Unfortunately, it's not always reasonable to go out in the backyard and swing. Especially during the summer, when the heat is scorching and the mosquitoes are relentless.
So, we decided to get this nifty indoor swing from IKEA. Now both my boys can swing whenever they like as long as they like.
It's a good thing. Except when it's too much of a good thing.
The first day we had the swing, Little Brother couldn't get enough. He swung back and forth and twisted all around non-stop for about half an hour.
Much to my delight, he was finally getting it all out of his system.
Then, much to my dismay, he literally got it all of out his system....right onto the kitchen floor!
My children have never vomited after swinging before, so this shocked me a little. I called our occupational therapist, who graciously explained to me that Little Brother's body is under-responsive to vestibular input. His body is not perceiving the swinging motion in a normal way, so it never feels like enough. He craves more even when his body cannot tolerate it any longer. This is why he vomited.
Ironically, my two children are on opposite ends of the spectrum in this regard. Little Brother is under-responsive, while Big Brother is over-responsive. Big Brother was never a big fan of the swing as an infant. While he's gotten more interested over the years, he's always been very quick to say "enough".
The good news is that swinging will help both boys regulate their vestibular systems, as long as it is done in a controlled manner (ideally under the guidance of an occupational therapist). For example, when twisting it's important to always go an equal number of times in each direction. Also, it may be helpful to switch positions on the swing if the child can't seem to get enough. Most importantly, watch the child carefully for signs that they've had "too much" even if they don't say so.
As I write this, I'm laughing at how silly all this sounds. Yes, my child swung too much and threw up. End of story. I know, I know. It just helps me to understand why, and how I can help him in the future.
I've never done a giveaway before, but I have the opportunity give one of my readers a very valuable gift. I love to give people free stuff! So, here goes.
WHAT YOU WILL WIN
A free spot in the next training course through World Wide Montessori Online, which starts in September. Along with the training, you will receive 12 albums of curriculum materials (over 5,000 pages of materials)...a $240 value. This course is designed for educators, homeschoolers, or parents who are interested in learning more about Montessori methods.
HOW TO ENTER
There are five ways to enter. Do any (or all) of the following:
Then come back here and leave a comment (with your email address) telling me what you did. If you are already doing any of these things, be sure to say so in your comment. You will receive one entry for each way that you are following one of my two blogs, Raccoon School and Healthy, Green and Frugal. So, you could get as many as five chances to win!
I will randomly choose a winner on August 5, 2011. I will contact the winner directly via email. If I do not receive confirmation from that winner within 48 hours, I will randomly-choose another winner. Once I receive email confirmation, I will post the winner's name here.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH WORLD WIDE MONTESSORI
This time last year I enrolled in an online training course throughWorld Wide Montessori Online. I had recently come to the decision to homeschool. Although I was a certified public school teacher with a master's degree in elementary education, I wanted to know more about Montessori teaching methods.
I was struggling to learn as much as I could on my own. My homeschooler friend from Sunrise Learning Lab, who has a professional background in Montessori education, suggested I consider World Wide Montessori Online.
A year into my training, I'm so glad I enrolled. Although I'm far from being a full-fledged Montessori homeschooler, the knowledge I've gained from this course has revolutionized my approach to teaching and parenting.
I wasn't looking for an official Montessori certification. I just wanted help implementing Montessori methods at home. That's exactly what the course offers. Here's what I like about the course:
It's very laid back. You can do as much (or as little) as you like. All the materials and lectures are presented online, so there's no set time-frames that must be followed. You can give your attention to it when it's a good time for you.
You get a lot of curriculum materials. You get them all electronically, so you will have to decide whether you want to invest the time and resources into printing all out. Alternatively, you can just view them on your computer and print out materials as needed.
Direct instruction for me (not just the kids). The course provides lots of detailed information about the philosophies behind Montessori, and how to implement it.
Support from a Montessori-trained professional. You have easy access to the woman behind the course, Karen Tyler, AMS. She's always been very helpful to me when I have questions.
An international learning community. One of my favorite parts of the class is the opportunity to connect with fellow students from around the world. I would say most of the students are homeschoolers, and a number of them have children with sensory issues.
Let me know if you have any questions about the training or the giveaway. Good luck!!!
I recently bought this little devise to help Little Brother with that important, but sometimes illusive "tripod grasp". He knows he is is suppose to hold his pencil "like a tripod", but he often fumbles around endlessly trying to acheive it.
I'm hoping this tool will help him as much as Big Brother's helped him. These pictures were taken about a year ago, when Big Brother was four. His fine motor strength was very poor and his grasp was inconsistent.
