Social Pastimes 101

 Engaging with James outside of school, chores, or self care has always been a bit of a challenge. When he was very small, we were able to do Music Together, reading together, swim time at the pool, or explore parks and beaches. He loved playing with his sister, although she was the leader, he had a blast following along with her.

As he's gotten older and I've been back at work full time while single parenting, it's gotten harder and harder to just spend time with him. We both love our screens too much and the last few years have left us both stressed out and exhausted. He is also 17 and ready to meet other kids, although his behaviours and eloping are a challenge for this.

Sometimes we can engage in cooking or brief letter writing. Often we bond over car rides or music we like to listen to. Whenever I make photo books for our year, I make a copy for James, as he enjoys looking through them.

The ABA folks are having much better luck connecting socially and recreationally with James in their afternoon sessions. I have reassessed my stock of social activities in our new place and have bolstered reading and our board games with cards and more social games:

• Uno emoji
• Smack It
• Guess in 10
• Conversational "Uno" cards from the ABA office
• Mario Kart Uno (not shown)
• Matilda, by Roald Dahl

Adventure at the Library - Ahoy!

James, outside our library.

"Come on, James, time to get your shoes on. We're going!"
"Where we going?" (with reluctance - he's on his iPad)
"Where have you been asking to go all week?"

GASP

"The Liiiiiiiibrary!!!!!!!"

Happy dance ensues.

I wish I could tell you it was for the books. But really, it was for this. They have Eye Spy on the games computer at the library.

We do check out books too, for our weekly reading log. They don't get the happy dance, but they still get a bit of the shine from visiting our local library.

Some of the books we've checked out lately:

• Aurthur: Buster's New Friend
• Peppa Pig: Busy Day at School
• Nate the Great and the Phony Clue

So far, Peppa's the favourite. So it goes.

Another Reason to Love Camp

When I picked James up at summer camp yesterday, one of his  counselors informed me that he'd spent 45 minutes playing Go Fish with some of the other kids and counselors.

45 minutes? A card game? With others???

Awesome!!!!!!

Another best-case scenario for community involvement and full inclusion. And now I can add another item to his Activity Board.

I am thinking about this image for the board - what do you think?

NYE Countdown: 10PM

Oh my gosh, the Wonder League! You loved it so. Daddy took you to most of the games and was so proud of you! He loved to tell me stories about how cute you were and how fast you could run (and not only around the bases)! He told me how happy and proud you were to be playing baseball on a team. We were so lucky to find out about it and take part:

Running with your Buddy to score at home plate.

Your pictures. You still love looking at them.

You figured out more how to block out noises that overwhelm you, like at a coffee shop or even on a submarine ride:

You loved to yell out "Hi, Darla!" and wave at her.

You still had a thing for hats, which was cute on our trip to Disneyland. You also did not get carsick on the long road trip to LA, San Luis Obispo, and back home. Proud of you, big guy!

 

You also started using your words to tell us more of things you like -- such as requesting the Buzz Lightyear etch-a-sketch as your souvenir from our Disneyland Resort trip. You kept on using it too, which again is a change from before.

Getting Bolder

Just over a week ago, we took a ride up into the mid 80s. We broke out the t-shirts and discovered James, at age 6, is now wearing sizes 7-8. He's also taking a size 13.5 in sandals. Thank goodness for hand-me-downs!

After school, we went swimming for the first time this year. The swim trunks that fell off him in November fit perfectly now. And even though this was not our usual swim pool, James went in the water all by himself. Only wearing the floatie ring, he'd bop up and down the pool lane by himself. He tried starting a water little fight with two of his cousins. Oh man, that twinkle in his eye! This guy wants some action.

He's come such a long way from freaking out when getting into the water and not wanting splashes anywhere near his face. I am so proud of him.

Getting on His Game Face

I was going through pictures of the county fair, just before school started. I have loved going to the county fair since my first trip in 1972. It's been a joy to take my kids there too and watch them have as much fun as I did.

