We have discovered something
Given the limited space, the heat and need for regular air breaks I tend to focus on his speech. I am never quite sure what I will be helping him with until it happens because I follow his lead and the natural flow of the event. This leads to interesting times under the blanket, but as long as I am working on everyday phrases I am happy.
We have done 'hiding', because that is what we were doing. We have done 'Love you', to which he now says 'uv meee' and proffers his forehead for a kiss. We even got him to taste a chipstick so I might bring more food items in at a later stage. We will practice saying names of family members at some point, maybe when they are visiting and can join in.
On Tuesday we were doing 'hello' and all saying 'Hello HRH', 'Hello Firstborn', 'Hello Her Cuteness' and 'Hello Mama'. (yep, we were all in there). The following morning when I went to get him out of bed I said 'Hello HRH' and he said 'Hewwo Mama'. Result!!
We tested it out at his occupational therapy appointment yesterday and ended up doing everything under cover, everything! Once he got under it he wouldn't come out and the therapists were delighted with what he was doing so we just went with it. He even got into the ball pool. The. Ball. Pool. He hates the ball pool and has not gotten into it, ever!
The session came to a quick end as
*photo credit google images
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38 comments:
Whatever works.
Glad the ball pool was spared. I can't imagine what a clean up of that would entail.
What a fab discovery! :) My girls both love hiding under muslins, we have the blanket love too!
Poor little miss cuteness, hope she's feeling better! I used to work in a children's centre cleaning ball pools in mighty hard and nasty work!
I loooove using the blanket for provoking their speech Diddles absolutely loves it and has came out with spontaneous speech while playing different games with the duvet. It is great! xx Hope her cuteness is ok! x
If it works, then do it! I think it's great that HRH discovered something that he likes, and the amazing mom that you are discovered how to make it all about learning! That's awesome!
Go with what works. Charmaine
@BigDaddy, yeah, exactly :)
@Pixie, blanket love, that is a better name. Ewww to cleaning out ball pools though!!
@Lifeasweknowit, glad to know I am not the only one doing it, thought it might seem a bit weird!
@Fairchildstreet, true, the results are what is important :)
Thanks for commenting:)
Jen
I.Love. This. Blog!
You share such wonderful happenings! We don't need money, qualifications or time to get a real 'this is what life is for' moments! Thank you so much for sharing Jen!
I'm the vom-baby in our house tonight. ICK!
Max adores being under his blankie too. Our lil guys are very similar aren't they? heh :)
I just love this.So many words coming in
Sturla adores blankets as well.:)
My gal loves to sit under a blanket a times as well! I think it helps her shut out the chaos and focus. I think I may take your cue and begin using this as a time for "work". That's for the inspiration!
What a fabulous discovery and it works too, that's brilliant. It's strange but I remember as a kid making tents behind the couch, taking a torch under the bedcovers, that 'secret place' It's obviously very comforting for HRH.
Thank goodness she missed the ball pit....that could have been one nasty clean up :)
@jFb,thanks :)
@Marylin, yes they are!!
@Borgerour, seems to be very popular and I thought I was being a bit strange!!
@PieMaker, definitely worth trying, good luck:)
@Mari, yes, I do too, but this has no space at all, like PieMaker said I think it blocks out sensory 'information' and gives him mental room to focus better.
Thanks for the comments.
Jen
I read that as you made him taste a Chapstick. No wonder I was confused!
Anyway.... I think the blanket things is really cool! And in this weather hiding under a blanket is no bad thing!
Oh if it works use yet! Just wanted to say fantastic that it works.
I spent a whole term sitting under a table teaching a child before. You just go with the flow. xx
That is great! I am so happy to hear about the speech! And this is weird but Jaylen loves to be under a blanket too. But we don't do any learning under there.
The blanket makes an appearance in our house everyday (very hot under there), sometimes I would like to hide under a blanket too, especially at work!
I thought about it... it wouldn't have been pretty! :)
@photopuddle, lol at Chapstick, eewww!
@Kerry, a whole term under a table doesn't surprise me, go with the flow is about the best saying for children with autism:)
@MTTB, I think it blocks out the sensory input.