What a difference a year makes! He only had to use this device a few times to learn to recognize what a tripod grasp should feel like. The pinky and the ring finger should be down (those fingers hold down the dolphin charm as a reminder).
His fine motor strength has improved tremendously. We've done lots of activities that develop fine motor strength, and I believe this has really helped him with his writing. He's gone from not ever wanting to hold a crayon to actually asking to color and write.
I got Little Brother's gripper from Rainbow Resource Center for around $1. Big Brother's devise was given to us by his OT. Similar products available all over the internet at very reasonable prices.
For example, I see that you can buy both of these items shown above (as well as lots of other grip tools) from Therapro. The Handi-Writer is $5.29, and the Writing Claw Grip comes in multi-packs starting at around $9. I don't recall ever shopping at Therapro before, but I just so happened to receive their catalog today.
Little Brother saw this coloring book at the doctor's office and said, "Look Mommy, he's sitting like a W!" Why yes, he certainly is!
As you may know, W-sitting is common among kids with sensory issues. They do it to compensate for low muscle tone. It's not an ideal way to sit, and should be avoided. Big Brother has always sat like a W, and our OT told us the best way for us to correct it is through core-strengthening exercises and lots of reminders. I think I say, "sit like a butterfly" about a million times each day.
Anyway, it got me thinking....Linus has sensory issues! Not only does he sit like a W, but he also carries a blanket and sucks his thumb. Plus, he's smart and has an impressive vocabulary. These are all common traits of sensory kids!
Linus has always been one of my favorite Peanuts characters,
and now I like him even more.
This past week we realized that Little Brother, who is three and a half, hasn't been sucking his fingers! He started this habit not long after he turned one. That was almost two and a half years ago.
This kind of dramatic change certainly wasn't on my radar. We can't think of any reasons to explain it. The last picture I could find with him sucking his fingers was from about a month ago.
I'm amazed that he just stopped without any prompting. I'm even more amazed that as much as a month has gone by without me noticing this major shift that was happening right under my nose.
I guess I always expected Big Brother, who is five and a half, to give up his finger-sucking habit first. My reasoning was that if I could manage to get Big Brother to stop first, then I'd work on Little Brother next. All the while, Little Brother was working it out for himself just fine, and Big Brother is still sucking away.
I guess it goes to show that all children have their own set of sensory issues and develop at their own pace. Perhaps this experience will help me to remember that cajoling and harassing a child to do something (or stop doing something) before they are are developmentally ready doesn't do anything except drive us both crazy!
Although I'm thrilled that Little Brother has outgrown this habit naturally without a single bit of muss or fuss, I have to admit it's so, so, so hard to see yet another little piece of his baby self disappear.
I want him to grow up, but I want him to stay little.
Even though I feel good about our choice to homeschool, I still have a little sadness sometimes that my boys miss out on a lot of the fun social aspects of being in traditional school.
Yesterday, my boys got a chance to experience some of those simple pleasures. We had a another homeschool family over for a playdate. It just so happens, they are dealing with sensory issues as well.
It's the type of playdate I've always envisioned....we conducted science projects and looked through the microscope, we studied a snake and drew pictures, we sculpted playdough and swam in the pool, we read books and ate lunch, and we had lots of unstructured cooperative play time.
To the kids, it was all fun. To me and the other mom it was heartwarming. It was a good day, and I hope to have lots more homeschooling playdates just like this one.
Check out my guest post today on Our Journey Through Autism called, Fruit Roll-Up Fingers. I give a step-by-step explanation for implementing this this fun and delicious oral-motor activity suggested by my occupational therapist.
The backyard (or playground) swings are a great place to get sensory input.
There was a time when Big Brother couldn't tolerate being on a swing at all. Now, after months of doing it in occupational therapy, he's learned to enjoy it.
Little Brother...well, he's always loved the swing and can't ever seem to get enough. "Faster-ter," is what you'll hear him say.
We had lots of good sensory input on this day. We also had lots of good fun!
swinging
spinning around by twisting the swing
(be sure to go equally in both directions)
hanging upside down
the heavy work of pushing & twisting someone else
Big Brother started pushing Little Brother in various shapes - a circle, square, triangle, and oval. He even tried doing an octagon! That was funny to watch.
I was totally blown away last night by the movie Temple Grandin, a true story about a fascinating and inspirational woman with autism. It's an amazing movie that's worth watching even if you don't know anyone with autism.
Even though my children don't have autism, I was able to relate to so many aspects of this movie. Autistic individuals often have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). So, as my understanding of sensory processing has deepened, so has my interest and understanding of autism.
