Aaron's OT Jane called last night and we talked about the daycare problems. She had lots of ideas for positive ways to get his sensory needs met, some new, some familiar. Here are my notes to send to daycare:
Ideas for Aaron
1. Needs a close bond with one of his teachers – safety for asking for help, extra physical affection. Maybe transition to new room plus teacher going on a medical leave is an extra stressor. One suggestion from Jane is that he choose and bring a little treat for his grown up this week, and then he get a big thank you and TLC.
2. Managing transitions – Aaron probably would do better near the front of the line where it’s less likely for him to be accidentally bumped or have extra movement around him. Maybe a job like carrying something (like a couple of books to the library, or a toy to the gym) or holding the door to give him a positive, distracting task. In circle, seated near an adult or in a place where it’s easy to see him and intervene if it seems like he’s getting agitated.
3. Oral stimulation – we’ll put a vibrating toothbrush in his bag. He can just use it at logical times of the day like after meals – just put on some toothpaste and let him play with it (he calls it poothpaste….very cute). I’ll also send in some things that Jane used with him that other kids may enjoy as well as part of your normal routines:
Straws to blow pom-pom balls and feathers, or to suck on straws to pick up and move little objects
Blowing bubbles – with normal bubble toys, but also in a flat bowl or baking dish with straws, races blowing little toys across a water table with straws
4. Joint compression & heavy work – with the type of sensory processing disorder Aaron has, he needs stronger physical sensations than other children. This helps him feel settled and physically comfortable. Here are some ideas that may be easy to incorporate into his normal day:
Wear a backpack with a couple of heavy books during normal play
Pushing mats, stacking chairs (Jane said he really likes this), carrying heavy things to “help”
Tug of war with a towel or jump rope
Frog hopping, crab walking, walking on hands with adult holding feet
Quick back massage or joint compression with very firm pressure
Hold him under the armpits and swing him
I’ll send in a weighted ball – use for general play (e.g. bowling, or rolling on the floor between kids) or put it in his backpack to carry
Play airplane with his tummy on an adult’s feet, or have him lay on the floor and push his feet against the adult’s chest
Hammering golf tees into a Styrofoam cooler with play hammers – Aaron LOVES to do this – if it is appropriate at daycare let me know and we’ll bring these in
5. Dinosaur play & conversations – let’s encourage these to be our special “at home” types of play…. Toy dinos, dino books, dino tshirts, dino role play at home rather than at school as his special time with Luke, mom, and dad. His ability to tell the difference between fantasy and reality is pretty shaking at this age, so this may minimize the chance of play bites if that is part of the issue for him.
