New Plan for the New Year?

Some of you may be aware of the Cat's increasing sensory challenges. Sensory problems are an on going joy of us autism parents. Trying to find just the right balance, can't have too much stimulation, but can't have too little either. What sensory release do they need? Do they need more input? Or less? Do they need to jump? Have pressure? Hide in a cave? Roll up in blankets like a taco? Swing? Roll on a ball? Bounce?

So how do you know how much is enough? There has to be a way to tell right? We parents should just instinctively know, shouldn't we? Aren't we failing them if we don't just know what it is they need? We are the parents it's our job to just understand  their needs and meet those needs.

Yeah, NO. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way just like everyone else. Often with sensory difficulties the solution requires lots of trial and error. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow, but might work again in two weeks. You have to have s bag full of tricks.

Where does that come from? Again, we just magically know, right? It comes in that manual all parents are given when they get the diagnosis. You kept it right? You didn't get one? Well you know your child right? You know what they need. Just like as a parent of an infant, you can tell the difference in their cries. You can't?

Yeah, NO! Doesn't happen that way. For most parents this is all new. Sensory processing disorder?? WTFFF is that? WTHFF do we do now?

The first step is often a trip to the OT office for evaluation. If you are lucky, you will have an OT that will do sensory integration therapy. If not keep looking. This will be very important. The OT can help you develop a sensory diet for your child. This will be invaluable. Trust me.

I have been waiting to get the Cat in with an OT here that does sensory integration. We in Alaska have limited resources. In the meantime the Cat keeps developing more and more sensory issues. So for the new year I have decided to try something new.

Stop fighting them, embrace them. I know, I know it is such a novel concept. How did I ever come up with this idea all on my own? I should confess, this has been my stance all along. But I have finally managed to convince myself that this is the best way to go. Stop fighting the losing battles. Stop trying to make her fit into the NT world.

The Cat hates wearing jeans, so stop buying them for her. Buy other pants, yoga, sweats, leggings. All acceptable, and sensory friendly. The Cat loves fleece, anything fuzzy really. So buy lots of soft, fuzzy items for her to nest with. She loves caves, doesn't really like her bed. So move the bed out, buy a tent, an enclosed air mattress, and let her have a cave. We already put a therapy swing in her room, so that is one check off the list. The Cat loves to jump. She gets so excited she will hold on to my hands and jump until my arms get tired. So let her jump. Buy an indoor trampoline and let her jump all she wants. The floor however is hard, tile on top of cement hard. And the Cat nares the rug we have in her room. So buy some foam floor mats and put those in. Kill two birds with one stone, safety and comfort.

This is what we are looking at to redesign her room and hopefully meet some of those sensory needs. It will happen slowly. Right now we are working on cleaning her room and moving some furniture out, so there is room for all the changes we are going to make. I will post before and after pics on Facebook when we are all done. And I will be sure to keep you all posted as to how her new sensory room works out.