Re: change in behaviors

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Posted By Gaylen on October 22, 2000 at 23:55:35:

In Reply to: change in behaviors posted by DeeAnn on October 21, 2000 at 03:28:17:

Ditto to Kelly and Lisa's suggestions especially setting up a support call with the Son-Rise folks. I don't know what functioning level your child is but thought sharing one of our similar experiences might help. About 1-1/2 years ago, a few months after phasing in more structured work into my son's program and then going a bit overboard on what we expected/challenged, he went through a phase where he purposefully, with great flair, did things that could have been harmful to himself like climbing up the china cabinet, running with knives and once, looking right in my eyes, laughing and running into the street right in front of a car.

After I recovered from the heart bomb of seeing him purposefully run in front of a car, I had a support call with William. We worked through my discomforts and came up with a game plan. First, for his safety, I told him that because he was choosing dangerous actions, and it was my job to keep him alive until he was an adult, he would need to stay inside the house and, if necessary, inside a safe room until he could choose safe actions. I told him that if we had to go out of the house, I would hold his hand and give very tight directions for him to follow like you have to do with babies and toddlers. I emphasized that I knew he could choose safe actions and would be ready to let him do so as he showed me he could. At the same time, we relaxed our challenges a bit and allowed more control and following time.

Since he was at a stage where he could understand cause and effect, and didn't like having to stay inside, the button-pushing behaviors ceased pretty quickly. Also, the more balanced approach of following and challenging was vital. Now, any time he's acting out, I can usually trace it to not enough fun time and ajust accordingly.
Gaylen

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Subject: Re: Re: change in behaviors

Comments:: Ditto to Kelly and Lisa's suggestions especially setting up a support call with the Son-Rise folks. I don't know what functioning level your child is but thought sharing one of our similar experiences might help. About 1-1/2 years ago, a few months after phasing in more structured work into my son's program and then going a bit overboard on what we expected/challenged, he went through a phase where he purposefully, with great flair, did things that could have been harmful to himself like climbing up the china cabinet, running with knives and once, looking right in my eyes, laughing and running into the street right in front of a car. : After I recovered from the heart bomb of seeing him purposefully run in front of a car, I had a support call with William. We worked through my discomforts and came up with a game plan. First, for his safety, I told him that because he was choosing dangerous actions, and it was my job to keep him alive until he was an adult, he would need to stay inside the house and, if necessary, inside a safe room until he could choose safe actions. I told him that if we had to go out of the house, I would hold his hand and give very tight directions for him to follow like you have to do with babies and toddlers. I emphasized that I knew he could choose safe actions and would be ready to let him do so as he showed me he could. At the same time, we relaxed our challenges a bit and allowed more control and following time. : Since he was at a stage where he could understand cause and effect, and didn't like having to stay inside, the button-pushing behaviors ceased pretty quickly. Also, the more balanced approach of following and challenging was vital. Now, any time he's acting out, I can usually trace it to not enough fun time and ajust accordingly. : Gaylen