Emotions

Part of our new routine is trying to teach Nathan how to understand emotions. He has very little understanding of his own or others' emotions. His awareness of the feelings of others is not accurate and other than very basic emotions, such as happy and sad and scared, he doesn't have an awareness of feeling.

One of the things we've been doing to help him, based on advice from a psychologist, is to use a chart like this one to help him identify facial expressions and the corresponding emotion. We have to do a lot of role playing to help him.

For example, if he does something that frustrates Stephen, Stephen needs to tell him, "Nathan, look at my face." "That makes me feel angry."

We also need to practice asking Nathan to identify how he is feeling. For example, "Nathan, you seem upset." "What are you feeling?"

This is going to take a lot of work! It's just something we have to incorporate into our daily responses with him. Most people develop an awareness of emotion and how to read others emotions fairly naturally. This is not something that has developed normally with Nathan and we definitely have our work cut out for us and it's something that affects us as a family.

So, now that we are coming to grips with Nathan's diagnosis and our new reality, we are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work!

Comments

  1. Dear Terri,

    I am happy that you are getting some ideas on how to help Nathan. I shall continue to keep your family in my prayers! Take care!

    Blessings!
    ~Nadine

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  2. You are approaching this in such a positive way, the only way really.
    I continue to pray for you.

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  3. You remain in my prayers Terri. Having worked with children who have difficulties in this area I understand a little of the hard work you are encountering.

    Most of us "just pick this sort of learning up as we go" so having to actually teach it is difficult because we can't remember how we learnt it in the first place :)

    It sounds like you are doing a grand job -with some good professional support.

    I am glad you have your sewing room - Mama needs some down time too! Take good care of yourself - you are a lovely Mum.

    God bless.

    Lynn.x.

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  4. Keep in mind that what is new about your 'new reality' is your understanding of Nathan. He, himself, has not changed.

    Some ideas:

    Watch taped TV programs with Nathan. You can pause the program and look at the actor's faces. That way you will get a variety of contexts and expressions.

    Also, doesn't Sesame Street now have segments that discuss feelings? There is a muppet based on Dr. Phil (Dr. Feel, I think) that explores emotions.

    The school where I volunteer has participated in a wonderful program called "Roots of Empathy". A new mother will bring her newborn baby into the classroom several times over the course of a year and allow the children to interact with it. The children learn how the infant learns to express feelings as it develops. This improves the children's 'emotional literacy'

    http://www.rootsofempathy.org/ProgDesc.html

    While this program is normally implemented in an elementary school setting, perhaps you could read the founder's book and replicate some of the strategies with the help of a mother and child of your acquaintance.

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