Scientific Proof of What We All Know - Play Works

This is an amazing video that was shared with me by my colleague, Katie Bond, PsyD.

Dr. Bond and I use a technique with children called DIR Floortime.  This technique uses an understanding of Development, knowledge of and respect for Individual Differences, and support for building strong Relationships with the child's family (hence the DIR portion) to help children develop their motor, sensory processing and social-emotional skills.  The Floortime portion comes in when their parents, caregivers and I get on the floor and play.

The families, children and therapists who use this technique understand how it works and see the results.  This video helps us to understand from a neurological viewpoint what is actually happening in the brain.  It is so exciting to see how the brain actually "rewires"!

The family in this video has a child with autism spectrum disorder, but children who have difficulty focusing, who are anxious, or who find it challenging to interact with others all benefit.  Frankly, we all do better when we interact with someone who truly tries to understand where we are coming from.

The clip is approximately 12 minutes long, it is well worth watching.  Please pass this along to anyone you know who may benefit.

Link:  http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/ID/2220343281/

New Favorite Toy of the Month

My latest find is the "Spooner".  As far as I can tell, this is a training device for using skateboards, snowboards and surfboards.  It consists of a piece of plastic that is curved up at either end, and comes with instructions for how to balance while seated or standing, and how to jump and make the board spin around while you land the other way.

I can't describe it as well, but picture in your mind snowboarders doing tricks that flip their snowboards around as they jump in the air and you get the idea.  Think of this as the bicycle with training wheels that leads eventually to mountain biking.  Even children who have difficulty with balance and coordinating their bodies have fun with this toy.

A simple piece of plastic, but the children I know love it and will keep trying even if they fall off.  To have an activity that children like enough to stay with it even if it's tough makes it a winner in my book.

A New Direction for Schools?

It may not be new, but it's certainly rare.  I recently heard of a private school that has created classes for children who have learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and other conditions that keep them from learning up to their potential in a typical classroom.

The school, Los Altos Christian, formed classes of no more than 10 students, and uses curricula which uses techniques proven to help kids who struggle in a "regular" classroom.  I'm going to meet with their principal to find out how this works, and I'll keep everyone posted.

How exciting that something like this actually exists!  I wonder if it would be possible to have similar classes, even at an additional cost, in public schools.

More on this as I get more information.  Meanwhile, I'd love to hear people's experiences and thoughts as to how this could work in their community school.