ROXANNA -How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety' ???

[Guest guest]

Roxanna,

I had to laugh when I read about the post lady. Tyler has this thing about climbing in the drivers seat of our vehicle and play driving before getting out when we come home from somewhere. He has not tried other vehicles.....yet.

We did take the boys to the air show (have a 2yr old NT also). We used our classic remake of the old red radio flyer wagon to accomplish the trip. I folded a picnic blanket in the bottom and they both got to ride in the wagon. I went over the rules the night before at bedtime. Then while we were driving there we went over them again, and when we got out of the truck, and a few times while moving around the air show. Luckily they had those large blow up jumphouses for the boys to let off some steam inside. Then we found a spot a litte bit away from the speakers (the announcers and music get really loud!). Boys 'helped' lay out the blanket and rule was stay on it while we ate lunch and boys got treated to ice cream. We let them pick out a toy plane on the way out and Tyler 'helped' put the wagon in the truck. Amazingly Tyler did extremely well, only one incidence of running away and

he was running to another jumphouse for the bigger kids.

It is exhausting to keep going over what is expected, but I see that by reminding him often he stays with the 'program'. Inherently he is the type of child who wants to follow the rules and do things the right way, he just gets sidetracked or compulsions get him. Our 2yr old NT DS is another story....maybe it's the terrible twos but he is OFTEN defiant. Super frustrating. And he is a 'trigger' for Tyler lately.

Thanks for the tip on the social stories. I have been considering doing them but haven't quite decided how to go about it. I am not the best artist so that was really holding me back. Using actual images sounds great and the little photo books also.

What type of language did you use, recommend? Tyler speaking in the 1st person...."I stay in my chair when eating"..or directional/command.."Stay in your chair when eating" not sure if it matters that much....

I feel like I am 'wimping out' when I have him sit in the cart at the grocery store, or using the wagon, etc. I want to give him the opportunity to stay with us, but I don't want to set him up in a situation he will fail in either. I probably just need to give him more time.

He is starting preschool this year, and I am concerned about alot of issues related to that also (getting out of the classroom, etc). But we will take it in baby steps and see what he is capable of and rearrange what doesn't work.

Thanks so much for your post. You give such great ideas and positive vibes in your messages!

Thanks again,

P.

From: Roxanna <MadIdeas@...>Subject: Re: ( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety' ??? Date: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 8:06 PM

He sounds a lot like my now 13 yo ds (hfa) when he was that age. He also took off all the time. He has run into people's houses a few times - twice actually. But he really lived for people's cars. He loved to get in cars. I remember one day that the post lady was at the front door, I went to answer it when I heard the bells on the back door ring and knew he had gone for her little post truck. Next time, she remembered to lock her door. lol. I would not go to an air show unless you have complete confidence that you can keep track of him. My ds could slip away in a heartbeat and we quickly learned to keep track of him at all times. We made our plans with his needs in mind and we often did not travel because it would be so stressful to

keep track of him. I used to put bells on the doors so that if he got out, I would hear it. Do not let him run around unattended, even for a second. His safety has to be first. Teaching him lessons would be important. Use social stories that you can write up yourself about safety issues. Read them at bedtime to teach lessons. We used to make them up using pictures of him and typing it up on the computer - then we would put them in a small portable photo album to read. He loved them. They either taught vocabulary or a lesson we were working on with him. I would not worry about teaching him what evil lurks out there. Instead, just teach the rule in a positive way and remind him constantly until he learns. "Before we leave the car, we need to hold hands!" is a rule. Make up a few that cover your needs and repeat them a lot and in positive ways, as much as

possible. Then praise him a lot when he is doing what he supposed to be doing. You are doing great by finding things for him to do as well while shopping- find the letters on packages, have him find the right brand name, match up pictures to items, count how many, etc. Try to shop while he's in pre-school as well, which helps. Or make a little bag of fidget toys that you only get out during shopping trips if he sits in the cart nicely. Hang in there.

Roxanna"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Jefferson

( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety' ???

