Re: Developmental Ped Appointment: What Do You Think?

April 14, 2008

The good news is that for most women not being able to run and kick a

ball at the same time isn't life altering -and even when we think

we're good at it " boys " say " you run and kick like a girl " anyway!

If I were you I would continue to explore mainstream activities that

you can continue to enroll her in where she can continue to improve

on her skills -while she is also socially in a situation where she

can make more friends and learn to excel at activities that help her

socialize with her peers. Dance, gymnastics, karate, swimming -even

drama! (check out local theaters if they offer any classes where she

can be cast in a play. I feel strongly about theater for our

children as they get to memorize scripts for motor memory -and build

self esteem by speaking in front of crowds -and who knows -she may

get a dance number too!) As far as balance there's ice or roller

skating/blading lessons, water or snow skiing or snow/skate boarding

lessons...and why not just buy a ripstick? We have gone through 2 of

those so far but both by Dakota. If there was a ripstick class I

would put Tanner in it! (hey I should look for that!) See now if

she got good at something like ripstick- that would make her " cool "

to her friends! (I live near Club Med and you can tell the kids

doing it are very proud of themselves) Actually speaking of which

they have Crunch classes there and for sure one of the best balance

exercises is the BOSU (stands for both sides up) ball! So much fun

and just like the name implies -those that achieve balance can use it

both ways.

here's a program that incorporates the learning breakthrough program

from You Tube

here's a BOSU class from You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZfnTabGKx4 (the basic)

(the advanced)

http://www.bosu.com/

Mainstream classes can be inexpensive -around 60 dollars for 2 months

or more of classes. (it gets shocking cheap going from special needs

stuff to mainstream stuff!! The first time I put my boys in karate I

had to bite my tongue to keep from squealing in laughter when they

told me the cost! " I'll prepay to sign them up for next year too! " )

It appears if you were going to " try " one of these methods however -

learning breakthrough would be much cheaper (thousands to hundreds)

if it didn't work -and if it didn't work you could resell it on Ebay!

http://www.learningbreakthrough.com/index.php?page=11x_dore_method

Learning Breakthrough came up twice before -questions about it like

you. Here's the two archives for this (perhaps you can email them

and see if either ever tried it) and below that are some of the

archives for DORE. It appears that more of our UK members questioned

this -and one did try it:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~start of archives

Wed Feb 4, 2004 6:19 pm

Www.learningbreakthrough.com

sunsetdancer2000@...

Learning Breakthrough Program

sawyera@...

Tue Aug 5, 2003 11:12 pm

I saw an intersting story on the local news tonight about this new

program for various types of learning disabilities (i.e. ADHD, ADD,

Dyslexia, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, etc.) that I thought I'd

share with everyone. The website is www.learningbreakthrough.com

and the person that originated the program in the US is in West Palm

Beach, Florida. They had parents and children on the news story

that had used the program and they spoke very highly of it. You

might be able to read about the news story at www.wptv.com as well.

I believe it was on the 5:00 p.m. News.

Has anyone used the learning breakthrough system for speech

improvement? Of course, they promise miracles. There was an

article in -Womans World magazine's current issue...in which a mother

of a son (who had never spoken clearly or been able to do well

reading in school) had great success using this program. It was

developed by a teacher working with a NASA scientist. It involves

certain excercises to increase eye development & balance as

astronauts do...etc. Has anyone tried this? I don't want to make a

major purchase for nothing.

As far as the Dore program that has come up in the archives but

because of the high costs and negative press about it even being

worth it -such as this one

http://www.myomancy.com/2006/11/scientists_resi most haven't explored

it. There's one parent named Sara from the UK that was happy with

it -in the UK it's called DDAT. Most of the archives are people

asking about it however

Re: [ ] Re: Dore Achievement Center

Thu Oct 23, 2003 1:07 am

Hi Kim,

Sara from the UK, who could not post to the group, sent me this email

herself.

Thought I would share it with you. I asked for the literature to be

sent and I

watched the 60 Minutes episode. The episode was interesting. The man

really

improved his reading after 9 months. The 5 year old girl said she

noticed a

difference but for some reason they did not ask her to read again

after 9 months

so I am wondering if she made that much of an improvement. I'll let

you know

what I think of the literature they send us.

Hello

Sorry I can't post on the list - until I manage to tell my new

computer

I'm me, not my husband, it won't accept my posts! ) You are welcome to

forward this to the list as part of a reply - some of the old hands

may

still recognise my name.)

