This was written yesterday, before the power outage:
I have chosen certain children to target for therapy. I think that I will be able to do more with a few than try to spread myself out over the 100+ kids! Most of them are in the apartment I'm staying in, so I have just analyzed them more. (As an OT student, it's hard to just have fun with kids. Even with my niece and nephews, I'm analyzing their tippy-toe walking and lining of cars and speech to figure out if we need to intervene somewhere!)
So, this is what I do when I can't sleep--either when I go to bed at midnight, or when I wake up at 4 a.m.
1. Analyze the children's behaviors--antecedents, consequences, how to cope with whining, etc. :)
2. Try to figure out the cause and the solution to the physical impairments
3. Brainstorm 3 pages of treatment ideas and potential goals.
4. Brainstorm how to get the ayahs (nannies) to play along. (This, being the most difficult)
Here's some background/what I know on 2 of my victims. I'm trying really hard not to use OT lingo, so please forgive me when I do.
R.: Lives at the girls' house about half a mile away. (I pass a water buffalo on my way there every day. It always scares me as I'm usually admiring the architecture of the buildings.) She goes to school, but has mild CP and can't hold a pencil well enough to write with it. Her other hand is hypertonic, with an indwelling thumb. We're trying to figure out culturally acceptable pencil grips and strategies/splinting for her left hand.
J.: Has stolen my heart. He's the first one I played with when I got here, and the one whose smile brightens my day. He is 3 years old and had spina bifida myelomeningiocele (sorry for spelling!) but had it repaired when he was born. There's nerve damage below that though, and his legs are paralyzed. I'm working with him on core and arm strengthening, so that he isn't "stuck" in one spot. He can only sit up when holding onto something, or pushing up off the ground.
As of yesterday, he began scooting backwards, which is the first time he has been able to move on his own!!! He started scooting forward today, but only a few inches at a time. I'm hoping that by the time I leave, he'll understand and master the idea of picking up his legs and moving them with his hands to turn/move forward or to the sides. I'd also like to see him be able to sit without propping himself up.
I'm wearing my salwar kameez today, and I bought another yesterday. The other volunteer and I ventured out to the market by ourselves without anyone who spoke the language. It was fun and a very crazy few rickshaw rides :) The one I'm wearing today--in addition to my bangles and earings--has turned me out to be a therapy jungle gym in itself, as it has lots of shiny decorations and dangling things. Oh well, at least it keeps the kids happy!
I was told I needed an Indian milkshake sometime while I'm here. I'm not that impressed, sorry :) I did have biryani though (med. spicy so they didn't forget all the spice this time). It was a delicious $3 for 3 meals worth of food. The other volunteer left last night, and I have the room to myself which seems huge but is conducive to my hindi learning :)
Ok, now I'm learning how to play Chinese jump rope with the director's daughters.
Today:
I bought my wardrobe. I travelled to and from the market and apparently was able to bargain for my rickshaw ride better than the Indian manager I work with :) I've been busy, and the kids call me "Ma" like all the other ayahs. It's so precious, and because I'm the one who is willing to play with the kids, they are constantly crawling on me, which I love.
Things I love about India: The men all have really skinny legs and it cracks me up. The horns all sound different, some like saxophones, some have really deep sounds. I get stared at everywhere I look and feel like a celebrity with unwanted attention. The mangoes are to die for. My bargaining skills are improving drastically, although I found out I bought 3bananas for the real price of 10. One of the ayah's daughter (also delayed) danced with me last night. She did the "hip thing" with me, and it's sooooo cute. Even with her disability, I'm sure she does it better than me :) I have no idea what anyone's name is, but a couple times I've thrown out hindi phrases and then get respect & better bargaining in the shops. I will lose a lot of weight, not from delhi belly as previously feared, but from not being able to fill my stomach with much food from drinking so much water. Power outages cause you to really appreciate fans and air conditioning and wifi and battery power :)
Ok, checking out now to go have art with the kids. :)
I have chosen certain children to target for therapy. I think that I will be able to do more with a few than try to spread myself out over the 100+ kids! Most of them are in the apartment I'm staying in, so I have just analyzed them more. (As an OT student, it's hard to just have fun with kids. Even with my niece and nephews, I'm analyzing their tippy-toe walking and lining of cars and speech to figure out if we need to intervene somewhere!)
