Our 3.5 yo son has been diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder and has been identified as a sensory seeker. He has been going to an OT and is doing Listening Therapy with fabulous success. I am curious if any other parents have found a good preschool or (for those outside the chicago area) a learning philosophy for their children with similar diagnosis. We live in LaGrange Park so something in the near west burbs would be ideal, but willing to travel. One suggestion has been a music and movement school in oak park. I am interested in hearing any experience with this school AND additional suggestions welcome. Looking for a school familiar with sensory issues and provides plenty of physical and academic stimulation.
Not a school, but some activity ideas. I found a swing/hamock that attaches to a door frame at a Disablity conference once, it was wonderful, my kids wore it out. If you have an unfinsined basement, you can use regular swings and hamocks on the big bike hangers screwed into the joysts. A mini trampoline is another good large motor device that we found helpful.
Good luck,
M.
My son (4.5) is very active and he loves his mini trampoline. You might want to investigate Waldorf education methods which has a lot of hands on activities for learning. Also get the book The Out of Synch Child Has Fun which is all activities for children with sensory integration disorder.
In my son's preschool they have activity tubs (large dishpans) and they alternate what is in them. It is not just sand and water but also rice, birdseed, oatmeal, unpopped popcorn,shaving cream, etc. I made "oobleck" which is just cornstarch and water (3 parts cornstarch, 2 parts water) and food coloring. It can be messy but he had a blast. You can also do home made play doh.
check out leep forward in lincoln park http://www.leepforward.com/
our son went - and is now doing fabulously in mainstream school. it is a fabulous place. good luck.
Your OT may have some ideas, or perhaps a Montessori?
My daughter has many of these needs, undiagnosed (I am a new OT), and we do a lot of deep pressure, and fulfilling her "sensory diet".
Good luck and best to you!
Have you had him evaluated by the school district? My son has Aspergers and gets free preschool in the Berwyn school district. I think it's a great program, and I've heard that the Lagrange Area Special Education District is awesome.
We sought out therapists who used the Floortime model. This is based in the Washington, DC, area. http://www.icdl.com/dirFloortime/overview/index.shtml
We also live in Chicago, and we started out with a diagnostic and references from Molly Romer Witten Ph D., who worked with Stanley Greenspan MD, the late ICDL/Floortime founder. http://il-chicago.doctors.at/dr/molly-witten-drmollyromer...
We were indebted to our preschool, Lincoln Park Co-op, for flagging the symptoms of our daughter's sensory intergration disorder, and for encouraging us to seek help quickly. http://www.lincolnparkcoop.org/wordpress/
We saw dramatic progress early on. Our daughter is 13 now and doing well.
Wishing you all the best.
I know of a great Montessori school if you are willing to travel to Glenn Ellyn. They work have and currently work with children with several different learning styles such as those with autism, neurological disorders, and down syndrom by mainstreaming them into a classroom with other students so that each child can learn in an inclusive environment where all learn from each other. The school is called Diamante Montessori off of Hillside Ave.