We've been to the DDAT centre, as it is called here in the UK. (Dore

is

the name of the founder, Winford Dore, and is the name they seem to be

using in the US.) It is wonderful. Everything they claim about

handwriting skills, bike riding and so on is true - for us, anyway. My

son's teacher couldn't believe her eyes when, within three pages of

his

exercise book, my then nine year old's handwriting went from something

that looked as though it was done by a three year old to something

that

an eleven year old would be proud of. No slippage in the two years

since, either.

The real problem I think they have is that their claims sound like

something too good to be true, the kind of hype that one is wise to

disbelieve. But I don't see how they can get round that because in

their

case, it is true. I'd advise everyone with anything from dyslexia

through to the most severe dyspraxia to get there as fast as they can.

The only word of advice I would give to people who go is not to get

the

dyspraxic child to do all the exercises alone. My son found it a bit

hard to be the sole focus of attention. Once his brother joined in and

we made it a sort of family exercise, he enjoyed it.

And I know this sounds as if they're paying me - but they're not!

Sara e

--

Sykes

[ ] Re: Dore Achievement Center

Yes, I have heard about the Dore Achievement Center, it was on our

local Chicago news about 3 weeks ago. It looked very interesting,

but does cost about $2,500.....so I would want to know if it really

works before putting down that kind of money. I will say though, It

looked very interesting, and a different multi-sensory approach. I

would love to know what you think about the CD.

Please keep us informed and thanks for telling us about the 60

minutes thing.

Kim

Re: DORE programme

Thanks for passing this article on. I appreciate the

feedback. It is better to warned early before a financial

transaction takes place and hopes are raised.

Loreta

>

> Did you guys see this recent article on Dore? May want to if not:

>

> Dyslexia 'cure' fails to pass the tests

>

> Ben Goldacre

> Saturday November 4, 2006

> The Guardian

>

> Wouldn't it be great if there was a really expensive proprietary

> cure for dyslexia? Oh hang on, there is: paint tycoon Wynford Dore

> has developed one, with Nasa space technology. It costs £1,700,

has

> celebrity endorsements, involves some special exercises, and it's

a

> secret how it works, but it has been proven with experts. " A

> revolutionary drug-free dyslexia remedy has been hailed a wonder

> cure by experts, " said the Mirror on Monday. And in the

> Mail: " Millions of people with dyslexia have been given hope by a

> set of simple exercises that experts say can cure the disorder. "

> This most recent wave of publicity was prompted by a paper on

Dore's

> miracle cure published in the journal Dyslexia. The story of why

> they should publish such a flawed study is, perhaps, for another

> day. But what might have made journalists approach this story with

a

> slightly critical eye?

>

> Well, giants of investigative journalism giants Tonight with

Trevor

> Mc and and Judy have already had their wrists

slapped

> by the ITC for promoting Dore's as a cure for dyslexia, on two

> separate occasions.

>

> Those were based on a previous paper so flawed (even before it was

> subsequently misrepresented in the media) that it prompted an

> unprecedented nine critical commentaries to be published in

> Dyslexia.

>

> These commentaries pointed out that the subjects were not

> randomised - the experimenters could choose whether to put each

> child in the treatment group or the control group - and the two

> groups were mismatched in a way that could have advantaged the

Dore

> treatment. The control group's treatment was " nothing " , which was

> bound to produce an unfavourable result, compared with the

attention

> lavished on children having the Dore treatment.

>

> Progress was measured, bizarrely, with screening tools rather than

> validated tests, as we shall see later. The statistics were

flawed.

> The details of the treatment were explicitly withheld because it

> was " commercially sensitive " . The evaluators were not blinded. And

> so on. In fact, Dore's last storm of " miracle cure " publicity was

so

> bizarre that Nasa was inundated with inquiries and publicly

stepped

> in with a press release to refute claims in the Independent and

New

> Scientist that Dore used special Nasa space technology and

exercises

> in the cure (Dore denies involvement in these claims). When you're

> so out there that the guys from Star Wars have to shoot you down,

> then you really know you're getting somewhere.

>

> But what about this current study? Well, it's a follow-up of those

> original children. Hope in the Daily Mail says there were 35

> children with dyslexia. In fact only 29 children were followed up

in

> this study, and only eight of those had a diagnosis of dyslexia or

> dyspraxia. Some were, in fact, reading very well - up to 22 months

> ahead of their reading age - before the treatment started. If

she'd

> read the study carefully she might have flagged up some other

flaws

> in it. There was no control group this time, all the children had

> the Dore miracle cure, so there's no way of knowing if the

> improvements were due to Dore or some other factors (the passage

of

> time, or just receiving extra input).

