If you want anything done around here DO IT YOURSELF!

Shock Shock Horror Horror !! We are still on a waiting list for services! I have gotten to the point that I really want to get qualified in speech therapy or occupational therapy and have the skills myself rather than wait around for the bloody health service team to get back to me. I think the child will be 8 before they get around to showing him his alphabet. So I have decided to put all the energy I have been using due to anger and frustration into getting a little more proactive. I have been spending my spare time watching OT videos on youtube trying to get myself offay with various games to play with Diddles in order to get him talking and playing and socialising. So far SO GOOD!!!

As part of the course the first task we have been given is to play people games (chasing,tickles, bubbles etc.) to provoke talking. Now since Diddles had his first speech therapy session back in 2009 we have been using bubbles, in fact this is how we opened that little window in his mind to get him labelling things and making eye contact and getting his attention. Diddles is now at the stage that he is bored out of his Barney by bubbles! I might as well be reading the dishwasher instruction manual for all he cares. Which means I have had to look for something a tad more fun and attention grabbing.

This in turn has led to the BALLOON GAME!
Its working great, god knows how long it will last but at this moment he thinks this is hilarious.
I have discovered that you really have to be comfortable with making a right eejit out of yourself in order for these games to be successful, anyone who knows me well enough will know that this really is not a problem!!
How it works is, you make sure there are absolutely no distractions. No radio or TV in the background, nobody on a phone and for everyones sanity no one is permitted to hoover! Then become as animated as a Tweenie!
I basically call Diddles by name once to get his attention. Say "oh look a balloon" Blow it up a small amount and say "Bigger?" Blow it up more and say "Bigger again?" and then say "ready, steady, GO!" and let it whizz around the room. When I first did this Diddles looked at me like I was a complete Lunatic and went about his business. The second time he watched me from a distance. The third time he had realised it was safe and fun so I blew up the balloon and paused. I took out all the language I had used so he had only one option to continue the game. He had to initiate the communication. I blew it up half way and paused, he pushed the balloon closer to my mouth signalling to blow, I held out a few seconds longer and he said "bigger mammy" and with that I almost fell off the chair with shock and the balloon went whizzing around the room. He picked the balloon up and handed it to me. I said what do I do? (Still in tweenie mode) .. put it on my.... NOSE?? with that he was in giggle mode but he managed to say "no nose mammy, BLOW".

He kept eye contact the whole time and was wanting to play with me. Without out a doubt one of THE best feelings in the world! Something so simple as a balloon. We paid a speech and language therapist the guts of 2/3 thousand euro and never got that much from him. Who needs a speech therapist when you can get that much done yourself! Feck the waiting lists! Life is too short, you create your own opportunity and run with it! This I think is the start of a newer bigger window!