The results of Sophia’s evaluation have come in. The only delay she shows is with her speech, which is 40% behind her peers. Everything else was marked as zero delay. They’re recommending Speech therapy intervention and an in house referral to nutrition and feeding.
The day of the evaluation I was told about some classes offered there, some are free, some have a small free, and others have a fee but would be free to us because Sophia qualifies for therapy. I signed up for three classes. I may not stick with all three, but I’m trying them out. One class is a preschool/play group. We’ve gone to that class twice so far. The first time didn’t go so well, but she improved a lot the second time.
The next class can very loosely qualify as a gymnastics class. Sophia definitely doesn’t need help with her gross motor skills, but I signed up to give her yet another opportunity to play with other kids her age since there is some free play incorporated in it. She was leery of the class in general, but she really latched onto the teacher. That was completely unexpected. I liked that she wasn’t hanging onto me for dear life, but it was odd.
I took her to the playground nearly everyday during the summer to help socialize her, and she does well in an environment where children outnumber adults. She’ll take off without me and play around and sometimes with the other kids. One time she found an older girl (about six or seven years old) on the playground to adopt as her big sister by taking the girl’s hand and just shadowing for the entire time we’re there. The girl was a part of a summer camp or YMCA group or something and one of the adults later told me that the girl had a sister Sophia’s age. Sophia must have just known. 
At friend/family gatherings Sophia is very clingy and will cry if adults try to engage her. I generally have to take her to a quieter corner so that she can observe things. After a while she’ll usually get comfortable enough to take off and play with/beside the other kids, and when it’s time to go I can get her to wave bye-bye and high-five everyone.
I’ve had Sophia enrolled in swimming consistently since she was ten months old and she just recently started lean towards the instructor indicating that she wants to swim with her. It’s a very nice change of pace and it shows me she’ll be ready for the next swimming level when that time comes. I was a little worried, so when we started this new class and she tried to monopolize the attention of the teacher it was bizarre! In her case, I think that class might be more about learning to take turns.
The last class I thought was kooky. I chalked it up to being about as useful as alternative medicine type things like magnets for improving blood flow. I was wrong. Of the three classes, this one is definitely a keeper.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:12 am
I am still surprised to hear about her reaction to the “tumbling” teacher. That is so unexpected! But it seems like a good sign. She embraced something new.
Can’t wait to hear more…
smarmoofus´s last blog ..Bubble
November 17th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Great News Erica!!!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Re: Sophia’s speech delay, I think she’s just trying to keep a balance in the house. She’s the Yin to Kurt’s Yack. =)
Erica Reply:
November 19th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Tim – hahahaha! Maybe, but you should hear the two of them argue.
Kurt: Yes
Sophia: No
and back and forth several times