So, this is what I do when I can't sleep--either when I go to bed at midnight, or when I wake up at 4 a.m.
1. Analyze the children's behaviors--antecedents, consequences, how to cope with whining, etc. :)
2. Try to figure out the cause and the solution to the physical impairments
3. Brainstorm 3 pages of treatment ideas and potential goals.
4. Brainstorm how to get the ayahs (nannies) to play along. (This, being the most difficult)
Here's some background/what I know on 2 of my victims. I'm trying really hard not to use OT lingo, so please forgive me when I do.
R.: Lives at the girls' house about half a mile away. (I pass a water buffalo on my way there every day. It always scares me as I'm usually admiring the architecture of the buildings.) She goes to school, but has mild CP and can't hold a pencil well enough to write with it. Her other hand is hypertonic, with an indwelling thumb. We're trying to figure out culturally acceptable pencil grips and strategies/splinting for her left hand.
J.: Has stolen my heart. He's the first one I played with when I got here, and the one whose smile brightens my day. He is 3 years old and had spina bifida myelomeningiocele (sorry for spelling!) but had it repaired when he was born. There's nerve damage below that though, and his legs are paralyzed. I'm working with him on core and arm strengthening, so that he isn't "stuck" in one spot. He can only sit up when holding onto something, or pushing up off the ground.
As of yesterday, he began scooting backwards, which is the first time he has been able to move on his own!!! He started scooting forward today, but only a few inches at a time. I'm hoping that by the time I leave, he'll understand and master the idea of picking up his legs and moving them with his hands to turn/move forward or to the sides. I'd also like to see him be able to sit without propping himself up.
I'm wearing my salwar kameez today, and I bought another yesterday. The other volunteer and I ventured out to the market by ourselves without anyone who spoke the language. It was fun and a very crazy few rickshaw rides :) The one I'm wearing today--in addition to my bangles and earings--has turned me out to be a therapy jungle gym in itself, as it has lots of shiny decorations and dangling things. Oh well, at least it keeps the kids happy!
I was told I needed an Indian milkshake sometime while I'm here. I'm not that impressed, sorry :) I did have biryani though (med. spicy so they didn't forget all the spice this time). It was a delicious $3 for 3 meals worth of food. The other volunteer left last night, and I have the room to myself which seems huge but is conducive to my hindi learning :)
Ok, now I'm learning how to play Chinese jump rope with the director's daughters.
Today:
I bought my wardrobe. I travelled to and from the market and apparently was able to bargain for my rickshaw ride better than the Indian manager I work with :) I've been busy, and the kids call me "Ma" like all the other ayahs. It's so precious, and because I'm the one who is willing to play with the kids, they are constantly crawling on me, which I love.
Things I love about India: The men all have really skinny legs and it cracks me up. The horns all sound different, some like saxophones, some have really deep sounds. I get stared at everywhere I look and feel like a celebrity with unwanted attention. The mangoes are to die for. My bargaining skills are improving drastically, although I found out I bought 3bananas for the real price of 10. One of the ayah's daughter (also delayed) danced with me last night. She did the "hip thing" with me, and it's sooooo cute. Even with her disability, I'm sure she does it better than me :) I have no idea what anyone's name is, but a couple times I've thrown out hindi phrases and then get respect & better bargaining in the shops. I will lose a lot of weight, not from delhi belly as previously feared, but from not being able to fill my stomach with much food from drinking so much water. Power outages cause you to really appreciate fans and air conditioning and wifi and battery power :)
Ok, checking out now to go have art with the kids. :)
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