First Day at Yarran... and coming down...

Mikey had his very first day at his Early Intervention centre based school yesterday!

The security is TIGHT! before 9:30, parents meet in the Parents room with the children and wait for the class to be opened.
There is virtually one leader to each child, maybe one less but generally there is always atleast one leader with each child or activity station.

Mikey started his time by playing with some playdoh! I had alot of paper work to fill out and with Zoe being really unwell it took the whole 3 hours to complete. Annabelle was at her own preschool having a make up day as her usual day is Wednesday.

Mikey had the opportunity to join the other children in a circle with music and dancing but he chose not to.
then the children ate their lunch and had a drink... mikey took his time and the leaders allowed mikey extra time to eat - this is really great as he is such a slow eater sometimes and tends to get distracted easily during daytime meals.

after meals there were some more activities indoors and then they went outside for some running around...
one of the senior educators invited Mikey back into the room on his own where she spent some one on one time with him doing some craft related things, and then more playing.

I left the room at this point as Zoe was really unwell... I went and obtained 3 construction style toys from the Toy Library which was really terrific and then sat down and talked to one of the leaders who wasn't on duty at the time about the centre, mikey, my girls, etc...
and then as it came closer to 12:30 the other parents arrived and we waited for the goodbye song.

Mikey had a wonderful time!

I was very impressed by the security at the Centre... there are 3 childgates - like you'd find on a swimming pool fence - and this is to prevent not only children from escaping, but also to keep the classes private and specific to the children who are attending... for example their siblings would not be permitted to join in play - it is very specific and strict. but that is really good because it means that the leaders are giving the children with special needs their 100% undivided attention.

The centre is also not Autism specific and caters for all developmental or physical disabilities.

I met some of the other parents/grandparents and everyone seemed really lovely. there is a little boy who seems quite similar to mikey only with exceptional language skills and his mother is a mum to 4, she seemed tired, but really nice.

Yarran is constantly providing OT and Speech throughout each therapy session/class... be it tactile things, or gross motor skills. They are familiar with the brushing technique we're using with mikey so this is good.


now for the coming down.... I have decided that Tuesdays are our at home day... most kids lose it when they have constant activity.,.. they can't settle and it stresses them out being so busy all the time... but for someone like mikey it's overload. he can't cope at all and we've had some real shocking meltdowns yesterday and this morning... so i have spent the day instead of going out with a friend like planned, just staying at home... i baked some cookies and have been dealing with mikey the best i can and he's crashed out on the couch before lunch.

So i'll have to make sure his Saturdays, 2nd Thursdays and Tuesdays are relaxed and calm and as simple as possible so that he can cope with all the therapy he's receiving.

So thats todays update...