I'd really appreciate tips and advice about what to do with a very high energy, loud, risk taker who has sensory issues and a need to jump, climb, bounce, run full speed, and crash.
I've had several pediatricians describe my son as "self-directed" which basically sums up that he doesn't listen. He hears, he understands, he doesn't respond. He's very much self-directed.
So I often use motivation and that works about half the time.
He's also a negotiator and he will sometimes take a time out or time in in exchange for doing whatever behavior I am telling him he must stop. He often will say "what kind of time out? how long?" and then decide if it's worth it to continue and usually he decides it is. So that isn't working.
The big issue is with safety things, like staying out of window ledges. My son is constantly climbing and hanging out in the window ledges. I lock the windows, but he unlocks them, opens them, and then hangs out in them. I have disciplined and explained to him many, many times why he can not do this. He continues it as part of his thrill seeking.
The other thing is running off. He takes off full speed several times a day. Just takes off and doesn't come back when I call. I have to run after him and clench his hand tight whenever we go anywhere. He just loves - craves - the motion and he is a bit like Forest Gump in the movie where Forest starts running and then just keeps running. My son reminds me of those scenes all the time.
Any ideas?
I've had several pediatricians describe my son as "self-directed" which basically sums up that he doesn't listen. He hears, he understands, he doesn't respond. He's very much self-directed.
So I often use motivation and that works about half the time.
He's also a negotiator and he will sometimes take a time out or time in in exchange for doing whatever behavior I am telling him he must stop. He often will say "what kind of time out? how long?" and then decide if it's worth it to continue and usually he decides it is. So that isn't working.
The big issue is with safety things, like staying out of window ledges. My son is constantly climbing and hanging out in the window ledges. I lock the windows, but he unlocks them, opens them, and then hangs out in them. I have disciplined and explained to him many, many times why he can not do this. He continues it as part of his thrill seeking.
The other thing is running off. He takes off full speed several times a day. Just takes off and doesn't come back when I call. I have to run after him and clench his hand tight whenever we go anywhere. He just loves - craves - the motion and he is a bit like Forest Gump in the movie where Forest starts running and then just keeps running. My son reminds me of those scenes all the time.
Any ideas?
I did enroll him for a time, and it was great. It didn't resolve the urges he has and the inclinations, but it gave him a good outlet. He was thrilled and had a great deal of fun. But it didn't stop or slow him outside of class.
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what about removing him? Is it possible to all but live at the park and outside? Of course, I don't know how practical that will be for you with the weather.
: My nephew is very much a sensory-seeking 3-year-old, and both of these suggestions work great for him. I sometimes have him run laps under the guise of playing Simon Says.
