Guest guest Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Hi, Thanks for all of your input on the labs questions etc...I feel much better and will follow with Dr. G. for further discussion. I had some other questions if you 'd be so kind. I'll do my best to describe what our son is doing. SYMBOLIC PLAY ISSUES Once our son's language kicked in---the symbolic piece started to emerge. At first, it was always very " scripted " and safe with themes that mirrored his life----doll house characters going to therapy or taking a shopping cart to supermarket and Mcs. In recent months, his imaginary play has really expanded and is much more collaborative and fluid and self-created with some prompting at times. What's odd, is that kids with " autistic-spectrum " are supposed to not be able to develop these skills and yet he is gaining them each month since being on the protocol. 1. My first question is that our son almost seems to be " constantly " imagining and making up elaborate and " silly " scenarios. He will tell me who I am going to be " you be Blue mommy and I'll be Steve. " (Blue's Clues) or he will act as if he is one of the Little People characters. His obsession for the Little People has almost eclipsed his previous fixation/crush on letters and numbers!! However, he will play out some " quirky " or " weird " stuff that most kids probably wouldn't " get. " For example, he'll pretend that the Little People are on a scavenger hunt and they have to find shapes/numbers etc. He'll also mix themes that don't necessarily " flow " and don't make much sense to anyone but him---or maybe me. 2. God knows...I have waited two years to play " make believe " with my son. I do not want to sound " ungrateful " for this leap of development. Yet, now he wants you to always be doing it and doesn't like to be engaged in much solitary or concrete based play (blocks, cars, games). He also gets very frustrated if you don't follow the scenario or remember the details of his " pretend world. " 3. I want to clarify that he doesn't " lose touch with reality " ---but he does pretend he actually is the people/toys versus acting out with the toys. He also gives emotions and life to things that are not people, such as letters and numbers and shapes,ie; " okay mommy, now you be " A " and you are angry at bashful " B " (from a story book he loves). Or, he will have us act like we are certain shapes. He really does have emotional connections with letters and numbers as if they were a teddy bear or security blanket. He will have them talk to each other and play out scenes. 4. Maybe I am just " naive " and out of sorts about typical pretend play for kids in the 2-4 age range. Yet, I have to admit I am sometimes a bit " embarrassed " or at a loss with some of his imagination. It borders on " brilliant " and " weird " and " perceptually different " all at the same time. Yet, he seems to be having a blast and engaging and laughing and building on it???????????????? The last two issues below are hard to explain because he hasn't had any other noteable regressions and no med changes or dietary infringements in 6 months. EMOTIONAL MELTDOWNS We have also had a major increase in " meltdowns " and regulatory struggles in the past few months---even though he is getting better and bolder and brighter with his skills and abilities and language and play. I can't tell if this is a set-back (need to change meds) or a reasonable response to increasing awareness of the complexities of life/world/people around him that he has to work through? SUDDEN INCREASED MOUTH NEEDS Our son gave up mouthing objects (toys) within 1 month of being off dairy (2003)---something that was never achieved even with weeking oral/motor therapy. Yet, despite being unseen for the past year---BOOM, he started sucking his thumb when he is not occupied with a task (watching a show/riding in car) or putting his hands in his mouth. Again, is this a relapse----despite the fact that he has skyrocketed in every other arena? Is this also related to something internally or meds? Thanks for any feedback. I never want to worry needlessly---yet, some of you may know if there are " biomedical " sources for some of this new behavior or a need for med change. Or, you may be able to relate and tell me that your kids went through these too and came out on the other side. P.S. I just saw a show on " head injury " patients and the MD mentioned something that helped me to be more patient with myself and child this week. " The brain does not heal in a linear fashion----more so it is meandering path often with two steps forward and one step back. One part of the brain takes up the duties of another---often with unexpected or " atypical " means of adaption. