Autism and Sensory Issues at the Beach

Well we had a family reunion involving going to the beach which we really don't do more than once a year.  I really should have anticipated some issues with Little Guy, but I didn't.  Sand was an issue the minute I took his shoes off.  He toughed it out for a bit but seemed visibly uncomfortable.  We got down to the water and once he got in the water, the sand moving a bit around his feet totally freaked him out.  I tried taking him out a little deeper but he just kept crying.  We took him back off the beach to get his sandals and it took him a while to calm down.  He did end up playing with the sand with a shovel for a bit with a lot of encouragement but got upset again after getting some on his hands.  I filled a bucket of water and showed him how to wash back off and that seemed to help.    He did finally at the very end go in the water with daddy to swim shoes and all (next year we are buying water shoes lol) at the very end, so he ended up having fun regardless of his difficulties.  Maybe we should go to the beach more often lol!  It's great therapy!  

Gearing up for the new school year!

Well, we are getting ready for the official start of the new school year.  We are starting the first of august this year.  Usually we wait until about half-way through the month but we have a new bundle of joy arriving in January!  So I figured we better get an early start so we can take some time off in January.

We are going to be using Lifepacs through Alpha Omega Publishing for science and social studies for my eldest this year.  I ordered them used on ebay and we are excited about trying something new.  He will also be using Horizon's fourth grade math through the same company.  We are going to be putting together our own L.A. program this year since he has splinter skills in that area and I couldn't find a program that really fits his needs.  His reading is at a fourth grade level as is his reading comprehension but his writing is more at a second grade level which is fine since he's only technically in second grade.  It just makes it hard to find a boxed curriculum that fits him.  We will also be putting together our own Bible class, Art, P.E., and Health.  I just love digging out all the new stuff!  lol  We will also be incorporating workboxes into our day for extras.

My daughter who is Kindergarten age this year but will be working at a first grade level will be doing mostly workboxes this year.  I am also signing her up for Starfall (the subscription version).  We really like basic starfall for phonics and reading.  The subscription version also has math, and music along with preschool stuff like letters colors and shapes that Little Guy will be using this year as well even though he's not quite pre-k age yet.

Well that's a peek into our up and coming schoolyear.  We'll see if it goes as planned.  It seems as though our plans are always changing.