Scarlett started 1st grade this week. An exciting time for her. . . but terrifying for me. This year boasts a lot of responsibility for Scarlett and I pray we've given her the tools to gain her independence, while still making safe decisions.
Last year with being confined to only the small Kindergarten yard, Scarlett was pulled from the play structure after hitting her head several times. Both her Dr.'s and the school staff felt like in order for to be as safe as possible this year, she should not be allowed on the playground. We all agreed until we feel like she has better control of her body and becomes more coordinated. . . that living on the cautious side of life, is our best option.
After several meetings with her elementary school including past teachers, nurses, the principal, school psychologist, and her current teacher. . we came up with a schedule that will keep Scarlett as safe as possible without exposing her to all the harsh play out on the playground. This year's 504 plan consisted of a lot more rules and restrictions . . . and I hope she can remember them all.
The school provided an aide for her at snack recess, where she is to stay with 2 friends of her choice in the inner quad of the school, located right next to her class. At this short recess she is allowed to play in the fairy garden and I also supplied an Art box and a Game box, that she has in her classroom at all times, that can be brought out.
On Monday's at lunch recess she is to stay in the same quad with the aide and any other day that I'm not on campus, she is to go to the library. They've asked that I volunteer 2 days out of the week to allow days that she can be out on the play ground under my supervision and restrictions. On the other 2 days, she can take 2 friends with her and I have also supplied an Art box and Game box for her that stays in the library.
Scarlett loves anything having to do with art or crafts, and right now seems very content with these being her options at this time. We've explained that this isn't her plan forever and that it will change as she grows and gets to know the campus better.
My worst fear is that she will be alone and un accounted for and hit her head. . . or injure herself and us not be able to get to her fast enough, to give her the proper medical care. This is always closely followed by the fear that she will fight this all, be bullied or made fun of, become resentful, and up hating me for it.
Another worry for us is P.E. Her class goes out onto the play yard every day for physical education. During this time she is supposed to stay next to one of the teachers, whom will be there to give gentle reminders about safe jogging and speed walking on the cement track. Any other sport will hopefully be O.K.'d by a parent prior and if it's one she cannot participate in, she should be given positive options that are still involved with the class.
I volunteered in Scarlett's class the entire first day of school to witness the daily routine and help guide Scarlett through what HER normal day will look like. I walked IN feeling confident and walked OUT feeling the complete opposite. To be honest I felt like switching from the small Kinder yard to the great big Play yard included a lot of new rules and regulations and was a lot to ask of these little first graders. Add all the rules Scarlett had to remember on top of that . . . had me worried something would go wrong and she would be fighting this earlier than we hoped. But we made it through the first day and Scarlett absolutely loved it.
On the second day of school I treated like one of my volunteer days. I showed up at lunch time and she was allowed to choose 2 friends to do whatever they wanted. They chose to go to the library. After returning from lunch the children all sat down and we discussed Scarlett's bleeding disorder. I loved the creative way that her teacher introduced the topic. . . She started off by pointing out that all of us are born with different eye colors, hair, skin, etc. She discussed how some people need glasses, some are allergic to things. . .She then went on to explain that Scarlett's body was made to bruise easy. She had the children get together in groups of 2 and discuss ways that they could help keep Scarlett safe, afterwards they reconvened and discussed all the ideas they came up with. I was amazed by all the ideas these little 6 and 7 year olds were coming up with. Everything from walking not running, pushing in chairs, giving her space during physical activities to letting her be in the front or end of the line so she has less chances of being bumped. They all seemed very supportive and it was great to see them get involved with keeping her safe.
On Friday . . . all my fears came true. When I dropped Scarlett off at school, I just had this odd feeling something was going to go wrong. It was her first day on campus alone without me and I still felt like there were some wrinkles that still needed to be ironed out. But I walked her to class, told her she was going to be fine and reluctantly headed off to work, jumping every time the phone rang and praying she made it through the day. When I picked her up from school she told me that she picked a new friend to go to the library with her and that individual left after only a few minutes. Scarlett was alone in the library for the rest of lunch recess.
The librarian told her when the bell had rang and that it was time to head out to the blacktop and to find her class #. This is somewhere she was told by us she wasn't allowed to be and an area she wasn't really familiar with. By the time she got out to the blacktop, her class was gone. She thankfully went to the nearest teacher, that showed her to another teacher, that went and found a yard duty to watch her class, while she escorted Scarlett to her class.
I try to be understanding and not place blame on people in situations like this. Everything having to do with Scarlett at school is a guessing game. Her school has never had a child like mine and I truly feel like they're doing everything within their abilities to try and protect Scarlett while still providing the education and social interactions that are necessary.
I've gotten a lot of grief from people that believe we are sheltering her and that we are taking away important physical and social interactions by taking her off the yard. And my response to them is this. . .We know she's not getting shirked out of any physical activity by removing her from her school yard because she's getting exercise at with us at home. We go to the park at least 2x a week, she takes gymnastics, rides her bike and does tons of swimming. We are an active family on the weekends, and are constantly surrounded by physical and social interactions. . . I know she is just fine.
Last year with being confined to only the small Kindergarten yard, Scarlett was pulled from the play structure after hitting her head several times. Both her Dr.'s and the school staff felt like in order for to be as safe as possible this year, she should not be allowed on the playground. We all agreed until we feel like she has better control of her body and becomes more coordinated. . . that living on the cautious side of life, is our best option.
