I accidentally posted this in the hangout room a minute ago- so sorry for the duplicating posts!
J had a fit and refused to eat his peanut butter sand. today, just b/c I put it on a paper towel. I was doing this to get him used to using a paper plate eventually and to keep the booster tray cleaner.
He couldn't handle the change.
Any suggestions to help? I may never be able to use paper plates!!!
Thanks!!!
Do you think your little guy might be at the "I do it myself" stage? I have an almost 2 1/2 yr NT boy and everything is about doing it "myself" If I do it for him there's bound to be a meltdown. I am getting my 2 yr old to do everything with me in the kitchen from making sandwiches to washing dishes and the tantrums are diminishing.
Now, my PDD NOS son is the opposite. He wants everything done for him - he was probably better at helping when he was 2yrs. With Sam it was all about choices, as in "Do you want paper towel or paper plate, pick one."
I also remember Sam hating an unexpected change, if I gave him lots of facts and warnings he did better with new stuff. I'd probably show your guy the paper towels first, let him touch them, smell them, crumble one up, whatever he needs to make it familiar to him. Then I would get all "excited about the new way of eating, it's soo cool !! ,probably show him my sandwich on a napkin, then show him his, eat together and make a big deal about how easy it was to clean up, "What a big helper you are by putting your napkin in the garbage"!!,... you get the idea.
I personally avoided the special cup, plate, spoon thing 'cause I could see that leading to problems in a restaurant or at grandma's house, not having the *right* tool for the job.
good luck
mama to Sam 8 yrs PDD NOS OCD ODD PPD and Alex 2yrs
Try writing a social story about using a paper towel or paper plate. Have them out where he can see them during the day. and use one yourself, maybe he in time mimic you using one. Keep introducing them to him everyday, it might help to give a favorite treat on one to start with, but be careful with this one, because he might only want to use one for a treat, not his lunch. I know my son at 2 would only use certain cups or plates with certain foods you don't want to get caught up in that battle. I sure more will have ideas. Good LuckMy son does this, first it was the sippy cup to a regular cup, refused to use regular plastic cup, i kept trying everyday, now its nothing BUT the little plastic cup. He is this way with everything, ice pops must have the paper on the botton around the stick, cereal bars must be completely out of package and broke in half before he will touch them.
I don't really know any good strategies for this but i know what works here is i keep trying daily until he gives in without a fight, sometimes i model behaviors like this for him, with the cup thing, I would put a little coffee in the cup and drink it in front of him and make a big deal how good my coffee tasted out of the little plastic cup, persistance on my part around here seems to be how we get through alot of situations. I try not to let him get to the point of tantrums but i will say to him OK try again tomorrow.
Does he have an interestes – like dinosaurs or elephants, or a favorite food? Maybe try getting plates or napkins at the party store where they have lots of themes, and get one with a theme he likes. If you can’t find plates/napkins with a theme he likes, try cutting the paper towel into the shape of something he likes. Don’t have any clue if it will work, but it’s worth a try. Might also try putting his favorite food on a papertowel cut in the shape of his favorite food.
We have compulsions here as well.
I would keep trying. That is all I have to offer. (Aren't I helpful?)
On a side note, I go out of my way not to do things the same way. We try not to be overly scheduled in order to not feed his "OCness."
Good luck.
PS I would never be able to survive without paper plates!!!