Let Them Play!

Playing IS Learning.
Playing IS a child's work.
They are never too old to play.
Imagination and creativity are key!

Lots of times kids grow up too fast. They give up what people may call childish things way too soon. Time can fly. Time passes. Children need all the time they have to be children. They deserve to have the time to just be kids. It is their right. It serves them well into their adulthood.

Kids should not be forced to give up their toys and games once they reach a certain age. Toys can fuel their imagination. Games can foster their creativity.

Children should always have access to school and arts/crafts supplies. Different types of papers, markers, paints, glues, pens, pencils - and more! These are seemingly basic tools that give a child endless possibilities to express themselves. After all, art is life.

Another thing children should always have access to is a library. They need to be surrounded by books. Books of all types and genres. Books that will inspire them and ignite their inner desires. An unlimited supply where they get to choose what they want to read and when. Public libraries are amazing. All kids should have a public library card.

Of course children need responsibilities but they should never be expected to give up their childhood to rush into things that we have and need to be doing as adults. They have the rest of their lives to do these things. Lets teach our children not to rush time. Not to wish the days aways. Not to have the desire to grow up and be an adult. Childhood is short. It does not last long. We should value all the time we have with our children being little.

Children are not little adults. They are simply children. They still need to be respected and valued. Their voice needs to beard. They are not less but they are also not just little adults. We have to let that sink in. We should never underestimate children but allow them to soar beyond what we can ever imagine possible for them. We must supply the tools. They look up to us. Children need them but you know what? We need them too and many times more than they may need us. That is the truth.

Children value the time we spend with them. Let them know that we love them and not only by our words but more so by our actions.

So, get silly and have fun. Make new memories. Take lots of pics and enjoy life. Kids are our treasures, for sure.

xxoo,
Dany

JJ

Meet Jorge Juan

This was my FaceBook status a few days ago (NOW about 8 months ago)....2 years ago, the neurologist placed my son in the middle of the autism spectrum and yesterday, the same neurologist, said if he did not know any better he would say that my son does not have ASD as his symptoms are going away....I received 30 likes and over 20 comments on this. I am so grateful that people took the time out to say some nice encouraging words for my son. It means a lot and is very much appreciated. For everyone that wished us well, a few seconds out of your day sending words of encouragement gives people more hope. We realize that we are all in this together.
My son was diagnosed with autism on August 9, 2011. This was a few weeks after his third birthday. He was going in for his yearly check up but this time I just knew something....You see, at the time I was taking my Teaching the Exceptional Child course for my B.S. and we were focusing on Autism Spectrum Disorders. As I was learning the signs and symptoms I realized that my son was a match for nearly all of them. He was not talking. He may have said a few words here and there but that was it. He would have to hold onto toys and would get anxiety if one happened to fall out of his hands. He was afraid of loud noises and would cover his ears. Actually, my husband and I used to think he was deaf because he would not respond to us calling his name. I would literally scream out his name and he would not even budge. He would line up toys and other objects...I thought this was so cute being this was our first child and we just had no idea. He would play with toys but in some sort of way that did not seem natural, but yet again I just thought that was okay. He never really waved bye bye and when he did he would have his hands towards himself, as if he was saying bye bye to himself. I loved that so much, my baby saying bye bye. I did not know but as I was studying, I gained the knowledge I needed to bring my questions and diagnosis to the doctor.
Oh yeah, this too - he would run back and forth and would not stop, at the same time he was flapping his hands. I still did not know but all of this was coming back to me when I was studying ASD and it triggered my memory. I love my son so much and everyone would ask why he did not talk and that he should be talking and I just thought it is because he is bilingual and it just takes longer for children with two languages to process the information. In the back of my mind I would ask myself why isn't my son talking. Here I see children younger than he is talking in complete sentences. That is my baby boy and I love him, he will talk.
So my son is not talking yet and when he wants something he will just point- only sometimes. Usually, he would just grab my hand and utter some sounds as I would see what he needed. Usually it was a snack, kids love snacks and boy did I know he wanted that cookie because that smile was worth a thousand words even though he could not tell me. He would grasp little things and hold onto them with intensity. I just looked at him in awe. I love my son and look how engrossed he is with a tiny button, pen cap, a part to a toy- whatever it was, no matter how tiny, he was focused and wanted it. He had to hold it. That thing needed to be in his hands and if he lost it, he would have anxiety that was until we could find it again..So, he was not hitting benchmarks and he could not hold a fork or spoon properly to feed himself but that is my son and I so love him. By the way, he said birthday cake after seeing a decoration at his party, I was amazed. That cute little pause between those words..amazing. I felt so proud of my boy. He would hum really loudly for more than 30 seconds at a time sometimes and he would run and spin in circles. He was not afraid of danger or falling.Going back to August 9, 2011, my father in law and I brought him to the doctor and that is when......(please stay tuned for part 2..Ok so let me say this,