We had another scary incident today and I don't know what to do.Our Aspie son is 4.5yrs old. He doesn't understand boundaries and takes off running when something catches his attention. Taking him out anywhere is always a stressful and exhausting adventure. Sometimes he does well and things go smoothly. Other times it's a constant struggle. Shopping in the grocery store is very hard. I try to keep him involved in the process (using a shopping list and having him help) but that doesn't always work. He doesn't seem to understand the dangers that are out there. He has run into traffic before. Today he broke out of our locked backyard gate and took off running. I understand why, the neighborhood kids were playing out in the common drive area and he wanted to play with them. We live in a complex of duplexes with a long common drive off of a fairly busy road. My husband was out in the yard with him (and his 2 yr old brother) and I saw him

run past the window and realized what must have happened. By the time I caught up with him, he had ran INSIDE a neighbors house. He just went right inside like he lived there. I have talked to him about this, but it doesn't seem to be making the right impression. After extracting him from the house the neighbor said "Good-Bye" kind of irritatedly and Tyler responded, "Yeah....yeah.....Thank You, I'll see you again next time....Good-bye" - and we don't know this person.He just didn't get it. I tried talking to him after getting him back in the house, in which he wanted to break down the door and of course was upset. He has been talking about breaking things lately when upset, but he isn't violent. He just says it verbally.I told him that there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things. The wrong way is bad and the right way is good. The right way is to ask Mommy or Daddy to go outside with him. The wrong way

is to break out and do it alone. I tried telling him about the dangers of getting hit by a car, getting lost, or getting hurt and us not knowing where he was to help him. He was fixated on the right and wrong way - so atleast that made an impact (him liking to understand and do things logically). At what point do you tell them about the real dangers of getting lost and about dangerous people? How do you broach these subjects? We do go out in the commom area and let him ride his tricycle, draw with sidewalk chalk, and go down the drive to check the mail, and he has played with one of the girls in the complex before. I know he feels lonely and we are trying to get him into more social activities, but it is hard.We were planning on taking the boys to the airshow this weekend, but now I don't feel comfortable with that. Such a large crowd, a lot of noise.......I just don't know.~ P.

[Guest guest]

I have just been learning about writing social stories too, with help from our

developmental therapist and the Carol Gray book. Gray says to write in the first

person ( " I will try to stay in my seat " ) or sometimes the third person ( " At

school, children try to stay in their seats " ), but to avoid issuing commands

( " Stay in your seat " ). Because my son is young, the developmental therapist has

been including pictures with the words (building from the picture schedules we

have been using), but her drawings are really rough - stick figures - so don't

worry if you are not an accomplished artist

Boys are so funny about cars, aren't they? My son (not yet 3) has said a few

times to Daddy, " When I drive the blue car, you won't be there? " . In other

words, he is planning to take our car out for a spin soon, and no parents

allowed! He also wants to drive the bus, lol.

Bridget

>

>

> From: Roxanna <MadIdeas@...>

> Subject: Re: ( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public

Safety' ???

>

> Date: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 8:06 PM

>

>

>  

>

>

>

> He sounds a lot like my now 13 yo ds (hfa) when he was that age.  He also

took off all the time.  He has run into people's houses a few times - twice

actually.  But he really lived for people's cars.  He loved to get in cars. 

I remember one day that the post lady was at the front door, I went to answer it

when I heard the bells on the back door ring and knew he had gone for her little

post truck.  Next time, she remembered to lock her door.  lol. 

>

> I would not go to an air show unless you have complete confidence that you can

keep track of him.  My ds could slip away in a heartbeat and we quickly learned

to keep track of him at all times.  We made our plans with his needs in mind

and we often did not travel because it would be so stressful to keep track of

him.  I used to put bells on the doors so that if he got out, I would hear

it.  Do not let him run around unattended, even for a second.  His safety has

to be first. 

>

> Teaching him lessons would be important.  Use social stories that you can

write up yourself about safety issues.  Read them at bedtime to teach

lessons.  We used to make them up using pictures of him and typing it up on the

computer - then we would put them in a small portable photo album to read.  He

loved them.  They either taught vocabulary or a lesson we were working on with

him. 

>

> I would not worry about teaching him what evil lurks out there.  Instead,

just teach the rule in a positive way and remind him constantly until he

learns.  " Before we leave the car, we need to hold hands! " is a rule.  Make up

a few that cover your needs and repeat them a lot and in positive ways, as much

as possible.  Then praise him a lot when he is doing what he supposed to be

doing.   

