Brushing…And I don’t Mean Your Teeth

On May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

‘J’ will not be receiving Speech or Occupational Therapy (OT) over the summer. Both will start back up again in September.

We did have speech last summer and he just started OT in February. Therefore, I’m a little skiddish about not having either for a couple of months, while at the same time welcoming the break. In the meantime, we’re finally in a good groove with OT after a rough and late winter of snow storms in the midst of school breaks and I want to make sure we maximize the resource while we have it.

The Wilbarger Protocol

One of the newest activities of our days has been incorporating “The Wilbarger Protocol” or in simpler terms “Brushing Therapy.” The following was taken from nationalautismresources.com:

The Wilbarger Protocol (also referred to as brushing therapy) is often a part of a sensory integration or sensory therapy program. It involves brushing the body with a small surgical brush throughout the day. People who exhibit symptoms of tactile defensiveness are extremely sensitive to touch.

The complete protocol usually takes 2-3 minutes to administer. The first step involves using a soft, plastic, sensory brush or Therapressure Brush which is run over the child’s skin, using very firm pressure; it is like a deep pressure massage.

After Brushing, we also do joint compressions in his arms and legs. Since it is similar to a deep pressure massage, serotonin and dopamine are released throughout the body resulting in a calming effect. For the first two weeks (we’re on Day 4) it is done on a schedule of every 2 hours unless the child is sleeping. In ‘J’s’ case, we’re also not doing it while he is in school. After the two weeks, we can reassess how much it has helped, if at all, and create a less vigorous schedule. So far he likes it. There is not a ton of research behind this technique but it has helped many.

Worst case scenario-it definitely can’t hurt. Stay tuned for updates!

*Image taken from Google Images

It’s Gonna Be May

On May 1, 2018May 1, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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It’s May 1st-I couldn’t resist!

I can’t believe it’s May! May means 1 month and a few days away from ‘J’ turning 4. May means 1 month and 2 weeks until ‘J’ is done with his first year of school. May means finally nice weather and most of our days spent outside. May is feeling like a season of change.

Those who know me know that I am not a fan of change. I know change is necessary, a lot of it is good, but I’m a big fan of nostalgia and also wanting to freeze time. When ‘J’ turned 3, I felt emotional because to me going from 2 to 3 meant saying goodbye to the baby stage. I also knew then that it was much better than 4 which felt like more of a big kid. And now here I am, on the brink of having a 4 year old!

It also feels like the first day of school was just yesterday. It was the first time we were leaving him with anyone aside from a few family members. It was unknown territory and I was used to being with him all day everyday. The thought of having him in school two days a week for a whopping two and a half hours each felt overwhelming to me! Of course I knew he would benefit and grow from the experience. And that definitely happened. He loves his friends and teachers. Loves the routine of school and he’s having fun along the way.

I know he’s going to be so happy to celebrate his birthday. A lot of the family has birthdays in the fall/winter time frame, so he’s been waiting a long time for his. He’s also going to be sad when he’s not in the routine of school over the summer. Luckily I’m already in contact with the parents of his closest friends and I predict many play dates in my future.

Change can be good. ‘J’ is growing and figuring out his world. I’m so lucky to be a part of it and to watch it everyday. But I also can’t believe how fast time goes by and I try to soak it up as best as I can. Oh and it doesn’t matter how far he gets from the baby stage, he will always be my baby boy.

Feelings

On April 25, 2018June 21, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

The first movie ‘J’ ever sat through in its entirety was Pixar’s Inside Out. If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, it takes viewers through the inner workings of an 11 year old’s mind. We get to see how her feelings, dreams and thoughts affect her daily life. The main characters consist of 5 feelings: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear. I’d say those are 5 feelings everyone finds relatable.

I’m not sure I know many adults that understand their feelings so it makes complete sense that navigating feelings for a child is not an easy task. When ‘J’ started being affected by my niece crying or his sister crying, he also became extra sensitive to talking about any negative feeling. If you made a sad face as you were playing, it would result in crying from ‘J.’ If an adult said “oh, that makes me sad” or “oh I’m going to cry,” he would immediately react. We have Inside Out Box of Mixed Emotions books, one for each feeling. He got to the point of not wanting to read Sadness’ book. It broke my heart to see how affected he became by just the mention of a feeling.

Although I was starting to suspect that there may be some sensory processing issues going on, I also wasn’t sure if he was going through a phase. I started looking into other books that talked about feelings, singing Daniel Tiger songs about feelings and was even trying to get him to talk through his tantrums. For a 3 year old, whose words are still catching up to his mind, this was a lot of work. And again, for an adult, this is a lot of work. I didn’t want to push him too much and risk him keeping everything inside.

