Little Miss Throwsafit got her walker a couple of weeks back. We're working on walking in her physical therapy sessions, but there are times when she just doesn't want to do it. She's not being outright defiant or difficult; walking is hard work for her so getting her to do it requires a lot of motivation on her part, and like the rest of us, there are days when she's just not motivated.
Take Monday, for example. When Denise, her Early On physical therapist tried to get Little Miss Throwsafit to walk, she refused. So we turned it into a game. LMT is most likely to walk if she can walk to me, so I said, "let's play follow the leader." I started marching and singing. Normally she wants to see my face, but this time, she had a grand time walking, laughing, and singing as she followed me. I marched from one end of the living room to the other and then back again with LMT in tow. Then I marched through the kitchen, into the livery, out onto the deck, and into the yard (of course we were moving pretty slowly. Each step takes a lot of work for her). She was thrilled to follow. And she loved that she got to walk in the grass, which was a first for her.
I then said, "You be the leader!" And I followed her for a little bit. She thought that was hysterical and tried to march like I did.
When all was said and done, Little Miss Throwsafit walked further than she ever had before. She was exhausted by the time we our session was through, but she had a great time. And she earned a peanut butter cookie for her efforts.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I was a PT in my pre-mommy life. I didn't work with kids very much, except when I was a student. But it was fun coming up with ways to motivate kids. Actually, it is a special talent. So that is awesome that you found the key!
Kerri
Posted by: Kerri | June 11, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Kerri,
You PT's are angels as far as I'm concerned. You do God's work. My daughter has improved so much with the help of dedicated physical, occupational, and speech therapists.
Posted by: Kim | June 11, 2008 at 05:38 PM
God Bless all of you.This brought tears to my eyes as I also remembered how long it took Mikala to roll over,sit up,and stay up by herself plus all of the other things that most babies automatically can do on their own.Being a 25 week premmie as she was took her along time and hard work on all of our parts to get her where she is today.Keep up the good work.Mikala now being 15and a half only last summer could she walk barefoot in the grass and in the sand here in Fla.
Posted by: Jill | June 11, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Hooray for LMT!!! And hooray for you, Kim, for being such a good mom!
Posted by: Karin | June 12, 2008 at 09:43 AM