misc

[psocoptera]

A conversation:
Junie: "Can we have a talk?"
me: "What do you want to talk about?"
J: "Should we read a book now or after nap."
me: "After nap sounds nice."
J: "My thinking is now."
So we did.

Scissors: we are letting Junie start experimenting with scissors (blunt-nosed, kid-sized, highly supervised). She likes to hold them in this horribly twisted position that makes my wrist ache to look at (seriously, I'm not even sure I *could* cut that way) but can make cuts and is very pleased with herself for doing so. If I reposition her hand to something more reasonable, she immediately moves it back when I let go, and it's not really fun for either of us for me to nag her about it constantly. Do I assume that eventually she'll figure out that she has better control if she holds them right, or am I letting her form a terrible habit that will plague her for years to come?

Pregnancy: *so* pregnant. Last night it was blorping around and it was both the highest and lowest I've ever felt it. Because it's huge, one assumes. Hey, kid, perhaps you would like to continue becoming enormous somewhere *other* than my limited internal space? (Kid would probably argue my space isn't limited, my belly can just keep stretching forward indefinitely...)

Comments

[jain]

A pair of loop scissors might encourage her to hold her hand in a better position. (I work with special needs kids, and those who have limited manual dexterity and/or strength have much more success using loop scissors effectively than they do regular kid scissors.)

[mightyinkas.livejournal.com]

Ha ha! I was just about to suggest the same thing! (I'm a special ed teacher.) Those loop scissors are great.

[psocoptera.livejournal.com]

Those are neat! I don't think I've ever seen scissors like that. Definitely an option to keep in mind!

[allectofromlj]

In theory, school should start nagging her about it in the next year or two. Also, when she learns how to write, how to hold a pencil, it should help. I realize that's counter-intuitive, since you don't actually hold a pencil the same way you hold scissors (or at least, I don't), but working on small motor skills in general helps across the board. The right muscles get stronger, more dextrous, etc. In the mean time, it may actually be a lot more comfortable for her to do it her way.

[psocoptera.livejournal.com]

Good point that what looks awkward to me might actually be more comfortable for her. Or else is giving her better control or something.

I have sort of weird mixed feelings about the whole "let school handle it" line of thinking. I don't want to homeschool, but I also kind of feel like school is/should be a supplement to the general overall learning process rather than the mainstay of it?? I mean, it might well be the right supplement for this particular skill, just, in general, I don't know.

[gallian.livejournal.com]

I did very strange things with scissors in kindergarten. It confused my teachers. I still use a modified pencil grip, though it's close enough to normal that no one cared to correct it during elementary school. I say don't worry about it.

Note I also teach special Ed. Unless she's struggling and unhappy, which it doesn't sound like from your post, I say let her make her own way with the materials. She'll find what works best for her.

[psocoptera.livejournal.com]

This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to know (that letting her do her own thing won't hurt), so thanks!

[myalexandria.livejournal.com]

as an inveterate refuser of expert help (I finally learned to ask for it when I was about, oh, 24) I agree that letting her just figure out what works for her is almost certainly fine. I still tie my shoes and use chopsticks oddly -- as a kid, I just couldn't figure out how to do what people were trying to show me how to do, and did what worked -- and people do sometimes notice, but I get the job done. (Added bonus: when a dude tries to explain how to use chopsticks correctly several times over the course of a meal, despite my having said that I'm getting along all right, I know he's an obnoxious mansplainer and can avoid him in future!)

[psocoptera.livejournal.com]

Hm, perhaps being an obnoxious *momsplainer* is what I'm trying to avoid. (If only the line between momsplaining and parenting were clearer...)

[gannet.livejournal.com]

The PT guy who worked with T briefly suggested that we should try to make sure he was not holding pencils in his fist like a toddler by about the end of first grade or so, but that we should otherwise let him find his own comfortable grip for things. I do sometimes correct his grip on scissors, but only when he's holding them completely backwards. And only because he's acknowledged that he has more control the other way, but forgets about it.