>

> The children's progress was again measured with the " dyslexia

> screening tool " , an odd choice: and gains were not made in

reading,

> spelling, and writing in the DST, but in bead threading, balance,

> and rapid naming.

>

> DST is a screening test, not something you would use for repeated

> measures of development, and these improvements could reflect, for

> example, practice at doing the test.

>

> I get nerdier. The study reports benefits in Sat scores and

> something called " NFER " scores, but these contradict the DST data,

> and have other problems: Sat scores, for example, are not formal

> psychometric developmental measures, they are political audit

tools,

> and they are " peer-referenced " with vague, ill-defined criteria at

> each level.

>

> Congratulations on getting this far. If your attention is starting

> to flag, then that only goes to show how commercially unattractive

a

> real story, critically appraising real research, would be for a

> tabloid. I give up. It's a miracle cure.

>

> · Send your bad science to bad.science@...

> http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,,1939372,00.html

>

> =====

>

April 14, 2008

Em,

I actually have the learning breakthrough program and to be honest.... never

really set it up! Your daughter is doing soooo well! I think that I would try

to keep her involved athleticly in outside endeavors. We want to build her up

socially and physically and start to push her forward through to her peer group.

When there are peer problems then you can pull her back slightly but as long as

she is thriving.... continue to push her forward into the mainstream.

If you wish to work hand to eye: playing badminton in your backyard using a

large balloon instead of a birdie is a ton of fun and even kids who are

badminton champs (like my daughter was) have a blast doing this. Just bat the

thing around together; you might find yourself even laughing out loud. This

will really work her hand-eye coordination and badminton is an easy sport for

most kids to pick up. Mark even made the team this year at school.

Another game/toy that is good is Hyper Dash by Wild Planet. It has a main stick

with a bunch of little becons. You set up the beacons around the yard and the

main controller calls out instructions to 'dash' to the beacon of its choice.

It is meant to work agility in young ones.

We want to keep her nice and strong so you may consider gymnastics as it really

works that core strength but it indeed sounds like you are doing a whole lot

already! One of the things on Mark's program that is easy and fun to do is

Dance, Dance Revolution (it is a game on Xbox 360 or Nintendo.... I think it

comes on playstation 3 as well) and Mark does 15 minutes of this a day to work

his proprioception.

You are doing really well in the motor planning area and the next area you

should focus on is hand strength.... not that you want to get a 7 year old

weight lifting! But there are things you can do such as hanging from the monkey

bars that work hand strength. Also popping pop bubble wrap from the shipping

store.... pop a strip each day to work those weak wrists so that she will be

able to write decently. Have her push a vaccum, shovel snow.... anything and

everything to work her hands. Fortunately, horse back riding will really help

in that area as well. Truly a magnificent therapy for our kids! Other items

you might consider is purchasing a hand strengthener from the athletic store and

have her do a few reps. each evening when she's watching her favorite TV show.

Sneak the therapy stuff in and don't make too huge a deal of it with her unless

she begins to struggle. If she starts to struggle then you need to fight her

dyspraxic sympmtoms with all of your guns!

Hope this gives you some ideas. Look at the toy store as your first weapon

since there are some really great developmental ideas that can be 'fun' and not

'therapy'. But.... I warn you about the hands which are really tricky for

dyspraxics.

Just today Mark busted the button on his brand new jeans. Who does that? I

mean, the thing is pretty strong and durable.... designed for years of use. But

he snaps it off.... no problem! GRRR! It is because he will push it through in

a way that NO ONE else ever would.... so the thing breaks. Yes... the hands are

an issue and they take forever to resolve. Mark just lacks that innate

understanding of how to work his hands that all of us seem to have. But we will

build it into him if it takes my whole life! I will conquor the hands!!!!!

This is my vow!

Janice

Mother of Mark, 13

[sPAM][ ] Developmental Ped Appointment: What Do

You Think?

I recently had a developmental pediatrician re-evaluate my child along with an

OT. I have not

received the " formal " report yet, but did talk with the doctor.

I am not sure exactly what the report will say, but basically he said that she

had some mild

hypotonia (mostly resolved) and what he termed " coordination isssues " . He said

that the

horseback riding and other activities (running) would continue to help the

hypotonia, but said

it was now mild enough that I didn't really need to worry.

