The Gym

October since the last blog?!
Anyways..have been taking James to the Trust organised Gym. When we first started he was very resistant to doing the activities, he would lie down and not cooperate, a few times I left halfway through with him as it just was not productive. However now he actually looks forward to going. Some things observed by me today that I feel worthy of a note:

1. At the start we play a game of 'tails' which is where the kids tuck a sheet of material in their pants and chase each other around trying to grab them. James has never really been part of this, being in his own world, but today was watching the kids and parents running, and really enjoying that and running about too while watching them.

2. One of the other little boys had a full on meltdown, James turned to look at this twice. Thats awareness of another, at some level.

3. He kept grabbing others drinks, I told him no, then got his for him, later he went to grab anothers and I grabbed his hand at the last minute and said No, and he reeled back and hit himself in the head deliberately. I think he was frustrated and confused..essentially something like 'theres drink why can't I have it, and why is it OK sometimes and not others'? So I got his drink and showed him which one was his and the difference, and this time I left his drink out and available by the other one he was interested in so when he looked to that he could see his.

4. One of the gym people asked him if he wanted to go on the wedge thing (kids jump on it and fall forward) and he shook his head to say no. However I lifted him up onto it. Discussed it later and Michelle said probably best we honour his communication so it would have been better if we didn't do it.

5. At the end of the session when it was just playing with balls free for all, the two gym people were trying to get him to catch and throw a ball. He was not really looking at them but he did take the ball to them a few times, and he did catch the ball once, possibly by accident! It is nice to see him almost try and be part of this, or at least be able to participate a bit.

6. We have been doing the train that he has refused to be part of in the past, and he even went and sat down with the others when they sat down (for about 4 seconds).

So it was a good day, and I find he is coming to grips more and more what is expected of him, and will do it. I give him loads of verbal encouragement and feedback.