One of the books I got was “The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain. It goes through all the feelings one could have: silliness, frustration, happiness, boredom and many more. There are pictures associated with each feeling’s description to help the child understand it even more. I mentioned Daniel Tiger songs, but I also picked up Daniel Tiger Happy and Sad books. The show, the songs and his books tackle so many things that kids go through and I find it really helpful. Once we were getting through our Mickey Mouse Clubhouse addiction, ‘J’ had moved into Daniel Tiger and I’m glad he did. We countdown to calm down just like Daniel and associate different situations to how Daniel has handled them. What does Daniel do when he gets mad? How did Daniel feel when his sister wanted to play? What happens when Daniel’s friends didn’t want to play with him? What did Daniel do that was kind? The list goes on!

Feelings are so tough to navigate and if you’re someone that has sensory processing difficulties and becomes overwhelmed in a lot of situations, it becomes even tougher. Whatever tools you can use to help are worth trying. Books, shows and songs are great for kids since they are drawn to those things already. They’re learning without realizing they’re doing any work. It’s kind of like sneaking vegetables into their cupcakes ;-).

I will always try to get my kids to talk through their feelings. Even when they’re teenagers and they find me extra annoying. Communication is one of the most important tools in life and the sooner they’re able to have that in their tool box, the better!

Below are links to the various books on Feelings as referenced above:

The Way I Feel

I’m Feeling Happy (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)

I’m Feeling Sad (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)

Inside Out Box of Mixed Emotions

Bag ‘O Fun

On April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized4 Comments

As I mentioned in my last blog, “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” we took a trip to Pittsburgh two weeks ago for Spring Break. We’re lucky and thankful that our kids are great on car trips, as long as plenty of snacks and activities are packed. They normally make it to the final hour or two before they need the iPhones.

Although having activities and snacks comes with dropping activities and snack which results in me turning around to get them most of the trip. But it’s a small price to pay for having them locked in seats for 7 hours.

The times the car rides become less fun is when ‘J’s’ sister (‘Baby J’) becomes unhappy because that is an automatic trigger for him. This was one of my earliest red flags of thinking this was all more than just empathy. The result is screaming and crying long after ‘Baby J’ is done whining or crying.

Along with checking out the Mister Rogers exhibit at the Heinz History Center, we also stopped by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. If you haven’t been there, I recommend it. It’s huge and there’s so much to see and do!

Since it’s so big and it was a Saturday, there was a big crowd. ‘J’ was definitely overwhelmed. He wasn’t unhappy just unsettled. He didn’t stay in one place too long, didn’t go over to exhibits if there were too many people around it and was extra clingy. Luckily they have a great art area with painting and clay. This was a much quieter space and we spent most of our time in this spot.

I was talking to ‘J’s’ Occupational Therapist after our trip about his triggers and she suggested having a backpack with some items they may help calm him in these situations. At home, he’s good about going to his room to reset himself if he’s feeling overwhelmed. When we’re out in public or he’s locked into a car seat, it’s not as easy. Luckily we have quite a few backpacks on hand and I’ve since put one together with his headphones, sensory bottle, his squishy fidget dinosaur, small toys and his water bottle. We brought the headphones on our last plane ride and for some reason I didn’t think to bring them on the car trip. They definitely would’ve been helpful for when ‘Baby J’ was upset.

She also mentioned carrying the backpack may help him since weighted items can provide comfort. We’ve already tried this on shorter car rides (30+ minutes) and so far it has come in handy.

I’m willing to try any and everything that will provide him any comfort or organization for his mind and body. Not all will work, but through trial and error, I know we’ll find the best combination of sensory items and activities.

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

On April 21, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

“Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.”

“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.”

“Forgiveness is a strange thing. It can sometimes be easier to forgive our enemies than our friends. It can be hardest of all to forgive people we love. Like all of life’s important coping skills, the ability to forgive and the capacity to let go of resentments most likely take root very early in our lives.”

“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”

“You’ve made this day a special day, by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you; and I like you just the way you are.”

These are just a few of the many amazing quotes are by the one and only Fred Rogers.

Two weeks ago, we decided to take a trip to Pittsburgh during spring break. Not the first place that comes to most people’s mind when you think of spring break, but we wanted to check out the Mister Rogers Exhibit at the Heinz History Center.

Admittedly, I did not grow up watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Of course I had seen it, but my brother had been a fan when he was younger and I didn’t take to it in the same way. As I got older and learned more about him, watched interviews and read articles, I came to appreciate his message. Now that I’m a mom, it speaks to me even more.

With his 50th anniversary last month, PBS started showing some old episodes. I wasn’t sure how the kids would react to it since it’s older, slower and not all the sparkle that is everywhere on children’s programming now. Once I put it on, both ‘J’s,’ ages 3 and 1, were hooked. Mister Rogers never needed the sparkle, and it still holds true.

