These are a few of my favorite things...

As 2013 comes to an end, I can't help but think of where we were a year ago and how much progress JC has made since then.  I wanted to give tribute to the supports that have made such a difference in our lives and in his development.  Below are a few of my favorite things from 2013:

1)  Fish Oil Supplements:  We use Nordic Naturals Strawberry flavored.   Liguid filled gel caps make it easy to puncture the capsule and pour into juice or other beverage.  I try to maintain a daily regimen, but if I slack off and he is having a rough day or two, difference that I see in my child within 24 hours of taking these supplements is amazing.

2) ELECARE Formula:  Although very expensive, this formula has allowed JC to grow and thrive.  it is n amino acid based formula that is already broken down and only requires the body to absorb it , not digest it.  For a child like JC who has many food allergies and  a history of digestive issues, this formula has been a must have.

3)  Occupational Therapy:  I just cant say enough about the impact that OT has had on JC's development.  When I think of where he was before starting OT, and where he is now... its astounding!  For those who many not know how OT is used for children with sensory issues (including Autism), here is a great video that descriges sensory integration therapy.

4) Speech Therapy:  Just as with OT, Speech therapy has made such a difference in JC's development.    And not just the verbal use of words.  It has been much more than htat.  JC's therapist understood his challenges beyond speech.  She knew that although he could say many words, those words escaped him when he became frustrated or upset.  She also knew that he did not always form a connection between a word and an object.  She introduced us to visual schedules and social stories and those have made a HUGE difference in his frustration level and my understanding of him.

5) Visual Schedules & Social Stories: to read about these see my previous post

6)  Social activities like
Kindermusik:  If you aren't familiar with Kindermusik, it is a program for young children that focuses on music and movement to improve early brain development.  It is a "mommy and me" class layout for children JC's age and it helps to introduce the concepts of social interactions while maintaining the comfort of familiarity and fun.  Here is a video of JC enjoying a Kindermusik class:

And Preschool:  Finding the right preschool for a child with special needs can be challenging.  I choose JC's preschool based on small class size and access to a large gym for lots of physical activity.  It has been a wonderful experience for him and his teachers have gone out of their way to try to understand him and his needs.

7) Headphones:  One of the challenges for someone with sensory integration issues is discriminating among all of the different sensations they experience at any given time. Imagine being in a crowd and hearing everyone's conversation instead of being able to focus on the person with whom you are speaking. Headphones have been a huge help for keeping JC focused and reducing overstimulation.

8) Calming techniques:  JC is a snuggler and often he relies on me to help calm him.  But rocking, swinging and deep pressure also work well.  A Weighted Blanket from Sensory Goods has become a calming tool because of the deep pressure that it provides.  During the first night of use, JC slept without waking for several hours (which is uncommon for him).

9)  Sensory  Play:  Tons of everyday items can be used for sensory experiences.  Playdough, sand, bubbles, bird seed, coffee beans just to name a few.  In this same category, I like to put  Movement toys like the swing and trampoline:

These have been integrated into our home and used on a regular basis to help regulate JC's sensory input.  What I mean by this is sometimes, when JC is overstimulated, swinging will calm him.  And sometimes when he is under stimulated, jumping can help find that happy medium again.  With a sensory-sensitive child, too much or too little stimulation can lead to tantrums and meltdowns.

I also love the T-seat we got from Sensory Goods!  This is a great for children with low tone and trunk strength.  It requires them to balance while sitting and strengthens those core muscles.

10) iPad apps: Here are my favorites (most of which have "Lite" versions available for free)
INJINI  Includes several different activities to improve cognitive development

Anything from Wonderkind:  These are interactive "Seek n Find" scenes ... LOVE THESE!

My Playhome:  This is probably JC's favorite.  It is an interaxtive house with various people and you can make them interaxt with their environment.  For example, the mom can eat a bowl of xereal and the chidl can listen to music.  Very imigination friendly but also promotes appropriate social understanding.

Endless Reader:  Excellent sight word app!

Touch n Say: This is an incredibly simple app that features several brightly colored faces saying words, singing songs or making funny sounds.  So why do I love it so much?  Because it touches on all the basics: colores, letters, numbers and best of all... feelings!