Book Recommendation Please
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| Mon, 05-17-2010 - 10:22am |
Hi,
We are awaiting an eval from a psych - not scheduled til october, but my 6.5 year old dd has had an extremely rough year in 1st grade. Signs are pointing to Aspergers (an OT had mentioned ASD during a brief eval), and I'm an information sponge.
So, I'm wondering if all you experience, knowledgeable moms (and dads) can recommend a few good books on Aspergers and ways to help kids with Aspergers. I've been reading the AdHD ones (that was the dx from our ped), but now that we are on meds for ADHD, some emotional symptoms have been magnified.
This board has been so helpful to me already (I've been lurking for a while), and I just need some info to keep me on the right path to help dd.
I'm in a real emotional battle now with trying to help her without enabling her, but my traditional parenting techniques have just all gone out the window these past few months.
She is so sad somedays and so angry with herself, it just breaks my heart. I'm also considering homeschooling (I've considered it her whole life, but now I'm revisiting this option), so if anyone has any advice/tips/opinions there, I'd appreciate those as well.
I'm going to read on through the boards to get to know you all better. I don't have much to offer in return right now since our journey is just beginning, but I look forward to hearing all your stories and hopefully interjecting as time goes on and I get more informed.
Thanks again.
Nikole
(mom of Grace)
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Hi Nikole,
I'm a information hound too. Knowledge is power. I like the book by Tony Attwood The Complete Guide to Aspergers. I've also heard the Expolsive Child recommended many times here. There is loads of stuff out there. Check out what your library has because you can spend a lot on books otherwise, lol. You may be able to get alot through interlibrary loan too.
Parenting an ASD kid is different than an NT kid. Although the techniques will work with the NT kids too. Social stories and preparation are important tools. We've had success with 1,2,3 Magic although some people prefer Power Cards and similar strategies. If you come in with specific situations, people can share with you their ways of dealing with it.
Also it's better to try to anticipate triggers and head them off rather than let them happen and then try to calm your child down. This is NOT enabling the child. They truly can't handle some stuff that is easy for an NT child to brush off and adapt too. Exposure to the triggers without proper preparation will NOT result in desensitization as once in a meltdown, the child cannot process new information. With proper preparation and controlled exposure, ASD kids can learn to adapt to stressful situations although they may always be difficult for them.
It may feel like you are coddling them, but their nervous system is much more sensitive than you or I. As they mature, it will get better, but they mature much more slowly. We parent best when we think of our 11 yo as closer to 8 or 9. I"m not looking forward to parenting during puberty, but somehow we'll make it through.
Hope this helps a little bit.
Andrea, mom to
Graham
Miles
Anson
Graham
Miles
Anson
Thank you all for the support you've given already!!! I feel so blessed to have found this board and I've already read so much. I'm sure I'll be asking more as time goes on and I learn more.
It seems that a lot of the posts on here are for kids who got an ASD dx at a later age. I hope to get some answers before second grade begins. I do NOT need a repeat of this year!!!!
Nikole