Autism, Aspergers, PDD/NOS, ADD/ADHD

[okiemommy]

I have been thinking about making him a weighted pressure blanket. The price to buy one is insane, but I imagine that is due to shipping charges

ha ha ha probably.



You could make them

Get some material, any kind you want to use, and get some dried rice...in bulk of course

and sew sections into it. as you fill up the section with rice, sew it up and move onto the next section until you fill all of the sections up, and you have a weighted blanket

 

[Wifezilla]

Any filler would have to be something that wont expand when something gets spilled on it

(notice I said WHEN not IF)

 

[crazy hen quartet]

Quote:
Oh my, imagine a blanket full of wet and expanding rice... lol (or not!)

I wonder if it is easy to find the poly beads most companies use. Hmmmm

 

[okiemommy]

True.....Sand with plastic liner, corn, beans...those expand too, so those are out....pea gravel.

Still I'm sure it's possible to make it oneself and likely cheaper. Still thinking of what to fill it with.

ETA: so far the poly beads that I've found range between $18 and $22 for a 20 oz bag. Maybe change the design of it so that there is one opening at the end that opens up to "tube chutes" where you can put pre-filled bags of rice, or something else, as long as it's not over a dollar an ounce, then seal it up.

If you give me some more ideas of how it won't work, I can keep refining

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I have a neck wrap that is filled with millet/birdseed that does the same thing as rice. I have never soaked millet in water, but maybe it would not expand. Would that solve some of the problem?

Also, I am a music teacher. Four times a week I teach music to a class of autistic children in grades 3-5. At this point, I teach them songs and group dances, as well as xylophones (great for the non-verbal kids). We do lots of rhythm and community building activities that require passing things to each other or touching each others' knees in rhythm as we sing. It was hard for the kids to do when I started with them a year and a half ago. Now the kids ask for these activities. I weave new activities with old favorites, and watch for signs of stress from them. Whoever is getting the most stressed, I try to make the next activity one of their personal favorites.

As parents of autistic children, what suggestions would you have for me? What kind of things would you want me to try?

I wish you all the best. I hope you figure this out. I wish someone would figure it out for the students in my music class.

 

[okiemommy]

......I don't think birdfood does expand...

As for advice for the kids in your music class, I don't have much advice for you we just officially found out that our child has Autism.

I do know that you can visit Autism.org and The Autism Society of America. They may have an educator section/membership available.

 

[Wifezilla]

Ooo! Pea gravel! I've got plenty of that!

 

[crazy hen quartet]

OrpingtonManor:

http://www.epitelomusic.com/musicandautismguide.htm

I am sure there must be professionals out there that would be happy to share their experience and knowledge with you to help you come up with lessons and techniques that could help a lot in your situation.

I know there are often autism conferences in CA that have special curriculum for educators, you should look around online and see what you can find.

Every kid is different, but I know my son HATED music with words, and would cry if sang to - which made birthdays difficult. However, he loved ambient music and even minimal types of music with no apparent melody or form, just what I consider a collection of noises.

On the blanket.... I thought of sand but wondered if it would sneak thru small gaps? Sand in the bed... ACK!
If I were to make a weighted blanket I think I would have to have a removable cover to wash.

 

[Wifezilla]

My son LOVES AC/DC

He does get mad if you sing along. We figured it was because if you are the slightest bit off on pitch or timing, he could notice.

He also can do a dead on Bon Scott imitation...but he wont sing if anyone is watching.

 

[okiemommy]

Every kid is different, but I know my son HATED music with words, and would cry if sang to - which made birthdays difficult. However, he loved ambient music and even minimal types of music with no apparent melody or form, just what I consider a collection of noises.

My son hates it when we sing also....and yes, birthday are a pain in the rear end. AND he's a TWIN....so it's not like we can't sing to his brother....

He's okay with music with words. Most of the time. But DONT sing along to it! lol

on the blanket....you could make it with just about any stuffing you wanted to as long as waterproof material was used. I'm not a sewing officianado, so I didn't think of that. I wonder how expensive that is

There are always sales though, and craigslist and freecycle too. It could be made in the waterproof material and then cover it in super soft material like a duvet cover.



I am learning so much from this thread. I hope that other people come in and share their experiences also.​