Does Any One Know Of A Movie Theater That Has A Night Just For Special Need Children? My Daught Want To Go To Movies
It is very challenging just to take her to the store without have to Carrie her out screaming and hollering. It can be very embarrassing with people looki ng at me like I am crazy.
I would recommending working on coping/desensitization techniques to aversive stimuli and sensory input. Sensory issues is probably the first barrier for many. There is also AMC viewings that are sensory friendly. https://www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-fr...
I dont know if you have an AMC theatres in your area but they have sensory friendly film regularly. If you go to their website or call them you can find out the times. I had the same problem with my daughter and they were so friendly and understanding. I've even taken her to some early showings at the another theatre in my area that didnt have sensory friendly showigs around 10 or 11am during the week when there was hardly anyone there.
Hi @A MyAutismTeam Member
My son always wears hearing protectors (headphones) at movie theaters. This way he is not overwhelmed by loud noises. In addition, I barely take him to a grocery shopping. He has olfactory over-sensitivity, so smells from deli, butcher's counter, fresh fish have overstimulated him, and meltdowns and tantrums have been triggered until now. He is oversensitive to a cold weather, so wearing a down jacket when other kids manifest in shorts is a regular thing. He is under stimulated for a vestibular input during winter, so some 'awkward' movements like swirling in a door threshold take place.
I used to be embarrassed by my child's behaviors in public and paid too much attention to strangers' stares and comments, taking them on the account of my parenting skills, until I didn't find out about his sensory problems. So, it's my responsibility as a parent to advocate for him, to protect him from misunderstanding, to plan ahead our outings and to prevent his outbursts. I'm not covering up that my son has ASD anymore, I openly explain it to a Subway guy asking or demanding to make a sandwich for my son this particular way, and I don't care about strangers rolling their eyes anymore. This is MY CHILD ! and who are they - passing by in 10 sec time log?
My child's well-being and comfort prevails everything else. It took me many years to come to this understanding and position. I'm walking on eggshells for 10 years out of his 13.
I'm NOT an OT, MD, LSWC, PhD, but I have my Sonshine with either ASD or PDD-NOS or maybe another 'D'.
I assume that:
Your child is screaming and hollering because she could be overstimulated with noises, smells, lights, kaleidoscope of images and crowds. Try to find out what overwhelms her and triggers her behaviors: Is she sensitive to loud sounds and covers her ears, being irritated by smells, prefers to be in low-lightened rooms? If you have OT support, I would recommend to ask for their explanations. Otherwise, just do observations, fill some questionnaires used for neurological evaluations. And the most important - parent's love and attention is child's best lifesaver and defense. Good Luck!
If you can't find a special showing, we try to go to the early showing of a kids movie at a 3 dollar theater. I don't think it's a perfect formula but he kind of gets away with it because he is 3, other kids are talking and it's only three bucks so if things get bad we can go home- haven't yet. Trying to pick movies that are loud or have a lot of singing so that when he screams or talks it is drowned out most of time by the noise. Lego movie almost worked but went 30 mins longer than necessary. Also, we give him popcorn (and water) and much of the time he is eating that. That can backfire when it runs out (we buy a large and pour his portion into the little cardboard boxes they have to pace his popcorn eating. I also take some favorite foods in my purse just in case. I do get nervous when we take him there but dad seems unphased.
in new smyrna there is an indoor bounce place called that one fun place that does sensory night!
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