One of the most challenging things when you start with a home therapy program for an autistic child, is all the
stuff you are supposed to do
All the
aspects you are to work on
Sensory Regulation, Engagement, Problem Solving, Pretend Play, Peer interaction, Language - the list is endless
Though I love Floortime , one of the things that we found impossible to do was the usual Floortime recommendation of 2 play dates each week with a child
We did try
Our friends would offer to come over with their children when they learned that we were trying to get R to have play dates
R would be miserable and try his darnedest to get away from the child
The child would try a few times and then give up
And I would end up playing with the child
After a few attempts, we gave up
It was just pointless
(Yet I felt some guilt over yet one more thing we were supposed to do and did not )
But then we started to wonder , was ignoring this facet , such a bad thing after all
Perhaps he was not ready to learn peer interaction just yet
Perhaps it made more sense to focus on
one thing at a time ( and there were plenty of other things to choose from)
And I think we were right
For suddenly this last weekend , whave a couple visit us with their kids
Lo and behold, we find him for the first time
ever seeking other kids out
Wanting to be in the company of these two girls
Trying to play with their toys
Wanting to ride in their car
Wanting to stop by their house today when we are driving home today
DH and I have decided that this summer we will focus on Social Skills
I am often struck by how R seems to develop every ability, albeit in his own time
How much we save - when we try to follow his lead - in what to work on ( For isn't there always something to work on )
There is a time to plough the land and a time to plant the seed and so it is with raising children
Timing really is everything
And so instead of hurrying him along over the steps
We now let him take his time.
There is no rush, we say to him.
Feel that step firmly beneath your feet
We are ready when you are
This post has been written for Dr Boucher's Blog Carnival on Readiness which will be published on April 25th 
All the aspects you are to work on
Sensory Regulation, Engagement, Problem Solving, Pretend Play, Peer interaction, Language - the list is endless
Though I love Floortime , one of the things that we found impossible to do was the usual Floortime recommendation of 2 play dates each week with a child
We did try
Our friends would offer to come over with their children when they learned that we were trying to get R to have play dates
R would be miserable and try his darnedest to get away from the child
The child would try a few times and then give up
And I would end up playing with the child
After a few attempts, we gave up
It was just pointless
(Yet I felt some guilt over yet one more thing we were supposed to do and did not )
But then we started to wonder , was ignoring this facet , such a bad thing after all
Perhaps he was not ready to learn peer interaction just yet
Perhaps it made more sense to focus on one thing at a time ( and there were plenty of other things to choose from)
And I think we were right
For suddenly this last weekend , whave a couple visit us with their kids
Lo and behold, we find him for the first time ever seeking other kids out
Wanting to be in the company of these two girls
Trying to play with their toys
Wanting to ride in their car
Wanting to stop by their house today when we are driving home today
DH and I have decided that this summer we will focus on Social Skills
I am often struck by how R seems to develop every ability, albeit in his own time
How much we save - when we try to follow his lead - in what to work on ( For isn't there always something to work on )
There is a time to plough the land and a time to plant the seed and so it is with raising children
Timing really is everything
And so instead of hurrying him along over the steps
We now let him take his time.
There is no rush, we say to him.
Feel that step firmly beneath your feet
We are ready when you are
This post has been written for Dr Boucher's Blog Carnival on Readiness which will be published on April 25th