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 Hi .....we are living in the EXACT same world as you are! The imaginative play that seems over the edge or odd, being the chararcters instead of playing with them, emotions that have never been there before. And just about every other thing you posted. I really do believe this is all developmental, copying and mimicking more of the world they see (thumb sucking learned from other kid maybe?) BUT, we have not changed meds in quite awhile, so I will be interested in other's posts. In , PBLeahy8@a... wrote: > Hi, > > Thanks for all of your input on the labs questions etc...I feel much better > and will follow with Dr. G. for further discussion. > > I had some other questions if you 'd be so kind. I'll do my best to describe > what our son is doing. > SYMBOLIC PLAY ISSUES > Once our son's language kicked in---the symbolic piece started to emerge. At > first, it was always very " scripted " and safe with themes that mirrored his > life----doll house characters going to therapy or taking a shopping cart to > supermarket and Mcs. > > In recent months, his imaginary play has really expanded and is much more > collaborative and fluid and self-created with some prompting at times. What's > odd, is that kids with " autistic-spectrum " are supposed to not be able to > develop these skills and yet he is gaining them each month since being on the > protocol. > > 1. My first question is that our son almost seems to be " constantly " > imagining and making up elaborate and " silly " scenarios. He will tell me who I am > going to be " you be Blue mommy and I'll be Steve. " (Blue's Clues) or he will act > as if he is one of the Little People characters. His obsession for the > Little People has almost eclipsed his previous fixation/crush on letters and > numbers!! However, he will play out some " quirky " or " weird " stuff that most kids > probably wouldn't " get. " For example, he'll pretend that the Little People are > on a scavenger hunt and they have to find shapes/numbers etc. He'll also mix > themes that don't necessarily " flow " and don't make much sense to anyone but > him---or maybe me. > > 2. God knows...I have waited two years to play " make believe " with my son. > I do not want to sound " ungrateful " for this leap of development. Yet, now he > wants you to always be doing it and doesn't like to be engaged in much > solitary or concrete based play (blocks, cars, games). He also gets very frustrated > if you don't follow the scenario or remember the details of his " pretend > world. " > > 3. I want to clarify that he doesn't " lose touch with reality " --- but he does > pretend he actually is the people/toys versus acting out with the toys. He > also gives emotions and life to things that are not people, such as letters and > numbers and shapes,ie; " okay mommy, now you be " A " and you are angry at > bashful " B " (from a story book he loves). Or, he will have us act like we are > certain shapes. He really does have emotional connections with letters and > numbers as if they were a teddy bear or security blanket. He will have them talk > to each other and play out scenes. > > 4. Maybe I am just " naive " and out of sorts about typical pretend play for > kids in the 2-4 age range. Yet, I have to admit I am sometimes a bit > " embarrassed " or at a loss with some of his imagination. It borders on " brilliant " and > " weird " and " perceptually different " all at the same time. Yet, he seems to > be having a blast and engaging and laughing and building on it???????????????? > > > > The last two issues below are hard to explain because he hasn't had any other > noteable regressions and no med changes or dietary infringements in 6 months. > > > EMOTIONAL MELTDOWNS > We have also had a major increase in " meltdowns " and regulatory struggles in > the past few months---even though he is getting better and bolder and brighter > with his skills and abilities and language and play. I can't tell if this is > a set-back (need to change meds) or a reasonable response to increasing > awareness of the complexities of life/world/people around him that he has to work > through? > > SUDDEN INCREASED MOUTH NEEDS > Our son gave up mouthing objects (toys) within 1 month of being off dairy > (2003)---something that was never achieved even with weeking oral/motor therapy. > Yet, despite being unseen for the past year---BOOM, he started sucking his > thumb when he is not occupied with a task (watching a show/riding in car) or > putting his hands in his mouth. Again, is this a relapse---- despite the fact > that he has skyrocketed in every other arena? Is this also related to something > internally or meds? > > > Thanks for any feedback. I never want to worry needlessly---yet, some of you > may know if there are " biomedical " sources for some of this new behavior or > a need for med change. Or, you may be able to relate and tell me that your > kids went through these too and came out on the other side. > > > > P.S. I just saw a show on " head injury " patients and the MD mentioned > something that helped me to be more patient with myself and child this week. > > " The brain does not heal in a linear fashion----more so it is meandering path > often with two steps forward and one step back. One part of the brain takes > up the duties of another---often with unexpected or " atypical " means of > adaption. " > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 I think I can respond to one part of this email - the idea that some of the new, imaginitive play is different/odd. My son (almost 7 yrs old now) has been doing floor time for several months. Our psychologist told us that we need to help him become more logical, and organize his thoughts better. She said to follow his lead (even if the play involves some of his obsessions - things like dolls buying ceiling fans or vents), but to be sure that if he jumps from one subject to another, to try to help him bridge the gap. According to this model, it is OK to have pretend play that a