In particular, I was moved by the scene in which the mother is told that her four-year-old daughter has autism and that it was caused by her lack of love and affection. I recently became aware of the term, refrigerator mother that came from this antiquated idea of the 1950's. To see it depicted on screen was powerful.
I was also moved by the underlying theme that Temple is different, but not less. Amen to that!
I was so affected by this movie that I felt compelled to learn more about the real Temple Grandin. I watched several videos on You Tube, including a very interesting BBC documentary called The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow.
I'm so glad to know more about this incredible woman who has done so much. She's helped build a better understanding of what it's like to be autistic. She's made very real and substantial strides in the way of humane treatment of cattle. Most of all, she's a living example that you don't have to be "normal" to accomplish greatness.
As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, October is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Awareness Month. As part of an effort to raise awareness, fellow blogger, Hartley Steiner is spotlighting stories written by parents of children affected by SPD (including one written by me).
Reading each story alongside my own has been powerful, and has stirred up a number of emotions and ideas in my mind, one of which being this...there may be an upside to SPD after all.
As I read these stories and talk with other parents dealing with sensory issues, I am struck by how many amazing positive qualities these children have in common. Of course, every situation is unique, but I'm hearing a number of parents making statements about how smart their children are, how quickly and effortlessly they learn new things, how advanced their vocabularies are, and how adept they are at puzzles, numbers, and/or letters.
These are all statements I could have easily made about my own son. I always assumed he had these strengths in spite of his sensory issues, when in fact, there may be some sort of connection between the two.
This is just my personal observation. It's not based on scientific evidence. However, here is some interesting information from the SPD Foundation website about the connection between SPD and giftedness:
Symptoms associated with SPD occur more frequently in populations of children identified as gifted than within populations that are not.
The higher the level of giftedness in a child, the more likely that introversion is linked with increased responsivity to pain, sound, touch, and smell.
As many as one-third of gifted children may exhibit sensory processing disorder features, significantly impacting quality of life.
Giftedness can involve a global heightened awareness to sensory stimulation, an endowment of amplified mental processing speed and attention capacity, and unusual challenges with frustration.
Trust me, there have been plenty of times that I wished these sensory "problems" hadn't come knocking at our door. However, as time goes on, I realize that the sensory issues my son faces are part of what makes him the extraordinary person he is.
In very simple terms, he has heightened sensitivities. Super powers, if you will. Sometimes this is not a good thing (for him or those around him), but sometimes it can be good. Really good, actually.
During the first few years of my son's life, I was constantly amazed and astounded by his incredible abilities with things like puzzles and letters - sometimes to the point that it scared me a little. Interestingly enough, as we have become better at managing the sensory issues, and we watch him become more organized and comfortable in his environment, his interest in these things has waned. Perhaps there is some kind of trade-off taking place. Or maybe he's just moved on to other things. Who knows?
In the end, I just hope that in our attempt to make our son "normal" we don't wring out every last drop of what makes him so special.
Big Brother has always been very sensitive to loud sounds. His noise sensitivity was one of the glaring red flags that eventually led us to the realization that he had sensory processing issues. It is one of the symptoms that has impacted our family's normal daily life the most.
So you can imagine what an amazing feeling it was today when I realized we can officially check "noise sensitivity" off the list of sensory processing issues we are managing. ✓
Big Brother helped mow the lawn! This is HUGE considering that just a few short months ago, he wouldn't tolerate being anywhere in the vicinity of a lawn mower. My husband and I were excited enough that he was willing to stand in the yard when the mower was on. So, when Big Brother asked to help push the mower, we just stared at each other in happy disbelief.
We've seen a gradual improvement over the past few months. At first, he just managed to cope by covering his ears or avoiding certain situations. Then, he started to realize that the sounds didn't bother him as much as they use to, but his fear lingered a little. Now, his noise sensitivity seems to be almost non-existent and the fear is not far behind.
He is no longer having trouble with the blender or the vacuum (I love to hear him say proudly, "I'm not afraid of the vacuum anymore!"). We even had a successful trip to the movies and a show at a theme park. I was also amazed at how well he handled several hours worth of loud noises at my sister's graduation ceremony yesterday.
I can't help but wonder if this progress is a direct result of the occupational therapy, or if it's something that would have happened naturally on it's own. It's hard for me to understand how his therapy - which entails activities such as playing in a ball pit and swinging on a therapy swing - could help regulate his audio processing. In the end, it doesn't matter, and I'm not going to look this gift horse in the mouth!
Afternoon nap has been a staple of our family's existence for quite a long time now, so it was a little scary to let it go. Turns out, this one adjustment has brought about some major positive changes! It actually seems a little too good to be true.
