NOW is the time to get "The Out of Sync Child Has Fun". Same author, even more amazing book. It is CRAMMED with activities to provide various types of sensory input. And even more ideas for ways to do it cheap cheap cheap. I actually recommend that people get the first book from the library and the has fun book from the bookstore if $$ is tight. We actually had to get a second copy of "Has Fun" because we wore it out. The activities are fun for all of us, and provide what my kids need for sensory input. I have used quite a few of the activities at school parties and gotten the BEST feedback from the kids. Takes a few min and thinking to do them with a group, but it is a BLAST.
One thing that really helped thank you was a crash pad. I took two flat twin sheets and sewed them together on 3 sides. I put every blanket, throw pillow, comforter, out of season sheet, etc... in our linen closet in it, and then he could jump on it, roll on it, squish it around to be comfy for tv watching or reading, almost anything. I did have to velcro the end shut and tell him that if he got inside it I would go and burn it up and it wouldn't exist anymore because that was one thing he wanted to do that did not seem safe. Not only could he disappear, but with as much was in it, he could have fallen asleep and possibly suffocated. As long as he was totally sure that if he did it then I would destroy it, he didn't do that. I didn't sew the end shut because I wanted to be able to use the items in it when needed. I just used it as storage for all the out of season stuff and rotated it as needed. I did get a bunch of throw pillows at our church thrift store, spend maybe ten bucks on thirty of them, and those are always in there unless one of the kids drags one out for some use.
It is the most amazing thing. My mother had a COW, because "all your linens will get worn out" and "it looks so messy". Um, who cares? I got the linens at teh thrift store, and willg et more when needed. Messy? not a priority - esp when it kept thank you from mangling himself from jumping off of things with-o any padding. Also cut down on bills for bandages and supplies to handle sprains and bloody whatevers, cause he used hte crash pad and NOT the floor to jump onto.
It was an idea from the book, and it iwll be a HUGE help.
the brushing protocol is pretty much a miracle, in my opinion. A way to reprogram the brain WITHOUT medication? WOW - it was like a fantasy for us! MOST of thank you's current happiness/success at school would NOT have happened with-o a good private Occupational Therapist (OT) evaluation, brushing therapy, and working with his sensory issues. His only diagnosis's are sensory integration disorder and dysgraphia. At age 4 he could not spend an entire day in a class with kids. If we forced it he spent the entire weekend white as a sheet (NOT his normal coloring) walking around aimlessly and shaking like a leaf. He could NOT handle an entire church sermon. He and Jess would go help set up snacks when the organ started for communion.
Now? he hates to miss a day of school, even when sick. Last year he made it all the way to Jan with-o missing a day. He almost NEVER gets that pale shaky thing going on. He can tell us when he is overwhelmed. He cannot always tell us where he hurts with-o us making him stop and THINK about it. Even a headache often registers as just overall not feeling good. Mostly both Jess and I can tell by looking at him when he isn't feeling good, and we maek him go through each part of his body and tell us if it hurts or not. He has to stop and focus, and then he CAN tell us, which he couldn't do even two years ago.
There is a LOT of hope. It takes time, and making some adjustments in your expectations and in what your priorities are. But you CAN do this. Before you spend a lot of $$ on various things from Occupational Therapist (OT) stores, check other places. For fidgety items, check party stores. I spent a tenth of what the Occupational Therapist (OT) store wanted and got three times what i expected to get at the party store when looking for little balls, tiny clothespins, etc... for thank you to use.
it helped J and Wiz also. They each have sensory issues, though not nearly to the level that thank you does. The various things we have and did, helped them too. Even with-o a diagnosis it helped them greatly. If you let difficult child lead the activities, he will show you exactly the type of sensory input he needs. As the Occupational Therapist (OT) went through things that would help thank you, we had more than 50% of them because they were things he liked doing. It was surprising to me, but the Occupational Therapist (OT) said that moms who let the kids do what they enjoy generally end up with a pretty good idea of the types of sensory input a kid needs.
As for how much to use the vest - if it helps him stay calm, let him use it all he wants. In time he may need it less as he learns the benefits of not freaking out over things. If he doesn't? What is the harm? I know Marg has a daughter who wears corsets because the give the deep pressure she needs. Now they are part of her style, and they help her have a more normal life. So what? Who does it hurt if difficult child wears his weighted vest all the time as long as it is helping him? When he needs it less, he will not want it as much.
Mostly it is adults who get in the way with questions of too much and not enough - kids just go with what feels good and is calming. in my opinion, and from what I have seen with my kids and other sp ed kids, the kids have it right.