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What can I do in my family to
help my child
One thing you will learn is that what works for most kids does not work when your
child has an SI disability. Most tactics that are used are behavioral. Which is fine if it is behavior you want to change.
This isn't behavior. This is an inability to do something. Would you punish a child who needed glasses for not being
able to see the blackboard. No you would provide the glasses and allow the child to move up close to the black board (make
the environmental changes necessary).
You must remember that each child with SI is different, but here are some things families
have done to help their children cope with SI issues. Remember quiet spaces are for regrouping and calming, not
for punishment.
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Reduce
distractions if child is easily over stimulated
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Provide
quiet place for the child who gets too wound
up to go . When you see the child getting excited say "you know, it looks like you could use a quiet place now, you look a
little excited."
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Bean bag
under a table with a blanket over it works well,
with blanket, pillow, stuffed animal, dimmer lighting and soft music or whatever the child finds calms them. |
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Behind the
couch or under a bed |
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In the persons'
room or private place |
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A large
box |
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Use your imagination |
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Make a sandwich with couch cushions and apply pressure (harder or softer) based
on what the child says. |
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Roll into
a cocoon or jelly roll with blankets |
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Practice
slow movement finger plays. |
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Warm bath
or hot tub |
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Sound blocking
headphones |
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Tree house
or garden place |
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Encourage
appropriate social behavior through non-conventional
strategies
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Drink from
a straw use a covered glass or bottle |
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Have the child
get up and get whatever someone forgot to put on the dinner table allowing a break from sitting still |
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Use a weighted
lap blanket to help child remain seated for a longer time |
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Provide
a variety of movement experiences
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Provide
indoor movement opportunities
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have child
push the shopping cart, carry groceries help put them away. |
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knead bread
or tenderize meat |
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crumple newspaper
for the fireplace |
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carry pots
of cold water to stove (not hot) |
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mix ingredients
for cooking |
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Make an
obstacle course to practice hopping, skipping,
jumping, running, crawling, climbing, swinging. See Indoor play ideas.
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Rock in
a rocking chair - reading and singing |
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Let the child
help vacuum, move furniture, dust, scrub floors |
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Let the child
dig in the garden |
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Swimming |
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Trampolines
(use safety precautions) - bounce balls to each other |
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Pull a heavy
wagon or push a heavy doll buggy |
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Swing sets
and jungle gyms with climbing, sliding, swinging opportunities |
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Offer
various tactile experiences
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Playing with
play dough, Gak, Fimo or wax |
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Paint with
shaving cream, silly soap or soap lather |
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Walk in grass,
leaves, sand or snow |
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Rub oils or
lotions on skin |
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Scrub with
washcloth or hand cloth in tub |
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Fill a container
with snow, sand, beans or water for play |
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Try different
sheets and pillow cases |
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Massage, scratch,
brush or write on back prior to bed |
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Discover the
appropriate hugs or kisses that work for your child |
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Using ankle
weights while walking - this discourages toe-walking and aids in balance awareness |
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Using hand
weights while coloring |
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Sleeping under
a weighted blanket |
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Encourage
child to join in sequential movement games
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Hopscotch,
sidewalk games
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Situations
to avoid
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Standing in
long lines |
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Crowded hallways/spaces
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Unstructured environments (lunchrooms, auditorium) |
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Loud and busy
parties (secure a quiet available place for time away if needed)
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Home
organization
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Keep routines
and possessions in the home organized |
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Make a list
of daily routines and post so everyone can see. May use pictures for younger children |
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Be consistent
with daily rules and consequences |
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Keep a large
calendar or schedule posted with event stickers or notes so you can limited surprises for the child. |
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Create specific
routines for difficult times of day
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Bath time |
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Morning program |
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School program |
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Bed time (be
sure tobreak each task into small steps)
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go into room |
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get undressed |
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get out pj's |
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put on pj's |
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put away clothes |
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pick out a
book |
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brush teeth |
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climb into
bed |
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snuggle with
mom and read book |
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turn off the
lights for a 10 STAR BED TIME |
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Exposure
and experience! - This is the tough one. Sometimes
you have to try something many times until the child will actually enjoy it. Break the experience down into very small pieces
and add one new piece at a time. |
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