@Jennifer, yeah it gets very hot very quickly.
@LadyEstrogen, exactly! It would have to be hosed out.
Thanks for commenting:)
Jen
I'm so happy that you have found a way to help HRH with is learning. It can be so difficult at times finding something that engages them long enough for it to be of any use.
Long may the learning continue.
Thanks for the follow!
Audrey loves being under blankets as well, but we've never held any therapy sessions under there! I agree, whatever works...as long as it can be generalized eventually so he doesn't have to walk around looking like a Halloween ghost all year round!
Isn't it great when you find something that works. I treasure these moments. They often become real stepping stones to progress.
I wonder if, from HRH's point of view, it's about cutting off outside stimuli to help him concentrate. Children with autism are often over-stimulated by their senses. By putting the blanket over his head, he's cutting out (at the very least) his sight. Maybe this is one of the ways he feels he gets over-stimulated.
J used to sit with his back to his teacher and the rest of the class at story time. He could concentrate on the story then without the stimuli of other chldren fidgeting and the pictures on the big story book (he's never been particularly visual - some children with autism aren't). He'd usually face a wall. At first the teacher thought he was being rude, but then realised that he could talk to her about the story afterwards whereas if she made him face front he didn't take in any of the story.
Worth thinking about :o)
Ahh, poor vom-baby, she is better now? Cute with the blanket, if it works and he likes it, why not!
Sounds like real progress! Great that you picked up on this blanket love and have extended the idea. Very clever.
@SeeThreePeeO, it is, thanks:)
@Lynn, good point. It is me sneaking in some learning though, not that we officially teach him that way so I will keep what you say in mind:)
@Sue, I think it does cut out visual distractions and mutes sound a little (he has big auditory issues). Interesting about the story time, I will remember that for future reference :)
@Marie, yes, she is fine thanks.
@Carol, thanks for visiting and commenting:)
Thanks folks.
Jen
My Zoe loves the blanket as well..it helps her turn off all the stimulus around her..my boys had those collapsible tunnel things..and Oscar loves to go in the cubby under his bed..So glad the ball pit was spared!! tht would have been a horror to clean! :)
Casey loves hiding under his "blanket" with me. His blanket is a fitted sheet. I don't know why, but he's been attached to jersey fitted sheets since he transitioned out of his crib.
That is cool how much you were able to do with him.
This is reality. We can try to impose all the intense therapies we like, but it takes a wise mama to let her kid take the lead. Looks like you're the wise mama XXX
Oh yes... a lot can be achieved Under The Blanket. Whatever works I say! Good work :-)
And No.... I'd rather not.
Think about it..... ;-)
xx jazzy
Another blanket child in my house. I figured out why he loves getting under the blanket (or duvet), definitely sensory, but always left him alone there to self-regulate. Never occurred to me to get under the blanket as well and do some teaching. This is genius! Will try as soon as he is under his duvet again!
It sounds like fun and I'm glad it's working :)
What a great idea, I'm going to try this with R.
So interesting -- and all the comments, too! The things we parents do for our children never fails to amaze me --
I have a great mental picture of the whole family under the blanket, love it!! Was talking to Firstborn about being under the blanket with HRH and he loves it too! His favourite part is when HRH says "love me" and looks for a kiss! Isnt that great? :) They are both learning so much from that.
Thanks so much for stopping by I have joined your blog and am looking forward to learning more about Autism. It must feel good when you find something that is a break through this sounds like it is working and is fun for all together :o)
Brilliant! Does he like hood-like-covers also?
(Must've missed this one over the holiday month. Here from the sos4parents blog carnival.)
Barbara
Both my kids love being under blankets, in tents, and in other small enclosed spaces. I have never thought to try to do any "work" under there — it's always just been a way to keep them occupied and happy. But it sounds like it's worth a try.
Somehow I missed this post, too, when it came out! I like that you rolled with this. Rosie is an under-the-blanket-kind-of gal, too. :-)
I know I read this before but must not have commented at the time. This is such a great idea! We have done this at bedtime for telling stories, but I wonder if it would work at other time when there's just too much going on to have a discussion or work on something.
Thanks!
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