Or..If you are JUST seeing this HERE for the FIRST time
Visit www.loorducation.wordpress.com
Where we are well on our way with Jorge's Autism Journey

Enjoy,
Danielle Loor -M.Ed

What?!? Can You Tell Me?

AUTISM- What is it?  No, really..what IS it? Why does is very so? Where did it come from?  Why is it here?  When will it leave? Will it ever leave?  Who does it affect?  How does it affect and/or interfere with everyday life?  Is it a life sentence?  Do you know someone who has autism? Can autism be “cured” or treated? Is autistic a term you use? What are the autism terms and labels?
I can only answer a few of those questions and from my point of view only. As you know, my son JJ, has autism. Yes, he is an ASD child. He is on the autism spectrum. He was first diagnosed with PDD at the age of 3. He is now 6. I do not tend to labels so there is no need for me to always state that my son is high functioning autistic. I just say, when necessary, that my son is on the autism spectrum and just plainly that he is autistic. I mean, does it matter? Really? I have a son. I do not introduce him as my autistic son. Questions? I welcome them. Comments, yes, those too. Productive ones I keep and destructive ones get thrown out. autism has been a part of our lives for a little over three years now, well more than that but we did not know. And, does that matter? Before my son and studying for my undergraduate degree, I did not know what autism was? Yes, was..It is always changing, right? Yes..I remember seeing billboards about autism 1 in 125..then 1 in 88 and son on. What is this autism> One thing I can tell you is that autism is not the end of the world but the beginning of a whole new one. Yes, my son has autism. Autism does not have him. It is his super power. We are focusing on him using it to his advantage. It will not hinder him but we will make sure it does better him. It is not a disease. My son is NOT disabled, he is different abled. His brain is wired differently. He is unique. He is in his own world and I love entering i with love, compassion and patience. I learn from him everyday. It may not be easy at times but it sure is worth it.
JJ is AUSOME. He is a child. He loves to play, watch TV, read and all that good stuff. He loves school. He loves snacks. He can be crabby. He can be stubborn. But he is worth it. He matters. Social skills are an everyday learning experience for all of us. He just needs a little extra help in the right direction.

Now, would you know if you saw him?

Namaste

My Boy: Part 85

Posted on August 31, 2014

Jorge Juan was in a great, energetic mood today. I am exhausted but he was super happy and that made me happy. His energy was non stop. He helped out cooking, putting groceries away and he even ate all of his dinner – by himself. I am so proud of that. After each and every spoon, literally, he told me that was the best food he has ever eaten. Every time I wash his hair, which, by the way he loves now; he tells me that I am the best mom ever. I love him so much and I do not know what I would do without him. He is such a blessing.

He had a good time at karate class, although he was dancing in line. He loves music just like Daddy. What matters is that he was happy. He is healthy and I am so grateful for that. Days like this, autism seems like a great blessing in disguise. It really does. I am one blessed mommy. I do not like labels but being that my son is high functioning is inspiring, to me and to many others. Like I always say, it has not always been that way. A lot of patience, love, hope, prayers and faith went into it among time but the biggest one of all is knowing that my son will succeed, with unwavering FAITH. I am here to say, do not give up. Now, I would never want a cure for my son’s autism but that is just me and our autism journey. Every journey is unique and I can understand parents who desire a cure for autism because of the severity of it. I can not relate but I can understand them wanting to have a cure for their child, I get it. Autism is a wide spectrum but we are all in this together.

Namaste,
Dany

WOW!!!