I am wondering about the coordination issues. She is much improved (she is

seven) -- as I

wrote before, she can participate in dance class! But she isn't always

graceful, and can have

problems skipping rope and playing soccer (she is very fast, but running and

kicking at the

same time seems difficult).

I have thought about " Learning Breakthrough " which is based on the Belgau

balance board

(and supposedly is somewhat like the Dore program -- but I cannot find much

info on this).

Has anyone else faced these issues and, if so, what was your solution? Is this

an OT issue?

These issues are really quite minor compared to the speech articulation, but I

would like to

do what I can to *fix* everything.

April 14, 2008

I never consider anything minor, because it's all interrelated. I

think coordination is really important, and I wish I was more

coordinated. Janice is probably the one to give you great advice,

because coordination problems can come from so many different

problems -- vestibular, proprioceptive, visual, etc. has

visual mixed dominance, and we hope that correcting that problem will

lead to better motor skills. We'll see. in NJ

>

> I recently had a developmental pediatrician re-evaluate my child

along with an OT. I have not

> received the " formal " report yet, but did talk with the doctor.

>

> I am not sure exactly what the report will say, but basically he

said that she had some mild

> hypotonia (mostly resolved) and what he termed " coordination

isssues " . He said that the

> horseback riding and other activities (running) would continue to

help the hypotonia, but said

> it was now mild enough that I didn't really need to worry.

>

> I am wondering about the coordination issues. She is much improved

(she is seven) -- as I

> wrote before, she can participate in dance class! But she isn't

always graceful, and can have

> problems skipping rope and playing soccer (she is very fast, but

running and kicking at the

> same time seems difficult).

>

> I have thought about " Learning Breakthrough " which is based on the

Belgau balance board

> (and supposedly is somewhat like the Dore program -- but I cannot

find much info on this).

> Has anyone else faced these issues and, if so, what was your

solution? Is this an OT issue?

>

> These issues are really quite minor compared to the speech

articulation, but I would like to

> do what I can to *fix* everything.

>

April 14, 2008

Tracey, I totally agree nothing is minor. I did not mean to downplay it. I did

feel the

doctor was downplaying it, and if I had to choose only one area to work on, it

would be

speech, only because this is her primary issue. But, of course, lucky me, I

don't have to

choose -- I can try to remediate all the issues!

I am not sure how many children on this board are similar to my sweet child.

She has hit

all of her milestones in the average range (though usually toward the later part

of the

average range) except for speech. The speech articulation was significantly

delayed, and it

has been a long, difficult journey already to attempt to get her so she could be

understood -- and now that she is understood, there is still a lot of room for

progress, as

her speech comes across as " more babyish " than her peers.

I would love for her to be more graceful and coordinated so that she can fully

play and

make friends. When you have a delay in one area, it is such a gift if you can

at least keep

up in the other areas. So, while saying she has trouble skipping rope when

others are

turning the rope may provoke an eye-roll (as in how stupid can this woman be

worrying

about this sort of thing), you don't realize how important it is until you hit

recess and see

ALL the other girls lining up for a turn to jump. (Same with soccer -- I

literally laughed out

loud at 's comment about running and kicking, because she is so right -- it

is

definitively NOT an essential life skill. And yet, my daughter has noticed that

when the

going gets tough during her little soccer games (the score is tight), she spends

more time

on the bench than almost anyone.

I love for her to do mainstream activities because she is sooooo tired of

therapy and these

are usually fun for her. But I also worry about her self-confidence. She has

remained in

dance and has worked hard enough to blend; but in gymnastics, I had to pull her

out

because she just wasn't able to keep up with the group (these girls were walking

backwards on the balance beam, doing headstands unassisted, flipping,

cartwheels, etc.).

Although she is really a very girly-girl, I have thought about martial arts, but

once again,

was a little concerned about her keeping up and being able to blend.

I thought something private (like the Learning Breakthrough) might be the way to

go,

though I just heard from someone who told me that it involved juggling bean bags

and

throwing/catching balls while on a balance board. While I can see keeping her

interest for

a while with those type of activities, I am not sure I could keep her going long

enough to

get $400 worth of use out of the equipment. (Janice, the fact that your Leaning

Breakthrough is still in the box is HUGE for me because I know if you thought

this was

what your son needed, he'd be balancing and juggling every day.) I was going

to call our

OT -- but this is the OT who worked on fine motor issues with us for a year and

never

said a solitary word about coordination/balance issues, so I am not sure.

ly, right now the Dance Dance Revolutions sounds more fun! (I just saw the

Wii

tennis and bowling and they looked fun too!) Can true therapy that really works

actually

be simple and fun??????

