Lots of Learning today at Learning Spot Guatemala!

We returned to Learning Spot today knowing we had a long, but fun day ahead of us!

Our day began with all of us meeting up with our sweet kiddos to continue working toward the goals we set at the beginning of the week, training staff, and supporting parents. Here are the highlights of our day:

Karla got to visit with the PT for the first time this week and she loved MOST of it! She wasn’t too interested in the strengthening, but she LOVED learning to jump, marching in place, and playing soccer. Her mom requested she learn to continuously kick a soccer ball and boy does she know her girl well! The smile as she ran after the ball was just precious! We are SO impressed by Karla’s mom and her willingness to step up to the plate and help her girl learn. Today, she ran Karla’s ST session with the assistance of Paige.  She has also started identifying letters in occupational therapy! 

Angel got a big dose of our behavior specialist, Mary Claire, as he learned to work hard to earn his reward! He learned to make choices and put away toys before he was able to get anything else. His mom will surely benefit from this skill!

Nicolle got some extra special one-on-one time with ST Alyson who took her lunch time to help Nicolle and her mom continue problem solving the safest and most efficient way for her to eat. This has been a work in progress, but we are getting close to finding the best solution we can; and, Nicolle’s mom has been so open to collaborating with us! We are so blessed by her willing spirit.

Sophie has been making big gains in occupational therapy with Katie! Today, she wrote her name on her Easter craft during our group activity with very little help AND tied a shoe all by herself! Additionally, she continues to work hard with ST Paige on production and articulation of her words.

Esteban had significant aversion to oral motor exercises on the first day during his evaluation, but today, he tolerated them calmly with his ST Alyson! Esteban continues to work hard in PT. He was fitted for new, wedged AFOs that will allow him a slight stretch, but fit easily for longer wear.

Each day before lunch we organize a group activity and today’s task was dying Easter eggs! This was easily our most successful group activity to date. Nicolle sat up tall in a corner chair while dying her Easter egg with Ms. Katie; Sophie stood on two balance discs and sequenced her way through dying her eggs; Karla sat sweetly and used dot markers to decorate her Easter picture; and, Angel actually participated today as he dropped the eggs into the dye and scooped them out with a spoon. Esteban enjoyed pushing stickers onto his artwork he had made with Mary Claire earlier in the morning.

Our late afternoon consisted of LOTS of education! Katie and Mary Claire educated the parents of our kiddos on sensory activities that can be done in the home and Kelly taught the staff the progression of balance attainment.  Tonight was a special night of education where all the parents of the children served at Learning Spot were invited to come hear us speak. Kelly opened with why it is important for therapists and parents to collaborate as a team to progress the skills and function of their children. Then, the group was split in two.  Mary Claire and Katie gave basics of sensory integration and behavior management, while Alyson and Paige spoke on early language development and speech production.

It was a VERY productive day and we are excited to see what our last day at Learning Spot has in store! These kiddos have made such great gains already and we are encouraged by the engagement and willingness of all involved to continue on once we leave Guatemala.

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