I’m learning a lot in our OT sessions these days. We’ve only been in OT for about a month, but it’s been the most valuable learning experience during our entire journey through dealing with autism.
Our older child had sensory issues, sure. They were similar to mine in fact. Tags itched and needed to be cut out of shirts. Seams on socks didn’t feel right. Shoes were a constant battle until we found Crocs. Through it all, we found easy fixes, and life went merrily rolling along.
Then our second child came along. Whoa Nelly. He’s a bundle of energy. There’s no shortage of comments when we’re out in public about his energy levels. Even at home he can be crazy. His attention span seemed shorter than a gnat. He tantrums. He kicks. He yells. He growls. Then he smiles. He laughs. He runs. He plays. He is in constant motion. He hardly sleeps. We were convinced he had ADHD.
The evaluation showed autism. That was according to the school. But just barely they said. The actual DSM diagnosis we got from a therapist says otherwise. This child is what she called on the “low functioning” end of the spectrum despite some traits that would lead a person to believe otherwise. His energy and tantrums and attention span and lack of sleep are all probably due to sensory overload. …continue reading
School is almost out! And in the fall my {not so little} “J” will be in kindergarten. But for now we can take a {small} break from school, IEP’s and social behavior. We can focus on summer fun as well as, work in some sensory/social time that our little ones will love.
Here awesome of our favorite things to do:
Park time: although we have a great local park we also love to venture off in the summer. We recently found a park in the Mooresville area that we all love. He spent the day playing with new friends and splashing in the water play area. With “J” having water splash on him is not always his favorite pastime. But we love to encourage him to try things that may be a bit out of his comfort zone. And guess what he really enjoyed it!!!!! So I guess we also use the summer to encourage him to try new things!
Travel time: Our family loves to travel! Especially little “J”. His SPD very rarely prevents him from having a great time when we travel! He loves to fly, sail, ride trains, and buses. This year we are off to DISNEY! (side note; any tips would be welcomed). I will say this traveling abroad or even domestically with my SPD takes tons of planning and forethought. We fly at certain times, stay in resorts with large rooms, travel early, bring the iPad or iPhone and stock it up with tons of new games and movies, and I always bring his favorite blanket and sleeping bag. …continue reading