Let me back up a bit, and explain how we got to this point and why we decided to make the change.
When Big Brother was about 15 months old, he transitioned from two naps a day to one mid-day nap. It was actually the first time in his life that he was napping on a consistentent schedule. Little Brother followed the same pattern and by the time the boys were 3.5 and 1.5, they were usually taking their nap at the same time lying side-by-side. Even though this was a daily occurance for a solid year, I could never seem to get enough pictures of my two sweet boys napping together. ♥♥
Skipping nap was a rare occurrence. Nap time may not have always been convenient, but we felt it was necessary for the health and happiness of the children. We had experimented with no-nap from time to time over the years, but major meltdowns usually ensued. It seemed clear that they both still needed a nap.
However, the past few weeks there were a few issues that prompted another no-nap experiment.
First of all, we were having some serious problems getting them to sleep at night. A bedtime of 10:30PM or later was becoming the norm.
The second issue was that Big Brother was napping around 3 hours, much longer than Little Brother's 1-to-2-hour naps. Trying to wake him up early was nearly impossible. He was in a deep sleep, and usually remained incredibly drowsy and lethargic for the first half hour or so that he was awake.
This was the critical issue here....Big Brother was getting into an extremely low state. He is also in this low state when he first wakes up in the morning. Until recently, I never really understood the importance of maintaining an even, balanced state throughout the day, and avoiding severe highs and lows.
Once this point finally sunk in, it became obvious that Big Brother's nap was not serving him well at all. The nap was actually creating a severely low state that set him off balance for the remainder of the day. No wonder dinner-time has always been such a fiasco for us!
We still weren't sure if eliminating nap was the solution. What other consequences might come of it? Is Little Brother old enough to not have a nap? We gave it a try anyway.
We were utterly shocked at the immediate changes we saw in our children - especially Big Brother! Before, his low periods were immediately followed by intensely-high periods filled with obnoxious sensory-seeking behavior (crashing, running, loud noises, impulsive and mischievous behavior, etc.). Now, he is so much calmer and even throughout the day. The difference is remarkable!
Little Brother, on the other hand, tends to be more consistently low throughout the day. Frankly, I'm still trying to understand how his little motor runs. All I know is that he has responded very well to this major change in his sleep schedule, and also appears to be more even throughout the day.
Another good outcome is that they are both going to sleep effortlessly no later than 8:30PM, and they still sleep to their normal wake-up time of about 8AM. Great news!
It's only been a couple weeks, and I guess it's hard to say how the dust will settle. They both seem tired at times throughout the day, but I'm hoping this will fade as they get use to the new schedule. In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy this little glimpse into what "normal" looks like!
I will spare you the sappy love story between me and my husband, and how our two sons (ages 4.5 and 2.5) are the light of our lives. Bla bla bla. The important thing to know is that I have always dreamed of being the perfect mother with perfect children. In reality, perfection doesn’t exist.... in fact, it can be a dangerous concept.
That realization has helped me come to my senses.
In retrospect, my oldest son showed signs of sensory integration problems from the beginning. There was a lot of crying, sleep trouble, noise sensitivity, and bouncing. In his first sonogram picture he looks mid-jog.
At first, I just assumed all babies were like this. When I heard other parents talk about very different experiences with their infants, I started wondering what I was doing wrong. I had a gnawing feeling that something was off.
A TURNING POINT
Fast forward two years. Big brother welcomes little brother into his life with the usual mix of delight and irritation. It was a joyful time in many ways, but it was also when the darkness began to descend. It was a turning point in two respects.
First, the contrast between the two boys made it harder to brush these anomalies aside as mere “personality quirks”. Normal household sounds like the vacuum and the blender left our infant completely unaffected, while our toddler was in a heap of despair.
Second, the quirks seemed to amplify with age. They do call it the “terrible twos” for a reason, but it just seemed a bit much.
Our days went something like this.... the usual morning meltdown about coffee and Ovaltine (don’t ask), wild jumping, running, crashing into furniture, heart-stopping screeches, loud singing, and an assortment of meltdowns scattered here and there. The evening was topped off by a miserable experience called “tubby time”. Haircuts, nail clippings, and teeth brushings were train wrecks. Eating out was usually a disaster. Potty training took nine months. Anything that even looked like it might make a loud noise was a potential land mine. Plus, he was still sucking his fingers, drooling, and chewing everything in sight.
The impulsive and mischievous behavior was the most worrisome. No pile of folded laundry was left standing. No bottle of lotion was left unsplattered. No opportunity was missed to knock over his infant brother. You could be sure that if some loose article was left in his reach it would either be dumped out, knocked over, flung about wildly, thrown across the room, or put in the toilet.
