sock hop

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/15/2005 8:52:51 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mom2bridget@... writes:

Well, Bridget did ok except for the sock hop. She got to the door of the

gym and sat down and wouldn't budge until her teacher let her go to the

classroom to work on the computer. ( I was late getting there, or I would have

made her go into the gym even if it were just inside the door).

Is this a sensory intergration issue?

has a problem entering a loud, noisy, situation. She feels

claustrophic and overwhelmed.

One of the things we do that has been quite successful in these situations

is to let be the first one to enter the room. Last week her 7th grade

class went to see a play. In the past this has been a problem - starting when

she was in preschool and being in the movie theatre environment actually

made her physically ill (she threw up all over her preschool teacher!). We

avoided movies for years and finally saw " The Polar Express " last Nov with

great

success. Anyway, I gave the heads up to the staff that would have to be

the first one in the theatre and they were cool with it. did gag at

first when she got into the room and panicked for a few minutes but we found a

seat on the end of a row and she settled in. She got upset when the lights

went down but there was music and we rocked to that (she loves music) and she

relaxed. After that she had a great time, clapping when anyone left the stage.

Same when there is a school dance. We try to get there early and be one of

the first ones in before the music gets started. She can adapt to the slow

change better. She would balk too if forced into a loud and noisy room with no

opportunity to transition.

- Becky