PE problems

[debs40]

Hi

DS (6, sensory problems, possible dyspraxia or something else) was really out of sorts this morning.

After problems getting shoes 'just right' earlier this week, I've taken to getting him changed before DH goes to work. DH also puts his shoes on. He is then ready to play for a bit before school.

Today, he was upset at everything and he told me that getting changed so early didn't feel right!

He also told me he didn't want to do PE as he didn't like getting changed. He got upset when we got to school and everyone was getting changed. He hid behind me and wouldn't go in or look at his teacher.

She was very good and said she wasn't going to force him to do anything he didn;t want to and asked him whether he wanted to be her helper instead.

Do you think I've messed him up now by changing his routine?

We have a paed's appointment on 24th. I'm strongly suspecting Asperger's now.

Routine? Don't worry about it at all. It takes us a time to settle into anything new, but if it works better in the long term, then that has to be a good thing to try.

Hooray for the excellent teacher!

Shall be thinking of you for the 24th...

Thanks Amber - I'm always wondering whether I'm doing the right thing. Your posts are always so helpful!

What a great teacher -it's refreshing to hear about one of the good ones.

My dd (8) also has sensory issues and PE was a major issue for her.

Could it be that your ds is worried about his clothes and shoes not feeling 'right' when he gets dressed after PE, or that he takes longer to get dressed than his classmates do -my dd was always last to be ready.

She struggled with the noise levels during PE too and worried about people being too close to her. If your ds has similar issues, PE has a lot going on for him.

Good luck with his appointment.Hopefully you will get some answers.

ds1 had big issues regarding changing for PE, still does if he isn't given constatn encouragement. I'd ask for him to be given a bit of extra time so that he doesn't feel like he is the last to get ready every time, and has enough time to get himself comfortable. ds1 also had a sticker reward chart for when he had managed to do it independently or within a reasonable time period.

They don't push him in PE neither, he participates as to the level he can manage with his issues and physical issues.

If he does have dyspraxia there are other things which can help such as giving him a place to work enar something solid, oputting him on the outside lane for running, next to a wall or a chair to balance against.
ds1 needs a sort of solid point of reference for his bodily awareness, he doesn't co-ordinate well if he is stuck in the middle of a group of children.

It might be worth trying to help him find his own routine and having it clearly laid out for him. ds1 coped a lot better in the mornings with a picture chart that he could tick things off as they happened.

oh PE is a blardy nightmare for ds
(11, aspergers and dyspraxia).
It's the organisation of taking off clothes and putting them back on . The noise, the confusion, the madness of everyone getting changed at the same time, the different textures, and then the way everyone looks different all of a sudden. He was always the last to get changed and was always given a hard time at primary school because of it.
And then...he generally was being asked to do things which involved subtle social rules which he had no clue about.
PE is really tough i think.
He is tolerating it slightly better at secondary school i think (although i hate to think how much pounds worth of pe kit i have lost)

I also changed ds's routine when he was about 7 ..to getting changed and ready for school as soon as he got up. It makes sense i think... so then he could do whatever he wanted...particularly since he had such a problem with stopping doing one thing and starting another.I couldn't really risk leaving getting for school to the last minute.
Once he got to about 8 he immediately began to get dressed and ready himself before he came down in the mornings.

will be thinking of you on the 24th...let us know how you get on won't you

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your help.

DS had a tough day. His teacher said he was really stressed this morning and didn't even want to play out. She said he usually isn't like that at all. She let him stay inside with her and read books

He also banged his mouth chewing the door handle!

This teacher used to have him one day a week but now takes the class for three days and she is a such a sweetie.

I'm glad I've been signposting these things as we've gone along and that I've told DS to tell the teachers if he's stressed. They haven't really noticed anything to date but I feel that at least when he got stressed, they knew to treat him seriously and help him!

DH is working so late at the moment and doesn't come home until 7-7.30 and I've been working in the evenings so I'm just knackered. It's so emotionally draining isn't it?

Still he's a peach and I wouldn't want him any other way!

could they find a quiet place for him to sit for a time out when he is getting stressed?
At home ds1 takes himself off to bed when it all gets too much, and school it's generally the loos!