Starting Daycare Soon

Chillin' - Ready to play with the big kids!

Tom will begin attending a daycare program at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (WPSBC) next week. I am so excited for him to start! They have a daycare that blends blind/visually impaired children with sighted children in the same classroom. They have a visually impaired child already enrolled and Tommy will be their second blind/VI child. One thing that I really like is that THEY are excited to have Tommy in their daycare. Their daycare staff has received special training from the experts at WPSBC and from the TVI (Teacher of the Visually Impaired) program at the University of Pittsburgh. He is in good hands!

We have visited twice and I met with them again last week to discuss Tom's needs, especially those related to his g-tube. Luckily, he will only need one bolus of whole milk in the afternoon. The plan is for him to eat by mouth all day just like he does at home.

I think he will get so much out of the structure and interaction available in this daycare. I am only one person, so I can't be as exciting as six other kids his age and two teachers. They go on walks around campus and have a special sensory playground for the kids! Each day has a theme and art projects and books choices are centered around that theme. He is going to love that and it will be an excellent way to reinforce concepts. Since Thomas can't just look at the pages in a book he needs to experience things in multiple ways for ideas and concepts to make sense.

I filled out a really in-depth profile for his daycare teachers and I'm going to update Tom's "Strengths and Challenges" page. What is a Strengths and Challenges page? It's part biography and part cheat sheet for getting to know your child. I start with a little bio that explains Tom's homelife and background. Then I list his strengths and what challenges him, including ways to help him relax and deal with the things that challenge him.

I have given this Strengths and Challenges page to professionals just meeting Tom for the first time. In a visit or appointment they only get a snapshot of your child; often it's not a good one due to stressful wait times, anxiety and other reasons. I want the people evaluating and treating Tom to know and understand him a bit before they form an opinion. A new therapist or daycare provider will find this sheet very handy!

Eating Update
We still have good eating days and bad eating days. Toddlers are notoriously finicky and Thomas is no different. Here are some pictures of what Tom has been munching on lately.

Beefy Noodles.

a peach

He loves blueberries!

Is she taking pictures again?