Although the exhibit isn’t big, it doesn’t have to be. As soon as you walk in, you’re transported to the land of make believe. You can see King Friday’s castle, Henrietta’s Treehouse, the trolley and of course a few puppet friends. There are so many little details from Mister Rogers’ shoes to the trolley. They are playing clips from the show and have two booklets you can read through about Mister Rogers’ life and the show.

There weren’t many people there on the Friday that we visited, but you almost felt the need to talk quietly. Everyone was there to take it all in and appreciate the artifacts from the show. His fanbase and the people he has affected spans 50 years.

Pittsburgh is a 6-7 hour drive for us and we took 48 hours out of our spring break to make the trip. As a bonus, the Heinz History Center also has a great kids’ area with building blocks, air tunnels, coloring and more! Of course there are many great exhibits for adults as well. If you can get there to visit, I highly recommend you do. You won’t regret it!

And now Mister Rogers defending PBS to the US Senate Subcommittee of Communications. A clip that shows the power of Mister Rogers perfectly:

Wiggling Our Way Through Meals

On April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized3 Comments

For the last few weeks, ‘J’ has been getting up mid-meal to jump, spin or run. He’s not upset when he’s doing it, not having a tantrum, it’s almost as if he just needs to do it.

‘J’ loves jumping on the floor, trampoline or his bed. He loves climbing anywhere he can. The fact that he’s a fan of this in general, it’s not surprising that once he’s sitting and eating for awhile, he needs to change things up.

He’s always been good about sitting at the table to eat. I’m torn in the sense that if he feels like that’s what he needs at that time because of how he’s feeling, I don’t want to stop him. At the same time, it’s not the best habit to teach, especially if he carries it over to a restaurant (knock on wood-that hasn’t happened yet).

I mentioned it to our OT and she suggested a wiggle seat. When I was talking with our speech therapist about it, she mentioned she had one we could try out. The last few days have gone well and he seems to like it. I don’t see him jumping or spinning as much. Who knew that a tiny little seat can do so much?

But what is it actually doing? The following was taken from sensorysolutions.co

The inflated chair has a slight texture on the surface, which already works to provide a certain amount of sensory stimulation. The angle and shape of the chair causes the child to engage their core section and balance themselves on top while sitting.

This stimulation actually sends signals to the brain to allow their minds to focus easier. What this means is that your child’s subconscious focusing on their posture and balance while sitting on the wiggle chair directly influences how their mind focuses. This makes the chair perfect for classroom settings.

The seat can help calm and organize the body. Since it’s working so far, I’ll keep it going. Stay tuned for updates!

Listen to Becky, from Sensory Spectacle talk about why someone with Sensory Processing difficulties may bounce on their bed:

A Hairy Situation

On April 17, 2018April 17, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized6 Comments

‘J’ had his first haircut on the day he turned 1. We were in Disney World and went to the Barber Shop on Main Street. It was so much fun and he did great! He may have been ok with a haircut or two after that one but since that timeframe, it has been a struggle.

As time has gone on, it’s not just a struggle to cut his hair. Washing his hair is usually being done as he is screaming or crying. Brushing his hair is a big battle in the morning. Sometimes I try wetting the brush a bit since he definitely has a big case of bed head every morning. I’m trying to give up wetting the brush since he hates feeling the water and only makes him hate the experience more.

It’s tough when we’re getting ready for school and he’s running away screaming not wanting his hair brushed. Or if I was able to brush it, he then has to rub his head in the couch, bed or on his hand while screaming which puts us back to square one.

This is an ongoing process to see what may help him get through these activities. It’s another example of something most people take for granted, but for him, it’s an extra sensitive situation. Like most things in parenthood, it’s trial and error until we find the key to what works.

Below are two videos from Sensory Spectacle. The first talks about why someone with SPD may not like brushing their hair, the second discusses why they may not like washing their hair and the last is all about haircuts.

Transitioning Back to a Routine

On April 11, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Last week was spring break here in NY which meant no school, no speech therapy and no occupational therapy. The week started pretty gloomy weather wise and we had 3 indoor days. On Thursday we decided to take a trip to Pittsburgh to check out the Mr. Rogers exhibit. If you haven’t been, I definitely recommend it! The Heinz History Center, where the exhibit is located, is great for kids in addition to seeing all the cool Mr. Rogers memorabilia. More on the trip in another blog.

When I was working and would take time off for a trip, I would always make sure there was a buffer day when I returned. A day to come home, chill out, do some laundry, etc. before jumping back into work. Probably seems silly considering I was just on a vacation, but I never wanted to go right back into the normal daily routine.

