(Max's "special white" comfort blanket)
Its been pretty uneventful around here the last couple of days. Max started school back up yesterday...he was so excited to see his friends and his teacher Ms. Ann. Today Max's school was closed because of the icy weather....although I think that if you spit outside when its cold they will cancel the schools. I remember in New England the school systems were open for everything. It would have to be at least 6 inches of snow on the ground before they would even bat an eyelash at closing the schools for the day.
Anyway, so we stayed inside and played... the kids are taking a nap right now... so I am getting some much needed blogging and housework done.
I wanted to talk about the remark that Max's dentist made about him needing to stop sucking his thumb. Eerrrrr...I don't know that I'm ready to make him quit...I mean they will all probably need braces anyway right? I just remember how much comfort finger sucking brought me. Max's teacher Ms. Ann mentioned how "sensory" sensitive Max is. They give him a feather or something soft at school to help soothe him when he is getting too wound up...and they do "deep pressure" therapy with him for the same reasons. Max's bed at home is tented in even though he really doesn't like the dark... its a nice get away and break for him when he needs it. All of this feedback that his teacher is giving me makes so much sense...I only wish I had known about it earlier otherwise I could have offered him more help when he was overstimulated. I took him to a developmental specialist a while back because we knew Max was super intelligent...but he was destructive trying to find ways to keep himself entertained. They labeled him as ADHD and sent us on our way. His preschool teacher has offered WAY more help. I just don't know that I'm ready to take away a coping mechanism that he obviously needs. So whens enough??? Same with Katy...although I think that she could manage better without her paci.
Max is still into trains, any little line or curve in the furniture suddenly becomes an express track to who knows where in his little imagination. He always has on his train mantra...and concentrates deeply as he chugs his toys everywhere... today's shots and editing here.
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3 comments:
It is wonderful that his teacher is able to give you some suggestions. You need to work on the thumb sucking when it feels right.
I specialized in teaching kids who were diagnosed with adhd or other differently abled kids. Instead of thinking that you need to stop thumb-sucking, maybe you can think of alternates to teach him to use instead that still involve oral-motor stimulation. An occupational therapist focussed on sensory integration issues has catalogues of products and an array of ideas for what a child can learn to use instead of his fingers. I suggest this only because it is a hard habit to redirect when it is firmly established.
I agree with your desire to keep something that helps him to focus and feel secure!!!!!! Just thinking of several students I had. The habit was hard to redirect at older ages when it was so important for the kids to be seen as equals to their peers and not 'babies'. I just think that you 'might' have a bit of an easier time of it if you involve an OT and start sooner rather than later. Not meaning you need to start tomorrow, though.
wow, thats a lot of great input thank you!... how is it suggested to get someone to stop thumb sucking that isn't harsh ...IE: hot sauce or taking away his special blanket?
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