> >

> > I recently had a developmental pediatrician re-evaluate my child

> along with an OT. I have not

> > received the " formal " report yet, but did talk with the doctor.

> >

> > I am not sure exactly what the report will say, but basically he

> said that she had some mild

> > hypotonia (mostly resolved) and what he termed " coordination

> isssues " . He said that the

> > horseback riding and other activities (running) would continue to

> help the hypotonia, but said

> > it was now mild enough that I didn't really need to worry.

> >

> > I am wondering about the coordination issues. She is much improved

> (she is seven) -- as I

> > wrote before, she can participate in dance class! But she isn't

> always graceful, and can have

> > problems skipping rope and playing soccer (she is very fast, but

> running and kicking at the

> > same time seems difficult).

> >

> > I have thought about " Learning Breakthrough " which is based on the

> Belgau balance board

> > (and supposedly is somewhat like the Dore program -- but I cannot

> find much info on this).

> > Has anyone else faced these issues and, if so, what was your

> solution? Is this an OT issue?

> >

> > These issues are really quite minor compared to the speech

> articulation, but I would like to

> > do what I can to *fix* everything.

> >

>

April 14, 2008

" ly, right now the Dance Dance Revolutions sounds more fun! (I

just saw the Wii tennis and bowling and they looked fun too!) Can true therapy

that really works actually be simple and fun?????? "

YES YES YES -sorry I didn't mention that either -but yes they are

awesome- fun and nobody but you would look at playing that

as " therapy " (and PS we have both the Wii and Xbox version and it

comes in Xbox Live too )

" The hottest revolution and bestselling video game in the music game

category continues its long tradition of innovation and creativity

with an entirely new game for the next-generation!

Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE, exclusively designed for Xbox 360™,

takes dancing to a whole new dance floor—offering features and

options not possible until now. Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE is

designed to be a " universal " DDR—a game that everyone can play and

enjoy, including anyone with two left feet. "

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/d/ddruniverse/

Isn't that funny -even if you have two left feet?! But that was the

point I was trying to make in my email was that mainstream stuff not

only can be very inexpensive and replace some " therapy " but it can be

therapy -and fun. And of course the side effect is the social aspect

which is very positive!

If your child is not doing as well in soccer let's find her

activities where she is up to speed -and when she isn't yet - she's

not so head to head with others. Keep her self esteem high. So

unless her dream is soccer why not ballet or gymnastics or karate?

Try to find activities that she can either compete with herself -or

that are done in a group where nobody is pointing her out as to " how

well she can run and kick the ball "

Jump rope I agree with Janice -go for it with her as that's a

wonderful exercise for us (parents) and can be lots of fun too! Tie

one side to something and this way you can take turns practicing even

with just the two of you. Besides if you're all uncoordinated with

how to jump into the jump rope you can show her not everyone can do

this. In the Magic Kingdom sometimes they have people standing on

Main street with a large jump rope for people to try to jump in -and

guess what -I never tried and most everyone that does messes up.

That 's not dyspraxia -that's lack of practice. I'm not saying she

isn't graceful enough -perhaps she isn't- but that's a skill that you

can work on. Besides when I think of someone being graceful I don't

think of a soccer player for a woman -but a dancer or a gymnast

" Dancing is a great physical activity; it requires a lot of movement.

The good thing about dancing, children can learn to be graceful and

well coordinated. "

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/366199/advantages_of_childrens_dance_le\

ssons.html

And my neighbor is a professional golfer with the LPGA who was ranked

once as one of the top in the world without me asking her offered to

teach me golf because she knows I'm athletic and wants to see how I'd

do. My HUSBAND started laughing and said that when it comes to golf

he's seen me try and forget it. Oh because once I tried to hit a

ball and he's seen me play miniature golf (I rock at miniature golf -

he's just jealous) Needless to say she's going to take me and I'll

let you know what she says -and I know she'll be honest. Bottom line

is that I may be excellent at BOSU or jogging or water skiing or

swimming and used to be an exercise instructor at the the NY Health

and Racquet and a lifeguard for years -and may totally suck at golf -

but because my husband laughed about it I'm going to have to prove

him wrong. Before I wouldn't have cared!

