Things we do on a daily basis for sensory fun!
Please share any other ideas you may have...
* Play with playdo/silly putty/bubber (bubber was so messy we ended up taking it outside)!
* Bathtub foam (you can buy this, or use shaving cream--the kids LOVE it)!
*Climbing wall (we are blessed to have one right across the street at Aiden's school).
*Slide--Aiden loves to climb UP the slide, and I have no problem with that!
*The mall's balance beam--Aiden is a PRO at this :)
*Swing--Aiden's favorite activity in our backyard! I use a lot of words when I push him, and he is catching on!
*Sit N' Spin--Aiden did it on his own the first time!
*Hand painting--Aiden loves to paint his hands and make pictures...Austin too!
*Blanket rides--the boys LOVE this activity! I pull them all over the house on a blanket!
*Pillow fight/pillow sandwich--LOTS of laughs from both boys with this one!
*Touch/feel books (I need to make another trip to the library)...Aiden is really getting into books now!
*Bean bin--Aiden likes to find the objects in the beans; this is a great way to teach him words too!
*Rollarcoasters/carnival rides--we were blessed to take Aiden on his first rollarcoaster this year, and to the local Fair!
Speech Therapy
A door opened for Aiden...there is a free program at the Waisman Center for children who have difficulty with speech/language. Aiden will start this in September. That means he will have at least 1 hour of speech therapy 5 days a week! I'm so grateful! Aiden is making slow gains in this area. I try my best to talk often, but I'm really "out of my element" in that regard. There is only so much "labeling" and story telling I have within me. He still has trouble asking for things (he usually pulls me to them), and he doesn't respond when I encourage him to use his words. I'm trying to give Aiden choices as much as possible, but he doesn't seem to understand the concept yet. I'll keep trying...
You are a wonderful mother...and therapist!! ( Yeah, I know...you're thinking "I could USE a therapist right now...for me!") You will feel that way much of the time, so get used to it, but even when you think you've failed, you will be surprised at how much you have really done. The results are noticeable so much later! Keep going!
ReplyDeleteIt would seem your child might have a processing problem? Words can sound like a train...you hear "chug, chug, chug" when the train is going slowly, but what is the sound when the train is going faster? The words might be getting lost...slow your speech down. I've used this with people who have had strokes and they thanked me later. They said, "Everyone talked louder, but you spoke softly and spoke slowly. It helped me understand." One of the first phrases that came out of the mouth of my son was, "Don't talk!" Talking was an irritation to him. Think of how it would feel if you didn't speak a language and people were constantly speaking in that language!! You need to SHOW him and use the words with it. Just work on very few things that interest him. What does he like? Use it! It took until the age of 10 before my son spoke in sentences, but he speaks like a pro now! I thought he would never speak in sentences! He still makes some little mistakes in speech, but they are not that noticeable. He says, " I like Pierce Brosnan as James Bond than Daniel Craig." He forgets to say "more". However, people understand him. That's about the only mistake now! In fact, he never stops speaking. Sometimes, we have to remind him to take turns in conversation. This is where games taught him so much! Turn taking. Also, language!!! In a simple Chutes and Ladders game, you say, "Go up the ladder. Go down the chute! Go forward. It's not your turn. Now, it's your turn." You also count and either roll dice or spin which teaches numbers.There is so much language in this sort of game!! Also in Candy Land! Good games to start with for language! It's a slow process. It's like scrubbing a floor with a toothbrush...small strides. Other wonderful games are Simon Says, because it teaches parts of the body. "Simon says touch your elbow."
My son didn't even pull me to things! He just screamed and expected me to figure it out! So, your son is communicating his needs! That's a sign of intelligence. This is probably why he is not as combative as some kids. He CAN communicate some of his needs. If he takes you to the refrigerator, say, "Milk? (while holding up the milk in one hand) or "juice?" whiling doing the same with the other hand. It's ok if he points for now. Just repeat slowly, "Aiden wants milk" Does he respond to his name? Does he come to you when you call him? If not, you need to either physically move him to you or play a game where you call names out and the kids must do something. Just make one up. I made up tons of educational games for my son. I wish I had kept them. The school laminated them and kept them for other children. Does Aiden like music? Play musical games with words...teach him the abc song. That's very important because speaking may be difficult since he has not spoken much. The muscles of the mouth may need to be developed (apraxia), so saying the abc's (or singing) may be a good way to develop those muscles and make it easier for him to talk. Plus, he might like the repetition!
One hour of speech therapy five days a week is great!! Good going! It helped me to go to these sessions, but I don't know if it is possible for you. I learned how to give therapy at home and follow up on what he learned. If it isn't possible, have them send things to you so you know what they are working on. The more you reinforce it, the better! It's frustrating. Do not expect him to learn language at the same pace as other children. He'll catch on one day and then catch up to some extent. LIfe teaches us patience sometimes.
Sometimes children put their hands on the washing machine. It is because they seek proprioception, which means that their brain is only getting messages intermittently. The extra vibration to the hands and sometimes the feet, arms, legs, mouth, etc. may help get messages to the brain. Anything that vibrates is good. A vibrating toy or a back massaging vibrator...whatever, but it does help the brain! So this is actually a part of sensory integration therapy as well. Vibrating toothbrushes are good too!
ReplyDeleteAlso, with speech...even if your child can't speak yet, you can help him to understand more by helping to group objects with him. Again, you can make it a game. You can take things that are a part of a group and put them together. Like numbers or letters... or cars and trucks. The difference between cars and trucks is a subtle one for a child with processing problems...so you are teaching him to understand that difference and not to overgeneralize, which is much more important than speaking! Speech may come later...he needs the receptive language, so that he can find a reason to speak! This is a lot to take in. Just do one or two per day. You don't have to spend the whole day..but if you start to think therapeutically, you can teach all day long without you or he even knowing it! It becomes a way of life...If I'm saying too much, just tell me to back off! I know it's overwhelming. I've been there. Alone.