Some of you know that DS2 is about to swop from special to mainstream and I've been taking him in for two mornings a week as induction. We've been quite anxious about whether it's the right decision as he is severely autistic - but the fact that his speech is developing and he now watches and can imitate other children have swung our decision. So he's going to do 5 mornings at school and the afternoons at home on his Growing Minds programme.
This morning the class had a country dancing session. One little girl, who has been great with DS2 since he started, wanted to be his partner. They ended up dancing together - first with me repeating the actions that the teacher was giving, 'DS2, show me waving...shake hands....round and round' etc and then independently, while I was across the other side of the hall dancing with another little girl. And OK, she was showing him what to do - but he was doing it! And laughing all the time. All the TAs were watching and smiling - it was all I could do not to blub like an idiot. It's the very first time he has EVER interacted like that with another child his age (except DS1).
The teacher said that they'll do it every week now she's seen how much he enjoys it .
He was then completely wiped out for the rest of the morning - had to bring him home early in fact. I think that sort of intensive interaction really takes it out of him.