Special Needs help

Hi,

I am helping a wonderful young lady with Costello Syndrome, I have found lots of info on the net about it and it's very rare, but I cannot find any good resources websites for help creating word sheets to help her. She is 5yrs old and her verbal skills are very good, but I am looking for things that are educational and fun that will challenge her and make the most of her abilities, as her pencil control is very poor at the moment. Also would like some songs that use her fingers and hands, like two little Dicky birds sort of songs.

Thank You

Jayne

[cabin]

Not sure what Costello Syndrome is, but are you thinking about resources to help pencil control? If so this could include other activites that build up strengh in arms/wrists such as clay, playdough and other fine 'pincher' like motor skills threading/sorting small items.

xxxx

[Ruthierhyme]

This page of CAFamily - Contact a family is great - Costello Syndrome

Has anyone suggested anything about ideas/activities that would help strengthen muscles & dexterity ?

Finger rhymes - we've always liked Here's the Bee Hive rhyme

Here is the beehive.
Clench a fist
Where are the bees?
Look puzzled
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Move other hand ‘magic trick wise over the fist ..
Watch and you’ll see them come out of the hive
Peep into the fist
One, two, three, four, five.
hold your fingers up one at a time
Bzzzzzz… all fly away!
wave fingers about

One potato two potato
twinkle little star
Incy wincy spider

Does your teacher use chunky pencil huggers to help with gripping ?

Thanks for the help, all poems would be great. All I know is incy wincy spider and two little dicky birds. I'll try the hand exercise, squashy hands and feet are part of her condition, but It cannot do any harm to try. Thanks again.

Jayne x

PS. I got her a pencil holder and she loves it. We call it her special pencil and we have to hide it everyday from other jealous 5 year olds who want one too...lol

PPS. Could I have the full versions of the above rhymes please, I have forgotten the words...lol

Hi Jayne

Just a thought, but has this child had any in-patient admissions to hospital related to her condition? If she has been in hospital, then the Play Specialist who is based on the Ward where she was admitted may well have some adeas that could help you, as the ward play specialist is required to liase with the physio and occupational therapist to ensure they are providing the appropraite therapeutic play while they are in hospital.

Although the play specialist would not be able to provide you with any confidential information, I would expect they would be really happy to provide you with information relating to activities that would be useful.

If this cild has not been in hospital it may still be worth contacting the play specialist at your local hospital, as they may be able tyo liase with the physio and occupational therapist to gain ideas for you for this specialist condition.

As a play specialist myself I am always happy to help if people want to use me as a resource.

Best of Luck

Harriet

Thanks Harriet :)

There is an Occupational Health Therapist that I will be liasing with for help and advice, but last time I met her, she said that very little is know about her condition and I got the impression that she was just winging it? I'll ask the little girl's Mum about the hospital, as i'm still getting to know her and her family. I have found a couple of SEN websites which have been great.

Jayne x

Hi Jayne

I really hope the play specialist is lots of help to you. I think the play specialist can often be a really good person to know, as they will know lots of child related professionals accrossthe hospital and are therefore often able to access information for you. You never know there could be more than one Occupational Therapist employed at that hospital, the play specialist maybe be able to find this out for you.

Also on the flip side, if the young person you are working with has ever been to hospital but does so in the future, it may help this young person if you know the play specialist, and can then work with the play specialist to make sure her therapeutic play needs are met while she is in hospital.

Good luck, and it sounds to me like this young person is very lucky to have someone like you, who is so motivated to help her.

Harriet