Jaden needs constant direction (& redirection) with almost everything...he's gotten better over the years - he's even able to follow 2 or 3 step directions now without getting side tracked & totally 4getting what he's supposed 2 b doing (example: go upstairs & get dressed, get your backpack & come back down)...this in itself is huge - compared 2 how he was barely able 2 complete 1 step directions without getting distracted just a few years ago!
but taking a shower has always been 1 task that he's needed assistance with
Curtis is his assitant...he'll wait outside the bathroom until Jaden has gotten in the shower (Jaden is very modest!)...then he'll come in 2 adjust the water 2 Jaden's desired temp, hand him the wash cloth, give him the soap...then he'll stand there - right outside the shower - directing Jaden step by step on what he's 2 do...wash ur face, don't 4get under ur arms, here's some shampoo, lather up ur hair...u get the idea
well lately, he's been giving him less & less instruction...instead, asking him "ok, what r u supposed 2 do next?"...they've been slowly making strides - every day, Jaden does/remembers a little more on his own
finally 2 the point that last week, Jaden took his shower entirely on his own!
AND every day since!
this might not seem like a big deal 2 most...i mean, the boy is 9 years old, of course he should know how 2 bathe himself by now, right?!
well...not so much
Jaden can dress himself, get himself a bowl of cereal, put his favorite DVD in or start up daddy's Playstation 2 play a game...there's lots of tasks he can complete on his own...especially if it's something he's really interested in doing...but the shower is waaaay too distracting! he loves the water - & believe it or not, the shower is almost as much fun as a pool 2 him...he'd stand in there 4 hours if u let him - feeling the spray hit his back, re-enacting his favorite scene from Home Alone 2*, just plain messing around...anything BUT what a shower is intended 4
but ever since that day last week, when he was able 2 completely go thru his entire shower routine without any prompting from dad - he's continued 2 get the job done on his own! Curtis will still pop in the bathroom occasionally 2 make sure Jaden hasn't gotten off track...but now, we more or less say, "Jaden, go hop in the shower" & he does! he turns on the water himself, does all the washing & scrubbing alone, even finds the right shampoo & washes his hair independently! (daddy & Jaden use different stuff than us girls)
it rocks!
& he's sooooo proud too! he loves getting in there & getting the job done...then that leaves him plenty of time 4 the Cool Jerk* at the end!
now, if we could only get him 2 learn 2 tie his shoes on his own...i think then, we'd feel like we've accomplished everything we need 2 in life!
;0)
here's the full song...
but taking a shower has always been 1 task that he's needed assistance with
Curtis is his assitant...he'll wait outside the bathroom until Jaden has gotten in the shower (Jaden is very modest!)...then he'll come in 2 adjust the water 2 Jaden's desired temp, hand him the wash cloth, give him the soap...then he'll stand there - right outside the shower - directing Jaden step by step on what he's 2 do...wash ur face, don't 4get under ur arms, here's some shampoo, lather up ur hair...u get the idea
well lately, he's been giving him less & less instruction...instead, asking him "ok, what r u supposed 2 do next?"...they've been slowly making strides - every day, Jaden does/remembers a little more on his own
finally 2 the point that last week, Jaden took his shower entirely on his own!
AND every day since!
this might not seem like a big deal 2 most...i mean, the boy is 9 years old, of course he should know how 2 bathe himself by now, right?!
well...not so much
Jaden can dress himself, get himself a bowl of cereal, put his favorite DVD in or start up daddy's Playstation 2 play a game...there's lots of tasks he can complete on his own...especially if it's something he's really interested in doing...but the shower is waaaay too distracting! he loves the water - & believe it or not, the shower is almost as much fun as a pool 2 him...he'd stand in there 4 hours if u let him - feeling the spray hit his back, re-enacting his favorite scene from Home Alone 2*, just plain messing around...anything BUT what a shower is intended 4
but ever since that day last week, when he was able 2 completely go thru his entire shower routine without any prompting from dad - he's continued 2 get the job done on his own! Curtis will still pop in the bathroom occasionally 2 make sure Jaden hasn't gotten off track...but now, we more or less say, "Jaden, go hop in the shower" & he does! he turns on the water himself, does all the washing & scrubbing alone, even finds the right shampoo & washes his hair independently! (daddy & Jaden use different stuff than us girls)
it rocks!
& he's sooooo proud too! he loves getting in there & getting the job done...then that leaves him plenty of time 4 the Cool Jerk* at the end!
now, if we could only get him 2 learn 2 tie his shoes on his own...i think then, we'd feel like we've accomplished everything we need 2 in life!
;0)
* in Home Alone 2, there's a scene where Kevin has 2 go in the bathroom 2 fetch his tie, while his Uncle Frank is in the shower...Uncle Frank is singing Cool Jerk by The Capitols & Kevin records it...Kevin later uses that tape 2 fool a concierge at the hotel in New York...i looked hard 4 a video of 1 of those 2 scenes from the movie, but all i could find was this short clip of the tail end of the hotel scene...
here's the full song...
& u know what? now that i'm thinking about it, i know i have a video of Jaden singing this song in the shower years ago...i'm gonna have 2 go dig that up now ;0)
4 comments:
That's awesome! I remember us talking about that before:) Good thinking on your part to slowly wean him off the directions!!
I know what a big idea this is because I was just discussing it with my friend and she says her son can do it, leading me to believe my guy could too! Your boy sounds like he's coming a long swimmingly! Gives me hope! Can I ask, does he do all the washing and stuff? I still can't figure out an effective way to get that done, or taught, or whatever....
Absolutely awesome progress! Way to go Jaden!
thx ladies - we're thrilled!
yes Bonnie, he does...but only cause his dad showed him exactly how...Jaden has always learned best by imitation - so it just took Curtis breaking it down 4 him & showing him exactly how he should wash each part...once Jaden got it, it's now just part of the routine & he does it that way each time...good luck with Casey - he's such a stinkin' cutie! i love ur blog & am glad 2 read whenever u're able 2 post ;0)
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