>

> You are doing great by finding things for him to do as well while shopping-

find the letters on packages, have him find the right brand name, match up

pictures to items, count how many, etc.  Try to shop while he's in pre-school

as well, which helps.  Or make a little bag of fidget toys that you only get

out during shopping trips if he sits in the cart nicely. 

>

> Hang in there. 

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Roxanna

> " I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government

from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of

them. " - Jefferson

>

>

>

>

> ( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety'

???

>

>

>  

>

>

>

> We had another scary incident today and I don't know what to do.

>

> Our Aspie son is 4.5yrs old. He doesn't understand boundaries and takes off

running when something catches his attention. Taking him out anywhere is always

a stressful and exhausting adventure. Sometimes he does well and things go

smoothly. Other times it's a constant struggle. Shopping in the grocery store is

very hard. I try to keep him involved in the process (using a shopping list and

having him help) but that doesn't always work.

>

> He doesn't seem to understand the dangers that are out there. He has run into

traffic before. Today he broke out of our locked backyard gate and took off

running. I understand why, the neighborhood kids were playing out in the common

drive area and he wanted to play with them. We live in a complex of duplexes

with a long common drive off of a fairly busy road. My husband was out in the

yard with him (and his 2 yr old brother) and I saw him run past the window and

realized what must have happened. By the time I caught up with him, he had ran

INSIDE a neighbors house. He just went right inside like he lived there. I have

talked to him about this, but it doesn't seem to be making the right impression.

>

> After extracting him from the house the neighbor said " Good-Bye " kind of

irritatedly and Tyler responded, " Yeah....yeah.....Thank You, I'll see you again

next time....Good-bye " - and we don't know this person.

>

> He just didn't get it.

>

> I tried talking to him after getting him back in the house, in which he wanted

to break down the door and of course was upset. He has been talking about

breaking things lately when upset, but he isn't violent. He just says it

verbally.

>

> I told him that there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do

things. The wrong way is bad and the right way is good. The right way is to ask

Mommy or Daddy to go outside with him. The wrong way is to break out and do it

alone. I tried telling him about the dangers of getting hit by a car, getting

lost, or getting hurt and us not knowing where he was to help him. He was

fixated on the right and wrong way - so atleast that made an impact (him liking

to understand and do things logically).

>

> At what point do you tell them about the real dangers of getting lost and

about dangerous people? How do you broach these subjects?

>

> We do go out in the commom area and let him ride his tricycle, draw with

sidewalk chalk, and go down the drive to check the mail, and he has played with

one of the girls in the complex before.

>

> I know he feels lonely and we are trying to get him into more social

activities, but it is hard.

>

> We were planning on taking the boys to the airshow this weekend, but now I

don't feel comfortable with that. Such a large crowd, a lot of noise.......I

just don't know.

>

> ~ P.

>

[Guest guest]

Sounds like you don't need my advice - you did great! Repeating the rules is tiring but necessary until he starts remembering them on his own. If you have ever spent time in a pre-school, pre-k teachers repeat the rules all the time! And he has a different learning curve than the average kid. I feel for you with regard to having a toddler to deal with as well! that can make things so tough! I remember many times I was in the same situation. My oldest ds used to scream a lot and one thing that set him off was the sound of his little sister screaming. Many times, there I was driving down the interstate, with stereo screaming. lol. It's a wonder I lived to tell about it when I think back. lol.

I don't think it's wimping out to have him sit in a seat at all. Use whatever you have to get the job done. He will start learning in time. If you have the energy, you can always practice skills with him and then when he starts getting out of hand, you can say, "Time to get in the cart!" Don't make it punishment, just part of what we do when we go shopping and it should work fine.

My own ds did slowly learn to pay attention to what was going on around him. He still wanders but he is 13 yo now and knows how to use his cell phone. lol. I worry more than usual with him still because he talks to anyone. So we still have specific places he can go and he is good about telling me where he is at. It's just a habit he has learned and it works. Ultimately, whatever you do, his safety has to come first over everything.

Another option for images to make social stories for our kids is to use google. You can put anything in the search box - for instance, "riding a bike." Then look up in the far left upper corner to find "Images" listed. Click on that and wah-lah. You have a ton of pictures of someone riding a bike. You can copy/paste into cards for learning vocabulary or into stories for social stories. I used to make cards for ABA home programs and used it ALL the time to make visual cues.

