J will now relay off in rote fashion all about the next day's lessons at his school. He says it as a continuous sentence, and will re-start if he is interrupted.
Last Wednesday, after he had returned from school, he began reeling off Thursday's activities. He gathered his swim trunks, a towel, and a bag, for which he does every Wednesday evening, as he knows it's swimming the following day.
On the Tuesday I had been informed that all of his class would be having a trip out on a local boat, that caters solely for children and adults with a disability, (and their carers, family, siblings etc). It is a charity funded boat, and so there is never a cost to the people using it. Also written in the book was the fact he would not be going swimming.
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| The boat |
So, when he told me all of Thursday's itinerary, and I saw the swimming kit all ready, I wasn't sure how to broach it with him. It's not as simple as telling him, "no swimming J".
I contemplated letting him take his kit in, writing in his 'home - school' book that I allowed him to, to save on his distress at there being no swimming.
But, I wanted to try something different. I didn't know how he would react, or whether indeed if he would understand.
When he had finished reciting all of Thursday's events, I added at the end, "no swimming J, J is going on a boat!"
He repeated his sentence again, with the swimming included still.
So I added at the end, "no swimming! J is going on a boat with V (one of his teachers)."
He then repeated, "boat tomorrow. V." And then he said all of the children's in his class' name too.
His next roll call of Thursday then omitted the swimming, and added in the boat. I was thrilled!
He repeated all of this again, many times through the evening, and also the next morning.
He repeats each days activities and events anyway a fair bit, so it wasn't unusual, or a sign to me that he was distressed by the change.
I knew he would love the boat, as he took a trip on it last year with his class, and then through that, I managed to contact the boat people directly and arranged a trip for him, his brothers (one who has vision impairment and nystagmus), my mother (their Nanna), and myself.
We had a spectacular day out on it, and the captain took us around the visiting Queen Victoria ship that was in dock. We were right at the base of the Queen Victoria, and it was incredible to look up at it. The captain then took us up and down the water, at a leisurely pace, and being such a glorious day, we had the sun shimmering upon the sea, and a beautiful cool breeze in our hair.
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| J viewing the Queen Victoria in dock |
Sure enough, the message back to me via the communication book said he had loved the trip, and had even had a turn at steering the boat.
I have already booked for another trip for his birthday in a few days time, and this was booked before I was informed about the class trip.
The lucky boy will be on the boat twice in as many weeks!