After several meetings with her elementary school including past teachers, nurses, the principal, school psychologist, and her current teacher. . we came up with a schedule that will keep Scarlett as safe as possible without exposing her to all the harsh play out on the playground. This year's 504 plan consisted of a lot more rules and restrictions . . . and I hope she can remember them all.
The school provided an aide for her at snack recess, where she is to stay with 2 friends of her choice in the inner quad of the school, located right next to her class. At this short recess she is allowed to play in the fairy garden and I also supplied an Art box and a Game box, that she has in her classroom at all times, that can be brought out.
Scarlett loves anything having to do with art or crafts, and right now seems very content with these being her options at this time. We've explained that this isn't her plan forever and that it will change as she grows and gets to know the campus better.
My worst fear is that she will be alone and un accounted for and hit her head. . . or injure herself and us not be able to get to her fast enough, to give her the proper medical care. This is always closely followed by the fear that she will fight this all, be bullied or made fun of, become resentful, and up hating me for it.
Another worry for us is P.E. Her class goes out onto the play yard every day for physical education. During this time she is supposed to stay next to one of the teachers, whom will be there to give gentle reminders about safe jogging and speed walking on the cement track. Any other sport will hopefully be O.K.'d by a parent prior and if it's one she cannot participate in, she should be given positive options that are still involved with the class.
I volunteered in Scarlett's class the entire first day of school to witness the daily routine and help guide Scarlett through what HER normal day will look like. I walked IN feeling confident and walked OUT feeling the complete opposite. To be honest I felt like switching from the small Kinder yard to the great big Play yard included a lot of new rules and regulations and was a lot to ask of these little first graders. Add all the rules Scarlett had to remember on top of that . . . had me worried something would go wrong and she would be fighting this earlier than we hoped. But we made it through the first day and Scarlett absolutely loved it.
On the second day of school I treated like one of my volunteer days. I showed up at lunch time and she was allowed to choose 2 friends to do whatever they wanted. They chose to go to the library. After returning from lunch the children all sat down and we discussed Scarlett's bleeding disorder. I loved the creative way that her teacher introduced the topic. . . She started off by pointing out that all of us are born with different eye colors, hair, skin, etc. She discussed how some people need glasses, some are allergic to things. . .She then went on to explain that Scarlett's body was made to bruise easy. She had the children get together in groups of 2 and discuss ways that they could help keep Scarlett safe, afterwards they reconvened and discussed all the ideas they came up with. I was amazed by all the ideas these little 6 and 7 year olds were coming up with. Everything from walking not running, pushing in chairs, giving her space during physical activities to letting her be in the front or end of the line so she has less chances of being bumped. They all seemed very supportive and it was great to see them get involved with keeping her safe.
On Friday . . . all my fears came true. When I dropped Scarlett off at school, I just had this odd feeling something was going to go wrong. It was her first day on campus alone without me and I still felt like there were some wrinkles that still needed to be ironed out. But I walked her to class, told her she was going to be fine and reluctantly headed off to work, jumping every time the phone rang and praying she made it through the day. When I picked her up from school she told me that she picked a new friend to go to the library with her and that individual left after only a few minutes. Scarlett was alone in the library for the rest of lunch recess.
I try to be understanding and not place blame on people in situations like this. Everything having to do with Scarlett at school is a guessing game. Her school has never had a child like mine and I truly feel like they're doing everything within their abilities to try and protect Scarlett while still providing the education and social interactions that are necessary.
I've gotten a lot of grief from people that believe we are sheltering her and that we are taking away important physical and social interactions by taking her off the yard. And my response to them is this. . .We know she's not getting shirked out of any physical activity by removing her from her school yard because she's getting exercise at with us at home. We go to the park at least 2x a week, she takes gymnastics, rides her bike and does tons of swimming. We are an active family on the weekends, and are constantly surrounded by physical and social interactions. . . I know she is just fine.
Written by,
Kari Peepe
©KariPeepe/atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
For more of my blog entries about our life in elementary school check out:
- College or Kinderten-Enrolling Scarlett in Elementary School: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-kindergarten-nightmare.html
- Scarlett's 504 plan-Kinder: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/06/section-504-to-play-no-more.html
- Scarlett's Kinder year comes to a close: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/05/ode-to-teenager.html
- A trip to the ER and Scarlett's 1st CATscan -1st grade: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-trip-to-er-and-scarletts-first-cat.html
- A Family Camp for Bleeding Disorders gave Scarlett the confidence to speak up for what she wanted at school-1st grade: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-piece-i-wrote-for-hfa-s-infusing-love_17.html
- 2nd grade, We've got it made: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2015/09/2nd-grade-weve-got-it-made.html
Kari Peepe
©KariPeepe/atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com
For more of my blog entries about our life in elementary school check out:
- College or Kinderten-Enrolling Scarlett in Elementary School: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-kindergarten-nightmare.html
- Scarlett's 504 plan-Kinder: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/06/section-504-to-play-no-more.html
- Scarlett's Kinder year comes to a close: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/05/ode-to-teenager.html
- A trip to the ER and Scarlett's 1st CATscan -1st grade: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-trip-to-er-and-scarletts-first-cat.html
- A Family Camp for Bleeding Disorders gave Scarlett the confidence to speak up for what she wanted at school-1st grade: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-piece-i-wrote-for-hfa-s-infusing-love_17.html
- 2nd grade, We've got it made: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2015/09/2nd-grade-weve-got-it-made.html
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