It's official! E will go to kindergarten this fall!
Elena has been very excited--amazingly excited--to be a kindergartener. She has been in public pre-K for a little over two years now. It was a hard decision at first, to send her to public school so early--but a fantastic decision.
Happy Graduation Day, E!
There will be a lot of changes come this fall, many of which I am nervous about--but that's inevitable. She'll eat in the cafeteria with the rest of the student body, and have to navigate that room (with moving people, chairs, bookbags, etc.--I feel like it's the "lunchroom field of land mines" in terms of fall hazards). The kindergarteners have classes in several different rooms, all over the school--including one in an outside trailer. She'll have to walk nearly four times the distance this fall that she has this spring in pre-K, which is no small feat. She is expected to carry her own backpack, which she has never done. And then again, the playground, where integration is difficult.
Note I didn't say I was worried about E's interaction with her peers, or she making friends; the kids at school--including older kids, boys and girls, have been nothing but encouraging to Elena. I'm serious about this. I know it will happen some day, E being teased for how she moves--but there are lot of kids around her who don't care, and will stick up for her. That is extremely reassuring to us parents. I owe it to her teachers, and her peers, for fostering that environment. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
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4 comments:
I just had to say that all your fears for next year are very normal being a mom of a daughter with cp now going into 2nd grade I still go thru it every year This year for Hannah was very tiring because of all the walking she has had to do but it has also made her very independant and I am grateful for that and of course it has improved her stamina.Hannah does not use crutches but has AFO and she tires easily from walking. As for the backpack Hannah will be getting one with wheels because they expect her to carry it but she can not it throws her off balance. I know you will have an aide to be with her to help her and in my experience they are very heplful when the child is in need so I hope my little bit of experience will ease your mind ( I know it won't LOL :) ) I hope you all have a great summer......
Hi there, just found your blog and thought I would share my personal experience. I was a healthy, active kid when a bone disease required me to use crutches for two years at age 11 (most of grade 6 to grade 8). I was a confident kid with healthy self-esteem and kept my regular group of friends but had to drastically change my activities. Using crutches at school was no big deal expect that they would crash down to the ground a lot!
I am also an elementary school teacher and have observed kids on the playground a lot. I think the key is to provide your daughter with assistive devices that allow her the flexibility to get in and out of the playground area. She looks quite mobile with her crutches.
Very young kids often play a lot of running games (girls chase the boys, etc). If she is being left out, brainstorm and plan how she can take on another special role, ex: she can volunteer to be the "prison warden" or keeper of some kind. Give her language to use when suggesting this to her friends. Kids who stick out as "different" often benefit from having some special skill, talent, knowledge, or "something" that they can gain an identity and position in the classroom from having. I encourage parents to think about the strengths and interests of their kids and give extra support to developing this kind of "niche" as it can confer prestige in the eyes of classmates and encourage a positive self-concept in the child with a special need who can see themselves as competent, talented and having something to offer to peers.
That's just my two cents and probably it's worth about that as I am not intimately acquainted with your individual situation but I hope there is something helpful there.
Best of luck :) You're daughter is adorable!
AMY MOM AND I WERE READING THIS POST.. ALL I WILL SAY IN REGARDS TO SCHOOL FOR ME WAS A STRUGGLE NOT JUST THE GETTING AROUND BUT I ALSO HAD LEARNING ISSUES.. OFTEN TIMES GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOL I HAD FRIENDS THAT WOULD TAKE ME AND ON THE PLAYGROUND I WAS ASSISTED BY A BIGGER STUDENT... I TOO WOULD GET VERY TIRED FROM ALL THE WALKING BUT I REALLY THINK THAT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF CP!!
THE PLAYGROUND I THINK IF SHE USED A WALKER FOR THERE FOR THE UNEVEN SURFACES THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR HER AND IN THE CAFE WITH THE LARGE CROWD THAT WAY YOU WOULD NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT HER FALLING IN THOSE PLACES WITH CRUTCHES..
IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR THAT THE STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTING OF HER IT MAKES SCHOOL A MUCH BETTER PLACE WHEN KIDS ARE ACCEPTING.
AT SCHOOL KIDS WERE NOT AS ACCEPTING OF ME AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED SO IT WAS HARD TO DEAL WITH..
IT GREAT TO HEAR THAT SHE IS WHERE SHE SHOULD BE FOR HER AGE... THATS AWESOME.. SHE IS A BRIGHT BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL AND I BELIEVE SHE WILL DO WELL..
MELISSA
I love it! Brought tears. You are such a great mom!
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