Good Sport, Part 2
We are continuing our brainstorm about strategies for helping a 6-year-old learn to be a good sport. His parents wrote that he gets very angry, screaming and hitting, when he doesn’t win a game or isn’t first in line. Our podcast yesterday focused on ways to raise awareness of good sportsmanship and more appropriate ways to express anger. Today we will look at some options for helping him practice these skills.
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SPECIFIC STRATEGY. One option might be to have a “GOOD SPORT Training Camp.” Announce to the family that for the next 5 weeks, you will have a friendly competition every day. Tell them that the games will be for fun and for helping everyone learn to be a good sport.
(1) Follow the discussion guidelines found in “Good Sport, Part 1.”
(2) Make a card for each family member to keep in their pocket or on their dresser that lists traits of a GOOD SPORT: (1) Do your best. (2) Enjoy winning. (3) Don’t make fun of others who do not win. (4) Stay cool if you lose. (5) If you lose, say, “Oh well, you win some and you lose some.” (6) If you get REALLY mad, go outside and shoot some baskets.
(3) Introduce a friendly competition every day – it could be a playing a board game, playing a card game, having a foot race, guessing the number of pennies in a jar, playing “Name That Tune,” or a fishing contest. You could fold paper airplanes and see which one goes the furthest. You could _______________________. You might start with games that involve teams or partners so your son has a partner to share the experience of “winning some and losing some.” The one-on-one competition can be added gradually.
(4) Recognize the winning team or individual. Encourage everyone in the family to model being a GOOD SPORT. Reward your buddy with a sticker on his card or a quarter or something every time he demonstrates good sportsmanship – win or lose.
The goals of the GOOD SPORT TRAINING CAMP are to raise your son’s awareness of good and bad sportsmanship, to help him learn specifically how to be a good sport, and to give him LOTS of chances to practice. It probably will not result in total harmony, but it may raise your son’s awareness of the issue and decrease the frequency and intensity of his melt downs.
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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