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SN children

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

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Original poster

What extra curricular activites does your child do?

18 replies

ChopsTheDuck · 10/02/2009 13:02

ds1 wants to do after school clubs and things like his elder sister, but I'm finding it really tough to find suitable activities and places that are prepared to take him.

I've finally found him a swim school, but that took two months.

The local leisure center wont consider him in group sports, only 1:1. The lcoal gym would only consider him in a specific sn group which conflicts with the swimming. I wouldn't trust him in anything like scouts without a carer.

What do other people do?

OP posts:

troutpout · 10/02/2009 13:30

Not much
He goes to a social skills group run by a charity and he goes to a youth group run by a youth outreach group partly funded by a church

In the holidays he ususally does those leisure centre short courses. I have found them much more accommodating than any permanant long term group

ilovepeppapig · 10/02/2009 15:01

My dd does horse riding (private lessons 1 per month) as she can not understand instructions, has poor balance and needs the instructor walking next to her they wont take her in a group lesson) luckily her dad pays for that and after lots of enquires found a little stable that was prepared to do it. She does trampolining with her older brother and he acts as an interpreter for her otherwise she would not be able to do it. Also the teacher is fab i can see from the window she is on the trampoline with DD holding her in position etc. So very lucky really to have found such great people and only since september before that nothing! DD is 7

magso · 10/02/2009 15:29

I think children do need their own social lives as they get older but it is hard to arrange when SN are included.
Ds (9) who (although he has LD and ASD )copes well with noise and company goes to cubs! He started at 7 in Beavers (with me on hand - parent helper) and stayed till nearly 9 (usually they move up at 8). In Beavers he was supported by several delightful teenage trainee leaders so it worked quite well. The leaders were very worried (and I think rather scared)about the transition to cubs( which is busy and raucous) but ds wanted to try. In cubs in some ways it is easier ( than anticipated) as some of the older boys are mature enough to be supportive. He hasn't worked out that some mums 'help the leaders' more than others and I even leave him now. I think the scouting/guide movement is trying to be inclusive!!
He also attends short courses like circus skills run by the local authority which are usually more inclusive than privately run events!
There is a sn Sat club (for over 8s) and he has just got a day in April. He loves their holiday club - we usually get a couple of days each summer.

Original poster

ChopsTheDuck · 10/02/2009 16:09

I've found the council run activities here don't want to know at all unless it is segregated.

I might try for some of the shorter courses though, I assumed they'd have even stricter criteria.

ANotiher thing I've been considering is boys brigade, as scouts has a really long waiting list, and dd goes to girls brigade. However, I'm not sure how they would cope with his emotional outburts, or occassional toilet issues or if it would be secure enough to stop him bolting off the premises. Really, he needs somewhere there with him, but then I don't think he would even attempt to socialise. So complicated!

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LazyWoman · 10/02/2009 16:29

My ASD kids - DD & now DS - go to "The Brigade" (used to be just the Girl's Brigade but now accept boys as well). However, they are 14 & 13 and OK in this sort of setting without any extra help.

It is the one place I can send them without ever having a moment's worry - and this means such a lot. Eg. My DD has been on several sleepovers with them as well as camp. They both did a sleepover last Saturday evening and went to the Church Parade on Sunday morning - no problems at all.

My DS used to go to Cubs and they did keep him there for longer than the other boys but at that particular group, they just didn't have their finger on the pulse as much as they do at the Brigade. I think you just have to talk to the various groups to see how they respond. Also, how about becoming a volunteer? It could be a good stepping stone for your child. Hope you find something

sarah293 · 10/02/2009 18:04

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vjg13 · 10/02/2009 18:13

My daughter went to a special needs only swimming class at manchester united's training ground which was fantastic. She has just left.

She goes to Brownies with a support worker and a trampoling class with her Dad. She finishes Brownes this year and I don't think guides will suit her. She goes to an RDA riding lesson some saturdays and a special needs play session/support group on others. We also do a special needs bike riding thing on an atheletic track too, with loads of different bikes which is good too.

Tclanger · 10/02/2009 18:22

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

magso · 10/02/2009 19:47

With all this consultations on 'short breaks' within the every disabled child matters framework I would have thought there should be more inclusive things (for diverse needs)happening.
Tclanger we had wondered about a running club for our son too but were worried about the safety aspect.

Blossomhill · 10/02/2009 20:00

My dd does horse riding at our local riding school

Special needs cubs which is fantastic and she is camping next week (help)

Drama on a Saturday morning

Tclanger · 10/02/2009 20:48

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

magso · 10/02/2009 21:00

Thanks Tclanger will have to look for a suitable club. I'm not sure how he would cope with not winning - but time trials ( which he will not comprehend) may work for him.

Tclanger · 10/02/2009 21:04

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

ChopsTheDuck · 11/02/2009 08:06

some lovely ideas here, maybe I jsut need to keep looking and pushing.

ds1 would love something competitive, he's decided his swimming lessons are all races. Since he is with children 2/3 years younger than him, he sometimes wins too!

Interesting that running helps with the bolting too, I'd be very nervous at the idea of him in an open space out of easy reach. Maybe with one of those extending dog leads...

OP posts:

Marne · 11/02/2009 10:24

Dd1 doesn't do anything at the moment but has been asking to do karate since someone came into to school to talk about the local karate club, i'm not sure if i should take her or not, maybe it would improve her motor skills or maybe it would make it worse . Dd1 also has the problem of needing to win which is tricky as she is much slower than other children her age.

Also i like the idea of ridding lessons as this would help build up her weak leg muscles but i can't see dd1 wanting to do it .

Does it have to be a sport or could it be a music lesson, art etc..?

Original poster

ChopsTheDuck · 12/02/2009 07:43

marne, ds1 also wants to do martial arts, and I have talked to a few local groups. One is prepared to try him but I'm still thinking about it.

They already have one student with motor issues (dyspraxia) and apparently his mother feels that it has helped him gain motor control.

ds1 is a bit more complex though, likely to get obsessive, excitable, competitive and carried away. Due to his having HMS too, he seems to dislocate fingers quite easily or get pain in his joints, so I've decided for now it isn't a good idea. I'm not sure if I'm being overprotective or not!

As far as motor skills go though, maybe it is worth looking into for your dd.

OP posts:

Widemouthfrog · 12/02/2009 11:59

We do swimming 1:1. Even then there are weeks when DS feels unable to participate. It costs a fortune!

We also have a local SN judo group, so we are hoping to start that at some point, but atm it clashes with the swimming .

BriocheDoree · 12/02/2009 19:06

DD does pony riding and atm they are fantastic with her - it's a small group and they understand that she won't really follow instructions so they just take extra time to show her what to do. However, I'm kind of dreading them saying that she can't do it next year because she hasn't really made the progress that the NT kids have. Would LOVE to teach her to swim but I've tried and don't know how to do it. She loves the pool and will thrash around with arm bands on, but I've no idea how to teach her to swim properly as she won't copy what I do. OTOH, she's only little . The only SN thing I know of is a drama group and they only take them from age 8.

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