Housework, cleaning, and chores, oh my!
When I ask Patrick to clean up his room, he says "I don't know how". When I specify and point to things and tell him where they go he says "I can't do it".
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm convinced I've dropped the ball here. There was a time, yes, when autism prevented us from being able to negotiate something like cleaning. But I believe we've past that point.
It isn't that he doesn't want to work. He takes his dishes from the table and his laundry to the appropiate spot. But there's something about cleaning up the books and tiny little toys strewn all accross his floor that turns him into 'the child who won't do anything'
Tomorrow we're taking the drastic (and a slightly opposite) approach. I'm sweeping everything out into the hallway. If he wants an item he'll have to take it into his room and find a place (and I'm more than willing to stand there with him going through each and every item). Anything not chosen for the room will be given to goodwill unless it's something that obviously should go in the basement playroom.
Older brother will go through the same process but independantly(he does manage to keep a clean room most of the time, but has let it slide lately). Should be a fun day. Wish us luck!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm convinced I've dropped the ball here. There was a time, yes, when autism prevented us from being able to negotiate something like cleaning. But I believe we've past that point.
It isn't that he doesn't want to work. He takes his dishes from the table and his laundry to the appropiate spot. But there's something about cleaning up the books and tiny little toys strewn all accross his floor that turns him into 'the child who won't do anything'
Tomorrow we're taking the drastic (and a slightly opposite) approach. I'm sweeping everything out into the hallway. If he wants an item he'll have to take it into his room and find a place (and I'm more than willing to stand there with him going through each and every item). Anything not chosen for the room will be given to goodwill unless it's something that obviously should go in the basement playroom.
Older brother will go through the same process but independantly(he does manage to keep a clean room most of the time, but has let it slide lately). Should be a fun day. Wish us luck!
posted by mumkeepingsane | 5:01 PM
3 Comments:
Oh.my. Wishing you LOTS of luck! LOL
I am horrible about making my three year olds (with autism) pick up anything. It's all very "hand-over-hand" and slow.
But, the other day an electronic toy was bothering G's ears. He picked it up, opened the correct cupboard, put it away and shut the door!
So he can do it, but how do I get him to???
Good luck with your plan. Sounds good.
Joe and I discussed this exact same issue with M. It seems it is far too overwhelming. So, we are going to have to make a list and break it down into tasks. If she thinks of it all at once she panics and then cries. Hopefully breaking it down into steps will help her. Good luck!
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