My Boy: Part 88

Posted on September 19, 2014

First grade has been going really well. We are blessed that Jorge Juan loves going to school. This school year he is becoming more open and sharing with us what he does at school. He likes to state things in order such as first, second, third and next. He loves bringing his own lunch bag and so far this year has not tried to sneak any toys in his book bag. He has been handling his homework time very well and is learning to cooperate and handle himself in a better manner.
I have not seen him flap his hands in a while now, come to think of it. He still has his little quirks but the flapping has greatly decreased. When he was non verbal, the stimming was out of control. Humming, flapping, you name it- it was there. He is good. He is healthy. That is what matters. Autism, well it is just the icing on the cake and sometimes the cake may have too much icing. Sweetness overload? Or, something like that..
He is making strides, everyday. It is all the little things that count. It is about the journey because once we reach our destination, we must create another destination. The journey is what lasts. Making it valuable and worth while.
I work with Jorge Juan everyday. Projects, activities, day trips..It is all therapy. It is all good. Come share in our experiences over at
http://www.facebook.com/loorducation
We create, learn, play and more. Stop on by!!

AWWWWtism

My Boy: Part 88

Posted on September 19, 2014 by danyloor

First grade has been going really well. We are blessed that Jorge Juan loves going to school. This school year he is becoming more open and sharing with us what he does at school. He likes to state things in order such as first, second, third and next. He loves bringing his own lunch bag and so far this year has not tried to sneak any toys in his book bag. He has been handling his homework time very well and is learning to cooperate and handle himself in a better manner.
I have not seen him flap his hands in a while now, come to think of it. He still has his little quirks but the flapping has greatly decreased. When he was non verbal, the stimming was out of control. Humming, flapping, you name it- it was there. He is good. He is healthy. That is what matters. Autism, well it is just the icing on the cake and sometimes the cake may have too much icing. Sweetness overload? Or, something like that..
He is making strides, everyday. It is all the little things that count. It is about the journey because once we reach our destination, we must create another destination. The journey is what lasts. Making it valuable and worth while.
I work with Jorge Juan everyday. Projects, activities, day trips..It is all therapy. It is all good. Come share in our experiences over at
http://www.facebook.com/loorducation
We create, learn, play and more. Stop on by!!

My Boy: Part 87 , Sorry to Bug You : )

September 11, 2014

About half of his books are about animals – animals of all kinds from sea creatures to Animals of Africa. Many books are also about bugs and insects too. Wild Kratts is his favorite show to watch. And, that is an understatement. Since we have Hulu, he watches it anytime he wants and picks out the exact episodes he wants and tells us all about the facts of the animals too. He searches for the titles. He also acts out the show with his creature power suit too!! He is krazy about the wild Kratts. He wants to be just like them.He imitates them and learns a lot from the show. He then tells us all facts and proper names and species of animals. He has a huge fascination with all types of creatures. He will pick up ladybugs, spiders, worms- anything like that when he is outdoors. That just bugs me out : )!
He collects snails from the beach. He likes plastic bugs to creep us out and have fun with. And, when we had our guinea pigs, he really loved them so much. He is a very sweet soul. He truly cares about the animals and loves learning all he can about them and all details as well. I did not know there were different types of eagles or that opossums are marsupials.
Can you help me out by sharing this post in hopes that it can get into the right hands and seen and noticed by the right eyes? I would love for my son to see the Wild Kratts live, or to hear from the brothers themselves, or get a special animal or anything that has to do with that show. Maybe an autographed picture or something like that. Basically anything Wild Kratts. It will be so so so much to me. Jorge Juan just loves animals and I can not express that enough. I would love to give him a great surprise for being such a good boy. It would mean a lot for him too.
His big focus is animal, in every sense. Being taht he is on the autism spectrum, he finds something he loves and turns it into an obsession. It becomes a huge part of him. I am not asking this because my son is autistic, I am asking this because as a mom, I want to see my son happy and excited about learning. I am asking because it is something that he loves and that means so much to him. I am asking because he lights up learning about animals. It is his passion and it is in him.
Thank you All
Love,
Dany

Hi

Where IT All Began...

