UPDATE ON KAI'S PROGRESS
KAI WITH MONA--ONE OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANTS AT JACOB'S LADDER
Big changes are happening for our little prince. Since Aug. 23rd he attends a morning Special Needs Kindergarden together with 8 other kids, guided by his wonderful teacher and her two assistants.
Having Kai attend a public school/kindergarden for one year will potentially offer us some financial assistance in the years to come. As it turns out, he loves this school and the social interactions in a group setting is a great addition to the more individualized program at Jacob's Ladder.
The Kindergarden is quite structured and Kai learns to adjust to OTHERS, the beginning of the shift from 'ME to WE'. His social skills of learning self control, following the teacher's directions, respecting rights and properties of others, cleaning up, working and playing well with others are all skills that -- according to his first progress report -- are 'Satifactory'. I personnally doubt the part about 'others properties', because over the summer this was one of the main challenges in a public pool. The toys of all children are also his toys.
He also receives some short sessions in Occupational & Physical Therapy and a daily session of Speech therapy. HIs teacher at Jacob's Ladder, Mark, is very positive about this develoment, and feels that this combination of schools is working very well for Kai!
Kai is the happiest about riding in a school bus again between his 2 schools... although it's only for 3 miles ! So schoolbuses have again become the most favorite vehicles that we pass by on the roads in town, moving him into a sheer excitement and joy that for us maybe only a piece of delicious pie or choclade calls forth.
Kai contemplating the 'Point of Existence'.... what's the point of it all??
The answer is in his facial expression -...
Parents Report:
For us the most remarkable thing of his development is - how happy our little prince is. 99% of the time Kai wakes up Happy, --- please compare with your own number of happy wake ups. He is ready to go -life is play- let's go. Even the more structured school hasn't changed an iota of that, that is play too. Having to put chairs down, putting your backpack away and a ton of other structured and organized tasks haven't changed that. All is joy, whereas it easily could be experienced as quite a control.....as I experienced school at that age.
Another unusual occurrence for his age is, that Kai is still very much himself. Very early on we learn to please others, don't you agree ? As an example, Kai comes to school at JL and meets some of the teachers there and they want a High Five or a hug (he is extremely popular in wanting to receive hugs from by the mostly female staff...we will see how that will show up in his teenage years) and sometimes he gives one and in another moment he just says no and continues his way.
Regarding his inner state, there he is still very sweet, loves to 'merge' and 'hug' and his primary feeling state is joy. In a way, his delayed development has him kept connected to these inner states that most normal developing children grow out be 4,5 years
Lastly, Kai, as far as we can see, is not impacted yet, that he is 'different', 'delayed', 'a special needs child'. He is himself, a child in this case.
Late Summer Days swimming in Lake Lanier
Having a blast camping with Papa.
REPORT FROM MARK, KAI'S MAIN TEACHER AT JACOB'S LADDER
Kai calls now most teachers and students by their name and asks for what he wants usually with one word communication. We and his teachers are working on 3 word communications for everyday objects (ie: i want water, park, to eat, etc..) and kai is becoming more accustomed to this as of late.
Speech wise he can throw now 3 syllables together and his most used word in this department is 'Tram Po Line' which he approximates. We have a trampoline in the backyard and this is one of the most fun and wild times we spend together.
After school, first stop: "Tram poh leen"
His lip closure and tongue movement have improved to sound formations that promise a natural speech progression down the road, according to his teachers. The length of that "road" remains to be seen... the speed at which his speech develops can't be estimated yet. For example he can say the letter AH for the letter 'A' and then follow it up with the word 'Apple' . This he can do with nearly all the letters of the Alphabet. His process level is at a 2, with forrays into the threes, (3 syllables mentioned above) and his capacity to master 3 independent tasks is the next frontier.
Mark also sees abstract thinking coming in during school -- which indicates another level of brain development is happening.
Regarding fine motoric skills, the pre-requisite for writing, Kai now can connect horizontal and vertical dots with a marker and is moving towards drawing lines for writing letters down the road.
HAPPY BOY WITH HIS MAIN TEACHER MARK AT JACOB'S LADDER
We have heard from his NeuroFeedback practicioner that his brain wave activity has been measuring with great #'s the past few weeks. This could be due to the combination of his 2 schools, some new herbal/mineral brain supplementation we are trying, or just 'because'... The important thing here, is that it is hard 'factual data' that she can see on the screen -- in a shift of his brain wave activity towards where we want it to be. We will add an update on the more specific progress Kai is making in Neurofeedback once we receive the report from Jacob's Ladder.
Kai is moving in the right direction regarding speaking and is keeping his innocence and preciousness on the inner plane.
We are very grateful and cannot THANK ALL OF YOU enough for your wonderful love and support of us and particular our 'kleine Prinz', because in his case it does take a community to make Jacob's Ladder happening.
TWO BUDDHAS
All our gratitude to you and many blessings to all of your families and the children you hold in your hearts.
~Neelama, MIchael and Kai
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