Sunday, May 20, 2007

Video Review #1

Here it is... the moment of truth!

Building a Mountain w/ Mom


Dinner w/ Mom


Laundry w/ Mom


A Bunch of Stuff w/ Dad

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Overall Comments:
Wow, guys this was just amazing! From your improvement of the things that we were working on, to this tape review, technologically speaking, I'm seriously impressed!!! I can see how you've BOTH really worked tirelessly on your lifestyle goals and parent objectives to make them part of your LIFESTYLE! So if any of this is unclear or if you're not agreeing with something and want to know why I wrote something I did please let me know. Otherwise looking forward to our next visit!!!


Building a mountain:
First off, how great that Henry is so responsive to your invitation. That was an excellent non-verbal (the wave) and invite "hey, let's play". I can tell you guys have really been working on your language/communication and it absolutely shows.

My only suggestion is to maybe try to keep him with you during the process of going into the room by holding his hand. You can also try silly ideas like creeping in together and trying to build anticipation up as to what's coming. Otherwise, it's looking great so far!

As you begin, your outstretched arm and "I'm ready, let's do it" was right on key, Henry knew just what to do, he read your non-verbal and was ready to go. Good catch- keeping him with you after the first throw, he's ability to stay with you seems to be improving from where we started!

I like how you're giving him a choice with the beanbags, but I would also like to know if he's able to have you point to specific beanbags to choose. I'm not sure, is he always choosing to throw the same beanbags one after another? make sure he's not trying to throw an element of sameness into our interaction.

Very neat that you changed up the chant, I like that because I know we talked about his tendency to become a bit static with the words. Have you noticed more flexibility with him in this regard? It seems as though that is the case here, but I'd like to know what you're experiencing on a consistent basis.

It also seems to me that he's becoming more able to stay with you more effectively without as much guidance from you. He's really learned his role! Careful with your questions "should we__?" there's always that chance of "NO", hahaha, but fortunately he's really into this with you and it worked out!!!

When you're going to jump into the mountain, I loved how you added an element of "Dance" into the chant, it was neat to see him move with you. Although it's not completely fluid or co-regulated yet, he's allowing the movement to happen, and quite nicely! The cue words are great, once you feel that Henry is able- try to take the cue words away and see if you can feel him regulating with you i.e. matching your speed and pace, looking for cues on your face as to how fast/slow you will go.

Once you hit the beanbags together I would try to keep him close to you as well, try to share gazes after the jump and possibly even turn it into a funny face time??? We want to encourage his ability to gaze and see your face as a place of information, and in this example- for fun!

In regards to the book distraction, I think for the most part you handled it pretty well, I would either ignore it or just say "Later" or "not now".

WOW! The slow motion walking was incredible!!! I wish I could post a video here from our RDA to show you how much this is improving!!! Not that we did walking necessarily, but even with scooping facing one another and trying to do simultaneous actions was very difficult for Henry. This made me smile! You guys have been working very hard!

My one suggestion with this is that instead of just picking him up and dumping him in the beanbags so quickly we want to really relish that moment of anticipation before we launch him into the beanbags. So as you slow motion walk, once you reach the bags, act as if you're going to pick him up and then allow for the anticipation (i.e. say "1,2, NOPE!" and then the next time do "1,2,3!!!" and launch him. We can really find some great stuff within those moments of "Productive Uncertainty".

You did a really great job of waiting for Henry's gaze after he was shadow jumping with the wall :o) I liked how you gave him the opportunity to come back to you and share that moment! I think that trying to keep him close at all times will really help with his fleeting tendencies.


Dinner with Mom:
This clip really gives me an opportunity to see how your "lifestyle" is changing. I'm really impressed with you language and your pace, I do see an amazing difference.

I do like the idea of "enough?" however, I also think it might be a good idea to involve Henry a bit more with the actual pouring if you aren't already. I think that he could, for example- hold the bowl while you pour in the applesauce with a simple direction of "Help?" or "Let's pour, you hold" show him what you want him to do, and then give it a whirl. It's ok if there's a mess you guys can clean it up together and give a simple "uhhh ohhh". This can be used in multiple settings (i.e. pouring in the laundry detergent, pouring in bath bubbles?, pouring in dish detergent for the dishwasher, his raisin bran, and a ton of others) he's really going to have to keep with you to make sure that it doesn't spill.

The spoon was a GREAT idea! How cute! I really enjoyed watching it and you had wonderful language throughout, your commenting was perfect as you just used things like "too big" "too small" etc. There seemed to be so much going on between you two during this, did you feel that way? How did this part feel to you?

I think what happened with the applesauce is that he just wanted to eat it :o) No fault there, however, you could say something like "together" that let's Henry know that you want to do it with him. It's ok to guide him through it the first few times with your free hand. Even still, I can't tell you the improvement in this area since our first meeting!!!

I think with the change from doing it together to trying to feed each other was a GREAT idea, but there was just too much change too quickly and it seemed that maybe that's why it didn't work. You could maybe start this by letting Henry feed you to see his role, and then adding in your part once he's feeling comfortable with that??

I really see the difference in how your handling when Henry is not quite able to do something!!! Are you feeling as though you're able to see the difference between defiance and things becoming overwhelming? You sure seemed to there, as you felt Henry not being able to do this for whatever reason, you pulled back and said that's ok. Very nice.

