sports day?

[magsi]

Hi Guys, just wanted to share something. My ds1 (5 and hemiplegia) is taking part in the sports day at his ms school next monday. Now he can run (although slow of course!) and can use one hand. Last week he had a great time practicing the egg and spoon race and other activities in preparation for sports day. His 1:1 said he really enjoyed himself, although couldn't do the egg and spoon very well (obviously!). I asked her this morning what ds1 would be taking part in in sports day and she said she had talked to his teacher who said there was a fun dressing up race and a throwing race she thought might be good for him, because the other races are a bit competitive. Now ds1 does not mind a jot if he is last in anything, he just has a great time joining in. I think it is wrong for him not to be included as much as the other kids. this is the whole point of him going to a ms. I can understand something like a relay race where him being slow would affect a lot of other kids. I said to his 1:1 that she could run with him, or me, but didn't really get much responce. I even said to stick the egg on the spoon so that at least it wouldn't fall off, but she said the teacher said it would not be fare to ther others (!). I don't think I am being unreasonable, I just want him to join in. Fare enough, he can't do the sack race because he can only use one hand and can't jump, but I don't want him to be standinging watching all the time, he really does love running races, (even if it is a quick walk he does). What do you think?

I think that it won't worry him if he comes last then he should be allowed to race in those races he is physically capable of doing. I bet all the 5 year olds struggle with keeping their egg on the spoon so he won't be alone in it falling off. I'd go back and try again with the teacher and if you don't get a good response talk to the head and explain you feel he is being unfairly excluded.

Thanks dustystar, I am going to have a word with his teacher later on today. Actually, I have been thinking about this all morning and someone is definitely going to have to run with him because he does drag his leg a bit and he might fall over. The trouble is, he will be REALLY upset if he falls over and I don't want the experience to be a negative. Although I suppose all children fall over at sports day at some time or other? I know something though, I will deffinitely be in the loo when they are asking for volunteers for the mums race .

my dd has cp and uses a kwalker when outdoors(she can walk short distances unaided but is very wobbly!!) and she joined in her sports day last week just like all the other children....but in her races she started in front of everyone else so she had a shorter distance to manage....this was carefully planned out at the practices so that (the plan hopefully was)every child finished at approx the same time....and it worked for all the children in the race...dd even managed a 1st place-it was a proper competition for all of them................................................on the next day we went to a village gala day(dd does not go to village school)and when the race organiser tried to put dd infront of the others , a few of the children were moaning"that's not fair"...uhmm just goes to show how little empathy those children have with children with sn-guess why i didn't choose that school for dd??????????
it's the adults around the children that are the positive influence and good role models.
Please do talk to the staff about your concerns

of course he should go in the races that he can do.
DDS has autism he is at mainstream, he does the races and has always been last as he takes his time stops to wave and he doesn't really see the point of winning, the lovely thing is that as he is last the whole school cheer him on. last year he was doing a race with three other boys and unbeknown to me and the staff the other boys had decided they would go very very slow so that DS could win, it was lovely to see.

That does seem unfair. He should be allowed to race in whatever he is able to race in (assuming all the kids get a go at all the races of course)win or lose.
ds1 is 7&nt & is always last, happily skips across the line - no reason other than a slow runner.
They have several kids with sn at the school, last year a boy with downs syndrome decided to sit down after running a few steps, the head picked him up ran along the course & put him down a few steps from the finish line..he crossed in first place & he got the biggest cheer of the day.
DS2 starts there in September at the moment I can't imagine him even standing on the starting line..too many crowds
I hope your ds has a great day

Thanks for sharing your stories guys. I did chat with his teacher this afternoon. All the kids are doing 2 different races. We decided that he should do a 'dressing up' race where they put a hat, scarf and gloves at various points along the track and they have to dress up as they go along. His 1:1 will do this with him. I think he will really find this funny. The other is a throwing race which he is good at. The teacher said to me 'now the last thing I want is for all the adults to go ahhhhh feeling sorry for ds1'. I said that I didn't really mind this, because I do it sometimes aswell, and I will be oblivious to this anyway because I will be jumping up and down for my ds. I don't think you will ever stop people feeling sorry for kids, and I don't see as this is a bad thing. Still, I can see where she is coming from. Anyway, I have managed to find a really good pair of trainers from Woolies for £3.00.....yes, £3.00!!!!! that have two velcro straps which accommodate his splints and he loves them. The pupils cannot join the parents, (we are at one end and they are at another) for, wait for it, security reasons!!!???. What is the flippin world coming to. Anyway, I bet I will be shouting the loudest next Monday .

Have a lovely time on monday - come on Magsi's ds!!!

cat64, of course you are right and it is a sensible way of doing things. I guess I am going to have to jump and shout even louder than all the other mums and dads , and if the worst comes to the worst, bugger the rules, I'm running over to help him .