Lowtech Play...

Even though Row is an iPad baby now we still make time for some old school play!!!! This is a clip of her trying to grab toys in a bucket of popcorn at Milestones Therapy Clinic ( which we have nicknamed "INCHSTONES") Rowan did so well at this activity that we've made her one for home...two actually...one with popcorn and one with rice! Totally differant textures but both equally as interesting....these make great, inexpensive tactile/sensory tools!

iPad iNchstones...

"Inchstones"...I just adore this term! I've stolen it from a friend who borrowed it from another...I think the reson I like it so well is that for families of special needs children the term "Milestones"
often leads to discouragement and heartache! I believe inchstones best describes how our family...and I'm sure most families with children like Rowan cherish each and every accomplishment...no matter how big or small! This is a clip of one of Rowan's inchstones with the ipad. It shows deliberate and consistant interaction with one of her favorite applications "Look Baby"! Rowan works very hard in this clip and if you will watch closely, with your heart, you will see past her difficulties to the "inchstone" she has accomplished here!!!

iPad Play

Here's a clip of Row playing one of her favorite iPad apps...I Hear Ewe!!!

Row's an iPad baby now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We could'nt be more pleased with our decision to get Row an iPad for Christmas!!!! There are countless applications for speech and language, cause and effect, audio and visual, music, communication, education etc... Row uses her iPad several times a day EVERY DAY...and she loves it! Some of her favorite apps areRattle, Hatch, Peek a Boo Barn, Peek A Boo Wild, I Hear Ewe, Baby Finger, Chimes, Fish School HD, I love Fireworks, Atomic Top, Nursery Jam, Drums, Baby Piano Lite, Instuments Free,Art of Glow, Glow Draw, DoodleBuddy, Story Kit, Cat in the Hat....the list goes on! Almost all of these are interactive and most were either free or under 2 bucks! And this is one tool that will grow with her and help to educate her into adaulthood!!!! I think every special needs child should have one!!!

Gearing up for the holidays...

Between snow days and Row catching a cold our schedule has been crazier than ever! We did manage to squeeze in time to get Row something to ride around in. We've searched forever for what we felt we could adapt for Row that would give her the extra vestibular we think she's been needing in the safest manner possible...and we came up with the Pathfinder Radio Flyer Wagon! It can be used as a flatbed wagon for lying or as a one or two seater by way of fold up seats with lap belts! We did add the industrial velcro up the back , and along the sides to hold some make-shift laterals ( borrowed from the Squiggles Activity System by Leckey ) and to hold Row more solidly in place. All in all I think we made a great decision for the price...100 bucks! Beat that in a catalog!

MMmm!! Chocolate!!!

Rowan has been having great success in the speech/swallow therapy department! Just goes to show that a little patience and a lot of love go a looong way with any child!!!

Row learns to color!!!

Another use for VELCRO! We've been trying to get Rowan to hold the little fat bodied crayons...and she will...but just for a few seconds and she lacks the strength to put enough pressure on the crayon to make much of a mark. So we slapped some velcro on the bottom of the crayon casing and stuck it to her benik glove. Now she's learning to push the crayon around, allowing its own weight to make the marks!!! Still loving that velcro! :)