The language probably doesn't matter as much as the actual rule. Unless he starts mimicking how you are talking for a negative effect. I usually used the "royal" "WE" a lot. "We hold hands in the parking lot!" lol.

As for school, they must be told that he is a wanderer and that someone has to know where he is at all times. Put them on notice right away because they need to know! Someone was always keeping tabs on my ds at school for many years. Even on field trips, I would ask who was in charge of him. They were really good about assigning someone to him that way.

Roxanna

"I

predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Jefferson

( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety' ???

We had another scary incident today and I don't know what to do.

Our Aspie son is 4.5yrs old. He doesn't understand boundaries and takes off running when something catches his attention. Taking him out anywhere is always a stressful and exhausting adventure. Sometimes he does well and things go smoothly. Other times it's a constant struggle. Shopping in the grocery store is very hard. I try to keep him involved in the process (using a shopping list and having him help) but that doesn't always work.

He doesn't seem to understand the dangers that are out there. He has run into traffic before. Today he broke out of our locked backyard gate and took off running. I understand why, the neighborhood kids were playing out in the common drive area and he wanted to play with them. We live in a complex of duplexes with a long common drive off of a fairly busy road. My husband was out in the yard with him (and his 2 yr old brother) and I saw him

run past the window and realized what must have happened. By the time I caught up with him, he had ran INSIDE a neighbors house. He just went right inside like he lived there. I have talked to him about this, but it doesn't seem to be making the right impression.

After extracting him from the house the neighbor said "Good-Bye" kind of irritatedly and Tyler responded, "Yeah....yeah.....Thank You, I'll see you again next time....Good-bye" - and we don't know this person.

He just didn't get it.

I tried talking to him after getting him back in the house, in which he wanted to break down the door and of course was upset. He has been talking about breaking things lately when upset, but he isn't violent. He just says it verbally.

I told him that there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things. The wrong way is bad and the right way is good. The right way is to ask Mommy or Daddy to go outside with him. The wrong way

is to break out and do it alone. I tried telling him about the dangers of getting hit by a car, getting lost, or getting hurt and us not knowing where he was to help him. He was fixated on the right and wrong way - so atleast that made an impact (him liking to understand and do things logically).

At what point do you tell them about the real dangers of getting lost and about dangerous people? How do you broach these subjects?

We do go out in the commom area and let him ride his tricycle, draw with sidewalk chalk, and go down the drive to check the mail, and he has played with one of the girls in the complex before.

I know he feels lonely and we are trying to get him into more social activities, but it is hard.

We were planning on taking the boys to the airshow this weekend, but now I don't feel comfortable with that. Such a large crowd, a lot of noise.......I just don't know.

~ P.

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to say thank you Bridget. First social story is about school...starting preschool.

Thanks!

~ P.

From: bridget <beanniferj@...>Subject: Re: ( ) ROXANNA -How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety' ??? Date: Friday, August 27, 2010, 5:53 AM

I have just been learning about writing social stories too, with help from our developmental therapist and the Carol Gray book. Gray says to write in the first person ("I will try to stay in my seat") or sometimes the third person ("At school, children try to stay in their seats"), but to avoid issuing commands ("Stay in your seat"). Because my son is young, the developmental therapist has been including pictures with the words (building from the picture schedules we have been using), but her drawings are really rough - stick figures - so don't worry if you are not an accomplished artist :)Boys are so funny about cars, aren't they? My son (not yet 3) has said a few times to Daddy, "When I drive the blue car, you won't be there?". In other words, he is planning to take our car out for a spin soon, and no parents allowed! He also wants to drive the bus, lol.Bridget> > > From: Roxanna <MadIdeas@...>> Subject: Re: ( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety' ???> > Date: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 8:06 PM> > >  > > > > He sounds a lot like my now 13 yo ds (hfa) when he was that age. He also took off all the time. He has run into people's houses a few times - twice actually. But he really lived for people's cars. He loved to get in cars. I remember one day that the post lady was at the front door, I went to answer it when I heard the bells on the back door ring and knew he had gone for her little post truck. Next time, she remembered to lock her door. lol. > > I would not go to an air show unless you have complete confidence that you can keep track of him. My ds could slip away in a heartbeat and we quickly learned to keep track of him at all times. We made our plans with