‘J’ loves routine. If he doesn’t know the agenda for the day or if curveballs are thrown in, he’s not a happy camper. Of course after a week away from school and services, while doing a small trip away, there would be a readjustment period. It’s Wednesday and I think we’re still in it.

He’s had periods of acting out, two meltdowns during school yesterday and hesitation with OT and Speech today. I’m pretty sure he’s had a small cold the last few days as well, which I’m sure isn’t helping. But it all makes sense and coming from someone who needed a buffer day after a cruise, how could I not understand?

I’m hoping over the next few days the ups and downs return to more ups and less downs. I hate seeing him upset and affected by his surroundings. I know he does too.

Indoor Activities

On April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized4 Comments

As a kid, I was not a fan of arts and crafts! Becoming a stay at home mom, I’ve definitely gone outside my comfort zone and tried new crafts and activities here and there. I’m thankful for Instagram and Pinterest! If I’m not doing exactly what I see in posts, then it will get me to think of a similar idea tailored to both ‘J’s.’

Last week was our Spring break and we kicked it off with six inches of snow on the first day and a rainy day the next! To say I’m over winter and ready to be outside with some nice weather would be an understatement. The kids love going for walks, playing at the playground or just hanging in the backyard. I’m itching to do more of that! Needless to say I’ve been trying out new activities with help from social media.

LEGO Matching

Like most kids (and adults), ‘J’ loves LEGOs! When I saw this all over Pinterest, I knew we had to try! I printed up some LEGO tower patterns and got out the Duplos.

*Side note: one day I gave ‘J’ an online IQ test just for fun and he had to match patterns. He was so into it, he asked to “play” it again the next day, so I knew he would be into this version with LEGOs!

This activity is great for gross motor skills, learning patterns, practicing colors and following direction.

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Moon Sand

An indoor sandbox? What kid would say no to that?!

I was a little hesitant to try this one since I wasn’t sure if the ‘Js’ could keep it contained. But I got out a big sheet and took a chance. I’m so happy I did!

There are different recipes out there for making moon sand. Due to the supplies I had around my house, I went with 5 cups of flour and 1 cup of vegetable oil. Once I started mixing, I probably added a little bit more of both. I would definitely recommend the 5:1 ratio as a good starting point. The sand shouldn’t be too powdery but not too thick either.

I mixed it in a disposable cooking pan, threw in some toys and sent them on their way! The pictures are from the beginning with only a few items. By the end there were plenty of figures, cars, cups, spoons, etc. all enjoying the indoor beach day. This activity kept my 3 year old occupied for about an hour straight. Less for my 1 year old, but that’s to be expected.

Cheerio Tower

This was something I saw and threw together based on the few materials I had.

Even though I’ve seen it bigger while using raw spaghetti, why not try smaller play-doh shapes and some toothpicks? It’s all about improvising! Another great activity for gross motor skills, as well as counting (and of course a built in snack).

Play-Doh

Not a DIY activity, but a gift from the Easter Bunny instead. Great timing for a snowy/rainy spring break!

I’ve mentioned before that ‘J’ is obsessed with letters, but play-doh is high on his list of favorite things to do. When I saw…um I mean the Easter Bunny couldn’t resist leaving it for him!

An all in one box where you can practice letters, make faces while discussing emotions, match up letters to the right animal or write with a special play-doh pen. A bonus: this activity is great for practicing speech too!

The bottom line is, if I can board the DIY activity train, so can you!

Sensory Friendly Spaces

On April 4, 2018April 4, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have recently seen an increase in public venues offering Sensory Friendly days or a specific space at that venue. For example, in January 2017, it was announced that the Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando would offer noise cancelling headphones, squeeze toys and a safe room as an option for those with sensory difficulties.

On April 15th, the Dallas Zoo will hold a Sensory Friendly Day and on the first Sunday of every month Chuck E. Cheese will be open from 9AM-11AM for Sensory Sensitive Sundays which will include reduced lighting and noise.

The St. Louis Aquarium will be the first to be built with Sensory Inclusion in mind. They will offer quiet spaces and they understand that aquariums tend to be very overwhelming for those with sensory issues. The aquarium opens during the Summer of 2019. Click here for more information.

Certain AMC Theater locations offer Sensory Friendly times for moviegoers. Taken from the AMC website:

AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where we turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Our Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Tuesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. Please check your local theatre listings for specific showtimes, and don’t forget to share your family fun with #AMCSensoryFriendly.

These are just a few examples of sensory friendly spaces popping up. The more education companies and venues have, the more inclusive they can become.

Click here for information on Sensory Friendly Day at the Dallas Zoo

Click here for information on Sensory Sensitive Sundays at Chuck E. Cheese

Click here for information on The St. Louis Aquarium

Click here for the AMC Sensory Friendly Film Program