Sensory Issues No More?

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I have been on hiatus.  With a lot of things going on, I had to pause.

Been busy, with lots of activities for the kids.  We keep our momentum going in making sure they get good portion of play, every single day.  Cycling or running is a must after coming back from school and therapy. When I say  A MUST, I really mean it.

I’m in a few support groups (via Whatsapp) and these groups are into comparing stories, experience, up and downs, potentials, dos and don’ts in raising special need kid.  The only group that I find very sincere is the one that is based in KL. Everybody in the group are very sincere in commenting when someone ask.  We don’t just praise or find excuses for the kids. That is what I love most about the group.  Founder of the WA group is Clarence Kang mother (google Clarence Kang; autistic pianist).

I have ‘seen’ via FB and WA groups that parents are so into getting their special need kids to SPEAK (even not communicate) and WRITE.  How can you get them to communicate and understand you when their sensory issues are haywire? I have seen a 5 year old kid who can’t sit even for a minute.  You can buy all the EO, magnesium oil, OT brush, weighted blanket but if you don’t make your kid tone down their sensory seeking thingy, then there must something wrong in your investments.

Those EOs, magnesium oil, epsom salt, OT brush, blanket are not the same in sensory input activity. Get your child dirty & sweaty, get them to run, cycle, let them do some gardening.  Sign up for a sport lesson. These things are crucial.

I won’t respect you if you use a tablet or a phone to calm your child at a table. YES and I mean it. Be it typical kid or special need kid. We give some screen time to our kids, with supervision and limited time, but definitely not as a ‘Risperidone’.
#sensoryinput  #essentialoil  #YLPerlis  #younglivingperlisIMG_0007.JPG

Tone down the ADHD

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I always get comments like – “Is he with ADHD? doesn’t look like one. Is he really hyperactive? He can follow your orders and sit still” To be able to answer these sort of questions, one must be tough mom! Seriously.

How can he sit still during meal time? What does he do while travelling? How do you engage with him? How do you make him listen to the coach? Can he play along with the other kids?

I must tell you, it takes endless Doa/prayers plus patience and training to be able to make an ADHD boy toned down. Last night his therapist messaged me while we were having supper at a local coffee store. “Seronok tengok Azfar macam anak tipikal (membaca sementara menunggu meal)”

I am a fierce mom?- YES, I am; or maybe not BUT I am being strict with Azfar. Discipline is everything when dealing with ADHD/ASD boy I suppose. Alhamdulillah, Praise to the Almighty Allah, we have no problem bringing him to hair salon for his haircut, no problem doing grocery shopping, no problem at all while visiting dentist! My routine for him pays.

Set the example– What if he refused to brush his teeth? I get down on my knees and hold his jaws and I do the brushing back then.

Social stories– Let them know what to expect when going to a mall, what to do, what NOT to do, what do I expect from him? What to expect at the hair salon, the dentist.

Remind, remind and remind–I personally think you can’t stop reminding what do you want from him/expect.  After a while you will notice that he can knows what is expected from him.  I’ll give you an example of our normal situation going to a mall (conversation translated to English):

I: We are going to Giant (a mall)..We are going to get some groceries and who ever behaves well will get something special from me!!
Kids: YAY!! can we get toys/bubbles/pens/art papers???
Azfar (prompted in a very firm tone): Remember Hakeem, no running, no fooling around. Do you understand?!!!

So, you see..when you keep on saying the things you expect from them, they will be!  I must admit, he sometimes behave better comparing to ‘typical’ kids.

Endless encouragement– I am still learning the difference between encouragement and pushing to the limits.  Whatever the term is, I find that encouragement can bring miracles to you.  Simple word can bring joy to your child. ” Great job! high 5 please” , “Wow!!” “Fuyyo, great work”, ” Beautifully done”, etc.

Although we all know that there are rooms for improvement but, they deserve encouragements prior commenting 🙂

Rewards and punishments-Knowing how he loves Westin Langkawi Spa & Resort, we make it official. We announced that before the year ends, the whole family will again visit Westin Langkawi. But, that doesn’t come easy.My husband and I keep repeating this thing every single time Azfar requested for Langkawi.  To us, everything must be a win-win situation.

” Azfar nak pergi Langkawi dak? Solat tak boleh tinggal…Mesti rajin pergi sekolah, rajin pergi terapi, tennis mesti ikut cakap coach, tak boleh lari-lari, mesti berlatih, mesti bersunat”
Translated: Azfar, do you want to go to Langkawi? If you want, you must make sure to complete prayers 5 times daily, you will have to go to school, therapies and tennis lessons. You cannot play around and you must also do the circumcision.

My advice, do it continuously and consistency. Although some say, miracles happen overnight, but in my case it doesn’t happen that way.

My ‘ Harry Powtah’