These tips have all been sent in by other parents, carers and professionals in the learning disability community. We hope they will give you plenty of ideas to try, but please remember Netbuddy is not responsible for the information provided or any of the activities suggested.
Netbuddy and scope celebrating fathers of children and adults with special needs everywhere
Try replacing repetitive behaviour with another activity that has the same function. For eg if your child flicks their fingers for visual stimulation, try giving them a kaleidoscope or a bubble gun.
When my son was little he didn't show any interest in toys, and I had to help him develop a curiosity for learning. I'd pick up an object, like a leaf or a pebble and turn it around in my hands talking about it, encouraging him to look at it and feel it. Children with learning disabilities do learn, but they need to be guided.
If someone doesn't like having their hair brushed, it could just be the brush you're using. Try a variety of different brushes to find one they like the feel of.
My son is obsessed with dinosaurs so I've written a social story about meeting a polite dinosaur, and I've built into the story the behaviours I want him to stop in public. Has worked a treat! Trying a story about over eating next.
We have got a plastic over-door shoe holder for keeping syringes, flexitainers, giving sets etc in. It doesn't take up any room, and it's see-through so everything is easy to find.
