Homeschool Phy Ed

Sophia (5) and Olivia (3 next week) were quite active today during their Phy Ed time.  We ended up going to Burger King to use their tubes and slides for two hours.  The girls loved it.  They met and played with other children - from an 18-month old baby to a 4 year old. 

Sophia was in action almost the entire time.  "I'm sweaty," she said as we left.  She did a lot of crawling through the tubes which is great. 

Olivia wanted to "talk" and sit with me for a while.  She was hesitant at first to go into the toddler-size equipment, but once she went in it (all by herself no less!) she was hooked. 

At the Special Children Center, the girls did a bit of climbing on the slides, rolling in the ball pit, and trampoline work.  Not as much as other days, but still something. 

Sensory Integration Therapy - Changes and Challenges

Today marks Day 8 (out of 10) for Auditory Integration Training (AIT).  Sarah worked with the girls for both the a.m. and p.m. sessions.  I'm very impressed with Sarah's ideas and interaction with the girls.  They really enjoy "playing" with her. 

We talked about some of the positive changes that I've been seeing in the girls during the past eight days, and some of the challenges.  Since I noted the positives yesterday, I'll focus on the challenges today.  Primarily they have to do with Sophia.  She's becoming a bit more "disobedient" in the sense that I normally don't have to tell her more than once (maybe twice in a few cases) what to do.  She listens well.

During the AIT, I've noticed that with each day, she's getting a bit more resistent to listening to directions.  In some cases, I can see that she's having fun and really wants to continue playing.  In other cases, it comes down to safety.  For example, if a car or van is entering into the parking lot I generally say, "Girls, a car is coming.  Get next to our car please."  When this isn't complied with - or worse - she (or Olivia) starts to run - that's an issue with which I'm not comfortable.

Granted, I was told to expect that as the girls become more comfortable in their bodies, are more aware of them, and are going through a lot of changes in a concentrated period of time to expect this.  But there has a to be some sort of limit.  On Thursday, I have a consultation meeting with Nancy (the owner) and will discuss what are appropriate limits.

Introduction of Kinesiotaping

Sarah introduced "Kinesiotaping" - or use of a specifically-designed skin tape used to inhibit or facilitate muscle activation and support postural stability.  Both the girls were noted in their evaluations that they were "belly breathers" and have underdeveloped stomach muscles. 

An infant/very young child's belly sticks out.  Both of the girls (at age 5 and 3) have this same appearance.  It's not that they are overweight.  They are both at appropriate weights for their heights, with Sophia at the upper percentile (97%) and Olivia at the lower percentile (3%). 

The girls each have three pieces of tape on their bellies - almost in a triangle shape.  Sophia said after about 15 minutes that she wanted to take it off.  Sarah told me that means that it is working.  That's good. 

By the evening, both girls didn't complain about the tape at all.  It's as if they don't know it is on.  Sophia said she feels stronger with it on.  She even showed me her belly to prove it.  "Feel!  I'm strong!" 

They wear the tape for three days and then I have to take it off.  Apparantly the glue is so strong that it can rip the skin off if not taken off properly with oil. 

New Oral-Motor/Respiration Techniques

Sarah also introduced a couple fun activities to do at home that involve working with rib cage expansion and oral motor functioning.  The first was taking tubing and blowing into a container filled with water and bubbles.  The goal is to get the bubbles as high as possible.  Sophia really enjoyed this.  I could see it was a challenge too. 

As a side note, on her birthday party on Sunday, she was unable to blow out 5 candles on her cake.  It took 3 attempts to do it...and they were close together.  I didn't think about it at the time, but now it makes sense.  I can see that doing activities like this are necessary.

The other thing that Sophia really enjoyed were blow pens.  The goal was to sit in front of the mirror and blow a soft dart with a sucker thing on the end to the mirror and have it stick.  That was challenging too, but she liked doing the game.  She wanted to have Sarah blow the darts on her forehead to have them stick. 

Reading

We are reading a Little House book right now.  We do a chapter before nap/quiet time and bedtime.  I love seeing Sophia getting into the book - staring off and bring images to the words in her mind.  She expressed an interest in seeing the sod house in southern Minnesota.  Told her that we could definitely go down to see it (though I know it's not like it use to be...guess it's only a depression in the ground now). 

She also wanted a younger book read to her - a Sesame Street one about going to the community center, exercising, and getting stronger. 

I read two books to Olivia - Pony Pals and Thank You God.  She loved the Pony Pals one...she kept rubbing her head and hair onto the ponies (the illustrations are cute: all the ponies are fuzzy/fury).  She laughed when the girl had the ponies and other farm animals in her purple house, and when they all fell asleep together.