Ben's Preschool

Wow! 3 Posts in one day. I guess I am trying to make up for lost time. The posts are probably deteriorating with each new one.

Benjamin has started preschool! Ya, I know...he is young. He is going at such a young age because of his speech and eating problems. Also, we are hoping that they will also address some of his behavioral issues. (Fighting and hitting, when he doesn't get specifically what he wants.) I think most of the behavioral stuff stems from him not being able to communicate what it is he is thinking a feeling. As he grows up, and learns more...he is understanding SO much. Yet he can't quite portray to us exactly what it is he is thinking/feeling at times.

He will still just yell and scream and point, when he wants a drink of water, or wants to get on the trampoline, or wants to watch a particular show, etc. When we finally figure out what it is we want, we make him clarify to us what he wants. We will tell him to 'Say: Water Please', or 'Say: Help, Please', etc. It usually works. The hardest thing, is the sharing, or re-direction, when he is doing something he shouldn't.

For example, just barely I had to take a container of bubble gum tape from him, because he was ripping up the bubble gum into little pieces and throwing it around. I took the container away, took out the gum and handed him the container back. Well, he tried hitting me, cried and called me 'stupid'. Don't you just love when children have older siblings that teach such words?! Zaelynn went through a stage of using mean words, and saying things they shouldn't. She is gradually doing better. (Guess she doesn't like soap or hot sauce in her mouth.)

It was cute when Benjamin first had the bubble gum tape, though. He was actually doing a good job, and just had a small piece of gum in his mouth that he was chewing. (which is amazing in and of itself, since he doesn't eat or chew, he mostly only drinks) So, he was chewing this gum, and I told him to make sure to spit it out in the garbage, or bring it to me. Well, less then a minute later I noticed that he no longer had it in his mouth. I asked him where he put it, he open his mouth and points inside. I said 'did you swallow it?' He again points into his mouth and then moves his finger down to point to his toes. Maybe he was telling me that the gum was now in his toes. I did ask him if the gum was now in his tummy.

The question is, where is the gum, really?! Cause I cannot think that he swallowed it. Yesterday we gave him a bowl with Raman Noodles in it, cause he likes to be like the other kids, and have food on a plate, with silverware, but he just plays with it, and sometimes licks or nibbles~then spits out. He was doing really well with scooping the noodles onto a spoon, and then putting the noodles in his mouth. But then he would quickly spit them out, and even wipe his tongue with his fingers, to make sure all the food was out.

Wow! I really went on a tangent from talking about Benjamin's preschool! Anyways...he goes to school on Mon, Tues and Thurs. The school is called EEC (Early Education Center) It is through the Mesa Public School System. The bus picks him up at about 9am, and then drops him off at about 12 noon. It is so cute to see him get on and off the bus. I am going to need to get a picture of it.

When he first went, it was a bit difficult for him to comply to the rules, and listen. They say he is already starting to do a lot better, and to follow the routine. I think it is a great opportunity for him to be with his peers, and to have a more structured environment.

Well, Zae starts preschool tomorrow...so I will have something to say about that. A whole different program.