Tip for language delayed children

[cyberseraphim]

We learned a really useful approach at our therapy last week. DS1 is fairly good at puzzles. The therapist told us to not let him put the pieces in himself but to hold up one piece at a time and to ask him to show her where to put it - he can point but lacks understanding as to why he should point beyond his own needs. He learned to do this kind of showing/pointing quite quickly and it might just be imagination but he is responding with showing/pointing in general social situations much more readily and is responding verbally more often too. Obviously this approach is intended to tackle mind blindness in an ASD child but it could help others too maybe...

Also - I asked him to give me one of his crisps a few days ago, he took a yellow plastic disc from the toybox, pressed it into my hand and ran off laughing First real joke !

May I ask Moondog whether she thinks it would be useful to have a general support thread with tips/techniques like the one Cyber mentioned today "this worked for me" or whether, because of the differences between the children, it could just lead to confusion and people trying inappropriate techniques on their kids.

Hijack return - thanks Peachy! It's the 15th, which we can both do. Would be very interested in the disabled area - do I contact one of the committee members to get details?

One more question - does anyone throw bangers? Because that would be the one thing that would really freak DS2 out. It happened constantly at the Lewes Bonfire processions and it was the reason we could never take him out on the 5th. Luckily we could just take it in turns to run to the end of the road to watch the processions, but that won't work here.

Lingle, I think it is a great idea.
I'll start.
Use a calendar with your children to help them understand concept of past present and future. Get them to cross of a day religiously every night to get them used to the idea of pages/blocks being filled as time moves on. Then you can start adding little pictures (or words if they are readers)to denote future events such as Christmas, birthdays, trips away, that sort of stuff.

Have done this with my dd every day since she was 4 and it has been of enormous help and great fun. She enjoys sitting in bed with all of them and reviewing the past. Now she reads and writes so she creates her own entries but we started with pictures, either drawn by us, or photos or stuff from Google images

I like the Organised Mum ones (as do many MNers) as there is enouigh space in each block and they als ohave nifty little stickers to use for playdates.dentist visits and so on, although i make my own stickers using Widgit Writing with symbols software which i get from the utterly fantastic company Inclusive Technology

Ring them and ask for a catalogue. You will be staggered at what is out there and they are so helpful and friendly. Wonderful people, brilliant resources.

DS1 has really 'got' interactive throwing from his therapy program so I'd be a bit nervous now that fireworks could get thrown back at us with a shrill cry of 'ready steady go !"

Cyber, slightly off topic, but how did you work out the "interactive throwing" with DS. Trying to do it with DD and she can't get it at all. Did you start with rolling backwards and forwards?

Also, Moondog, calendar idea is a brilliant one. Been thinking of doing something like that but didn't know where to start so thanks for the "organised mum" link.

Ooh, the calendar idea is good. A friend of mine suggested that I tell DS the 'story of his day' at bedtime every night. He tends to ignore bedtime stories in general, but he seems much more engaged with his own story and giggles when I say familiar words like 'bus' and tell him what he had for dinner. I dunno if it's actually helpful, but it's noticeable that he's more interested in it than in storybooks, so I have hopes that it might help his receptive language, plus the skill of sitting quietly listening to a story.

You are a star Moondog. If you don't mind, I will start a general thread in "development" (to keep it as inclusive as possible)

Wouldn't it be nice to share some techniques especially as many people are stuck on waiting lists and don't know what to do....

yes i think ds would like the calander idea

moondog could i ask whether we have been fobbed off with what we have been told ds had a range of words at 2 speech sounds atypical and could follow 1-2 word commands

but we were told he couldnt have SALT at that time then at 3 we were told again because of jhis understanding we couldnt have SALT

never actually heard from SALT from day he was dx and still havent was supposed to have review end of sept left message yestaerday still havent heard back

he has come along great except speech sounds still atypical no change at all but no one seems to want to help us

sorry to keep hyjacking thread x

thanks brioche x

Bubbla, If I were you I would put down what you have told me in a letter and send it to SALT manager. Send a copy to Chief Exec. of Trust to (show you have done so by writing cc 'Chief Exec.' at end of letter)

It all sounds rather confusing but try and put it down clearly and concisely and then sit back.

You're doing a fabulous job with yuor blog TC.

Moondog - great tip about the calendar

Philmytha - re:summary of the day - that was exactly what private SALT recommended I do with DS, to give him a little idea about time etc.

Bubbla - did you get the stuff I sent you? also does your area have an ASD team? I know that in my town there are specialist salt dealing with kids with ASD.

ok thank you very much i pretty much new we werent being taken seriously hasnt even returned any of my calls and review was supposed to be done last montha nd before that dec 2007 and havent had any thanks again

'valued and knowledgeable regulars'

Ha Ha - I really have been drinking too much wine

I like the regulars bit though - it makes mumsnet sound like a pub

He learned interactive throwing partly by the therapist helping him to throw and catch but also by incorporating an obsession into the game. He likes running string through his fingers so he enjoyed throwing a beanbag with streamers into the air. Then he was told he had to catch before it was thrown into the air again. He realised that he had to throw and catch to keep the game going

Philo that is a lovely idea.
I also put together a little album after every holiday so that dd can take it to school and share her story more easily.

We travel a lot (dh abroad) so it will include a map of world and where we are gonig, tickets, brochures, photos and so on. Now that she reads and writes, she writes the captions.

Looking over them is so much fun.

You can also colour code days. Choose seven different colours, and cut out circles about the size of a spread palm. Laminate and write the name of the day on it. Get the child to stick the right one up every day. they will associate the day with colour first, so will know for example that sunday is a white day. Nice transition to reading and helps with general orientation.

Er...does this make sense?

i did leave you message on my thread tc to say thank you we did get it has been very helpful although ds has coloured in most of the pics ha ha

not sure about asd team will ask at SNAP tomorrow and will also leave another message for my SALT well not our SALT as hse hasnt done anything ina yr half not with us anyway

thanks again xx

oops sorry, that thread must have somehow slipped out of threads I'm on!

Philo - that is a great idea. DS1 is responding more and more to being asked what he did in the day so ending the day with a story of his day events would be a great way to reinforce his knowledge. The simple ideas are always the best !

You can also buy 'talking' photo albums which are a terrific little conversation jolter.
I have been training specialist nurses all week on communication so am on the ball. I have a crib sheet with lots of useful addresses for resources on it if anyone would like it. Details also of my fabulous time timer