Kid from Missouri travels

Today, Christian asked to make a video blog to let his viewers know he was thinking of them and tell them how well he was doing. He recorded this morning in his room, after much thought over the last few weeks about what he wanted to say. He reported he felt everyone needed to know he was not struggling as much now that he was not in school.

He does mention he was still getting hurt a lot; however, not due to kids at school but just because he still struggles with balance and body awareness: proprioceptive input. He can say proprioceptive now and uses the word in his video. He also reports how he likes to play with certain toys to help with this sense.

He shows a car that opens and closes, and the wheels are large, so he can manipulate it with rhythmic movement – I was surprised he understood that. He is learning the language and how to advocate for himself, which is amazing, but what is more astounding is the following story he told me. He told me a few weeks ago that he was called to the office because a peer had pushed him to the ground. He was asked to review the event camera.

He said:” Nana, I told them it was not on purpose, even though (the peer) said it was because when I watched the video, I saw how he was moving, and I think he has sensory issues, but no one knows, so he just is angry like I was.” He went on to describe the peers’ gait, the way he reached out, and the actions before and after the incident. I was shocked he understood sensory processing and how to spot it in others. His superpower truly is sensory understanding!

Per Christian: ” I have a hard time at school, but when I am out of school, I do a lot better. I am not as cautious about being in trouble or what I might be doing wrong. I am also not as anxious all the time, but I do still get hurt a lot.

While out of summer school, I go to a babysitter when I am not with my Nana. My babysitter takes me to the park, swimming, and the river, so we have some proprioceptive and vestibular exercises in our day: she does not know she is giving me what I need to help me calm down, not have meltdowns, or stay focused; she is just letting me have a good time. She also has a trampoline in her back yard and I can do flips on them. I get to visit the library and help her with the babies, so I am the ‘older kid’ who has to help out. I carry things for her, and this helps me with my proprioception, like the way my backpack full of books does.

My Nana and I go on more adventures, which always help me with understanding my world; I do get tired and like to just sit and play checkers or with something we have packed in my sensory bags. I do a lot better without school because it is hard to do everything they ask, listen to the teacher, walk in the hallway, and still focus without a meltdown.

I don’t have meltdowns with my Nana or at her house because she will tell me something and let me think about what she is saying. Sometimes she gets frustrated, but not always. She knows I hear wonky so things don’t always make sense to me when she talks- like I hear one word and she says something else but she will wait and let me ask her questions. I want to make a new trailer for my YouTube channel because I am doing so much better with balance and crossing mid-line!

I can also give high-fives without hurting others. I like my YouTube channel and hope people will subscribe so I can get more views. I also want to change my name to Traveling sensory seeker or Traveling something???- well, I don’t know what, but I don’t want everyone to know my real name- I don’t know why, but I would like to have a YouTube name.

Oh, one last thing- on my YouTube channel, my Nana writes in the description of what we are doing and what she is teaching me, so you can teach others the same things and help them with their sensory issues.

She said to tell you she also gives information on the place we went to, you know, like the cost, if it was fun, if you can take little kids, the website to the place… that type of stuff. Hope to see you soon!!