At the same time he was exhibiting some amazing strengths. He was (and still is) extremely joyful, loving, funny, and social. He was very interested in the world around him and retained information with astounding ease. He had an exceptional aptitude for puzzles. His verbal skills stood out the most, though. He was singing the alphabet song around 18 months. He spoke articulately in complete sentences before he was two and started reading words not long after that. He was reciting fairly long story books and songs by memory, and building all kinds of words with his foam letters (one of his favorite toys). I was at once impressed and unsettled by all of these strengths. Was his affinity for letters bordering on obsession? Were these “splinter skills”?
It was clear to me that something was off, but what exactly was it? And how was I supposed to handle it? I was seriously floundering.
THE DEVELOPMENTAL SPECIALISTS
I scoured the internet for answers, but nothing seemed to fit. I scared myself into thinking he had all kinds of disorders. Although the pediatrician didn’t see any major cause for concern, she pointed us to a developmental specialist.
The prospect of getting some kind of “diagnosis” scared me to death. Even more frightening was the possibility that my son would be capriciously labeled with the disorder-of-the day, and it would follow him the rest of his life.
The experience with the developmental specialists was nothing like what I envisioned, but it was frightening all the same.
The doctors were very thorough and compassionate. They used an arsenal of instruments to gauge my son’s development. I will never forget the day they presented us with their detailed analysis. The tests indicated normal development (phew!). Perhaps he had some “sensory issues” as well as low muscle tone and deficits in his fine motor skills. However, the real issue was that I was worrying too much and my expectations were too high.
My mind came to a grinding halt. Basically, all I heard was, “you’re a bad mother”. I was embarrassed, confused, and distraught. It wasn’t until several months later that I felt angry as well.
Did they not understand what I was dealing with everyday? And since when is it bad to have high expectations? And see a doctor when you think there might be something wrong?
I didn’t know what to think. I was extremely relieved that he didn’t have a serious problem, but completely daunted by the prospect of getting through each day of my increasingly-frustrating life with no answers, tools, or guidance of any kind. Oh, and by the way, I was a doctor-confirmed bad mother.
If only I had had been able get over myself and HEAR the words “sensory issues” I could have started this learning process a lot sooner. Unfortunately, it just didn’t sink in. I was too busy having a pity party, and I continued to flounder.
PRESCHOOL DAZE
The doctors recommended preschool, so I enrolled him immediately. They also suggested possibly getting an evaluation by an occupational therapist. I dragged my feet on this one. The doctors were ho-hum about it. Dealing with the insurance company was a major headache. The noise sensitivity and meltdowns were fading. The impulsive and mischievous behavior was really our biggest concern, but that didn’t seem like something an occupational therapist would address. It seemed pointless.
Even so, it was all I had besides preschool, so I eventually got the evaluation scheduled. All the while I never realized how occupational therapy and learning more about sensory issues might vastly improve our lives.
The first day of school was a month shy of his fourth birthday. It was met with a great deal of fanfare. Our entire family was excited and hopeful that this could be a turning point. The school was wonderful, and overall his five month stint there was mostly full of lovely, positive experiences. However, in some respects these school days were some of the darkest I had ever experienced as a mother.
As difficult and exhausting as it was to deal with my son 24/7, sending him off to school was much worse. Spending the entire school day worrying about what might be going on. Getting the behavior report from the teacher, no matter how understanding and sympathetic she might deliver it. Apologizing to another parent for something my child has done to her child.
All of these things sent me over the edge. As a former elementary school teacher, I never dreamed my child would be a behavior problem at school. This was cognitive dissonance to an extreme degree.
It was clear that preschool was not the panacea we hoped it would be. I was at an all-time low. This is the point the anger toward the developmental specialists started to bubble up. I had left their office wondering if these problems were a figment of my imagination. Yet, his preschool teachers were having some of the same experiences. Things just weren’t adding up.
THE SUN CAME OUT
Then one day the teacher said something that jolted me to the core..... “have you ever thought about sensory issues?” It was in that moment that all the scattered pieces came together, light bulbs went off, and I finally started to GET IT.
The occupational therapy evaluation that seemed perfunctory suddenly took on a new importance. While I anxiously awaited the day of the evaluation, I searched the internet - this time in a more focused and productive way. I came across Hartley’s Life with 3 Boys and a few other other blogs about SPD. The light started to shine into my dark world.
In the three months since that day our lives have been transformed. We now meet with a fantastic occupational therapist two times a week whom my son absolutely adores. He will do anything if she asks him to. I now have a sensory diet for my son and I know how to use it. Sometimes I’m in awe of the major changes that have taken place, especially with fine motor skills. He went from not wanting to hold any sort of writing utensil to writing almost every letter of the alphabet. He now has a new way to express his love of letters and words!