his needs in mind and we often did not travel because it would be so stressful to keep track of him. I used to put bells on the doors so that if he got out, I would hear it. Do not let him run around unattended, even for a second. His safety has to be first. > > Teaching him lessons would be important. Use social stories that you can write up yourself about safety issues. Read them at bedtime to teach lessons. We used to make them up using pictures of him and typing it up on the computer - then we would put them in a small portable photo album to read. He loved them. They either taught vocabulary or a lesson we were working on with him. > > I would not worry about teaching him what evil lurks out there. Instead, just teach the rule in a positive way and remind him constantly until he learns. "Before we leave the car, we need to

hold hands!" is a rule. Make up a few that cover your needs and repeat them a lot and in positive ways, as much as possible. Then praise him a lot when he is doing what he supposed to be doing.   > > You are doing great by finding things for him to do as well while shopping- find the letters on packages, have him find the right brand name, match up pictures to items, count how many, etc. Try to shop while he's in pre-school as well, which helps. Or make a little bag of fidget toys that you only get out during shopping trips if he sits in the cart nicely. > > Hang in there. > > > > > > > Roxanna> "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Jefferson> > > >

> ( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety' ???> > > Â > > > > We had another scary incident today and I don't know what to do.> > Our Aspie son is 4.5yrs old. He doesn't understand boundaries and takes off running when something catches his attention. Taking him out anywhere is always a stressful and exhausting adventure. Sometimes he does well and things go smoothly. Other times it's a constant struggle. Shopping in the grocery store is very hard. I try to keep him involved in the process (using a shopping

list and having him help) but that doesn't always work. > > He doesn't seem to understand the dangers that are out there. He has run into traffic before. Today he broke out of our locked backyard gate and took off running. I understand why, the neighborhood kids were playing out in the common drive area and he wanted to play with them. We live in a complex of duplexes with a long common drive off of a fairly busy road. My husband was out in the yard with him (and his 2 yr old brother) and I saw him run past the window and realized what must have happened. By the time I caught up with him, he had ran INSIDE a neighbors house. He just went right inside like he lived there. I have talked to him about this, but it doesn't seem to be making the right impression. > > After extracting him from the house the neighbor said "Good-Bye" kind of irritatedly and Tyler responded, "Yeah....yeah.....Thank You, I'll see you again next

time....Good-bye" - and we don't know this person.> > He just didn't get it. > > I tried talking to him after getting him back in the house, in which he wanted to break down the door and of course was upset. He has been talking about breaking things lately when upset, but he isn't violent. He just says it verbally.> > I told him that there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things. The wrong way is bad and the right way is good. The right way is to ask Mommy or Daddy to go outside with him. The wrong way is to break out and do it alone. I tried telling him about the dangers of getting hit by a car, getting lost, or getting hurt and us not knowing where he was to help him. He was fixated on the right and wrong way - so atleast that made an impact (him liking to understand and do things logically). > > At what point do you tell them about the real dangers of getting lost and about

dangerous people? How do you broach these subjects? > > We do go out in the commom area and let him ride his tricycle, draw with sidewalk chalk, and go down the drive to check the mail, and he has played with one of the girls in the complex before. > > I know he feels lonely and we are trying to get him into more social activities, but it is hard.> > We were planning on taking the boys to the airshow this weekend, but now I don't feel comfortable with that. Such a large crowd, a lot of noise.......I just don't know.> > ~ P.>

[Guest guest]

We did one about going to the dentist this week, and the whole appointment went

very smoothly. I was especially glad that I had done a social story (with

drawings) when the hygenist put on her mask and my son was not alarmed because

he had read about it in the story. Hope your preschool story was helpful too!

Bridget

> >

> >

> > From: Roxanna <MadIdeas@>

> > Subject: Re: ( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public

Safety' ???

