Flapping and Jumping
I keep remembering a conversation I had with Mikey's patrician when he was due to clap:
"Can he clap?" Asked Mikey's pediatrician. "Well, he flaps his arms together but it seems like he can't be bothered to finish bringing them together to perform the clap." I replied.
Now I realize that my insight was correct in two ways. First, Mikey doesn't imitate things like pointing, clapping, or daily hygiene. So indeed, he wasn't really clapping. Secondly, he only does something if it is important to him. The act of clapping hasn't ever been an important way for him to communicate. Instead, he chose to flap his arms when he was excited or happy.
These days he still flaps his arms when he is happy or excited. He also jumps up and down in that adorable preschool way. But that way of expressing himself isn't reserved for happy feelings. He also flaps his arms when he is angry or stressed...adding to it a revving noise like a saw blade.
We used to be told that he was "all boy" with that kind of energy. Still, we were amazed at how much Mikey moved. Before he could really sit or crawl he was perpetually moving his arms and legs. Unless we were carrying him, he would lie on his back and run or jump his legs. If he wasn't running or jumping his legs then he as flapping his arms. In a Johnny jump up or held on a lap, he pushed himself up and down and mastered the launch and land mechanics of jumping before he could even stand on his own.
So, flapping and bouncing are an essential part of how he lives and always have been and always will be. They are the Stims of an infant. Those movements help him organize himself when he otherwise feels disorganized. And as he grows up he works them into his life in more and more acceptable ways.
"Can he clap?" Asked Mikey's pediatrician. "Well, he flaps his arms together but it seems like he can't be bothered to finish bringing them together to perform the clap." I replied.
Now I realize that my insight was correct in two ways. First, Mikey doesn't imitate things like pointing, clapping, or daily hygiene. So indeed, he wasn't really clapping. Secondly, he only does something if it is important to him. The act of clapping hasn't ever been an important way for him to communicate. Instead, he chose to flap his arms when he was excited or happy.
These days he still flaps his arms when he is happy or excited. He also jumps up and down in that adorable preschool way. But that way of expressing himself isn't reserved for happy feelings. He also flaps his arms when he is angry or stressed...adding to it a revving noise like a saw blade.
We used to be told that he was "all boy" with that kind of energy. Still, we were amazed at how much Mikey moved. Before he could really sit or crawl he was perpetually moving his arms and legs. Unless we were carrying him, he would lie on his back and run or jump his legs. If he wasn't running or jumping his legs then he as flapping his arms. In a Johnny jump up or held on a lap, he pushed himself up and down and mastered the launch and land mechanics of jumping before he could even stand on his own.
So, flapping and bouncing are an essential part of how he lives and always have been and always will be. They are the Stims of an infant. Those movements help him organize himself when he otherwise feels disorganized. And as he grows up he works them into his life in more and more acceptable ways.
Comments
Post a Comment