Tips That Have Helped Me As an SPD Mom take my kids to church скачать в хорошем качестве

Tips That Have Helped Me As an SPD Mom take my kids to church

Getting ready for bed on Saturday night and I think of how I'm excited for church tomorrow and grateful for the great one we go to and how positive it is in my life. And paused to reflect on how I'm glad its getting easier for my 4 year old son who is VERY ACTIVE most times of the day, diagnosed with SPD (sensory processing disorder). He used to HATE church at certain points and begged or screamed or cried to not have to go. Luckily he was able to communicate the "why" behind not wanting to go so I could understand gradually more and more. We attend a mormon church that's three hours long starting at 1:00 in the afternoon. Tips: 1. Let them wear whatever the hell they want - if they are letting you take them to church, dont fret over the hair gel or the matching shirt etc. Ain't nobody got time for that! If you're worrying more about impressing other people by how they look than the misery its putting them through if they hate wearing ties, or a ultra cute hair do, that's just not cool. Being respectful is a different thing- but if you cant feel the Holy Ghost burning in your heart because your feet feel like they are burning from your uncomfortable shoes and your neck itches from a scratchy tag, it's not the first priority. Side note: teddy is wearing "church clothes" by his own choice this week!! He picked them out and it was interesting to hear his thoughts on it. I FINALLY realized one reason he didnt like church was because he had to wear a white shirt and tie. Last week he said something about hating the color white. I connected the two and asked "wait, is that why you don't like wearing church clothes cuz the shirt is white?" "Yeah. I just want to wear colors!" 2. Get lots of physical play and one on one attention the morning before and the times after church. We sometimes go to the park before church if I can tell it's going to be "one of those days..." to get their wiggles out. 3. Snacks. Good nutrition in general but specifically some intentional nutrients! We've been trying giving Teddy and Kenny protein every two hours. It really has seemed to help improve his attitude and moodiness. (It is a little tricky because he dislikes to eat most forms of meat "I don't like to eat dead things, Mom" so we have to work together to get creative on forms of protein he will actually eat. Lots of Turkey pepperoni, nuts, peanut butter, good fats like avocados etc. 4. Take them out for a run every 10 minutes. I take Teddy out to run around the outside of the building or throw pinecones etc. He knows he doesnt have to sit there SO LONG before he will get a break to come relax from all the people and sounds and sensory input and rules when I come and pick him up for our breaks. He lights up and gets a chance to voice frustrations if he needs to ("teacher made me sit down when I was trying to reach the marker and I was so mad" etc and then he is refreshed to go back and have to sit still more comfortably and reverently. It makes it EASIER to be "reverent." 5. Listen to them voice their concerns and respect them. Do your best to work together. Some days, it could be for a day, it could be years, of trying to get them to just GO. But it just means it's a good day or a bad day, and it could be a rough couple of months or wonderful, it's not the whole picture though, the story isnt done being written. That's kinda Hallmark-y, huh? But it's TRUE! 6. Bribe em. Work together with their teachers or leaders to let them have turns to help in ways they like or snacks or treats etc. Oh a quick SPD story example of fathers day when we had been practicing and practicing for the song, Jonno (teddy's dad/my husband) didnt end up coming with us because baby Kenny was asleep for a nap and he wasnt feeling good, so me and teddy go and he is soo excited to perform his song. Hes trying his best to sit still while waiting to go up to sing. He waits. And waits. We go out for a walk, we wait. I'm losing him quickly.. patience wearing then.. And finally after a long half hour waiting, its announced to invite the primary kids to come up to sing! Teddy quickly realizes it's not just Teddy going up to sing alone, or with one or two of his choice friends, but with about 25 kids as a group. He gets scared to go up with them, and is pissed eventually because he just wanted to go up alone to perform (which I found funny because that seems opposite of what youd expect from a child, right? It's very teddy!) And the cherry on top was the old lady who tried to help by touching his back while walking back and inviting him to come. (He hates being touched, and he hates when old people have brown spots and certain kinds of wrinkles on their face ((only SPD moms fully understand the real-ness of that!!!)) So insert MELTDOWN here. We eventually walked home deciding to end church early that day, both sad and frazzled. WHY?? We have practiced and practiced and its finally here- and THAT happens. Sigh. Oh well. Such is life.