My Boy: part 1

Posted on September 19, 2013 by danyloor

Standard

This was my FaceBook status a few days ago…..
2 years ago, the neurologist placed my son in the middle of the autism spectrum and yesterday, the same neurologist, said if he did not know any better he would say that my son does not have ASD as his symptoms are going away….
I received 30 likes and over 20 comments on this. I am so grateful that people took the time out to say some nice encouraging words for my son. It means a lot and is very much appreciated. For everyone that wished us well, a few seconds out of your day sending words of encouragement gives people more hope. We realize that we are all in this together.
My son was diagnosed with autism on August 9, 2011. This was a few weeks after his third birthday. He was going in for his yearly check up but this time I just knew something…..

You see, at the time I was taking my Teaching the Exceptional Child course for my B.S. and we were focusing on Autism Spectrum Disorders. As I was learning the signs and symptoms I realized that my son was a match for nearly all of them. He was not talking. He may have said a few words here and there but that was it. He would have to hold onto toys and would get anxiety if one happened to fall out of his hands. He was afraid of loud noises and would cover his ears. Actually, my husband and I used to think he was deaf because he would not respond to us calling his name. I would literally scream out his name and he would not even budge. He would line up toys and other objects…I thought this was so cute being this was our first child and we just had no idea. He would play with toys but in some sort of way that did not seem natural, but yet again I just thought that was okay. He never really waved bye bye and when he did he would have his hands towards himself, as if he was saying bye bye to himself. I loved that so much, my baby saying bye bye. I did not know but as I was studying, I gained the knowledge I needed to bring my questions and diagnosis to the doctor.
Oh yeah, this too – he would run back and forth and would not stop, at the same time he was flapping his hands. I still did not know but all of this was coming back to me when I was studying ASD and it triggered my memory. I love my son so much and everyone would ask why he did not talk and that he should be talking and I just thought it is because he is bilingual and it just takes longer for children with two languages to process the information. In the back of my mind I would ask myself why isn’t my son talking. Here I see children younger than he is talking in complete sentences. That is my baby boy and I love him, he will talk.
So my son is not talking yet and when he wants something he will just point- only sometimes. Usually, he would just grab my hand and utter some sounds as I would see what he needed. Usually it was a snack, kids love snacks and boy did I know he wanted that cookie because that smile was worth a thousand words even though he could not tell me.
He would grasp little things and hold onto them with intensity. I just looked at him in awe. I love my son and look how engrossed he is with a tiny button, pen cap, a part to a toy- whatever it was, no matter how tiny, he was focused and wanted it. He had to hold it. That thing needed to be in his hands and if he lost it, he would have anxiety that was until we could find it again..
So, he was not hitting benchmarks and he could not hold a fork or spoon properly to feed himself but that is my son and I so love him. By the way, he said birthday cake after seeing a decoration at his party, I was amazed. That cute little pause between those words..amazing. I felt so proud of my boy. He would hum really loudly for more than 30 seconds at a time sometimes and he would run and spin in circles. He was not afraid of danger or falling.
Going back to August 9, 2011, my father in law and I brought him to the doctor and that is when……
(please stay tuned for part 2)

Go Fourth! a must read...

My Boy: Part 75

Posted on July 4, 2014 by danyloor

Standard

Happy Independence Day from Jorge Juan and family!! Since it was rainy all day today, we went to the mall. At the mall, Jorge Juan played in the arcade. He was getting tickets and was so excited to score some candy from a grab machine. He knocked down some ducks and did a few other things but most of all he wanted to go into Target. He had a mini meltdown but then he was able to calm himself. We walked around a lot and when it was time to come home, he did not fuss too much. Over all, it was a cool time. It was good to get him out of the house and some fresh air. He had a good time when he woke up this morning and was singing in the mini van to and from, a bunch of silly made up songs. He was feeling good. Before we left, he played with Daddy and had a lot of fun. He read, he ate a lot and we were off.

He was not over stimulated in the mall but he was flapping quite a bit before we went on the escalator. He was happy. Tomorrow we are going to the YMCA and hopefully we can get him into soccer. That is what he would like to do. Long weekend, picnic tomorrow and back to ESY on Monday. No Fireworks. Loud noises bother him, a lot. He is not interested. He covers his ears when he flushes the toilet and also when I start his bath water, he will cover his ears. My baby, love him so very much!! A spectrum of HOPE awaits him. My piece to the puzzle.

