Help Children Develop
Adain Lo Family Center
Classroom observation
October 23, 2007 Igor and teachers
Set boundaries for Igor: His mother and teachers needs to limit Igor’s boundaries to a small area in which they can organize Igor’s play and regulate physical activities. At this time, he does not seem to be aware of his actions or his surroundings, so the areas where he plays need to be as small as possible so he can lean to look at other children and to see what they are doing. Igor needs time to develop awareness of himself and how his body moves in space. His movements are jerky and uneven. He stares and seems unknowing and distant. He fusses and tries to remove some clothes, then throws himself on the floor and gazes into space.
At school and at home, his mother and teachers must help him feel safe and secure in a small part of the classroom, and then gradually enlarge the space, as he becomes more aware that people are interested in him and that they want to interact with him. In order for this to happen, Igor needs to feel physically comfortable at school and at home. Use blankets, animals, dark rooms, and quiet spaces to relax him. Teachers should remind him that he is a lovable person; this will take time, but right now, he cannot show affection until he gets comfortable. Igor’s mother and teachers should move along beside him, holding his shoulders or his hands, and guiding him gently back to he group.
Igor needs body movement exercise and activity box activities. Mother and teachers need to help Igor spend time on the floor exercising and using tactile small muscles of the hands, ankles, feet and fingers. He needs to bend and stretch his arms and legs and move his body slowly and quickly alternating movements. Teachers should stay to one side of him or the other, not in front or in back, as these positions block Igor’s vision; instead, sing and dance with him, moving from one side or the other.
Help Igor to set his sights on watching other children and teachers. Talk to him, encouraging him to move his body toward toys for small muscle coordination and to increase his interest in toys, Igor needs activity boxes and containers that he can open and close, empty and fill, and place toys in and out. Teachers and parents need to teach Igor to play with those containers. Igor needs Coordination and self-control games:
- Commando belly crawl game: moving his elbows and hips, Igor creeps forward on his stomach on the carpet.
- The “fast like a horse” or “slow as a turtle” game: moving on his knees, Igor crawls over blankets or pillows or under chairs and tables, or into cardboard boxes or a pool of balls.
- The raw potato kicking game: sitting on the floor, Igor kicks a raw potato across the floor with his feet
- Do climbing exercises with Igor and others, taking walks up and down the indoor steps and counting.
- Do walking exercises with Igor and others by creating animal noises while doing: Rooster Walk. Holding the head and chest high, strut forward with knees straight and hands at the side of the chest. Wiggle elbows as flapping wings.
- Elephant Walk. Bending forward at the waist, allow the arms to hang limp. Sway from side to side with big lumbering steps. Sway from side to side as you walk.
- Bear Walk. Bend over from waist; touch the floor with the hands, keeping the legs stiff. Move forward, walking the hands and plodding the feet, while keeping the head up • Ostrich walk. Bending forward at the waist, grasp the ankles; keep the knees stiff while walking forward, stretching the neck in and out.
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