The First Day of Preschool

Carter and Addie have finally started preschool. The process to get them qualified was quite the ordeal, speech evaluations, cognitive tests, occupational and physical therapy evaluations, as well as pages and pages of questionnaires to fill out. It felt like a mountain at the time, but now that they are actually enrolled in the preschool it is great and was well worth it. It makes such a difference to have them in a preschool with teachers and therapists who actually know how to deal with all of their special needs and understand their anxieties, compulsions and sensory issues. They don't seem to stand out like the "different" children at this preschool. They are not an extra handful for the teacher to deal with, they just have individual needs that she plans for like she does each of the other children in the class. It is a wonderful environment.

Their First Day

Addie, Carter and Mommy were all nervous but excited for the first day of school. We had everything ready for school the night before, clothes laid out, snacks packed in their lunch boxes, back packs ready with changes of clothes and diapers. We were prepared. Philip spent the night with grandma and grandpa so I could stay and get them settled into their class without him hanging on my arm. We started the day with a nice warm breakfast of waffles. After cleaning up and getting dressed we put on coats and backpacks and headed out the door. We paused on the front steps so I could catch some photos.

We needed to get Sadie to school at 9:00am so we were a little early. After taking her to her class we walked around the school for a little bit so Addie and Carter could get familiar with it. We went to the library sat on the couch and read some books about the first day of school until it was time to go to their class.

As we walked down the hall some fifth graders came down the hall toward us looking great, big, and tall compared to Addie and Carter. Carter immediately got nervous and froze mid step. He looked at me in a panic. "Up-a-you Mommy" he said, wanting me to carry him.
"No Carter, you can walk just move to the side and let the big kids pass."
"No up-a-yooou!" he said quite emphatically this time.
"Carter you are a big school boy now, you need to walk, don't be nervous the big kids will watch out for you. You can do it, just walk down the side of the hall buy the wall and hold my hand."
"I can't walk, my leg is broken," he said in his most pathetic voice with big pouty lips.
I laughed a little to myself at what a master manipulator he was. But I knew I couldn't give in even though my Mommy voice was saying it would be so much easier for both of us if I would just scoop him up and carry him down the hall to his class, no lesson learned. I didn't give in to it. I just walked down the hall with my hand held out so he could grasp it if he chose to, Addie walked a few feet in front of us excited to go see her new class. Carter more afraid to be left alone in the hall then to walk down it himself scampered to catch up with me and place his death grip on my fingers.

As we got to the end of the hall we saw his teacher outside the class. She greeted them with such a nice big smile he forgot the trauma from the hallway. "Good Morning Carter and Adrianna, I am so happy to see you this morning. We are going to have a good day." She has this beautiful accent so that when she talks each consonant is very pronounced. It has a very soothing tone when she talks to the kids and it set them both at ease.

She showed them where their names were next to the hooks outside the classroom, where they would hang their coat and backpacks up each morning. Addie was excited to find an "A" for Addie in her name. She also pointed out Carter's "C". She enjoys being an overachiever whenever an opportunity presents itself to her.

We were still a few minutes early so the bus with the other kids had not arrived yet. Their teacher, Su, showed them around the class and introduced them to the assistants while she waited for the other kids to arrive. A few minutes later the bus arrived and the room was filled with a warm energy that only young kids can provide.

Su had re-done the schedule in anticipation of twins arrival and so the routine was new for everyone that morning. She split the class into two groups, one did floor activities in the hall while Addie, Carter and two other students stayed in the class. They start off the morning with their sensory diet, which is not food, but exercises that give them the vestibular input they need. These exercises include jumping on the trampoline, swinging, walking on the balance boards, laying on the mat and having a textured exercise ball rolled up and down their back, and sitting in an isolation "egg" chair. Addie loved the trampoline but didn't really try anything else. Carter enjoyed jumping and also really liked laying on the mat and having the ball rolled across his head and back. You could literally see the calm come over his face as he laid their. When the sensory time was over they both seemed more settled and calm.

The next activity was circle time where they sing songs, do exercises, find the weather and listen to a story. Amazingly, they sat through circle time relatively focused and compliant. I think this had a lot to do with the sensory diet activities that calmed them first thing in the morning. There were other factors that also contributed to their success at circle time. Each child has their own labeled "home spot" where they sit each time they are at circle. No arguing over where they want to sit, each child is assigned to a spot next to people that will not cause big distractions for them. Addie and Carter were given therapeutic chairs to sit in, along with another boy, that also helped them to stay focused because they didn't have to worry about sitting cris-cross applesauce or laying on the floor or getting too close to neighbors. I didn't think it would be necessary the first time Su talked about the chairs with me and the occupational therapist, but seeing them at circle time I could see how it helped ensure good behavior by eliminating some of their triggers. I guess that is what success at school is all about for them. Setting them up for success.

After circle time they moved onto snack time. I used this as an opportunity to leave the classroom without them getting upset because I knew they would be fully immersed in snack time. They always love a snack. And this would be one of the key things Carter would be needing instruction on. He has stuffing issues with food and sensory issues that leave him making messes with his food or rubbing it on his face and hands.

I snuck down to Sadie's class for a few minutes to help out with publishing. I enjoy volunteering in her class and seeing her interact with her teacher and peers. I was distracted with thoughts of Carter and Addie though and returned to their class about 15 minutes later.

When I got back to their class they were just cleaning up their snack mess. Carter was not wanting to put his napkin in the garbage. He pulled his old trick out of the bag saying to Janis his OT, "My hand is broken I can't do it" I told her about the incident with his leg this morning as she persuaded him to do his job and toss the napkin.

After snack there are a variety of activities that take place. They went outside to play for a few minutes which I accompanied them to because they were a little nervous, all those big kids on the playground. When they came back inside there was playdough at the art table, sand in the sensory table, cars and trucks and building blocks on the floor, and everything organized and planned and supervised by the teacher. No chaos at all. Everything ran smoothly and Carter and Addie were both engaged in activities and playing along side other children without concern.

The day ended gathered again at circle time. They sang one last song and read a story. Su had such a beautiful way of engaging the children in the story that none of them were distracted. After singing a short goodbye song they were excused by the "kid of the day" whom they stand and thank and then go get their coat and back packs. It is a nice ending routine and made for a smooth transition, although getting all the way to the car was a bit of a challenge, but that will be solved when they can finally take the bus in a week or two.

A great first day at their new school, and we look forward to the next day tomorrow.