Saturday, September 26, 2009

Frustration at the bowling alley

Part of our RDI(r) focus is giving the child responsibility for him or herSELF. Responsible for what? The child is growing responsibility in referencing for information, self-regulation, co-regulation, sharing and shifting attention, just to name a few continuous process functions.

Special Olymics bowling began yesterday, and I thought we'd give it a try.

The first session was chaotic, loud, disorganized, confusing, and my princess who has been progressing in big ways, lately, became upset and dysregulated.

The participants were supposed to bowl two games. When my princess was finished with the first game, we left. We drove around for a little while to give her time to self-regulate and calm herSELF down.

I made a discovery about myself:

I am reluctant to stay at or return to an activity where my daughter is overwhelmed to the point that her self-regulation is compromised. When I have to do more work for her than she does for herself, we're DONE. Time to find a place where she feels competent and not overwhelmed where she can manage the things she can for herSELF.

7 comments:

Daniel "Captain" Kirk said...

"When I have to do more work for her than she does for herself, we're DONE."

I think that's a good rule.

Autismland Penny said...

I'm sorry. Maybe try a smaller league. i found the one that the smaller kids bowl on where you get the ball at the end worked better for Logan. It was usually smaller in size and not so chaotic in the alley. What stage is she in now?

PaintCrazy said...

I do the same for my ADHD/SI/LD/ODD son. When he starts to get overwhelmed - we are done. There are places that even do it to my daughter as a very mature 11 year old. Small doses of the overwhelming I think are good - you have to stretch their ability to deal - but you just can't over do it.

Penny said...

Penny, Stage 3.

Prince Andrew and the Queen Mum said...

well- then me thinks we'd never go anywhere... LOL

walking said...

Maybe just go bowling with a few friends and nothing organized for scaffolding . . .

Penny said...

We do bowl w/ friends, occasionally. There were problems getting started (we were early, everyone else was late) that just got us off on the wrong foot.

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