Social stories, charts, rewards, routines -- sometimes they work sometimes they don't. But today was an extraordinary day which I just wanted to jump up and down and scream hallelujah! My ASD boy has had a nasty cold the last 2 weeks and that was enough to blow his whole demeanor out of whack every day, every hour of that day and each minute out of that hour. Lightly said - the last two weeks have been extremely challenging.
Although today even with his cold and coughing all night long and struggling to wake up for school - which like I said has been routine for the last two weeks I decided to try something new. His biggest obsession right now is playing Wizard101 after school on the computer and completing missions. I decided to use that word - MISSIONS - into his morning routine today. It went something like this:
As I was waking him his twin brother was already walking out of the bedroom to get in for his shower. I told my asd son that he has a mission to complete this morning to earn his starbust candy after school. The mission was:
Part 1 - To treat his brother nicely and remember personal space (no popping bubbles) -- completed
Part 2 - be fully dressed for school before your brother exits the bathroom - completed...
Part 3 - Eat his breakfast and cleanup before 7:10 am -- completed
Part 4 - Brush teeth, brush hair, bathroom and out the door by 7:22pm -- completed
This was all a verbal mission given to him and he followed it to the T. This was the best morning I can literally remember and I am going back years. Was it the reward of the starburst or was it he was head strung in completing his Morning Mission. It worked - that is all I care about. I left his starburst on the table so he could see it when he came home from school with a note attached that said: Mission Completed - Congratulations, I am proud of you. Love Mom". He knew when he left for school that he completed the mission.
Well after school before the door knob left his hand coming into the home he was asking if he could have his starburst. He must of been thinking about it all day long. I decided once again to use the Mission tactic for his afternoon chores for Thursday. Mission was completed without any problems (although this time I did have it written down for him and he followed it step by step). His reward for that Mission was gum for school as it does help him focus more and most of his teachers allow him to chew it.
What a beautiful day it has been. Now I need to become more creative and give cute little names to these missions. How long will it be effective for I really do not know - but I will take it one day at a time.
I always said I love challenges since I was in high school - and oh boy, I sure was handled one that will last a life time and I wouldn't want it any other way. Thanks for reading and sorry there has been such delays in getting my blog out.