And who is good at every sport anyway?!!

Also I don't agree. It's OK to look at it as minor -don't apologize

for it.

Your daughter is 7 years old doing amazing and in the mainstream -

and obviously you are still working with her and have been working on

whatever she needs for years and years. It's OK to give both you and

her a pat on the back and say " we're not there yet -but we're getting

there " and not feel everything has to be perfect because last I

checked even the people running for President of the US are not -

nobody is.

The only thing that I would go by is what is upsetting her -work on

those things. The fact that the neuroMD isn't concerned and the fact

that she's passed all her motor skills on time or early and the fact

that she's athletic at all shows that whatever her issue may be is

mild. Talk to her about it and let her know you'll find some fun

ways to get her up to speed...and if she doesn't need to be in soccer

perhaps there's something more fun. When one door closes another one

opens -and perhaps this door will blow away soccer. My one niece is

awesome at soccer and loves it -her two sisters are not into it at

all. One is into drama and the other is into just being a girl stuff.

Wii and Xbox both have soccer games!

So cheer her on for me where she is right now! Perhaps she'll kick booty

against the other girls when they play head to head Wii or Xbox.

=====

April 14, 2008

, Janice and Tracey -- Can I just say you are all awesome!!!! Thank you so

much!!!

>

> " ly, right now the Dance Dance Revolutions sounds more fun! (I

> just saw the Wii tennis and bowling and they looked fun too!) Can true therapy

that

really works actually be simple and fun?????? "

>

> YES YES YES -sorry I didn't mention that either -but yes they are

> awesome- fun and nobody but you would look at playing that

> as " therapy " (and PS we have both the Wii and Xbox version and it

> comes in Xbox Live too )

> " The hottest revolution and bestselling video game in the music game

> category continues its long tradition of innovation and creativity

> with an entirely new game for the next-generation!

>

> Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE, exclusively designed for Xbox 360™,

> takes dancing to a whole new dance floor—offering features and

> options not possible until now. Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE is

> designed to be a " universal " DDR—a game that everyone can play and

> enjoy, including anyone with two left feet. "

> http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/d/ddruniverse/

>

> Isn't that funny -even if you have two left feet?! But that was the

> point I was trying to make in my email was that mainstream stuff not

> only can be very inexpensive and replace some " therapy " but it can be

> therapy -and fun. And of course the side effect is the social aspect

> which is very positive!

>

> If your child is not doing as well in soccer let's find her

> activities where she is up to speed -and when she isn't yet - she's

> not so head to head with others. Keep her self esteem high. So

> unless her dream is soccer why not ballet or gymnastics or karate?

> Try to find activities that she can either compete with herself -or

> that are done in a group where nobody is pointing her out as to " how

> well she can run and kick the ball "

>

> Jump rope I agree with Janice -go for it with her as that's a

> wonderful exercise for us (parents) and can be lots of fun too! Tie

> one side to something and this way you can take turns practicing even

> with just the two of you. Besides if you're all uncoordinated with

> how to jump into the jump rope you can show her not everyone can do

> this. In the Magic Kingdom sometimes they have people standing on

> Main street with a large jump rope for people to try to jump in -and

> guess what -I never tried and most everyone that does messes up.

> That 's not dyspraxia -that's lack of practice. I'm not saying she

> isn't graceful enough -perhaps she isn't- but that's a skill that you

> can work on. Besides when I think of someone being graceful I don't

> think of a soccer player for a woman -but a dancer or a gymnast

>

> " Dancing is a great physical activity; it requires a lot of movement.

> The good thing about dancing, children can learn to be graceful and

> well coordinated. "

>

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/366199/advantages_of_childrens_dance_le\

sso

ns.html

>

> And my neighbor is a professional golfer with the LPGA who was ranked

> once as one of the top in the world without me asking her offered to

> teach me golf because she knows I'm athletic and wants to see how I'd

> do. My HUSBAND started laughing and said that when it comes to golf

> he's seen me try and forget it. Oh because once I tried to hit a

> ball and he's seen me play miniature golf (I rock at miniature golf -

> he's just jealous) Needless to say she's going to take me and I'll

> let you know what she says -and I know she'll be honest. Bottom line

> is that I may be excellent at BOSU or jogging or water skiing or

> swimming and used to be an exercise instructor at the the NY Health

> and Racquet and a lifeguard for years -and may totally suck at golf -

> but because my husband laughed about it I'm going to have to prove

> him wrong. Before I wouldn't have cared!

