Thank you, Thank you! Thank you for helping me sort through what I am seeing with my little guy. I knew I was missing more here.
Don't threaten to take that away. He needs that the way you and I need air.
This was important to include. I knew when I saw his reaction that this was WAY more than not getting to go to the park. I just couldn't understand why swinging would matter as much as I was seeing. We did go and he only wanted to swing for 20min straight.
Yes. It's related to sensory processing. Read Sensational Kids by Lucy Jane Miller. It should be in your local library. The swinging helps with proprioception (sense of one's self in space). It is a huge anti-anxiety release.
I ordered this book in addition to the Out of Sync Child Has Fun, and Emotions to Advocacy. I also showed him some pages on Amazon from Squirmy Wormy: How I learned to Help Myself. He was begging to get the book because he said it was about him and he needed to learn more. We should have all of them tomorrow. He can't wait to read it.
As I read things here and online, I realized I'd already been integrating some tools for this without realizing what "this" is. We have a Train Table that we fill with rice or beans for sensory play. He still loves his sand table outside and he likes to work in the dirt with me in our garden. We have a trampoline in his room for jumping. During a stressful time at school last year we sent "chewy" pendants he would put around his neck or in his pocket as well as a seat cushion for balancing. We have lots of "fidgets" and even a little plastic calming brush.... I've just never put together why it helps.
He is currently taking Swimming, Gymnatistics, and a multi-sport gym class. He also does Running Club once a week and Bowling. We have found that he NEEDS copious amounts of exercise. We also walk a half mile to school every day. BUT the dizziness and nausea have him avoiding his classes more often than not lately. He's also avoiding eating often. He just feels sick much of the time.
* Making a sandwich. A dd sandwich - not the type of sandwich you eat! DD would roll up in blankets and I'd apply light pressure on top for a few minutes, sorta like a sandwich.
We did this last night! Three times actually. Wow the look on his face! Nothing has ever gotten the response I saw of pure relaxation. He's never that still or quiet. Thank you so much for sharing.
I am going to read up on all of this and see what information and impacts we get with vision therapy. It was quite a sight to see him go from hyperactive antagonizing his dad to quiet and relaxed in an instant when I offered the "sandwich" again. He said "This is really therapeutic for me".
I am constantly feeling amazed at how much and how well he has handled challenges in his life... I had no idea how hard it was for him. I'm really grateful that he's starting to be able to share about it and that you all know what he's talking about! Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience.
