going to the bathroom

[Guest guest]

Hello I am the mother of a 9 yr old autistic boy,he has been going to the bathroom by himself since he was between the age of 4-5.The problem that I am experience is that he refuse to clean himself and flush the toilet .Please help me with any ideas or suggestions.I thank God that he can go to the bathroom on his own ,but not wiping himself is really hard ,especially when it comes to leaving him with someone else ,no one wants to wipe a a 9 yr old .Please anybody let me know what I can do .Thank you very much

[Guest guest]

First, how are his motor skills? Is this a challenge for him, the actual act? It can be for some kids. Try a variety of ways to help him if this is an issue.

Or, is he fearful of getting dirty?

Try to figure out if there are any barriers...

Then, approach it behaviorally.

What are the rewards he works for?

Use a schedule of reinforcement for wiping/flushing. Start with a huge reinforcer and provide it every time he does the behavior/accomplishes the task. Keep it positive and use only positive statements. (If you do this, then you get that.) Then, very slowly (very slowly) begin to provide the reinforcement at every other time, or every third time (thin the schedule of reinforcement), then you will give the reinforcer intermittently. Intermittent reinforcement is how you want to end any schedule of reinforcement as it generally will maintain the behavior.

For example, a great reinforcer for my son is still some type of candy or an ice-pop. If I was in the same situation, I would give him an ice-pop every time he wiped himself and flushed the toilet. Then, begin to fade out eventually.

From: Sharon Peoples

Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 10:41 AM

To: sList

Subject: going to the bathroom

Hello I am the mother of a 9 yr old autistic boy,he has been going to the bathroom by himself since he was between the age of 4-5.The problem that I am experience is that he refuse to clean himself and flush the toilet .Please help me with any ideas or suggestions.I thank God that he can go to the bathroom on his own ,but not wiping himself is really hard ,especially when it comes to leaving him with someone else ,no one wants to wipe a a 9 yr old .Please anybody let me know what I can do .Thank you very much

[Guest guest]

Sharon, toilet paper is hard for my son to use when wiping, I buy the decorated Huggies or Papmer Baby wipes and he knows they get tossed in the garbage. they also make a flushable wipe which is in the toilet paper section (I can't recall the name offhand). The toilet paper can cause sensory issues since it;s dry and can crumble or even worse get stuck. Try the wipes, it can't hurt. you can always carry a travel pack when you have to leave him somewhere. Good luck. Joyce

Joyce

Subject: going to the bathroomTo: sList Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 7:41 AM

Hello I am the mother of a 9 yr old autistic boy,he has been going to the bathroom by himself since he was between the age of 4-5.The problem that I am experience is that he refuse to clean himself and flush the toilet .Please help me with any ideas or suggestions. I thank God that he can go to the bathroom on his own ,but not wiping himself is really hard ,especially when it comes to leaving him with someone else ,no one wants to wipe a a 9 yr old .Please anybody let me know what I can do .Thank you very much

[Guest guest]

>

> Hello I am the mother of a 9 yr old autistic boy,he has been going to the

bathroom by himself since he was between the age of 4-5.The problem that I am

experience is that he refuse to clean himself and flush the toilet .Please help

me with any ideas or suggestions.I thank God that he can go to the bathroom on

his own ,but not wiping himself is really hard ,especially when it comes to

leaving him with someone else ,no one wants to wipe a a 9 yr old .Please anybody

let me know what I can do .Thank you very much

>

I totally relate, I have a 13 year old daughter. When she makes a nice bowel

movement and has her menstrual cycle, its a fight to get her to first clean well

on her own and then to try to assist her. I try to get her to use flushable

wipes. Good luck...

[Guest guest]

I agree qith Joyce. I use the gentle baby wipes for those messy #2's.Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 6:30 PMTo: sList Subject: Re: going to the bathroomSharon, toilet paper is hard for my son to use when wiping, I buy the decorated Huggies or Papmer Baby wipes and he knows they get tossed in the garbage. they also make a flushable wipe which is in the toilet paper section (I can't recall the name offhand). The toilet paper can cause sensory issues since it;s dry and can crumble or even worse get stuck. Try the wipes, it can't hurt. you can always carry a travel pack when you have to leave him somewhere. Good luck. JoyceJoyce From: Sharon Peoples <sepeobellsouth (DOT) net>Subject: going to the bathroomTo: sList Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 7:41 AMHello I am the mother of a 9 yr old autistic boy,he has been going to the bathroom by himself since he was between the age of 4-5.The problem that I am experience is that he refuse to clean himself and flush the toilet .Please help me with any ideas or suggestions. I thank God that he can go to the bathroom on his own ,but not wiping himself is really hard ,especially when it comes to leaving him with someone else ,no one wants to wipe a a 9 y[The entire original message is not included]