Living Arrows Week 1/52: The Wobbelboard and Autism

HI, welcome to 2018. I have already written 2017 and had to edit posts many times but its only the 3rd day so I’ll let myself off. I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and New Years. It was really full on for us as we spent time with my side of the family and my husbands. It involved a lot of yummy food, party games and wine. For J it was exciting new cars to play with, cousins to copy games from and be allowed to indulge his love of Pringles. I have been thinking about what I wanted from blogging this year. In all honesty I think I need more structure. I need to get in more of a routine of writing rather than just when an idea pops into my head. I found Living Arrows through some other amazing blogs and thought it sounded like a great idea. So every week (it will be on a Monday from now on, I’m just late to the party) I will choose one or two photos that represents our previous week.

This weeks photo was taken Saturday so the gap between Christmas and New Year. Its a funny week as its not quite ‘normal operating’ times but at the same time its no longer the action packed events. J struggled with it not being Christmas despite there being a tree and decoration. He expected that to mean more presents (joy of autism, he does like routines so I guess he figured tree meant gifts). So the tree and decorations came down and J went back to business as usual. We spent this week chilling out and deescalating from the highs of Christmas. We had seen a lot of people, had lots of noise, smells and bright colours. So it was time to at home and get back to eating at usual times of day with our usual foods. J could no longer get away from living on crisps, party rings and bacon. He did find it a struggle and was having a lot of meltdowns. It didn’t help that we both felt a bit rough with stinky colds.

We got out when we could and ran around the woods, walked to shops etc. We went to soft play with a friend but it was so busy he ended up having a few time outs as struggled to cope with other children. However the most helpful tool was our Wobbelboard. Its simply a piece of wood with felt on (I really recommend the felt layer as it stops it making lots of noise when its rocking). It sounds so simple but for J he used it to rock back and forth. The kinetic movements were enough to calm him and give him the vestibular effect (this is about control and affecting his sense of balance) that he craves.

We turned it upside down and used it to climb up and slide down. He drove cars and his Star Wars ships under it. It’s one tool that has many uses. Its more controlled so safer and although its movement based it doesn’t hype him up, or cause him to bash into things like spinning and running around does. We’re back to business as usual now: grocery shopping, visiting Grandparents, playing games and getting ready for his taster day at Nursery before he starts by himself (more on that in next weeks Living Arrow).

I look forward to reading other Living Arrows, please click on the image below to go check out some more amazing bloggers. Have a lovely week xxx

Disclaimer: The views of this post are my own and not an ad or sponsored post. However if you do decide to get a wobbelboard or enquire into them you are welcome to say Mummy Est.2014 recommended it…you never know I may get a thank you and its always helpful to get my name out there 😉