Comments on: How was your day?

By: ttfn

ttfn — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:49:25 +0000

Maddy, love the way you pass on a good idea w/alittle humor. I usually ask my dd four good questions before she shuts me down with “I don’t know” 1. What was the best part about your day. 2. What was the worst part? 3. Who did you sit by at lunch? 4. Who was absent today?

I have thought about trying a new thing with her where I will ask her to find out one thing about one of her classmates that she didn’t know before by asking them a question. The problem would be of course, that I never know what type of question my little sweetie-pie might ask and don’t want to get an “angry” letters or comments from other parents. Ha!

Anyways, I enjoyed the blog.
ttfn (cis)

By: Tanya @ TeenAutism

Tanya @ TeenAutism — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:39:30 +0000

You are amazing – this is such a helpful idea!

By: susieshomemade

susieshomemade — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:01:14 +0000

What a great idea!!! Awesome tackle!!

By: bad mommy

bad mommy — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:41:48 +0000

Wow. I probably would NEVER have come up with this. I had the great good luck of sending my youngest to a special school where concrete answers regarding their day (in pictures as well as words) were sent home daily. Towards the end of the year, my son could circle the pictures for himself and write a little blurb (or dictate one). I would read this, ask concrete questions about it, and write back to the teacher what he did at home in a space provided. This gave us all plenty of concrete information with which to work in coaxing verbal responses out of the boy.

Had I needed to come up with something like this on my own, we’d still be playing charades! You are a much more creative mother than I.

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:15:43 +0000

This is genius. I hope, when you say you could write a book, that you will.

By: colleen_mouse

colleen_mouse — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:49:08 +0000

That sounds like a great idea…my son has started being pretty verbal…but having a back and forth conversation or answering more than yes no questions isnt there yet….I think you sheets/questions sounds like a great idea!

By: Trish

Trish — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:08:20 +0000

As I am reading this, I am thinking of how it could apply to my son, who is extremely verbal and will talk nonstop when he chooses, but when asked about school will say, “Look at my binder” b/c he knows the teacher sends home a sheet each day.

I like the written list of questions b/c then they know what will be asked and when it will be over. We are told to reward the behavior we want, but does my son think it is a reward that nicely answering a question only earns him another question??

Thank you for sharing this and walking us through it.

By: athina

athina — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:47:05 +0000

I just love the way you think Maddy when it comes to helping your boys with their issues! And, guess what? We do that, too, except that we don’t use charts because my son just recently started to read, so we do the whole thing verbally. I think it is very helpful for him and as you said, it’s routine that makes it easier.

By: mama mara

mama mara — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:29:59 +0000

“I could write a whole book on just this one issue…”, you say? Seems to me you’ve got a pretty good start. Write the darned thing already so I can run to the store and hoard copies.

By: calina

calina — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:36:49 +0000

What a great conversation starter! I think by seeing the charts it helps them remember better.

Even though I attend all outings with my DD, I still like to ask questions to my kids at dinner and bed time. What was your favorite part of today? My special needs child doesn’t feel as intimidated because I’m also asking of other family members. By her listening, it’s modeling better verbal skills. I must say that my “non-verbal in public child” usually has some interesting answers. She sees things in the most minute detail, many times I miss these things or forget them.