Misbehaviors occur in gym and Music

What may be behind what you’re observing:

• Kids with sensory sensitivities often have difficulty during such times
• Both subjects can be less structured and noisier than a regular classroom environment
• If you’re extra sensitive to sounds, music can be unnerving
• Gymnasiums are loud, echoey places
• If you have visual sensitivities, gyms are large where the ceiling can seem to stretch forever
• If you’re unsure of your balance or where your body is in space, gyms are treacherous
• If you’re tactile sensitive, you never know when you might be touched or bumped in gym
• If you can’t process well what you hear, gyms are loud places with a multitude of squeals, squeaks, shrieks and piercing whistles
• Some people can understand what they hear under quiet conditions but not when there is background noise

 Some things to try:

• use a visual schedule to help him know what is coming next
• the schedule can help him see that gym will not last forever
• try to place subjects he enjoys after and before gym
• if running laps around the gym starts his period off badly, let him sit out that part
• he could count the laps the other students run or time them
• let him walk, rather than run
• allow him to circle the gym, touching the walls with his hands - this may help him feel more grounded
• try a weighted vest, a bear hug vest or light ankle weights
• have him remain at the edge of the group so he does not feel hemmed in
• it often helps if the student feels he has some control over the situation, rather than fearing that things will be done to him
• try letting him blow the whistle (on your cue, of course)
• use social stories to describe what will happen in gym
• let him practice the game with an adult or a couple students before being asked to participate with the entire class in the gym
• show him what is expected, rather than telling him
• use visuals whenever possible