Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Gross Motor
I know I've posted before about the importance of exercise, fun ways to engage the vestibular system, and how the earliest gross motor skills show the most progress. So, here's another post about the importance of gross motor skills.
This was their first time in a bounce house. They loved feeling the floor move under them and feeling the reaction of the other one walking/jumping near them. Yipee for cause and effect the fun way. :)
They quickly problem solved that holding onto the side was the best way not to fall over. The unevenness makes their inner ears and vestibular system work to keep them upright even as they run and jump.
Here's a great family activity for gross motor skills. The kids are practicing balance and body control, while the Daddy is having to keep his core muscles tight so he doesn't collapse under the bouncing toddlers.
Wrestling with your kids is also important. Rough housing in a safe way - in this case on an air mattress with padding covering the entertainment center and sharp corners - helps to teach natural consequences. If you jump on Daddy's back, he will get revenge!
Yummy, eating baby feet! Climbing up a moving surface is much more difficult than climbing up something stationary with footholds like at the park.
This is what happens when they both want Mommy to rock them at the same time. Rocking seems so simple, and yet, this also helps stimulate the vestibular system.
Some kids get pony rides, our kids get Mommy or Daddy rides. I would love to say this has made me a lean, strong person. Really it just makes me feel like a wimp that I can't go very far, especially as they are requesting we go "faster, faster, faster!"
This was their first time in a bounce house. They loved feeling the floor move under them and feeling the reaction of the other one walking/jumping near them. Yipee for cause and effect the fun way. :)
They quickly problem solved that holding onto the side was the best way not to fall over. The unevenness makes their inner ears and vestibular system work to keep them upright even as they run and jump.
Here's a great family activity for gross motor skills. The kids are practicing balance and body control, while the Daddy is having to keep his core muscles tight so he doesn't collapse under the bouncing toddlers.
Wrestling with your kids is also important. Rough housing in a safe way - in this case on an air mattress with padding covering the entertainment center and sharp corners - helps to teach natural consequences. If you jump on Daddy's back, he will get revenge!
Yummy, eating baby feet! Climbing up a moving surface is much more difficult than climbing up something stationary with footholds like at the park.
This is what happens when they both want Mommy to rock them at the same time. Rocking seems so simple, and yet, this also helps stimulate the vestibular system.
Some kids get pony rides, our kids get Mommy or Daddy rides. I would love to say this has made me a lean, strong person. Really it just makes me feel like a wimp that I can't go very far, especially as they are requesting we go "faster, faster, faster!"
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Best Dog Ever!
I'm sure you are tired of my posts about the importance of kids having animals. This post is very different. We found out in May that our beloved dog had advanced cancer that we couldn't treat. We did everything we could to make him comfortable in his last few months.
He may be taller than her, but he still let her dress him up in costumes. Our kids had no concept of death and Rocky was always with us, so we knew this would be difficult. After much research, we decided to just answer their questions directly and with appropriate concrete language. Saying things like the dog has "passed away" or that he is "in a better place" or that we "put him to sleep" doesn't make any sense to a toddler.
We did change our language about when we took Rocky to the doctor. We stopped referring to him as sick because we didn't want them to think every time someone gets sick that they die. They did see the many pills we were giving him every day and knew we were trying to make him feel better. They also couldn't miss the many vet appointments. They knew something was wrong, but didn't realize how bad it was. They did like that toward the end Rocky wore a diaper at night just like they do. It's good to find a silver lining. haha
When the time finally arrived we had someone come stay with the kids while we took Rocky to the vet. My husband and I were with him and needed the time to compose ourselves before going home to explain it to the kids. When we walked in the door, the first thing sweet daughter said was "Where is Rocky?" We sat down on their level and told them that Rocky had died. We explained that he wasn't hurting any more and we wouldn't see him again. They ask many questions, but did seem to get it eventually. We answered their questions and we talk about Rocky any time they bring him up.
People want to know how long it takes for them to forget or stop asking. I'm writing this blog post a year later and can't answer it yet. They still remember Rocky and talk about him. If someone asks if we have a dog, sweet daughter will say, "Rocky died." She says it very matter of factly and even knows to give me a hug after (I tend to get upset still). In fact this week, we were doing dictation about car rides and she said her favorite person to ride in a car with was Rocky when we went to Oklahoma. That was literally a year ago and she still remembers.
Sweet son also remembers Rocky, but in a more concrete way. When he sees a big dog he will run up to it and say it's nice like Rocky. If a dog licks his face he will say it's like Rocky, etc.
He may be taller than her, but he still let her dress him up in costumes. Our kids had no concept of death and Rocky was always with us, so we knew this would be difficult. After much research, we decided to just answer their questions directly and with appropriate concrete language. Saying things like the dog has "passed away" or that he is "in a better place" or that we "put him to sleep" doesn't make any sense to a toddler.
We did change our language about when we took Rocky to the doctor. We stopped referring to him as sick because we didn't want them to think every time someone gets sick that they die. They did see the many pills we were giving him every day and knew we were trying to make him feel better. They also couldn't miss the many vet appointments. They knew something was wrong, but didn't realize how bad it was. They did like that toward the end Rocky wore a diaper at night just like they do. It's good to find a silver lining. haha
When the time finally arrived we had someone come stay with the kids while we took Rocky to the vet. My husband and I were with him and needed the time to compose ourselves before going home to explain it to the kids. When we walked in the door, the first thing sweet daughter said was "Where is Rocky?" We sat down on their level and told them that Rocky had died. We explained that he wasn't hurting any more and we wouldn't see him again. They ask many questions, but did seem to get it eventually. We answered their questions and we talk about Rocky any time they bring him up.
People want to know how long it takes for them to forget or stop asking. I'm writing this blog post a year later and can't answer it yet. They still remember Rocky and talk about him. If someone asks if we have a dog, sweet daughter will say, "Rocky died." She says it very matter of factly and even knows to give me a hug after (I tend to get upset still). In fact this week, we were doing dictation about car rides and she said her favorite person to ride in a car with was Rocky when we went to Oklahoma. That was literally a year ago and she still remembers.
Sweet son also remembers Rocky, but in a more concrete way. When he sees a big dog he will run up to it and say it's nice like Rocky. If a dog licks his face he will say it's like Rocky, etc.
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