Halfway through the program and making progress
Posted by The Sensory Playground Red Deer on Sunday, March 19, 2023
Hearing from professionals a loved one is on the spectrum is not an easy thing to hear for most families. We are not most families. While many parents are concerned with the why and how, as we are as well, we all accepted what is, and we are more concerned with the how to help Ryder go forward in life with this disability with as much independence as he could manage. The TAC program was quite confusing at first to be honest. It almost seemed like those involved in the program were deliberately trying to piss Ryder off for some reason. But as we asked more questions, we came to understand how each step of the program was to determine his ability to adapt to different situations and his knowledge in handling social engagements with both adults and children of his own age.
The first day we were very concerned when Ryder was the only child out of 5 who became out of control. one meltdown after another. banging his head on the wall out of anger. Throwing toys and whatever he can grab. We were told he was the only one who reacted as expected. This was confirmed by a few of the other parents and in time would prove to be true.
There were some rules Ryder had to learn..as we did as well. Eating at the table for example. Ok it's unconventional, we get it. But for three generations now we have all ate our meals in front of the television set. We walk around snacking as well. We just don't eat or bring food in the bedrooms. Well. Understandably, That's a no no at TAC.
It was no easy task. and there were many meltdowns in the process. But I'm proud to say; three weeks in, that Ryder now sits at the TAC table to eat his meals and snacks. He also sits and joins in with the other kids for craft time and he has begun to join in circle time.
Ryder learned his first sign word, BOOK! but he has been attempting to speak! He said Hi to his cousins on facetime! He says done when he is finished his meals and we are sure we hear random words come out here and there. Both his mom and I had a dream the same night that Ryder just started speaking out of the blue. We took that as a hopeful sign!
Ryder understands everything we say. He follows direction..when he wants to. He inherited a crappy family trait..stubborness! Ryder is certainly no dancing chicken. Even if you light a fire under his feet, he will not perform on demand. Since many of the factors in his diagnosis is doing things on demand at TAC, needless to say he seems delayed on many things.
Yet under different circumstances and in a different setting Ryder performs excellently! At home Ryder makes eye contact with everyone in the family 75% of the time when called upon. when he wants to, he will grab your face to make you look or place his in front of yours to get your gaze. But at TAC he barely makes eye contact with anyone including us when called. But the classroom is a wonderland to Ryder. New toys, and ten times more toys than he has available at home to him at once. He can't get enough of it.
The one rule both Toni, Ryder's mother and I have problems with that just does not go with our childrearing is when large playground toys are put away instead of just removing the child from the playground toys. We understand it's just a different way of doing things. But when we are done in a playground we walk away with the discussion of; leaving with good behavior means you can come back another time. Ryder didn't understand why the playground was being taken and packed away. To him, he was being punished when he didn't do anything wrong.
Although Ryder has adapted to having the playground folded up and removed to a degree, you can see it still he is bothered by it.
All in All, after week 3 of the TAC program I do have to say that Ryder's behavior has improved so much! They have been teaching us how to handle many of his behavior problems, some disability related and some placed from our lack of consistence in dealing with his stubbornness when he was younger. Most importantly Ryder made some really great friends in the TAC program we hope to continue to nurture either with playdates privately or through the Sensory Playground when it's open.
The first day we were very concerned when Ryder was the only child out of 5 who became out of control. one meltdown after another. banging his head on the wall out of anger. Throwing toys and whatever he can grab. We were told he was the only one who reacted as expected. This was confirmed by a few of the other parents and in time would prove to be true.
There were some rules Ryder had to learn..as we did as well. Eating at the table for example. Ok it's unconventional, we get it. But for three generations now we have all ate our meals in front of the television set. We walk around snacking as well. We just don't eat or bring food in the bedrooms. Well. Understandably, That's a no no at TAC.
It was no easy task. and there were many meltdowns in the process. But I'm proud to say; three weeks in, that Ryder now sits at the TAC table to eat his meals and snacks. He also sits and joins in with the other kids for craft time and he has begun to join in circle time.
Ryder learned his first sign word, BOOK! but he has been attempting to speak! He said Hi to his cousins on facetime! He says done when he is finished his meals and we are sure we hear random words come out here and there. Both his mom and I had a dream the same night that Ryder just started speaking out of the blue. We took that as a hopeful sign!
Ryder understands everything we say. He follows direction..when he wants to. He inherited a crappy family trait..stubborness! Ryder is certainly no dancing chicken. Even if you light a fire under his feet, he will not perform on demand. Since many of the factors in his diagnosis is doing things on demand at TAC, needless to say he seems delayed on many things.
Yet under different circumstances and in a different setting Ryder performs excellently! At home Ryder makes eye contact with everyone in the family 75% of the time when called upon. when he wants to, he will grab your face to make you look or place his in front of yours to get your gaze. But at TAC he barely makes eye contact with anyone including us when called. But the classroom is a wonderland to Ryder. New toys, and ten times more toys than he has available at home to him at once. He can't get enough of it.
The one rule both Toni, Ryder's mother and I have problems with that just does not go with our childrearing is when large playground toys are put away instead of just removing the child from the playground toys. We understand it's just a different way of doing things. But when we are done in a playground we walk away with the discussion of; leaving with good behavior means you can come back another time. Ryder didn't understand why the playground was being taken and packed away. To him, he was being punished when he didn't do anything wrong.
Although Ryder has adapted to having the playground folded up and removed to a degree, you can see it still he is bothered by it.
All in All, after week 3 of the TAC program I do have to say that Ryder's behavior has improved so much! They have been teaching us how to handle many of his behavior problems, some disability related and some placed from our lack of consistence in dealing with his stubbornness when he was younger. Most importantly Ryder made some really great friends in the TAC program we hope to continue to nurture either with playdates privately or through the Sensory Playground when it's open.
Tags: tac program special needs learning disabilities