>

> And who is good at every sport anyway?!!

>

> Also I don't agree. It's OK to look at it as minor -don't apologize

> for it.

>

> Your daughter is 7 years old doing amazing and in the mainstream -

> and obviously you are still working with her and have been working on

> whatever she needs for years and years. It's OK to give both you and

> her a pat on the back and say " we're not there yet -but we're getting

> there " and not feel everything has to be perfect because last I

> checked even the people running for President of the US are not -

> nobody is.

>

> The only thing that I would go by is what is upsetting her -work on

> those things. The fact that the neuroMD isn't concerned and the fact

> that she's passed all her motor skills on time or early and the fact

> that she's athletic at all shows that whatever her issue may be is

> mild. Talk to her about it and let her know you'll find some fun

> ways to get her up to speed...and if she doesn't need to be in soccer

> perhaps there's something more fun. When one door closes another one

> opens -and perhaps this door will blow away soccer. My one niece is

> awesome at soccer and loves it -her two sisters are not into it at

> all. One is into drama and the other is into just being a girl stuff.

>

> Wii and Xbox both have soccer games!

>

> So cheer her on for me where she is right now! Perhaps she'll kick booty

against the

other girls when they play head to head Wii or Xbox.

>

> =====

>

April 14, 2008

Em....

If you want her to jump rope.... guess who gets to teach her!!! YOU! She can

learn it and it is the same with all dyspraxic skill sets...... if you do it...

the motor planning will come (but do you have the patience?) So get out that

rope and tie the other end to the post and start chanting those rhymes! I would

start with Tic, Tic where they jump over the rope and around the rope without

touching it..... I think they also jump on the rope for this one as well.....

Can she do a single jump rope? If so, then it is really great aerobic exercise

as well. Remember, that brain and those motor connections respond to intensity

so for her to learn it (and jump rope is definately ambitious for a

dyspraxic)..... you need to cheer your best cheerleading cheer. Keep going...

come on girl..,.. you got it..... FANTASTIC! Keep the play short and sweet only

do it for about 5 minutes and stop before she gets disheartened so that she will

want to try again the next day. Teach her all of the popular chants too since

it is an important thing to know socially. You could even do some oral motor

work while skipping!

If she wants to skip..... she CAN do it but again... I stress, keep the learning

sessions short so that she doesn't get disheartened.

Does she ride a bike? VERY important socially and our dyspraxic kids need to

learn this skill young (before they realize they're dyspraxic). I taught Mark

using an Alley Cat which is one of those contraptions that turns a bicycle into

a bicycle built for two. Mark and I used to bike together every day starting

from about the age of 4. In this way, he had the motor planning of biking down

pat by the time he learned to ride at age 5.5. Then all he had to do was focus

on balance and steering.

Today, Mark has a monster of a bike.... I like to ride it to and he can mountain

bike with all of his peers. Biking is a great activity because it doesn't

require a whole lot of conversation! And to be a boy with any kind of 'cool',

you need to ride a bike. Today, Mark can ride steep hills and he bikes with his

buddies daily. It also keeps him in shape. I have seen people try to teach

their dyspraxic kids to ride bikes when they are older and sadly.... the kids

want nothing to do with it or are a complete failure and soon give up.

START THIS YOUNG!!! I lucked out because I had no idea what motor planning

issues really were and how that would eventually affect my child. I just did

the Mom things that many moms do without thinking about it. For biking, it was

such a blessing that I bought that Alley Cat. It really was an impulse buy and

I wanted it so that we could all go biking together.... Somebody was definately

looking over my shoulder on that one.

Mark does do marshall arts and you will find a lot of ASD kids taking Tai

Kwondo. Note that I have heard that fencing is actually supposed to be

wonderful for fine motor skills. If there was a club near me.... we might try

it.

Janice

[sPAM][ ] Re: Developmental Ped Appointment: What

Do You Think?

Tracey, I totally agree nothing is minor. I did not mean to downplay it. I did

feel the

doctor was downplaying it, and if I had to choose only one area to work on, it

would be

speech, only because this is her primary issue. But, of course, lucky me, I

don't have to

choose -- I can try to remediate all the issues!

I am not sure how many children on this board are similar to my sweet child.

She has hit

all of her milestones in the average range (though usually toward the later

part of the

average range) except for speech. The speech articulation was significantly

delayed, and it

has been a long, difficult journey already to attempt to get her so she could

be

understood -- and now that she is understood, there is still a lot of room for

progress, as

her speech comes across as " more babyish " than her peers.

