Gelli continues to receive therapy every week.
Each week she works with her speech therapist, her physical therapist, and her occupational therapist. We have been working with these young ladies from when Gelli was just a peanut, so they play an import part in setting Gelli’s new goals for milestones and helping her achieve said goals with all of our help. (Remember it takes a village.)
I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the goals we are working on now. It’s nice to get feedback on where you child may be, in achieving developmental milestones, what may have worked for you, or encouragement just because you have been there. Sometimes it just helps to know we are in the same boat or what may have worked for you.
During her occupational therapy with Teacher Pat, one thing we have been working on is her fine motor skills. Aside from doing her puzzles, threading her beads, and using her shape sorters, we have also been working with Play Doh.
Can I just share how much I do NOT like the smell of Play Doh? I don’t know why, but for some reason I just can’t. My big kids all got gifts of Play Doh through out their years growing up and as much as I tried I would open up the can and then leave the area because I couldn’t stand the smell. And then when the Play Doh ended up every where but the designated play area for the Play Doh, of course I banned it because no one listened to keeping the smelly Play Doh in the safe zone. (meaning away from Momma’s nose and not mushed into the carpet)
OK. Well, Gelli’s therapist says Play Doh is good for her. So, the unopened boxes and containers of play doh don’t just come out of the closet for play time…NOW, I find myself sitting with The Bean helping her work her way through using those cute little chubby fingers to strengthen those muscles…
So much so, that my big kids say “WHAT? You are actually playing Play Doh WITH her? We weren’t even allowed to play with it at all!!” Hmmm…this one I can easily blame on the therapist and then again, just reiterate my rules of only playing with this mushy smelly mess on one table, away from any carpets, and not near any food.
Another activity we are also working on that came from the advice of my big kids’ tutor, Teacher Mel. (We love her too by the way.) She suggested that we use clothespins and shoe boxes so that Gelli can strengthen those little fingers by squeezing and releasing the clothespins. Of course, any old clothespins won’t do. I had to look for wooden clothespins in case I felt like crafting with them later…(always thinking ahead.)
This means we have to work on Gelli’s gross motor skills as well. Teacher Danica was so kind to Gelli that she brought over her very own trampoline. Sometimes, if I’m cooking dinner, and then I go look for Gelli, she’s in the yoga room…jumping on the trampoline, looking in the mirror. One could say I have a “JUMPING GELLIBEAN!” Cute, no?
Another thing we like doing every now and then bringing out the water table. This can keep Gelli busy for at least a half hour. In toddler time, that’s pretty long. Remember, Gelli is a toddler tornado, she likes to have fun and she likes to keep moving. She loves splashing around, pouring, watering, spilling, and pouring some more. It’s easy to get comfy in my chair in the lanai while she’s playing…I just have to remember not to get too comfy…because when she tires of all the activities so quickly, I have to be ready to jump, run, and chase after her when she’s decided she has had enough.
What fun forms of therapy toddler play time do you like to do with your child?