His behavior has also has improved a great deal. I can now leave a pile of folded laundry on the bed without fear of getting it knocked down! Amazing!
There are still moments that are as frustrating and difficult as ever. The big difference is my level of understanding. I’m learning how to prevent problems from happening in the first place. I also have more compassion for my son and a new-found empathy for what it must be like to walk in his shoes.
THE FUTURE
Okay, we’re starting to get a handle on all this sensory stuff. So what does the future hold? I have the same sort of daydreams Steve Martin’s character had in the movie Parenthood. If you're not familiar with the movie, here's a clip:
Just like the movie, one minute, I picture my son giving his valedictorian speech, thanking his wonderful parents for helping him through the rough patch he had as a child. The next minute he's in a bell tower with a riffle. I bet all parents probably have these thoughts - SPD or not.
The optimistic side of me sees the incredible progress that has been made over the past few months and expects my son will continue to mature and develop. The family will learn to integrate these strategies naturally into our lives to the point that we won’t need to think about it anymore.
The pessimistic side of me worries that all of this - the occupational therapy, the sensory diet at home, all of it - is just barely enough to keep the problems at bay. If we stop (even for just one minute) everything will all fall apart. Even worse, I worry that as my son ages, his issues will amplify and intensify to the point that we can’t keep up. This ultimately brings me back to the bell tower scenario.
HOMESCHOOLING
One thing that really scares me is public school and how it could very well send my son marching up the stairs of that bell tower. Preschool gave me a glimpse into what life at public school would be like for my son. We were actually quite fortunate that the teachers and the director of the school were well-informed, compassionate, and handled the issues in a very positive and proactive way. I imagine this is as good as it gets. Being a former public school teacher myself, I know that it would likely be a lot worse. The school system as it exists today creates an uphill battle for any teacher, no matter how wonderful he or she might be.
So.... homeschooling. It has always been something we’ve considered - even before my children were actually born. My husband and I are both teachers. We would find a great deal of joy in educating our own children. We’ve kept an open mind and have carefully weighed all the pros and cons. Our first son is due to start Kindergarden one short year from now. No more contemplation. Time to make a final decision.
Decisiveness has never been my strong suit, but all that has unfolded over the past few months has made the answer seem crystal clear.... we are going to homeschool.
Of course we will always stay open to other possibilities, but for now I can’t imagine that any classroom teacher will be able to give Jack the sensory input he needs to stay even throughout a long school day. I can barely manage to do it myself at home with only two children! So why set us all up for failure when we don’t have to?
RAISING SENSORY SMART KIDS THE MONTESSORI WAY
There have been many times over the past few months when I had that wonderful feeling of living life on an optimum trajectory - ideas spring forth, paths emerge, and plans fall into place. This has been particularly true in the area of homeschool planning. Once we made the final decision in favor of homeschooling, a wonderful opportunity fell squarely into my lap. A fellow homeschooler recommended a great (and inexpensive) online training program that will give me the tools and guidance I need to educate my children using Montessori methods.
I have been drawn to the educational philosophies of Maria Montessori for years. I’ve been reading and experimenting for months, but I hit a brick wall. I needed a deeper understanding and a better plan.
This training program fits the bill perfectly. If it had been presented to me any sooner, I might have failed to recognize one of the most important reasons why Montessori is such a good fit for us. You guessed it.... Montessori places a strong emphasis on the senses!
The serendipity of it all is simply delicious.
SO, AM I STILL ANGRY WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL SPECIALISTS?
Most certainly not. In hindsight, I think they gave me some solid advice. Unfortunately, good advice from well meaning individuals is not always easy to hear, and even harder to absorb. Especially when emotions are running high.
Since our first meeting nearly a year ago, I’ve reflected on what they said to me many times. As the months go by, the meaning I extract from their words morphs.
For example, I initially heard them say that I needed to lower my expectations. This is nothing short of blasphemy to a teacher. Now that I have a better understanding of why my children act the way they do, I’m able to have a more realistic expectations. It’s not a matter of letting them run around like wild monkeys. It’s more about working with them on their level of ability instead of just being frustrated when they don’t act like I think they should.
This, like so many of the things they said to me that day, just didn’t make sense to me at the time. Although I left their office feeling empty handed, there was actually a bounty of wisdom there that just took some time to reveal itself to me. I’ve tried to apply this wisdom the best way I know how. I think I’ve made great strides in terms of allowing my children to be be independent, something that flows naturally from the Montessori philosophies.
