All About Autism

[Snow24]

Hi


What activities can I do with child turning 3 to improve his fine motor skills to help in his pre.writing skills as child still can’t draw one straight line only scribbling,holding gripe is not correct and strong.

[zac's mum]

Snow24:

Hi


What activities can I do with child turning 3 to improve his fine motor skills to help in his pre.writing skills as child still can't draw one straight line only scribbling,holding gripe is not correct and strong.

Hi 2-3 years old is very early to expect to draw straight lines or hold the pencil properly, so don't worry too much. You are correct to look into pre-writing skills instead of specific writing skills, here are some ideas: https://teachingmama.org/prewriting-activities-for-preschoolers/

Try the easier and more fun ones. I also suggest Playdough (the most fun!)...if worried about the mess, just spread a big mahjong paper on the floor, strip him to diaper/underwear and ask him keep within that square of paper. My boy also liked tearing strips of rough paper/newspaper...for very fine motor skills, I let him peel off the white side of double-sided tape (after I helped by peeling a small corner first)...you can double-up the learning by having single words on the other side of the cardboard. Get him to paste the small cards in correct order on a bigger piece of paper (eg his Chinese name)

Oh and does he spoon feed himself at mealtimes? That is very useful for pre-writing as well. To contain the mess I just put a big food court-type tray under his bowl. Then just rinse off the tray after meals haha.

When he is ready for writing, I suggest start with erasable markers first, because there is less friction than a pencil or pen. Easier for them to write. Can either let him write on your mirror or other acceptable surface at home, otherwise can buy IKEA inclined easel whiteboard. Inclined surface is easier for beginners to write on than horizontal. When he's older u can buy those Kumon cards that allow marker tracing of alphabets.

[sharonkhoo]

Snow24:

Hi


What activities can I do with child turning 3 to improve his fine motor skills to help in his pre.writing skills as child still can't draw one straight line only scribbling,holding gripe is not correct and strong.

Duplo, jigsaws, clothes pegs, stickers, threading beads (big chunky ones), containers to open and close (screw tops, flip tops, tupperware type), anything with small pieces to pick up.

[okw10]

Hi all,


Just join this site today.
have a boy with ASD going P1 in 2018..

looking to share info and knowledge with fellow parents here.

[rxmsnow]

Be strong! Love and patience will work in the long run! Keep on!

[lowyanhuay]

Hi,

After doing all the assessment forms from the EIPIC, it seems like there will be no slots for my son for another 6 to 12 months. I am considering going private training for my son until he gets a slot. Can someone recommend some private therapy center for a reasonable price? The list provided to me by CDU is above or around 1500 a month for 2 consultations a week.

[okw10]

lowyanhuay:

Hi,

After doing all the assessment forms from the EIPIC, it seems like there will be no slots for my son for another 6 to 12 months. I am considering going private training for my son until he gets a slot. Can someone recommend some private therapy center for a reasonable price? The list provided to me by CDU is above or around 1500 a month for 2 consultations a week.

Can find out how old is your son? and has he been going for any therapy session at KKH or other places?

[kay_liz]

lowyanhuay:

Hi,

After doing all the assessment forms from the EIPIC, it seems like there will be no slots for my son for another 6 to 12 months. I am considering going private training for my son until he gets a slot. Can someone recommend some private therapy center for a reasonable price? The list provided to me by CDU is above or around 1500 a month for 2 consultations a week.

Hi... my 4yo is also referred to EIPIC and I was told she will get the slot in next year March. While waiting for the slot, she goes for her speech therapy at CDU.

What is your son diagnosed with? Mine has global developmental delay but the problem is more on her speech. I have called up DAS and they do have 1 to 1 speech and language therapy. Costs are on per term basis but i think less than 1500 for 10 lessons? Maybe u can check out their website: https://das.org.sg/

[Woon_D]

kay_liz:

lowyanhuay:

Hi,

After doing all the assessment forms from the EIPIC, it seems like there will be no slots for my son for another 6 to 12 months. I am considering going private training for my son until he gets a slot. Can someone recommend some private therapy center for a reasonable price? The list provided to me by CDU is above or around 1500 a month for 2 consultations a week.

Hi... my 4yo is also referred to EIPIC and I was told she will get the slot in next year March. While waiting for the slot, she goes for her speech therapy at CDU.

