switches or knobs Jimjams? If switches could you not tape them at all. Not sure of that would work but????

Original poster

Jimjams · 07/11/2004 18:20

I did think of that but he would be able to just push it off. Perhaps it is worth a try. Can't find the sellotape in the dark though

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blossomhill · 07/11/2004 18:22

How about some of that really strong tape?
Maybe invest in quite a few lamps until he stops doing it. I know that's not the answer but they do nice uplighters in Ikea for £7!

Original poster

Jimjams · 07/11/2004 18:29

We're not allowed to put lamps on! Never have been - for some reason they offend him and lead to loads of screaming and chin smashing! He can even PECS out "I want light off" for lamps.

He does have lots of sensory issues to do with lights so I've never pushed the lamps thing. And ahhhhhh just realised this started after our electriciain has been and rewired and we have temproary lights (no shades up) I am such a dork! That didn't even occur to me! HOwever he is also turning off lights that are the same as before now so seems to have spread.....

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blossomhill · 07/11/2004 18:32

It is so hard isn't it?
Hopefully someone with more experience of this will post soon

hmb · 07/11/2004 18:34

Are there any things, say a train, that interest him that you could find in the shape of a light?

I know they don't to washing machine lamps but something else? Would he be interested in a fibre optic lamp, or a lava lamp? Not a solution I know but it would bring you a little light and might give you an 'in' on the problem.

Failing that, tongue in cheek, dh could send you the head torch he used in Afghanistan!

Original poster

Jimjams · 07/11/2004 18:36

He loves torches- but loves turning them on and off- then he gets totally stimmy so I have to limit it.

Poor old ds2 keeps saying "it's all dark mummy".

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hmb · 07/11/2004 18:38

Would he be interested in a lava lamp?

Original poster

Jimjams · 07/11/2004 18:39

We have one I'll go and try it....

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Original poster

Jimjams · 07/11/2004 18:41

He hasn't spotted it yet- was too busy turning off the hall light- but have to say a candle would give out more light

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hmb · 07/11/2004 18:42

I have visions of you all sitting round with miners helmets on Jimjams. Sorry, I know it must be a real pain in the arse.

hmb · 07/11/2004 18:43

Can he tolerate a light being on in another room and you keeping the door open? I'm trying to think of ways to gradually raise the light level in the room without him being upset.

hmb · 07/11/2004 18:44

What about fairy lights?

Original poster

Jimjams · 07/11/2004 18:46

No - that's not allowed- I turned the hall light on to see enough to plug the lava lamp in and by the time I had finished the hall light had been turned off. I've just asked him to turn a light on- which he did- but then turned it straight off again. The only light sources on at the moment are the TV, computer and lava lamp (which he may not have spotted yet as he hasn't been back in the front room).

OP posts:

Original poster

Jimjams · 07/11/2004 18:48

I kind of think though that sensory problems or not it is unreasonable to expect the whole family to sit in the dark, so he needs to understand that the lights stay on- or at least certain lights stay on. Just not sure how to get that sort of message across

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onlyjoking9329 · 07/11/2004 19:02

how about if he wants to play trains/ look at washing machines he has to have the light on
if you got his fav toy out when it is dark would he then put the light on? i have seen a train light somewhere would that work. or what about ropelights? failing all that is it a phase or has he always done it?
what about a dimmer switch then start off dim and slowley get lighter

maddiemo · 07/11/2004 19:19

Amazing. We have just eaten our dinner sitting in the dark as ds4 is lights off mad at the moment.
Ds3 went through a phase of constant light flicking, lickily he just out grew it.
Ds4 likes lights off and flicking plug switches. He also thinks its a game and I have not found a solution.
Sorry I am not being any help

Davros · 07/11/2004 22:46

Oh god, we've had this one as well! He still likes to turn the light out in his room and shut the door while jumping on the bed. Now he likes me to be in the room whereas I remember being told to go home and interact with him years ago by the SLT, so got myself all ready and he turned the light off, shut the door and I was sitting in there on my own Mine has never been bothered by lamps though. I think we also used to let him do it in his room but not in the living room etc (don't ask me how now!!)
Actually, I think a lot of the ideas here are good ones. Maybe if you put on a lamp that offends him you can tell him that, in that case, you need the main light on, is there a visual way to depict this I wonder? Very tricky though. Or spend special time in a room and reinforce him for having the light on for X seconds and build it up, total pita though.

JaysMum · 08/11/2004 10:08

J used to do the lights off thing every night.
We bought very low wattage coloured bulbs so the light was a lot softer. Apparently the rose ones are the best to use. The light given off by the normal white bulbs is a very strong white and we were told this causes problems with visual stimuli.
We also fitted dimmer switches and gradually increased the light over a period of time.
Rope lights are good as well. J has one in his room at night. Helps him settle to sleep.
The only other solution is blue tack over the light switch. Makes it harder to switch off - we tried everything - the bulbs did make a big difference and after about two weeks he did stop.

Good Luck.

misdee · 08/11/2004 10:19

wanna swop jimjams? dd2 is obsessed atm with having lights on. i am constantly switching them off. and we live in a place where switches are easily accessable as its designed for wheelchair users. oh to have switches up high.......

Original poster

Jimjams · 08/11/2004 11:30

Well I ended up turning a light on and holding my hand over the switch- whilst saying sometthing inane like "this light stays on". He got very cross but I think he did understand. Then it was bed time and I said he could have all the lights off. I let him have the lamp off in our room providing he uses PECS to ask for it (rather than screaming and shoving our hands) whis he does happily.

Rose lights interesting- he loves red lenses- has a pair of red glasses. Someone once told me that liking to look through redish lenses was practically diagnostic for autism

ROFL Davros- at the moment I get dragged into a (dark) room and everyone else gets chased away. I then get made to lie down for a cuddle. Anyone else who comes in gets dragged out the door and its slammed behind them.

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