I like the fact that you're really examining your guidance and how you noticed that things may have become a little long there, this is why video is so helpful- we're able to reflect and your voiceover is super great to listen to because we can hear your thought process. I applaud your efforts with this!

With the grapes activity, I'm not really able to see if he's referencing your face during this??? I know that you said that he was doing some really good "referencing" during this activity- but I'm wondering if you had meant "gazing"? Referencing is looking another person for meaning or guidance? It is quite possible this is what you meant, I'm just unable to see where his gaze is on the tape. I do like this activity too, maybe your next step is examining the grapes together and pointing to why they're bad (bruise) and then having Henry throw that one away???

Blowing on the hot noodles is a good idea, although there might be a little too much oral motor work there to try to also regulate that. Maybe you can start out by playing a game where you're both blowing into each other's faces to just "feel" blowing (or in your hands if that grosses you out :o) hahaha.

That was great that you just handed him the empty banana peel and let his "THINK", boy he knew just what to do!!! I could see your excitement for him all over your face :o)

I really enjoyed your game of emotions, that was really cute and was it impromptu?? or have you done this? I like that he was able to let you choose for him and Rosie even joined in too. Henry did not yet shift from you to Rosie, however, he was glued to you during this! So maybe with Rosie's emotion you could aid with a non-verbal point to help him with the shift?? if that needs more explanation, please let me know.


Laundry with Mom:
Part1: Wow, you sure do have this kids attention during this! He seem to very much enjoy the laundry??? Good for Mom huh? The change of camera angle was very helpful, i would have never known how MUCH he's with you. The hesitation that you used is great and the non-verbals are great for helping to keep him with you! You made a good call by adding challenges here, like dropping the clothes and putting them on his head- he seemed to handle everything well and still come back to you for "when" it was time to put them in. Again, my only reservation here is the language use since we found that Henry can get "stuck" on certain phrases so possibly each time changing up "out and in" to "pants and plop" or "yellow and pow!" just to keep him from perseverating on the "words" that we're using. Let me know if you're already switching them up and how he's doing with that? Where to go from here? Possibly having Henry help with different parts of the laundry, i.e. pouring the detergent in, turning the knobs, etc.

Part2: Even though he seems a little distracted/overstiming by something (still trying to figure it out) he's doing an amazing job at what's at hand. He's really referencing your face to see where things need to be. You enlisted the help of a chant at the right time, did you notice how it seemed to bring him back to what was happening? He almost needed some organization in the form of a chant from you to complete this. Great instinct! This was great and actually a lot of fun to watch, it looks very natural for you guys! This can also be turned into so many things- have you ever played the game where you hide a piece of candy or something in one hand? the other person has to choose a hand? this could work with something like this... Again, let me know if more explanation is needed.


A bunch of stuff with Dad:
Breakfast: WOW Aaron, I'm really amazed at how well he's keeping with you during these bites in the beginning! I'm astounded at the difference, like I said from the RDA and scooping exercise! You've also been working so hard with this! I think it's you exaggerated facial expressions and the noises that enhance the interaction with this. He's really following your lead here.

As for the knocking, I think it's kind of working as an indirect prompt at this time so if you want to incorporate it as something you're both doing it together I would guide him a few times and then give it a whirl.

I must say, your patience is what I'm noticing here the most. Not that you were quick to fly off an handle or anything :o), but it's very obvious that you are not becoming frustrated with breakdowns- you're taking them in stride and finding new ways to handle or try things. Your communication is actually improving as Henry is becoming less regulated during eating! I love how you're saying, "you're hungry" instead of forcing a re-do! Out of everything this is what I'm noticing the most!

Above I said that Theresa could also let Henry do a lot more of the work, I'm wondering if you let Henry hold the bowl while you pour and if he's helping to pour milk? I would also like for you to try and have Henry feed you his raisin bran, It's something you guys can laugh at and really examine his ability to monitor you.

Up the stairs:
Very creative idea. This is a great way to feel the togetherness and regulation. It seems as though there is a bit of dragging going on here, i would encourage Henry to take more responsibility here by giving him more room. maybe even try letting go of his hand a few times.

Take a moments during these steps to share these small triumphs!

Putting on Clothes:
I can see how this could be a source of frustration for you. he is a lagger isn't he :o) hahaha.

You did do a good job with your communication, I am very much impressed with your improvement in these areas.

You may want to hold his hand throughout the whole time here just to keep him with you. I'm feeling like when he's away from you, he's not "with" you either. We need him to stay with us in regards to what we're doing together.

So maybe give a shot at laying items out on the bed and holding hands standing in front of them. You can point and give non-verbals and declaratives but try to just focus on keeping him WITH you.

Attempt at washing the car:
This type of regulation is still seeming too hard for Henry, and I'm wondering if it's because you're outside? There are a TON of new distractions and this new activity of washing the car.
I would at first just concentrate on washing together, with one sponge, until you're feeling it's smoothly happening together.

Did you notice you were less able to control your own frustration level in this clip? Was this new for you as well? Try to remember how you were feeling during this clip and the one with the raisin bran. Both showed somewhat of the same issues but you were more easily frustrated with this last clip- see if you can try to figure out why that was???