Little J had his first gymnastics class yesterday. Well, not exactly his first, but his first at the new place I found down the road and his first in a year. It went great! He was a good listener, he had fun, he participated...it's enough to make a mommy get teary-eyed.

To get some perspective, let me describe to you last year's gymnastics class. It was a Mommy-and-me activity, and I was basically the gymnastics equipment as far as Little J was concerned. He had a hard time listening to the teacher (who was really nice, by the way, and led the class in a very age-appropriate way for toddlers) and as soon as we were allowed to get up from our criss-cross applesauce he began flinging himself around the room - onto the equipment, onto me, onto the floor. The only thing he liked to do was swing on the little bar they had set up and when he would do this he would scream. And I do mean scream.

This is the Sensory Integration Dysfunction talking.

He actually really liked the gymnastics. The equipment and the padded room and the fact that he was encouraged to be physical were all good things for him. That he was supposed to be attempting to follow a group and was in a class full of quiet little girls - not good things.

So I was thrilled, THRILLED! yesterday when he had a good class. This class, along with swimming lessons and the mixed sports classes he took over the winter are our attempt at addressing his SID on the cheap. At the moment we can't afford the $133/hour that therapy costs. But I think that our way is working, at least for Little J.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not recommending skipping Occupational Therapy sessions to anyone whose child has sensory issues. But there are many things you can do at home if you want to supplement your child's OT or if you can't afford $500/month in OT bills. There's a great book: The Out-of-Sync Child has Fun, which has lots of great ideas.

Some things we do (keep in mind that Little J is a sensory seeker. His biggest need is proprioceptive input):

• Organized sports. Little J is just over 3 1/2, so this was a little tricky (especially since we live in a fairly rural area) but it can be done. You may have to keep trying, keep bringing the child to the activity before he/she might participate, but just being in that (different) environment will help.




• Lots and lots and lots of outdoor play.




• Wrestling with Daddy.




• Dancing with Mommy.




• Lugging heavy things around - big pillows (inside the house), bricks and large stones (outside the house).




• Allowing sensory-seeking behaviors like chewing (give something appropriate to chew on), mouthing, etc.




• Light spanking (not as a punishment) and hard squeezing. Squeezing has been our best tool for calming him down.




• Lots of hugs. Touching him when we speak to him.




• Playing with sand and play-dough and water and other textures.

Anyone have any other ideas?