Chance has had a rough time at school this week. This year in general has gone a lot better than last year, but this week he started throwing tantrums at school again and his handsy behavior has ramped way up. I've also noticed a general cockiness has suddenly surfaced. He is quite imperious about issuing demands. (What?) It's hard to tell how much he is pushing boundaries, how much he can't control because of sensory/impulse issues, or how much might be medication or OT treatment related (he just started some Primitive Reflex Integration treatment). That's one of the problems with kids who are non-neuro-typical… because the brain has to grow and adapt, any type of stimulus can set off behavior problems – even good stimulus, like a new OT treatment that stimulates nueral growth or learning something new, even if they love it. I remember when I first started taking drum lessons… music was a completely new skill for me and for a while I lost my easy recall for words. I could feel my brain changing and when it got used to these new skills I was learning, my word recall popped back. I suspect something like that is going on with Chance.
Except for the cockiness. I think that's just being a twirpy 6 1/2-year-old. Oh, he's also being very cavalier about this concept called "rules". Ahem.
Anyway, Chance is hugely into Pokemon right now. He'll actually do chores, quickly and efficiently, without whining, to earn money to buy Pokemon cards! (Two steps forward, one step back, right?) Since I think part of his behavior is something he can't control and the other part is completely willful, I suggested that maybe we should take away a Pokemon card for every time he stomps his feet or invades the personal space of another kid at school. The teacher could keep count and let me know at the end of the day how many infractions there were.
He looked alarmed. Oh yeah, did I also mention my son glossing over incidents at school?
So we have a field trip tomorrow and I'm chaperoning. I will get to witness his behavior first hand! And we're taking the fricking public bus system. Insight on a bus. Joy.
Pokemon cards can be quite expensive the more and more you get hooked into it. But it’s a great thing what you’re doing teaching Chance early about earning one’s keep=) Kudos to you.
I’m interested in learning more about that Primitive Reflex Integration therapy. Sounds promising.
Well, my little girl doesn’t display any disruptive behaviors in school, so of course we’re not getting any help for her sensory integration issues.
So when she comes home, she’s exhausted and cranky. It’s frustrating that she has to actually disrupt the class for her to get help at school. I think we’re going to have to take matters into our own hands. I have to see if our health insurance covers our going to an OT for sensory integration therapy.
Conservatories UK – thanks! I’m trying. The Pokemon can get pricey but they’re better than Bakugan! What a rip off!
Jay – I hear that from a lot of parents with sensory kids, that their kids can hold it together at school but fall apart at home. Chance is the opposite. The Primitive Reflex Integration looks really promising. Even the OT at school said she’s heard great things about it. It’s also called Rhythmic Movement Training. I’m still learning but if I dig up anything new I’ll let you know.