Commercial toys, tv and ASD - Page 3

[fluttermama]

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[dianamerrell]

Originally Posted by fluttermama

I disagree with you completely. I am not belittling any sort of struggle like you describe! How could I belittle that with two kiddos on the spectrum? If I can sit with my child and watch and describe a commercial to them, than I can sit with them at a park (like I described) and explain it to them or be with others (in the middle of a social setting which can be handled) and explain it to them. I have nothing against anyone using TV, I was simply offering the perspective that what you are getting from the TV as far as social skills can also be received from IRL interactions, and perhaps even better received from the interpersonal relating that they are taking part in.

I do not have a problem with your input, I think it is great to have both sides of a topic heard, and you bring up good points. I do have an issue with you saying it is just as "easy" to do it in real life. You really have no idea what is "easier" to anybody but yourself. You also say that your way "perhaps might be better received". Maybe on your child/children. No two children (even on the spectrum) are the same, and therefore what is "better" for one might not be for another.

I do believe that real life social experiences are the ultimate goal. For my son the tolerated experiences are very small at this time, we do park trips, family visits and parties and our local libraries and science centre. I also use tv as one tool to introduce my son to the wide confusing world, in a way that works for him.

[fluttermama]

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[kchoffmann]

This brings up some frustration for me as there are so many overly structured components of our culture that will rarely bend for more unique kids. The Waldorf world is most definitely one of them. My PDD-NOS son loves the waldorf environment - the toys, the singing, etc. But because the community is so intensely anti-technology, it's not really a place that welcomes most kids on the spectrum. Of course not all spectrum kids get as much as mine has from videos, etc. or can really benefit in the ways Brigianna shared. But mine does, and so this is one of the reasons we won't be considering waldorf as a schooling option. I feel defensive enough with all the ways my parenting is subtly judged in our culture since I have a spectrum kid. I don't need to throw myself to the sharks.

[dianamerrell]

Originally Posted by kchoffmann

This brings up some frustration for me as there are so many overly structured components of our culture that will rarely bend for more unique kids. The Waldorf world is most definitely one of them (I see the PP is a big advocate for it). My PDD-NOS son loves the waldorf environment - the toys, the singing, etc. But because the community is so intensely anti-technology, it's not really a place that welcomes most kids on the spectrum. Of course not all spectrum kids get as much as mine has from videos, etc. or can really benefit in the ways Brigianna shared. But mine does, and so this is one of the reasons we won't be considering waldorf as a schooling option. I feel defensive enough with all the ways my parenting is subtly judged in our culture since I have a spectrum kid. I don't need to throw myself to the sharks.

i agree, i really like the waldorf philosophy except for the anti-technology aspect. it is too bad there can not be a more middle ground for the kids who benefit from both waldorf and technology. i guess that is part of the reason we have chose unschooling, it can be whatever we want

[wonderwahine]

Originally Posted by dianamerrell

i agree, i really like the waldorf philosophy except for the anti-technology aspect. it is too bad there can not be a more middle ground for the kids who benefit from both waldorf and technology. i guess that is part of the reason we have chose unschooling, it can be whatever we want

yeah, I have looked at waldorf and montesorri both, and while I like parts of both, i am torn. So we are going to do semi unschooling, but I guess its unschooling still We will have cirriculum (not a strict one) and resources in an open place for ds to just go to whenever he wants to. I will feel out his needs as time goes on, he seems to benifit from a loose schedule, so I might enforce a little one eg outdoor learning in the morning and tv/books in the afternoon or something like that, We'll see how he goes as he ages.

[princesstutu]

I wish fluttermama hadn't deleted her posts. I am interested in what she had to say outside what was quoted.

I used to let my 5yo ASD son watch a lot of tv and he def. got a lot out of it. We couldn't go out and about b/c he had a hard time not running unless he was zoned out in front of the tv. Now, he can control his body better, so going out in public and people-watching is something we can do. He does it naturally, anyway, when he bothers noticing that others are around him.

Toys still don't hold a huge appeal and he doesn't like to play with them alone. I think it's b/c he has a hard time coming up with ideas.

[FreeRangeMama]

For those that mentioned interest in Waldorf aside from their anti-technology stance you might want to check out Enki

http://www.enkieducation.org/index.htm

They offer many waldorf inspired ideas as well as a strong sensory integration component. We are going to start first grade with ds and I am excited!

There are so many different ways to teach a child how to navigate social situations. TV doesn't seem like a realistic way for my ds because real life is much more subtle than the contrived scenarios on tv. I can just see him waiting for the exact scenario from a commercial to play out before his eyes (if boy A doesn't offer a candy bar to boy B it is an entirely different situation and the rules don't apply ). I can see how it could work for a child much less fixated on rules than my boy though.

We had a lot of success writing our own social stories, describing real life situations and all the different ways we could have handled them, making lists of what might happen when we were going somewhere (and all the ways we could respond if each thing happened), and just having me hover nearby so I could tell him what to say or do if he needed help.

I don't think anyone has said tv is wrong or been less than supportive, but it is good to see it as one of many tools we have to choose from.