Pleased with the new school. Visual charts, positive reinforcement, small class sizes, class is taught in a structured way where students can learn and their anxiety  is calmed.  Let the learning happen. I am pleased and proud that we are part of an Autistic specialist school that works with children’s abilities as well as their fixations etc. Both my sons  are doing very well. No. 1 kiddo seems to be  quite good with his maths and science.

No. 1 Kiddo is doing science experiments in the shed science lab, and you tubing it.

“Why, are you putting a chip up my nose, son!” Son says  “I just want to tickle your nose!” We had a good walk at the Zoo. The next day and It’s time for a family walk as I am tired of hearing/explaining to kiddo why I will not let him play an MA rated game called “Rainbow Six Siege “.

This is a tad ironic that he wants to play military mayhem games as both boys are adamant they don’t want to grow up and I suppose take on the personae of Peter Pan. But the 9 yr old wants to play games that are not suitable for his age.

I had a brainwave about it this morning and suggested we make it real by making it real in building Lego scene/ or Maake up a Rock and Roll song about it because he has been raising his voice about it as if constantly repeating to his parents he wants it then it will happen. Is ABA therapy in reverse? Lol. Oh dear! For goodness sakes!

What I did notice is that he has worked out how to write “Rainbow Six Siege” in the dirt, on the dining table- this kid can do stuff when he puts a high value on the outcome so I think my modus operandi a will be getting him to write a whole page of game titles that he really loves! Wish me luck?

Quiet and lovely. Very smart and listens to everything. Likes to repeat his brothers sayings. Loves supporting whatever his brother says to do. Rubs his legs together all the time. He seems to need to do that. When the two of them start up then you can’t shut them up because they spark off one another talking computer games which are not allowed as ratings are too high. Some years ago it was “Five Nights at Freddy’s” then “Marketpliar” then something else and most recently it’s Tom Clancy’s “Rainbow Six Siege”.

I think they like to hear the repetition of words. And I think they like to hear Mumkeeping the boundaries ” No, you can’t do that Blablabla”.

The five year old is more flexible.

He came home last week and was having fun with his brother playing games he learnt. But this week was a struggle getting him here. My sons worldview is that he is waisting valuable time where he could be playing computer games. Let’s take our computer  controller to drama class.

A sleepover at a friends house last night has meant that his sensory experience of his clothes is different today. He seemed fine with it today when dropped at school with friend but anxiety took over/stomach ache and not feeling well meant he could not stay at school. He could not go on school excursion.

Tummy bug going around school so give him the benefit of the doubt. Chuck a sicky! The only thing to do, right! So we feel OK by end of day so as soon as we go out the door to drama the anxiety starts/ Hyper sensitivity to clothing. He’s managed to try the theatre class and is playing theatre games. Phewwww! He’s engaged after some resistance. Time to read !

I think they are enjoying themselves in class yelling loudly which is right up NO. 2 Kiddo’s alley!

I remember spelling signs out as they sounds we walked along on the daily walks. I asked him to repeat the words.

Hubby thinks that the letters on the page became characters “with a life of their own”. My 9 year old can read from the word go but my 5 year old is having challenges in this area. Both Autistic. Both very different. It’s all to hard for the 5 year old.

The 5 yr old finds It difficult to concentrate as there is too many variables to distract attention away from putting two or three letters together (segmentation and phonics). What is the key to undo this lock???

I put the visual representation of awards/certificates on the wall to show these visual learners they can do it!

Waking up and full of boundless hope and enthusiasm at the benefits of a 2 km walk. It works. It satisfies this 9 yr old pacer.  It was a light beaming from the light house that happens occasionally when one is muddling through the stressful darkness of daily life. By the way, it’s not a punishment for not getting in car by 8.30 am.

This afternoon I’ve been pipped at the post by his SOS.  When I asked school support teacher curiously if walking made a difference before school, and during the school day. She shrugged like she wasn’t sure! I thought it was sure as eggs I had done the best thing since sliced bread.

I walked my son and my dog, the 2 kms to school today and when they got to school the jitterbugs and lack of concentration was all walked out. Both boys had used up energy and sat down to engage in the class when they got there. I’m stoked! Your’e thinking: Well, How obvious is that!
What was amazing to me was that he wanted to do this! Even  comfortable doing this. This is bribe currency in the making. Why oh why by did I not continue taking kiddo to little Athletics some years ago! Was it a Sunday morn sleeping! Oh dear! How to work it?I am just tired now.

The 9 yr old had done the walk quite a few times with Dad, but it was my first time walking that distance to school (it’s usually the case that he hates going to school/leaving the house/ lots of stress) with the 9 yr old.

At the last minute the 5 yr old decides  he wants to come too. So we do (!) cause movement rules and it’s non digital! Of course we are late to school but the cost/benefit ratio favours life skill learning from observation of unspoken rules/crossing road at lights/ building construction etc.

5 yr old can walk no more after 1 km and who arrives just on time as its super dad with his super timing. Drives us the rest of the way to school.

Dad:  It took me so long to get here because I could not find you guys and I couldn’t find my keys. !!!