Hello! Well our kids keep changing -don't they? I have a couple of questions.
1. Hand Flapping. DS has just started doing this in the past week when
he's really excited. Should I just let it go or try to stop it? Will he
stop on his own? Why do ASD kids flap their hands when they're excited?
2. Hyperlexia? When we're looking at book- DS seems really interested
in the letters. Obviously he can't read- but should I pursue his
interest? Teach him letters?
3. Sentences. I've patiently been waiting for DS to put words togeter.
No luck yet. Any suggestions? What age did your kids start talking in
2-3 word sentences? I know I'm greedy and I should just be happy that
DS says single words- but I'm dying to have a conversation with him. I
try to model simple phrases " Hi _______" or "Go car". He may repeat
it- but he usuallu just repeats one of the words.
Thanks!
hello srs-mom
i can advice on q 1 . just let them hand flap etc it is some thing to do with uummm shall i say centering them selves . i dont fully understand it but if say jordon is upset he flaps while he trys to tell me etc . and when he is excited he paces and flaps . im sure some one will have a link for it etc good luck xxx
naomi38510.4546064815
Jeffrey used to do that until he moved on to something else. I don't need to invest in a paper shredder, Jeffrey does that for me,
Tammy
1. As far as the hand flapping goes...just let it go. If you curb that
behavior chances are he will just pick up another calming technique
and the new one may be even more inappropriate. My son just
started doing this too and it drives me crazy, but as I have learned
on this board.....it could be much worse!
2. I can relate to his interest in letters. My son is 3 and has always
had an intense interest in letters. I have worked with him some, but
he basically taught himself through sesame street and can now spell
any word he has seen and had identified to him more than a couple
of times. He walks around our house spelling the names of all the
other kids in his class and loves to look at anything with lots of
letters and numbers. I talked to his developmental peds about it and
she said to just encourage it. It is a healthy obsession and one that
will benefit him later in life (unlike some of his other obsessions). I
am slowly teaching Gavin to read and sound out words and he loves
to practice! It is a nice thing we can do together. I don't have too
many things that I can do with him that will hold his attention so we
practice letter sounds a lot.
3. One thing that has really helped my son learn to form sentences is
his picture exchange system. I have taught him to say "Can I have
______?" and "I want _____" and other simple sentences by forming
them on a PECS board and prompting him to use them when
appropriate. For a while he would only use the sentences if he had
his board in front of him, but now he will use them spontaneously
and is starting to form sentences of his own.
Hope some of this helps! I can totally relate!
KarenLuke (27 mos) is a recent flapper, too. Sometimes I allow him to
do it and other times I try to have him clap his hands instead ... just
to teach him a more socially appropriate way of showing
excitement. Occasionally he'll substitute the flapping for the
clapping, but not often! I, too, have heard that it has to do
with centering them ... they feel motion on either side and can tell
where their body position is be/c of it. I also think it's a
sensory issue with Luke. I notice that if he can't find anything
to spin, he'll flap his hand in front of his face a little bit (getting
some visual and kinesthetic input at the same time).
I agree with encouraging his interest in letters! As Gavin's mom
said, it'll certainly benefit him later in life if he can read and
enjoys it! If he begins to read early on (and can understand what
he's reading), it'd be another avenue of communication for him.
Luke and I (and his daddy!) are still working on single words for Luke,
so if you come across a way that promotes speaking in 2-3 word
sentances, let us know! We are just beginning the PECS system, so
I'm not sure yet if it'll help Luke communicate better.