A Continuation...

Jorge Juan’s last day of kindergarten. I’m glad he went to school happy. It will keep him busy to vet his mind off of the loss of his two precious guinea pigs in which he lived so much. They were part of the family. His first pets ever. They brought joy to everyone. To explain the death of his piggies has been difficult. It is a hard task. Kids, especially Jorge Juan, ask a lot of questions. Like way more than the typical child. He wants to know why, and how and when.. When are they coming back mommy? Daddy, I do not want my guinea pigs to go to Heaven. What does one do or say to their child? My husband buried them in a nice And safe spot on our property. My husband was digging the dirt and Jorge Juan would pop out  few times to see and ask questions. At this time we had both the piggies outside in a cage together resting peacefully. My husband placed new bedding on the bottom of the hole. Then he placed fresh hay and then  the piggies on top of them to lie together .Jorge Juan saw the hole dug up. We as a family sat by it and we prayed. Jorgito cried and I could not help to cry as well. He wanted them out and asked when will they be alive again. Then he got up and went in the house to watch TV . He is very emotional. He feels and thinks deeply. He’s connected to the universe. Being on the autism spectrum, Jorge Juan is unique and what he feels must be valued. It must be respected and given proper attention. He is our piece to the puzzle. His inquiring mind is a blessing from God. I wish I could take away his hurt.

Loorducation

Oldie but Goodie...

Loorducation for ECE

RATIONALE

Loorducation – Quality Education for a Quantity of young minds.
The fundamental reason for setting up an early childhood education program like Loorducation is to nourish the minds, bodies and souls of our children and teach them essential lessons that will last a lifetime.
This program is necessary and beneficial to children and their families as well.
I feel that our program is necessary for young children because we teach values, morals, empathy, and compassion – all along with the basics of early childhood education programs like arts and crafts. We teach the children love, kindness and respect for all life. Having this as a foundation will give children high self esteem and nurture their learning.
While children are learning about math or reading they are learning about themselves and the world around them at the same time. We believe this fosters many great qualities that enhance learning. Children not only learn about respect but are given respect and are made known that their feelings count.
Teaching children in this manner will benefit their parents and families. Not only will they feel proud that they are in a nice learning environment but that they are building great character that will make them a successful individual in life. Families benefit from knowing that their children are well guided and taken care of. Children often go home eagerly to share the events of the day with their families.
The theorists that guided my decisions about the program are Friedrich Froebel, Maria Montessori, and B.F. Skinner.
I chose Froebel because he created kindergarten. He promoted play as the way children learn. He developed materials called “gifts for play” and also activities to promote learning. – (Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Eva L. Essa)
I chose Maria Montessori because in her programs children are made to feel important. The environment is child sized; with things in reach for the child.
I chose B.F. Skinner because he believed that the environment is important and it shapes all aspects of a child’s behavior. He also believed in positive reinforcement.-

Written during the beginning of my B.S. program

Dany Loor BSCS, M.Ed

Hey There......

Autism – A Super Ability

http://loorducation.wordpress.com/category/jorge-juan/

Jorge Loves to read. At only five years old, he is reading well beyond his years. He just found out that I am writing some blog posts about him. I told him and he was so excited. He says that he is on the internet now.It is really special for him. If you would like to send a note, card or letter to Jorge, it would be greatly appreciated. He is able to read it all by himself. Anyone that would like to send something for Jorge to read can contact me through here orhttp://www.facebook.com/loorducation or danielle@garagepcs.com and I will give you the address. It is exciting to think of how excited he would be to get something in the mail. Whatever he receives, we will take a picture and post it. Of course we will be sending shout outs Thank You’s!!!

xxoo

Dany

P>S>

Hey everyone!! I am looking for anyone interested in having their child be a pen pal for my son. As many of you know, he is five. Looking for other Kinder children around the world who would enjoy writing and sending things back and for to each other.Please let me know if this is something that you would really want to do. We are in CT so we are looking for out of state and country. Thank you!!
Hola a todos!! Tambien hablamos espanol!!