Some Creeping and Crawling Incentives

I'd like to share some things that have worked with us, just in case there are some others who are working with younger children who can't be bribed or are too young to play games. I have a toy that has 2 halves that make a match to make a shape. They are in the shape of an Oreo cookie, and the two halves have the same shape. I slide one across our crawling mat and then she crawls to it and brings it back to me and we open it to see what shape it is. The next thing I've used is The Leap Frog Fridge Phonics game. I slide a letter across the mat and when she brings it back, we put it in the space and push the button to hear what letter it is and it's sound. The same thing could be done with a puzzle, putting in one piece at a time. I just came up with this idea from watching another blog of someone doing NR with their slightly older child. They were playing boggle, and that made me think of the 2 things I've just described. If I come up with anything else, I will write it down, because I know how hard it is to keep a 2 AND 3 year old occupied. We still do it in several sessions because it is hard to do it all at once. I'm encouraged by the success stories posted on neuro-net. We have a long period of time to continue with this, and maybe longer than originally planned because we aren't able to do all of our prescribed activities. We'll keep plugging along, and hopefully I'll be able to continue with new progress reports. There are actually only a few things we want to work on left. We need the self regulation, that's tops on the list, respect of personal space, reduce anxiety, and to become securely attached. We never had the sleep problems or violent tendencies that so many people experience. I think my daughter has only unlocked a small portion of her potential, and I'm excited to see what is to come. I can't emphasize what a happy child she is, and for that I am so grateful. Every day with her is a gift, even if we never get past where we are now.

quick update

I don't have much new news, but wanted to post an update anyway. We've discovered some new motivations for the creeping, so that's going well. Her left leg has finally gotten equal movement in the creeping, so that's good news. She actually colored with her left hand yesterday, that was really exciting. When she came home, she didn't use her left hand at all, it was like her brain didn't know it existed. We've got great communication too, so that's really nice too. The other day, she climbed up on the windowsill from the couch (the couch is against the wall). When I saw her, I yelled to get down and her response was, "Dangerous!" It was another one of those moments when I realize that she has heard every word that has been said to her and comprehended it. My guess is attachment is the reason that she still ignores us sometime. I am demanding that she answers or at least looks at me when I ask a question. Something happened while I was writing this. A few minutes ago, I tripped over her toy and almost fell. She just came back and kissed my toe to make it better. Compassion is still something she is learning. By her coming over a few minutes after it happened, it showed she was thinking about it. She has tried to comfort me when she perceived that I was scared. My little girl has come so far.

August 12, 2009

We're not having anymore problems with sleep. There's some whimpering when bed is mentioned, but no crying. Communication is still accelerating, it's a very exciting time. I think impulse control is what we need the most work on. I know her brain needs to heal and develop to make these gains and the only route to that is NR. I'm being encouraged to send her to the special needs school that the public school system provides, but I just can't send her where they don't understand her. She is only 3 years old and she doesn't need to be anywhere right now. We are having a hard time with cooperation with her NR work, but we do what we can and just space it out throughout the day. I want her to be healed TODAY, but that's just not the way it works. Perseverence is the word of the day.

Great News

We had a nap today with no tears! Hooray!! It was a really long nap, so that means a late night tonight. I think we're going to have to give up naptime because it keeps her up so late. Hopefully we'll have no tears for bedtime tonight.

It's still going on

Well, we're still having the naptime and nightime protests. When we even speak of bed, she starts crying. I'm hoping this is short lived, it's hurts me to see her upset. I know life can't be always happy, but I try to make it that way. I think some of this is separation anxiety. This is a very good thing, because it means attachment. Since returning home, I've noticed a lot more eye contact. I don't leave her often, but when I do, she never protests. Just this past week, I told her I was leaving for a few minutes, but would be back. She said, "Car seat?" I took her along with me because she asked, I was happy she wanted to be with me. The other morning, I left her for an hour with her sister. She asked for me the whole time I was gone. This is a major breakthrough in attachment. The only problem is that she will start preschool in a week. I guess it will be good that she misses me, and she'll only be gone for 2 and a half hours. I guess I'll just see how it goes. I don't know if the timing for all of this is good or bad. She is also communicating better every day. So we'll press on with our NR, and hope this emotional time willl be a time of growth and not take too long.