What is your son diagnosed with? Mine has global developmental delay but the problem is more on her speech. I have called up DAS and they do have 1 to 1 speech and language therapy. Costs are on per term basis but i think less than 1500 for 10 lessons? Maybe u can check out their website: https://das.org.sg/

DAS mostly provides therapy for children with Dyslexia. it might be worthwhile looking at other therapy centers close to your location or to look for home based-speech therapy services that would be more convenient and would promote better generalisation of skills learnt (speechbubbles.com.sg offers home-based speech therapy services).

For GDD cases, their overall development is slow. This would impact their development of their overall posture and tone. As speech requires the use of many fine muscles, like the tongue, palate, jaw and lips, it is considered to by a type of fine motor skill (like writing). Typical muscular development requires a child to adequately develop their core and trunk muscles before their speech muscles are properly developed. As such, try to focus more on their core and trunk muscles first.

However, seeing a speech therapist is also essential to help develop the necessary skills for your child to communicate. this includes your child's receptive language and to promote verbal behaviour to let your child know that she can use words to express herself. Please do not focus on the accuracy of her articulation yet. This would be counter productive and would discourage her to talk (i.e. \"everything i say is wrong... I might as well don't speak\").

[Woon_D]

Snow24:

Hi


I have a 2.5 years he don't seemed to understand verbal instructions well. I showed him the abstract symbol card he don't understand.

Then I shown him real object eg his shoes to tell him wear shoes.

How can I better communicate with him so that he understand or how should I communicate with him.

Snow24:

Hi

May I check if anyone can share how do you teach children what to do if they get lost from parent or how to prevent so that they stay in the group especial for asd child.

Hi, saw your question on how to communicate better with your child and how to keep your child safe/ ask for help from the forum 'all about autism'.

Just wanted to share my 2 cents from my experience with working with children with autism. Your questions are difficult to answer given that I do not at what level your child is functioning at. but here are some tips.

1) Qn on communication. Children with ASD are very self directed and tend to hyperfocus on objects but have difficulties attending to people. However, this does not mean that they do not want to communicate. They just have more innate difficulties that make communication difficult for them. First thing I would advise you to do would be to understand your child's sensory profile. Children with special needs have a lot of regulation needs. Your child may be hyper or hypo sensitive to tactile (touch), sound, proprioceptive (movement), visual stimuli. after knowing this, try to create an environment that is not over stimulating for your child. This could mean to make the room quieter/ play songs or noise in the background, let your child wear slippers/ make sure the floor is clean, choose an activity like sand play (kinetic sand) or water, etc. This would allow your child to regulate better and pay more attention to you. Second thing i would advice is to create opportunity for needs. look for things your child wants. Try to get him to request for items through very simple methods; even if it is just giving you eye contact or through the PECs system (when done correctly). The third thing I would do is to develop a play relationship with your child. There are several approaches for this. The Hanen approach is a common one that kkh also provides talk on. DIR floor time is another approach, in this approach, there are many steps for a successful implementation. But considering your child is only 2 coming to 3, it would be at the stage where the communication partner has to copy everything your child does to help him to notice you, connect with you. There is also a Relationship Development Intervention approach where you have 0 demands placed on your child but to get him to come to you because u have something fun with you. There are many more ways to increase meaningful communication exchanges with your child. if you are keen, do let me know and we can chat over the phone:)

2) Qn on safety. again, it is hard to say because, again, I do not know at which level your child is functioning at. However, this topic is a very common topic that most parents with children with ASD go through. Children with ASD are very self-directed and have difficulties with compliance and are poor at auditory processing. As such, the best way to go about this is for your child to deal with these difficulties through therapy (ABA or speech therapy). Therapy would help to increase your child's ability to listen, to follow the adult's lead, improve on their processing abilities, their language ability and overall behavioir.
It would also help for you to continually increase your child's awareness of dangers around him. This includes traffic rules, guidelines and routines. Structure and routines are the best way for them to understand what is going on around them.

I myself am a speech and language therapist:) so if you have any questions, or are interested to engage my services, let me know!:)

You can view my website and reviews on speechbubbles.com.sg or contact me at 97482908:)

Hope this helps!
Jia you!!:)