Embarrassed!

Photo from Google Images

 
As most of you will know we're partway through the Easter holidays. I probably shouldn't say this, but I will, as it's true - I find the school holidays very stressful and don't really look forward to them.

Looking after Tiddler on his own is fine, and looking after Nipper on his own is fine, but the two of them together is a nightmare (Miss Muffett pretty much looks after herself these days)! They want to play together but Tiddler doesn't play to Nipper's rules so all hell breaks loose and Nipper chases Tiddler about the house scaring the living daylights out of him. That's not even the half of it. I mistakenly left a window open whilst I answered the door to the postman. I must have been gone all of 10 seconds but Nipper had managed to get halfway out of the window. If I don't lock the doors he lets himself and Tiddler out. Attempting to pop to the loo or make a meal are almost impossible. You get the picture!

I was ecstatic to find that one of the children's centres has an 'inclusive' holiday playclub which can cater for children with additional needs. I signed Nipper up for five days across the school holidays and he went for his first session yesterday. I had filled out a big form with lots of information about how Nipper's autism, sensory and language problems affect him and I was running through some 'management' techniques with one of the staff, explaining that Nipper sometimes needs some deep body pressure to calm him down. She very nicely said to Nipper that he could have a lovely big hug with her when he replied that he couldn't because she was too fat! I was mortified!

I know that honesty is an autistic 'trait' and the member of staff was a large lady but that's no excuse for Nipper being rude. Problem is he doesn't realise it's rude as he's just telling it how it is. I'm going to have to find some time to write some social stories I think. While I'm at it I must remember to also write one about how it's not acceptable to undo a child's jacket in order to see their Star Wars t-shirt!

Any suggestions on this will be gratefully received!

Embarrassed!

Mrs Who?

Nipper's had a few days at school now and seems to be settling in nicely. He was having a chat on the phone with my Mum and she asked him what his teacher was called. He replied "Mrs Skinny Legs". "Mrs Who?" said I, somewhat taken aback. He was adamant - it was 'Mrs Skinny Legs'! Now I'm not sure whether someone else has called her this and he's just copying, or whether he's being observant (she has got rather skinny legs!) We've been practicing her actual name all weekend so that he won't get into trouble before he's been there 2 minutes!

Mrs Who?

Scripting

I've read that children on the autistic spectrum often use 'scripts' as a way of communicating and I've noticed just recently that Nipper is doing this, although in a minor way at present.

His favourites are:

'Rocking rasperries' and 'rocking cucumbers' from 'The Mr Men'. He'll have to be careful with this one as it often sounds likes he's saying something else!

'Oh, custard!' from a very old 'Christopher Crocodile' video that used to be Miss Muffett's.

'Doh!' I think that's Homer Simpson - who's been letting him watch 'The Simpson's'?!

And my favourite: 'Stop, in the name of Plod!' Don't know where that has come from but it cracks me up every time!

Bless him!

Scripting