> >

> > Date: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 8:06 PM

> >

> >

> >  

> >

> >

> >

> > He sounds a lot like my now 13 yo ds (hfa) when he was that age.  He also

took off all the time.  He has run into people's houses a few times - twice

actually.  But he really lived for people's cars.  He loved to get in

cars.  I remember one day that the post lady was at the front door, I went to

answer it when I heard the bells on the back door ring and knew he had gone for

her little post truck.  Next time, she remembered to lock her door. 

lol. 

> >

> > I would not go to an air show unless you have complete confidence that you

can keep track of him.  My ds could slip away in a heartbeat and we quickly

learned to keep track of him at all times.  We made our plans with his needs

in mind and we often did not travel because it would be so stressful to keep

track of him.  I used to put bells on the doors so that if he got out, I

would hear it.  Do not let him run around unattended, even for a second. 

His safety has to be first. 

> >

> > Teaching him lessons would be important.  Use social stories that you can

write up yourself about safety issues.  Read them at bedtime to teach

lessons.  We used to make them up using pictures of him and typing it up on

the computer - then we would put them in a small portable photo album to

read.  He loved them.  They either taught vocabulary or a lesson we were

working on with him. 

> >

> > I would not worry about teaching him what evil lurks out there.  Instead,

just teach the rule in a positive way and remind him constantly until he

learns.  " Before we leave the car, we need to hold hands! " is a rule. 

Make up a few that cover your needs and repeat them a lot and in positive ways,

as much as possible.  Then praise him a lot when he is doing what he supposed

to be doing.   

> >

> > You are doing great by finding things for him to do as well while shopping-

find the letters on packages, have him find the right brand name, match up

pictures to items, count how many, etc.  Try to shop while he's in pre-school

as well, which helps.  Or make a little bag of fidget toys that you only get

out during shopping trips if he sits in the cart nicely. 

> >

> > Hang in there. 

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Roxanna

> > " I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government

from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of

them. " - Jefferson

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ( ) How do you Teach Boundaries and 'Public Safety'

???

> >

> >

> >  

> >

> >

> >

> > We had another scary incident today and I don't know what to do.

> >

> > Our Aspie son is 4.5yrs old. He doesn't understand boundaries and takes off

running when something catches his attention. Taking him out anywhere is always

a stressful and exhausting adventure. Sometimes he does well and things go

smoothly. Other times it's a constant struggle. Shopping in the grocery store is

very hard. I try to keep him involved in the process (using a shopping list and

having him help) but that doesn't always work.

> >

> > He doesn't seem to understand the dangers that are out there. He has run

into traffic before. Today he broke out of our locked backyard gate and took off

running. I understand why, the neighborhood kids were playing out in the common

drive area and he wanted to play with them. We live in a complex of duplexes

with a long common drive off of a fairly busy road. My husband was out in the

yard with him (and his 2 yr old brother) and I saw him run past the window and

realized what must have happened. By the time I caught up with him, he had ran

INSIDE a neighbors house. He just went right inside like he lived there. I have

talked to him about this, but it doesn't seem to be making the right impression.

> >

> > After extracting him from the house the neighbor said " Good-Bye " kind of

irritatedly and Tyler responded, " Yeah....yeah.....Thank You, I'll see you again

next time....Good-bye " - and we don't know this person.

> >

> > He just didn't get it.

> >

> > I tried talking to him after getting him back in the house, in which he

wanted to break down the door and of course was upset. He has been talking about

breaking things lately when upset, but he isn't violent. He just says it

verbally.

> >

> > I told him that there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do

things. The wrong way is bad and the right way is good. The right way is to ask

Mommy or Daddy to go outside with him. The wrong way is to break out and do it

alone. I tried telling him about the dangers of getting hit by a car, getting

lost, or getting hurt and us not knowing where he was to help him. He was

fixated on the right and wrong way - so atleast that made an impact (him liking

to understand and do things logically).

> >

> > At what point do you tell them about the real dangers of getting lost and

about dangerous people? How do you broach these subjects?

> >

> > We do go out in the commom area and let him ride his tricycle, draw with

sidewalk chalk, and go down the drive to check the mail, and he has played with

one of the girls in the complex before.

> >

> > I know he feels lonely and we are trying to get him into more social

activities, but it is hard.

> >

> > We were planning on taking the boys to the airshow this weekend, but now I

don't feel comfortable with that. Such a large crowd, a lot of noise.......I

just don't know.

> >

> > ~ P.

> >

>