I was watching T.V. the other day with Michael and a commercial for water balloons came on
You have seen this one, I am sure, it is the self-sealing water balloons. You can make up to several dozen at one time.
I was watching these kids on the commercial wind up and throw them and I started thinking of how fun that would be and also how easy it would be to use that fun thing as a learning moment.
Like for instance that your child cannot throw well. How much more fun for them to practice this skill with these fun water balloons than a ball or bean bag?
And this got me thinking.
Summer is always thought of as a fun, relaxing time.
But the truth, for those who have a child with special needs, is that it is not quite the case.

While others are signing their children up for summer reading programs, we are arranging tutoring, so skills will not be lost.
While time with “nothing to do” sounds fantastic to many, for a child with Dyspraxia or Sensory Processing Disorder, this may actually increase their anxiety because open ended time to fill can be challenging for them.
So for us, summer takes on a new form, sort of a combination of therapies, schedules and summer activities.
And this is where my thoughts went to after I watched the commercial.
I think I see summer activities as chances to teach something to Elizabeth.
I have always, ever since she was very little, learned to approach everything as a teachable

So:
• Some may see water balloons, I see a chance to encourage fine motor skills as she tries to fill them up. ( unless you are getting those really cool ones that seal themselves :) )
• Some may see plain side walk chalk, I see an opportunity to play a word game or have fun tracing each other, to encourage concentration and patience.
• Some may see a fun trip to the pool, I see an chance for her to practice ordering and paying for her own snacks.
The list goes on, but you get the point.!”
For as hard as we work for our children from September to June, I know that we all want those skills and things learned to grow in June through August.
We want the summer to be fun for our children.

We want the summer to be productive, because it needs to be.

I know with Elizabeth’s dyspraxia, it is so important to repeat and review the skills and concepts she has learned. This is the best way to keep skills and concepts current.

I think the key, for me, is to see each activity. To see them as the fun thing they are and then ask myself what this activity can teach or reinforce for Elizabeth.

We are on the official countdown to summer. In our world this begins when Michael gets done with school. Which is eight days, seven if you go by Michael’s philosophy the you really don’t count the last day anyway. “Since we are only there a little bit”

I am excited for the time together and for the fun that summer brings.

And I will be getting some of those balloons. I know Elizabeth will throw them well.

I wish everyone a peaceful week.