Behavioural techniques when concentration and attention is low, and child is very 'self-led'

[lou031205]

Following on from This thread

StarlightM said:

"You don't have to do full blown ABA but the focus is always first on getting and mainting attention and cooperation. You get this by making you or your activity more preferable than not engaging with you or your activity, but the choice is always hers, so the motivation comes from her (which is why the children often work so hard)."

And I responded:
"She just seems so inconsistent about what motivates her. There is nothing that you can say "I KNOW that DD1 will want to do that/have that/see that". One minute a sticker will mean the earth, another time a sticker is an object scorned. To go and play in the garden can be a absolute prize, or a complete flop.

So how do you make your activity more preferable? And then (thinking of the one thing that always keeps DD - painting/gluing) how do you get them to do it to your agenda and not theirs?

As an example, I helped DD1 make a leaving card for her SENCO/1:1 last evening. I got a plate and put 7 colours of paint on it. I had 7 paint brushes. I asked DD what colour she would like each time. I had told her that this was a very special card for Mrs x, and she needed to think very carefully about what she would paint (I know that she can't paint, btw, but more about plaint splodge placement, rather than pictures grin).

DD1 just wanted to paint each colour over the top of the other and mix them. Of course making brown. Nothing I said would deter her from just mixing the paint in one corner of the card.

So, as a novice, I would be concerned that I might get her attention by doing something truly exciting for her, but once I had her attention, getting her co-operation would be a real challenge

Can you help?

So, throwing it open....what do you all think??

"Firslty does she prefer to do things alone or with you?"

Hmmmm. I'd say the most accurate answer would be "she likes doing things with me if she is directing what is happening. She loses interest if I am directing. She likes to do things on her own if they are naughty undesirable."

these are great ideas,my dd is also very restless and won't sit still or engage in anything for any length of time.

Does that not create dependance on me? She already has times when she won't do simple activities (like going upstairs, or walking to the potty) without me.

Maybe that one is more suitable for kids with ASD?

(my DD sometimes ignores me and sometimes is super clingy and cuddly).

Yes, that is the thing with DD1. She changes like the wind. Like a really eccentric old cat who is your best friend one minute and completely blanks you the next.

Yes, they sound very very similar to me whenever I read about your DD!

(so I imagine you must be frazzled like me!)

Absolutely frazzled!!!

Yes..I get frazzled so flop on sofa then DD climbs on me and gives an amazing hug and it's worth it (for a while)

Hi..I'm new to mumsnet and have a teenage daughter with physical/learning disabilities.
'A Practical Guide to Intensive Interaction' (ISBN 978-1-902519-63-0)is a brilliant book written by Melanie Nind and Dave Hewett. They are true experts in the field of communication particularly non verbal and have done extensive research and over many years,developing I.I.
The book is an easy read with lots of clear strategies and explanation on how one can learn to communicate with people/children with learning difficulties.
I have tried lots of behavioural programmes to no avail and ended up exhausted or feeling a failure. Intensive Interaction is a simple way to communicate without putting any pressure on the learner.

Welcome, rayrae, and thank you - I shall have a look.

Yes, me too..sounds great.

Sounds great, thanks, that is helpful, I don't really understand it. Will get that book too.

Ok, I will do some reading around, and see how starting small goes.

This might be a bizarre thought, but is he up for letter recognition stuff, and if so, could you stick letters to something, and get him to touch letters with his tongue?