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Post by Valerie on Apr 16, 2005 21:34:04 GMT -5
I'm just wondering what kind of activities your therapists do with your kids? We're in a small, rural area, so there's not as many services as you would find in a bigger area. It doesn't seem to me like they do a whole lot for Nicholas. They're nice people, (2 of them, we asked that the third not to come anymore...different story), and they really like our son, and maybe he's getting stuff out of it that I'm not aware of. But it seems like he's pretty much done his accomplishments on his own, or with us working with him. For example, in a different post I mentioned that Nicholas did the splits to sit up, too. I didn't even know that was a bad thing until I got the Gross Motor Skills book and read about it in there, and then WE taught him the correct way! I've read different things on here, about therapists working with straws, or blowing bubbles..... WE do that stuff. What else do your therapists do?? Just curious, because if I can get more ideas, we'll work on those with him, too!!  |
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Post by kellyds on Apr 16, 2005 22:59:52 GMT -5
I'm really interested in the replies to this. We home school our children, but somehow the school district found out about Joshua and a lady from Early Intervention called when he was only a month old! By then, I had bought several books about physical and speech therapy for children with Down syndrome and it was pretty obvious to me that we could accomplish this on our own.
Much of it is positioning (which I work on with him) and a lot of "play" therapy. With the number of siblings Joshua has, he is getting "therapy" almost all of his waking hours, as there is no end to people who are eager to blow bubbles to help him learn to track or to shake rattles for him or to encourage him to stroke a stuffed animal.
So, I'm curious about what we might be missing by declining to have someone come in for half an hour, twice weekly.
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Post by Cbean on Apr 17, 2005 7:43:34 GMT -5
Well, Emily is only 3 mos old, but I'm amazed at what they do with her!!! At this age, we're most concerned with her head control and building strength. Excercises include balancing her on a large ball on her tummy and also sitting her on the ball and rotating it. And lots of bouncing! She loves it - chuckles away. We "airplane" her to get her to lift her head and those "cheeks". Then it's typical PT stuff and working on her rolling over. I think she's going to be doing that on her own really soon! I'm so thankful for the PT since I've learned so much already...stuff that pics in a book don't show you.
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Post by kellyds on Apr 17, 2005 8:32:31 GMT -5
From home schooling, I know that everyone has his own learning style. Most people are "show me" learners, but I am definitely a "read it" person. I get frustrated and confused when someone tries to show me how to do something . . . just give me the manual and I'll figure it out!  I did order this video: www.expectantmothersguide.com/profiles/WeeExercise/ |
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Post by meghans_mom on Apr 17, 2005 17:48:09 GMT -5
I'm trying to remember what different things the therapists used to do w/ MM when she got home based svcs at your son's age.
OT: Picking up poker chips and putting them in a slot (on a coffee can). Turn the slot to different angles and sideways, etc. Pushing and pulling play-do, poking w/ individual fingers to increase strength. Also putting popsicle sticks in the clay and making her pull them out. Same w/ putting popsicle sticks in the can slot. Puzzles, stacking 1" blocks. Rubs with creams and wash cloths, other textures to increase awareness & sensitivity. "Dumping" (putting a cheerio in a film canister and turning over). Activities to increase object permanance...taking 3 cups and putting an item under one. Cause and effect toys w/ knobs, dials, etc. Stacking toys (w/ rings) and cups that fit in one another. squeezing play-do & dry sponges. Shape sorters....she made Meghan reach to different heights and angles (not just handing each one to her or putting them in front of her) to encourage cross-reaching and balance, etc. crayon drawing to make lines up & down & across. picking up cheerios, etc to encourage pincer grasp. Stacking peg toys. puzzles. sorting by color or shape, patterning. One had a big doll that she made from poster board. She made all the clothes that stuck on w/ velcro. would make MM "dress" the doll.
PT: working on the big yoga ball. Bouncing, moving around and back to encourage "righting" reactions. Belly play on the ball. Tilted sit ups. basketball, throwing & rolling a regular ball, kicking a ball. bean-bag toss - with directives "put the bag in the clowns' mouth" "put the bag in the clowns hand". would again not hand them directly to MM but would make her reach in different directions for them or scatter them around the floor so she would have to reach & bend. Going on and off curbs. working on the 6 & 8" balance beams. going up and down ramps and balancing on the rocker board (yes the PT brought ALL these things with her...took her 15 mins to unload her car, LOL!!!). Going up and down stairs, walking and crawling. Up & down the ladder on the slide.
That's all I can remember at the moment. We also had speech therapy & special ed teachers coming to the house...they did other stuff too. hope this helps some, laurie
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