[blindkid] never stands still

Fri Jun 11 22:57:31 UTC 2010

I have a 4 year old, Max, who is blind (light perception) and definitely spends a lot of time jumping and occasionally flapping his hands.  However, this primarily is due to excitement.  While we try to minimize the flapping and jumping, I WILL NOT discourage his excitement over things.  And, like Brandy says, I do try to teach that when in school, when talking to someone, etc that it is IMPORTANT to be still to show attention.   Yeah, I wish Max would express his excitement otherwise but overall, he is SUCH a normal, awesome kid that even others (outside of our family) would never think his behavior to be 'weird'.

On Jun 11, 2010, at 7:10 AM, Marie wrote:

> Thank you Brandy for your adult perspective and the reminder to think 10 years ahead! I try to always think that way but it is easy to get lost in the immediate.
> 
> I don't think Richard and I were advocating allowing a child to be rude. Our responses were directed at meeting the need just as you would with a sighted child with sensory issues. Meet the need for the extra sensory input at times when the child is NOT in a wiggle free situation so that the child is able to be centered and wiggle free when they need to. 
> 
> All the swinging, bouncing, rocking (in a rocker) etc that Jack does is done in a developmentally appropriate way during playtime/freetime.
> 
> Just wanted to clarify. You can meet the need without allowing your child to be rude or out of control. In fact, meeting the need can help your child be more in control.
> 
> Marie (mother of Jack born May 2005)
> See glimpses of life with my determined son who is developing in his own way at his own time at http://allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com 
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Brandy W" <branlw at sbcglobal.net>
> Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:04:32 
> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,\(for parents of blind children\)<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] never stands still
> 
> Hi, OK as an adult I still wriggle and move all over the place. The 
> important skill to be learned is when and where it is OK to be moving. To 
> have the will power or self monitor  to stand still when you are speaking to 
> someone for example. I am very pro giving the child opportunities for 
> movement, but by 7 or 8 and honestly younger the child needs to be taught 
> that not everyone starts spinning while having a conversation. I bit of 
> restlessness is one thing, but constant moving is another. I had and in some 
> cases still have some small habits that no one dealt with as a child, and 
> boy do I wish they had. For being still what seems to have worked is someone 
> firmly putting their hand on my shoulder and just applying pressure for 
> about 10 seconds. It gets my attention with out drawing attention to me, and 
> helps me come back to focus. If I notice I've needed too much support I 
> usually excuse myself and take a quick walk to get it out. It is great that 
> she has the place to jump, but soon it won't be appropriate to say "Excuse 
> me I need to go bounce now." Always think 10 years down the road. Do I want 
> my child to need this in 10 years? if the answer is no start thinking of 
> alternatives. For now the jumping is great, but in just a few short years 
> she will be a preteen and running, weight lifting, swimming as you already 
> do are more typical outlets. For those of you with very young children third 
> grade or younger try a spin bored if you can't get your hands on a 
> trampoline. The suggestions here have been wonderful, but we always need to 
> be thinking ahead. For example I was never much of a rocker, but when I 
> became sick and was in bed a lot, (Not my normal busy activity.) I began 
> rocking. We recognized I had started this out of the blue and tolerated it 
> semi when I was very sick. Now if I'm sick and need motion I try to rock in 
> a rocking chair like a normal adult. Now these are suggestions on how to 
> help the need, but the the question was how to stop the behavior. Well If 
> your sighted child jumped or spun out of control or all the time you would 
> firmly tell the child enough and insist they stop, and if the didn't your 
> consequence method for your house would kick in. Same for blind child. Just 
> as you don't allow your blind child to hit, be rude etc. you don't allow 
> them to do socially inappropriate things. It feels harsh to say and to read, 
> but it is a behavior that needs to go and there for in a loving but firm 
> manner the child needs to be taught it won't be tolerated. Please take my 
> word for it, as I speak from experience. Not finding out that people think 
> it is strange for you to wriggle every where till you are an adult is scary 
> and upsetting and one feels betrayed. excusing a child's rude behavior 
> didn't stop the rudeness so excusing a child's strange behavior won't stop 
> it. It is unexceptable and needs to be dealt s such. So how do you stop it? 
> You stop it like you would any other behavior you don't want, and when 
> appropriate you find the child an outlet for the need like the jumping, 
> spinning on a spin bored, rocking in a chair, squeezing silly puddy etc.
> 
> It is wonderful to read all you parents of young children asking now and not 
> when they are 12.
> 
> Bran
> 
> "Families that play together learn together!"
> Brandy Wojcik
> Discovery Toys Educational Leader
> Check out our new spring line perfect for spring time learning and Easter 
> baskets and more...
> www.playtoachieve.com
> (512) 689-5045
> 
> Discovery Toys wants to be a part of your family's learning success and here 
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> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 5:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] never stands still
> 
> 
>> Our 7-year-old still does that occasionally and has done it since she  was 
>> probably 2. I used to try to tell her to stop but we had far  better 
>> results long term when we redirected her to something else.  Then once we 
>> started offering her more and more movement alternatives  the problem 
>> decreased greatly. If she's spinning a lot at home now,  we'll usually ask 
>> if she needs to go and jump. Generally, she'll stop  spinning with the 
>> question and walk straight to her trampoline.
>> 
>> Richard
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Jun 10, 2010, at 6:26 PM, L wrote:
>> 
>>> My daughter does the same thing, she is 3.  SHe will spin in circles  and 
>>> makes me dizzy.  We have just told her, stop spinning, most of  the time 
>>> she does.  But even while spinning she is holding her  favorite sensory 
>>> toy, so I am not sure what to do either!  Thanks  for the question.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Marie <empwrn at bellsouth.net>
>>> To: Blindkid email <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thu, June 10, 2010 12:42:54 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] never stands still
>>> 
>>> I'm no expert on this but I'm wondering if she is filling a sensory  need 
>>> by this constant motion. Does she stop moving when you are  talking with 
>>> her or she is otherwise engaged? Perhaps providing her  with other ways 
>>> to gain sensory input would help.
>>> 
>>> Marie (mother of Jack born May 2005)
>>> See glimpses of life with my determined son who is developing in his  own 
>>> way at his own time at http://allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com
>>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Kathy B <burgawicki at yahoo.com>
>>> Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:18:43
>>> To: <BVI-Parents at yahoogroups.com>; <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>>> Subject: [blindkid] never stands still
>>> 
>>> Hi All-
>>> 
>>> My daughter (4), totally blind, has a real hard time holding still.   She 
>>> is constantly in motion by fidgeting, wiggling, bouncing, etc.   She 
>>> doesn't do a whole lot of rocking but she does need motion.  How  do I 
>>> get her to stop.
>>> 
>>> Please help!
>>> 
>>> Oh, the swimming lessons are going great!
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> Kathy
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
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