I’ve also tried to be more conscious of my anxiety level and focus more on my children’s strengths and abilities. I’ve had some HUGE revelations about what it means to accept and love my children as whole people, even when they might not behave the way I think they should. I’m sure these understandings will help me as they continue to grow and become more independent beings in this world.
One comment that has particularly stuck in my mind was, “yes, he has some unusual things going on, but isn’t that wonderful?” I’ve always thought I had a fairly progressive attitude about “special needs” children. That is until it was in relation to my child. Now the term “special needs” has a whole new connotation for me, and I see now that we all have special needs. My job as a parent is to understand what those needs are and fill them.
Something that still puzzles me about this experience is the way the doctors almost scolded me for being concerned about my child. I wonder if they thought I had Munchausen by Proxy? And while they did give me a few clues about sensory issues, why didn’t they put more emphasis on this? Perhaps recommend a book or something? Were they afraid I would be too quick to identify with the label?
I’ve tried to examine myself, and I truly do not believe I am seeking out something to be wrong with my child. I don’t wish for him to have some sort of disorder. I’m not looking for an excuse for his behavior. What I wanted then, and still want today, is a better understanding of my children so I can be a good parent to them.
Furthermore, I don’t think I’m making a mountain out of a molehill. I see very clearly that this is just a molehill. In the grand scheme of things, having sensory issues is not that big of a deal. I understand that. It’s just helpful to have the right tools for dealing with it.
Perhaps the most important lesson I took from my experience with the developmental specialists is that no one doctor (or person) has all the answers. Just like teachers, doctors are facilitators, or guides, that give me bits of information and insight that I can take (or not take) along with me on my journey. I don’t think the doctors fully understood what was going on in our life or how to fix our problems - how could they? And I should have never expected they would!
LABELS & SEMANTICS
The truth is that I am very cautious to put ANY kind of label on my son. One or both of my sons very well might meet the criteria for SPD - I honestly don’t know. But neither of them have been officially diagnosed. The pediatrician sees no need to apply such a label and I agree.
Either way, I personally resist the “disorder” aspect of SPD. For me, in this moment, “sensory processing” will remain lower case, sans “disorder”. Instead of thinking in terms of something being broken, I’d rather use all that I’ve learned about sensory processing in a constructive way to to help me know and love my sons. I want to avoid getting so swept up in a label that I loose sight of my sons as individuals. Even worse, I don’t want end up using the label as an excuse for bad behavior or bad parenting.
Through all of these experiences, I’ve developed a heightened awareness of the role the senses play in the normal development of all children. I have a new point of view when I browse through countless products in the baby section that claim to aid with sensory development.
Whether or not they actually live up to these claims is beside the point. What’s important is that I assumed all this sort of development just happened on its own. For many children, it very well might. However, if there’s something I can do to help my children along with this area of their development, why shouldn’t I? I never hesitated to help them learn how to identify shapes, sit up on their own, and take their first steps. I would have been well served - as a parent and a teacher - to have picked up on the importance of senses a lot sooner.
I feel compelled to tell all my friends who are parents or teachers about what I’ve been learning. I think we all would be better caretakers of our children if we understood what sensory processing was all about!
Case in point is our “Number 2”, as we so affectionally call our youngest son. I can’t imagine there’s anything about him that would have caused us to meet with a developmental specialist. He seems to be developing in a more typical way than his brother. Even so, it’s clear to me that he has a set of sensory issues all his own.
He is generally very relaxed and subdued (to an extreme degree at times), but he has bursts of wildness and he can be very willful and intense. Although is he is the sweetest, cuddliest child you’ll ever meet, he can be quite aggressive (often in a loving way, if that makes any sense). When he was an infant, my shoulders were covered in bruises from all his biting. He’s gone through several hitting and head-butting phases, and he will rub your ear right off your head! Sometimes he seems freakishly strong. We call him Bam Bam. He dislikes being dirty, but he rarely melts down about it. He sucks his fingers, just like his brother.
Are these sensory integration problems? It’s hard to say. I’m pretty sure these issues aren’t causing any great impediment in his life at this point, though. In any case, all the things that I have learned about sensory processing have helped me a great deal as a parent to this child. Many of the therapies I use with Number 1 are proving to be just as effective for Number 2.
WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO GET HERE?
Now that I finally have a clue about sensory processing, I can’t help but wonder.... why did it take me so long to get to this point? Looking back, there seemed to be so many missed opportunities to learn about sensory integration and therapies that would have helped my son.
I really like my pediatrician, but I’m puzzled that she never mentioned SPD. Is it simply an awareness issue, or is SPD not considered “legitimate” by the medical community. That’s certainly been the implication in a number of documents I’ve encountered in the insurance industry.
