Wild for Winnie
by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
illustrated by Jenny Løvlie
illustrated by Jenny Løvlie
Transcript
00:00Wild for Winnie.
00:12Written by Laura Marks Fitzgerald.
00:15Illustrated by Jenny Loveisle.
00:18The teacher said a new kid was joining our class.
00:22But Winnie was no ordinary kid.
00:24At circle time, she howled like a hyena.
00:29At reading time, she kicked like a kangaroo.
00:33And at lunch, she chomped like a piranha.
00:36But our teacher said, here's a wild idea.
00:40Maybe Winnie sees and hears and feels the world differently than most of us.
00:46So why don't we give her wood a try?
00:49On Monday, Winnie could not stop monkeying around.
00:53So at recess, we joined her on the jungle gym.
00:57On Tuesday, Winnie was really antsy.
01:00So we all crawled into cocoons and turned into butterflies.
01:05On Wednesday, she was a bull in a china shop.
01:08So we pooled together to build something amazing.
01:12On Thursday, Winnie was pretty skirrelly.
01:16So we all went nuts on an obstacle course.
01:20And on Friday, Winnie was just a bear.
01:23So we burrowed into a cozy den.
01:26It turns out Winnie is an ordinary kid just like us.
01:30And sometimes we all feel the world differently.
01:34Just like Winnie.
01:36You know those kids.
01:38The ones who blithely run their scooters into your ankles and knock kids off swing sets.
01:44But who melt down at the sound of the vacuum cleaner.
01:48Some call them insensitive.
01:51Some oversensitive.
01:53Some kids are even diagnosed with sensory processing disorder.
01:58Too often their responses to the world around them get them excluded from that world.
02:04And when we do include them, it's usually on our terms not theirs.
02:09The good news is that wise parents, teachers and therapists have developed simple interventions
02:15to help calm the nervous system.
02:18Best of all, they feel like child's play.
02:22What follows are some activities you can introduce on a playdate in the classroom or
02:27on the playground to support one of those kids or really any kid who is having one of
02:32those days.
02:34For monkey around days.
02:36Swinging for vestibular regulation and balance.
02:40Have kid lie down in the middle of a sheet while you and a partner each grab an end and
02:44gently lift and sway from side to side.
02:48Forget the expensive swing set.
02:51Add a rope, porch, standing frame, or tire swing.
02:56You can even buy portable hammocks.
02:59No outdoor space.
03:01Add a cocoon swing to your child's bedroom or even a collapsible doorway swing or pull-up
03:06bar.
03:08Or just find your way to your local playground.
03:12For antsy days.
03:14Deep touch pressure to calm the nervous system.
03:17Burrito bar.
03:19Have your child lie down on a blanket and give you toppings to add to their burrito.
03:25Give taps and light for each topping, drop in beans, mush in guacamole, drum your fingers
03:31for grated cheese.
03:34Then roll your child in the blanket like a tortilla, head uncovered of course.
03:39Unrolling is just as fun.
03:42Offer your child a back rub.
03:44Or roll a large exercise ball or foam roller from head to toe.
03:49Hugs.
03:50Lots of hugs.
03:52For bullish days.
03:54Heavy work for proprioception, body awareness.
03:58Assign weight-bearing chores, groceries to put away, snow to shovel, laundry to carry
04:05upstairs.
04:06Have your child do push-ups against the wall or upside-down wheelbarrow walks.
04:12Consider purchasing a weighted blanket or stuffed animal.
04:16A heavy input can be very soothing.
04:20Pile up blankets or buy a crash pad for jumping into.
04:24Raking leaves is good for this too.
04:27For skirrelly days.
04:29Spinning climbing and jumping as an outlet for thrill-seeking.
04:34Roll down a hill.
04:36Try out a sit-n-spin.
04:37Whirl your child around with your arms under their armpits.
04:43Minimizing activities, trees, jungle gyms, climbing walls build excitement and focus
04:48at the same time.
04:50A well-supervised trampoline is a favorite outlet for grown-ups and kids alike.
04:56You can even get mini ones for indoor or winter jump sessions.
05:01For bearish days.
05:03Quiet activities for minimizing input.
05:07But a small tent or fort for your child's room.
05:11Fill with cozy pillows, glitter wands, favorite books, and a flashlight.
05:17Offer it as a special kid-only space to chill out and regroup.
05:22Never use for timeouts.
05:25Use a pair of unplugged headphones to help block out a noisy setting.
05:30A long bath with lowered lights and bath toys cures just about any mood.
05:36For William.
05:37LMF.
05:39For Lisa.
05:40I'll always go wild for you.
05:43JL.
05:44The End.