Who is spinning at the playground?

We can never really know how David is going to act when we go somewhere we've either never been before or not been to for a long time. Like many with autism David likes to know what he's doing when we go somewhere. It doesn't need to be complicated, we are here for 'lunch' or 'play' and to be honest that covers a lot of things. He often uses Makaton and some sounds to repeat and let us know he's got the message.

Today we had 45 minutes with nothing to do while Anthony was at his cooking club. After is driven past the two closest playgrounds to the school which were both dismissed due to be heaving, I went to one that was next to a pay and display car park. Sometimes these playgrounds are a bit quieter and this was the case today, even though it was still a gloriously sunny afternoon.

I think it's been nearly a year since I've taken Jane and David to this playground so like many adventures with our kids I didn't know what David might do or how he might react. The destination had be labelled for 'play'. He walked in, iPad in hand. I pointed towards a spinner, his favourite playground apparatus and he was soon spinning around.  This really appeals to his sensory seeking but after a little while he went off for a wander.

Jane and I followed him around as he tried out most of the equipment. He particularly seemed to enjoy a spinner at an angle and some bouncy bugs. He'd been on one of these for a few seconds when another child stood nicely waiting in a queue type style and I asked her if she would like a turn.

The little girl noddy politely as I looked at David and wondered if this might cause upset.

"Little girl's turn, then David's turn," I said and gently prised my son of the spinner.

"David wait, then David's turn."

I looked at him nervously thinking that the next second would be one second too long but that second never came. The girl finished and David had another go that lasted a good while, but with no one else lining up he could take as long as he liked.

After a while he finished on this and the rest of the playground and headed over to the buggy. This is David's way of telling us he has finished playing.

"Finished?" I asked.

"Shed," David said... And signed.

We piled back into the car and headed back to school to pick up Anthony. Good, not a disaster at the playground. Even better I was wonderfully pleased with David. There are more and more of these things going well and that's such a relief. Best get home before it falls apart I thought!

Links
Our blog - Potato handler and crumble creator
Our blog - A ray of sunshine - autism at the playground

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