Behavior 1-5

More as a note to me, to remember to look this up.

Another online mama was searching for some behavior issue help and I remembered there is the neatest book that walks kids through how to tell when they are at a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 - I just did a google search and I cannot find it. I browsed my way through it a while ago and it looked great.

I didn't buy it thinking that I should be able to find the resources on line for free... ummm haven't had luck with that yet.

The book is for autistic kids; which I am sure stops a lot of parents from picking it up, BUT - it is really neat.

The kids create their own chart about how their body feels when they are at a 1 (great) 2 (OK) 3 (starting to get agitated) 4 (agitated and a 5 (complete implosion).

They identify what makes them feel a 1 - 5. AND they get a chance to identify what parents look like from a 1-5. Plus I saw at one point that siblings were also asked to rate their siblings, in an effort to understand eachother.

This is clearly NOT done when someone is at a 5 and is done on a one to one basis. Not like you would have a sibling do it for the other when s/he is right there.

It is really basic, but it guides them to start listening to their own body and what it is telling them. Example if you or your child realized he was at a 4, dinner alone, time away from siblings, quiet music, favorite stash of games/books in his room may have avoid him getting to 5, or something like that.

It is also a way to identify the feelings, before you are getting frustrated with the behaviors.