This year, for the first time, James asked to play one of the midway games. Part of our pre-fair package deal gave us a couple of 2-for-1 game coupons, so we picked he picked this game:

This turned out to be a good choice. James likes to roll and bowl balls, and the noise does not last too long. Plus, there is the thrill of watching your competition and your clown car move slowly across the board

Notice, James is a lefty here when it comes to throwing: 

 

I am looking back at this picture now, with a month of successful Kindergarten transfer under our belts. I should have taken this last picture to heart: James, lining up with the other kids. Having the time of his life, not because he's winning, but because he's right there, in the game, with everyone else:

Horns of a Dilemma

James is currently fixated on playing as much of his Caillou game CD ROM as possible. I know that bad things happen to his temper if he's allowed to play it for too long. On the other hand, he sings along, talks more, and runs to me and gives me kisses before announcing "I need help!"

It's kind of hard for me, sometimes, to cut the cute short. Especially when he occasionally breaks up a playing session to dance around and sing about butterflies, or matching socks ...

Special Exp. / Wordless Weds: The Classic Game

We never seem to tire of Peek-a-Boo. This was poolside, while waiting for big sister's swim lesson to be over.
(Yes, he needs a hair trim. I am gearing up mentally to deal with that ordeal.)

For more great images or to join in the fun, Visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.


and ... Wordless Wednesday

B-I-N-G-O Spells "Fun"!

Guess who has discovered games?


James has been watching his big sister and Daddy play card and board games together. It looked like so much fun that he wanted to join right in. His sister loved being a teacher. I think we clocked them at 40 minutes of playing together. Happily. Taking turns. Talking.

Bingo was a great way to start. Checkers was the absorbing game. Go Fish will take more practice to get his fine motor skills up to holding the cards consistently.



So happy!

Special Exp./Wordless Wednesday: Boo!

Sometimes you just have to go with the moment and savour the little things in life. Like your son, trying to engage you with a game of peek-a-boo from behind the sofa when you are lying on it, wanting to take a nap.

The boy's got game, and he is lucky he's cute. Well okay -- I am lucky too!

For more great images or to join in the fun, Visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

and ... Wordless Wednesday

Special Exposure/Wordless Wednesday: A Game Before Class

For the first week of school, I am taking James to his class. Its the same teacher and aide, but the classroom has moved. Plus, James will be attending a second program 3 days a week. I am trying to give him a little more quiet time to gear up for all the changes.

We had a little extra time before class this morning, so we had time to play a game:

"Mooooommy ... where arrrre you?"



"He'e I am!"



"Come on, Mommy! Follow me!"


For more great images or to join in the fun, Visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

and ... Wordless Wednesday

Go Pictures

"Go pictures?" is James' way of asking if he can use the computer. Both he and his sister love to play games on a laptop:



In addition to the Curious George games, he also loves Clifford, Blues Clues YoGabbaGabba and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. He will purposely do things the wrong way if he likes the sound effect. It's all about the fun. And pushing buttons. And silliness. And being able to do something with Big Sister.

James knows how to use bookmarks, and that they are different on Daddy's and Mommy's laptops. He navigates with ease. The one thing he hasn't been able to do (yet) is Click/drag/drop. Oh, but I am sure that is just around the corner.

I Know It's Thursday, But ...

I forgot to post this yesterday!

For Special Exposure Wednesday



Apple should give us a call ... we'd be interested in partnering for an ad (and maybe an upgrade)!



James' new favourite online game is actually a series: Curious George over on pbskids.org. He really likes the Gnocchi one

Go Fish

              

Reminds me a bit of how our budgets get passed ...



Big sister is teaching little bro and doll daughter to play cards (aka "I Win Again!")

At least James is learning his numbers and is practicing some fine motor control. Oh, and turn taking.

New Toys

What can perk up a hot, tired little boy after a night of "party of one" in his room and a hot morning at summer school?

A SHAPE assistant with new toys! Especially the foam football and Connect 4 checkers!

And now I am hoping for an afternoon nap.