I would love for her to be more graceful and coordinated so that she can fully

play and

make friends. When you have a delay in one area, it is such a gift if you can

at least keep

up in the other areas. So, while saying she has trouble skipping rope when

others are

turning the rope may provoke an eye-roll (as in how stupid can this woman be

worrying

about this sort of thing), you don't realize how important it is until you hit

recess and see

ALL the other girls lining up for a turn to jump. (Same with soccer -- I

literally laughed out

loud at 's comment about running and kicking, because she is so right --

it is

definitively NOT an essential life skill. And yet, my daughter has noticed

that when the

going gets tough during her little soccer games (the score is tight), she

spends more time

on the bench than almost anyone.

I love for her to do mainstream activities because she is sooooo tired of

therapy and these

are usually fun for her. But I also worry about her self-confidence. She has

remained in

dance and has worked hard enough to blend; but in gymnastics, I had to pull

her out

because she just wasn't able to keep up with the group (these girls were

walking

backwards on the balance beam, doing headstands unassisted, flipping,

cartwheels, etc.).

Although she is really a very girly-girl, I have thought about martial arts,

but once again,

was a little concerned about her keeping up and being able to blend.

I thought something private (like the Learning Breakthrough) might be the way

to go,

though I just heard from someone who told me that it involved juggling bean

bags and

throwing/catching balls while on a balance board. While I can see keeping her

interest for

a while with those type of activities, I am not sure I could keep her going

long enough to

get $400 worth of use out of the equipment. (Janice, the fact that your

Leaning

Breakthrough is still in the box is HUGE for me because I know if you thought

this was

what your son needed, he'd be balancing and juggling every day.) I was going

to call our

OT -- but this is the OT who worked on fine motor issues with us for a year

and never

said a solitary word about coordination/balance issues, so I am not sure.

ly, right now the Dance Dance Revolutions sounds more fun! (I just saw

the Wii

tennis and bowling and they looked fun too!) Can true therapy that really

works actually

be simple and fun??????

> >

> > I recently had a developmental pediatrician re-evaluate my child

> along with an OT. I have not

> > received the " formal " report yet, but did talk with the doctor.

> >

> > I am not sure exactly what the report will say, but basically he

> said that she had some mild

> > hypotonia (mostly resolved) and what he termed " coordination

> isssues " . He said that the

> > horseback riding and other activities (running) would continue to

> help the hypotonia, but said

> > it was now mild enough that I didn't really need to worry.

> >

> > I am wondering about the coordination issues. She is much improved

> (she is seven) -- as I

> > wrote before, she can participate in dance class! But she isn't

> always graceful, and can have

> > problems skipping rope and playing soccer (she is very fast, but

> running and kicking at the

> > same time seems difficult).

> >

> > I have thought about " Learning Breakthrough " which is based on the

> Belgau balance board

> > (and supposedly is somewhat like the Dore program -- but I cannot

> find much info on this).

> > Has anyone else faced these issues and, if so, what was your

> solution? Is this an OT issue?

> >

> > These issues are really quite minor compared to the speech

> articulation, but I would like to

> > do what I can to *fix* everything.

> >

>

April 15, 2008

,

We bought the WII a little while ago.....What a blast!!!

loves the tennis and baseball. I had originally bought

it for the bowling to get his hip muscles going in a fun way.

FINALLY, something fun!!! And yes, he has no idea it's therapy.

It's working on more things than I had hoped and mommy & daddy get

to have fun too!

Sandy

[ ] Re: Developmental Ped Appointment: What Do You

Think?

" ly, right now the Dance Dance Revolutions sounds more fun! (I

just saw the Wii tennis and bowling and they looked fun too!) Can true therapy

that really works actually be simple and fun?????? "

YES YES YES -sorry I didn't mention that either -but yes they are

awesome- fun and nobody but you would look at playing that

as " therapy " (and PS we have both the Wii and Xbox version and it

comes in Xbox Live too )

" The hottest revolution and bestselling video game in the music game

category continues its long tradition of innovation and creativity

with an entirely new game for the next-generation!

Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE, exclusively designed for Xbox 360™,

takes dancing to a whole new dance floor—offering features and

options not possible until now. Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE is

designed to be a " universal " DDR—a game that everyone can play and

enjoy, including anyone with two left feet. "

http://www.xbox. com/en-US/ games/d/ddrunive rse/