typical child may not be interested in. So, I'd say go with it (and, maybe, get a copy of greenspan's book). I hope this helped a little. nne > > Hi, > > > > Thanks for all of your input on the labs questions etc...I feel > much better > > and will follow with Dr. G. for further discussion. > > > > I had some other questions if you 'd be so kind. I'll do my best > to describe > > what our son is doing. > > SYMBOLIC PLAY ISSUES > > Once our son's language kicked in---the symbolic piece started to > emerge. At > > first, it was always very " scripted " and safe with themes that > mirrored his > > life----doll house characters going to therapy or taking a > shopping cart to > > supermarket and Mcs. > > > > In recent months, his imaginary play has really expanded and is > much more > > collaborative and fluid and self-created with some prompting at > times. What's > > odd, is that kids with " autistic-spectrum " are supposed to not be > able to > > develop these skills and yet he is gaining them each month since > being on the > > protocol. > > > > 1. My first question is that our son almost seems to > be " constantly " > > imagining and making up elaborate and " silly " scenarios. He will > tell me who I am > > going to be " you be Blue mommy and I'll be Steve. " (Blue's Clues) > or he will act > > as if he is one of the Little People characters. His obsession > for the > > Little People has almost eclipsed his previous fixation/crush on > letters and > > numbers!! However, he will play out some " quirky " or " weird " > stuff that most kids > > probably wouldn't " get. " For example, he'll pretend that the > Little People are > > on a scavenger hunt and they have to find shapes/numbers etc. > He'll also mix > > themes that don't necessarily " flow " and don't make much sense to > anyone but > > him---or maybe me. > > > > 2. God knows...I have waited two years to play " make believe " > with my son. > > I do not want to sound " ungrateful " for this leap of development. > Yet, now he > > wants you to always be doing it and doesn't like to be engaged in > much > > solitary or concrete based play (blocks, cars, games). He also > gets very frustrated > > if you don't follow the scenario or remember the details of > his " pretend > > world. " > > > > 3. I want to clarify that he doesn't " lose touch with reality " --- > but he does > > pretend he actually is the people/toys versus acting out with the > toys. He > > also gives emotions and life to things that are not people, such > as letters and > > numbers and shapes,ie; " okay mommy, now you be " A " and you are > angry at > > bashful " B " (from a story book he loves). Or, he will have us act > like we are > > certain shapes. He really does have emotional connections with > letters and > > numbers as if they were a teddy bear or security blanket. He will > have them talk > > to each other and play out scenes. > > > > 4. Maybe I am just " naive " and out of sorts about typical pretend > play for > > kids in the 2-4 age range. Yet, I have to admit I am sometimes a > bit > > " embarrassed " or at a loss with some of his imagination. It > borders on " brilliant " and > > " weird " and " perceptually different " all at the same time. Yet, > he seems to > > be having a blast and engaging and laughing and building on > it???????????????? > > > > > > > > The last two issues below are hard to explain because he hasn't > had any other > > noteable regressions and no med changes or dietary infringements > in 6 months. > > > > > > EMOTIONAL MELTDOWNS > > We have also had a major increase in " meltdowns " and regulatory > struggles in > > the past few months---even though he is getting better and bolder > and brighter > > with his skills and abilities and language and play. I can't tell > if this is > > a set-back (need to change meds) or a reasonable response to > increasing > > awareness of the complexities of life/world/people around him that > he has to work > > through? > > > > SUDDEN INCREASED MOUTH NEEDS > > Our son gave up mouthing objects (toys) within 1 month of being > off dairy > > (2003)---something that was never achieved even with weeking > oral/motor therapy. > > Yet, despite being unseen for the past year---BOOM, he started > sucking his > > thumb when he is not occupied with a task (watching a show/riding > in car) or > > putting his hands in his mouth. Again, is this a relapse---- > despite the fact > > that he has skyrocketed in every other arena? Is this also > related to something > > internally or meds? > > > > > > Thanks for any feedback. I never want to worry needlessly---yet, > some of you > > may know if there are " biomedical " sources for some of this new > behavior or > > a need for med change. Or, you may be able to relate and tell me > that your > > kids went through these too and came out on the other side. > > > > > > > > P.S. I just saw a show on " head injury " patients and the MD > mentioned > > something that helped me to be more patient with myself and child > this week. > > > > " The brain does not heal in a linear fashion----more so it is > meandering path > > often with two steps forward and one step back. One part of the > brain takes > > up the duties of another---often with unexpected or " atypical " > means of > > adaption. " > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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