It also seems so strange that I never honed in on SPD in all my countless internet searches about my son’s symptoms. I honestly don’t recall ever coming across SPD until I specifically looked it up by name. The only explanation that comes to mind is that SPD is so entwined with autism that I didn’t recognize it as a standalone issue.
Further confounding the problem was that I was dealing with a myriad of issues that seemed unrelated to me - noise sensitivity, meltdowns, behavior problems. I was off chasing rabbits, looking for answers in all the wrong places.
One thing I know for sure is that learning about sensory processing has helped my family tremendously. If the therapies we are using are considered “experimental” then further research is needed. If doctors and parents are not aware of the term “sensory processing” and how it impacts people’s lives, then they need to learn. I’m certainly going to do my part to spread the word. My philosophy is that everyone could stand to benefit from learning about sensory processing, SPD or not!
One of Big Brother's primary sensory issues is fine motor weakness. Our occupational therapist suggested we work on "palm to finger" activities. The goal is to be able to stabilize small objects in the hand while manipulating them using only the thumb and first finger.
She also suggested "finger to palm translation" activities, where the goal is to pick up small objects with the fingers and hold them in the palm. Any small objects will work - coins, nuts, rocks.
In the picture above, Big Brother is holding beads in his palm, then transfering them to his thumb and pointer fingers to make a string of beads (a necklace for his OT, whom he loves dearly).
Little Brother was also doing it, but he was putting the beads through the small holes of a spice jar.
On another occasion, Big Brother was putting gumballs into this cheap little gumball machine we got at Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts ($1.49). He's very into gumball machines (and gum for that matter). We can refill the gumball machine with Glee Gum, which has more natural ingredients.
It's interesting that Big Brother seems to be wanting to use his middle finger instead of his pointer finger. I also notice that he is capable of doing these activities, but he tires of them very quickly.
Have you ever heard the term "sensory processing"? I certainly hadn't until a few months ago when I opened a door into an unfamiliar world full of new ways of understanding my children and their development.
Well, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological disorder in which the brain misinterprets input received through the seven senses: vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, vestibular (balance), and proprioception (awareness of body position). These misinterpretations leads to both hypo-sensitivities and hyper-sensitivities that vary from person to person in both characteristics and intensity, and can cause inappropriate motor and behavior responses.
For example, one person might be very sensitive to loud sounds, and have a more severe reaction to a noise than everyone else. Another person might seek out movement and pressure (through jumping around and crashing into things) because the vestibular and proprioceptive senses aren't registering enough input.
It seems likely to me that everyone struggles with sensory processing issues to some extent, especially young children who are still developing. However, when someone's struggles are severe enough to impact normal daily life, that person may have SPD.
A common misconception is that SPD is on the autism spectrum. Although many children with autism have SPD (perhaps as many as 85%), there are many children with SPD who do not have autism. There is actually a movement right now to get SPD recognized as a stand-alone disorder in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Here's a short cartoon that explains Sensory Processing Disorder in simple terms.
Hi! My name is Rebecca. This is me, my husband, and our two raccoons (4 and 2 years old). Welcome to Raccoon School, a blog about my family's homeschool experience.
I hope you will find this blog useful (or at least entertaining). I’m certainly no expert... I’m just a mother foraging for an education that makes sense.
I also hope that you will share your ideas in the comments section or on the facebook page. I would love to hear from you! ♥
My intention is to write short, easily-digestible posts about the following topics:
Homeschooling. Let’s face it... all kids are home-schooled to some extent, right? Although there are a few issues that are unique to us full-time homeschoolers, many of the topics on this blog are relevant to all children and could apply to both a home or school environment.
Montessori. Before I had children, I taught in a typical American public elementary school. Now that I’m homeschooling, I decided I might as well learn about the teaching method I’ve always been drawn to, but never really knew much about.... Montessori. I’m currently taking an online class that will help me implement the Montessori method in a homeschool environment and I love what I’m learning!
Sensory Processing. Have you ever heard this term before? I certainly hadn’t until a few months ago when I realized my sons have a lot of symptoms associated with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Each day since then I have learned something new about the critical role the senses play in early childhood development (an idea emphasized in the Montessori method, by the way). My approach to parenting and teaching has been revolutionized. In my opinion, anyone who works with children could stand to benefit from knowing more about sensory processing.
Healthy, Green & Frugal. As with everything I do, I homeschool with the goal of being healthy, green and frugal. These just so happen to be the three main topics of my other blog, Healthy, Green & Frugal.
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. Now both my boys can swing whenever they like as long as they like.
