Kids with special needs, well at least my kids and the kids I have worked with, need to know in advance how to handle a situation or the results do not turn out well.
J wonders
S cries
L runs screams and jumps
None of these actions are helpful in the face of an emergency.
The key is to make the unfamiliar more familiar. To make a plan, and then continuously talk about the plan.
What do you do in case of a fire? An Earthquake? A Tornado?
With the concern of school shootings I have talked almost weekly with my older kids about how to handle the situation. My hope is that if the unthinkable happens at their school they will have the three steps I have given them ingrained enough in their head to be able to follow them.
For a fire we have two meeting places, one close and one farther. Both are places I think they can safely make it to by themselves.
We had Tornado drills regularly where we previously lived, whenever we heard the sirens. Now we are in CA and are learn ingot he best way to handle earthquakes.
In our house we also have a what to do if L runs away plan. The older kids are to remain calm, stay in one spot, and not to look for L. This way I can look for L and not have to worry about the other two, or mostly J wondering off.
We also have what to do when someone has a meltdown plan as well. Since all three of my children have weekly meltdown (how am I still sane?) the plan differs for each child. When L was having major rages the older kids hung out in the bathroom (the only door that still has a handle). When J is loosing it the girls go hang out in their room. When S is melting down you are not allowed within sticking distance. Even raging she hates to move.
It is only because my kids know the plan, repeat the plan, and practice the plan that I can successfully manage.
No comments:
Post a Comment